Faculty
Cassidy Halpin
Kaylea Lockwood
Kaylea Lockwood
Cassidy is beyond excited to be back at PAI teaching! Cassidy danced at PAI since its first year. She then graduated high school and attended Nazareth College where she received a BFA in Musical Theatre. Cassidy spent her last semester of college studying in NYC at the Broadway Dance Center in their professional semester program . She ha
Cassidy is beyond excited to be back at PAI teaching! Cassidy danced at PAI since its first year. She then graduated high school and attended Nazareth College where she received a BFA in Musical Theatre. Cassidy spent her last semester of college studying in NYC at the Broadway Dance Center in their professional semester program . She has worked at different regional theatre across the country and currently resides in NYC. Cassidy has choreographed award winning pieces for PAI's dance company. Currently she not only teaches at PAI but also acts as a company and social media manager. Cassidy is an Acrobatic arts certified teacher.
Kaylea Lockwood
Kaylea Lockwood
Kaylea Lockwood
Kaylea began teaching at PAI in the ‘19-‘20 season as a modern/contemporary instructor and substitute, and she is thrilled to be a part of the PAI family. She trained at The Dance Connection and has been dancing for 19 years and has been teaching for the past 8. She is a member of Vortex Dance Company through SRO Productions III based in
Kaylea began teaching at PAI in the ‘19-‘20 season as a modern/contemporary instructor and substitute, and she is thrilled to be a part of the PAI family. She trained at The Dance Connection and has been dancing for 19 years and has been teaching for the past 8. She is a member of Vortex Dance Company through SRO Productions III based in Binghamton, NY, as well as a member of the board for SRO Productions III. When not on the dance floor, she can be found either onstage or behind the scenes at many musical theatre productions in the Binghamton area, including choreographing and stage managing. She has also directed and/or choreographed shows for SRO’s CenterStage theatre camp for the past 5 years. “Fail gloriously!”
Amanda Caridi
Kaylea Lockwood
Amanda Caridi
Amanda Caridi grew up on Long Island, graduated from SUNY Cortland in 2019, and has been dancing since the age of two. She has been trained in a wide range of styles from Ballet to Hip-Hop and has a love for choreographing and performing. Amanda particularly loved performing in the Nutcracker and dancing competitively throughout her life,
Amanda Caridi grew up on Long Island, graduated from SUNY Cortland in 2019, and has been dancing since the age of two. She has been trained in a wide range of styles from Ballet to Hip-Hop and has a love for choreographing and performing. Amanda particularly loved performing in the Nutcracker and dancing competitively throughout her life, as well as choreographing for the Cortland Dance Company, while attending SUNY Cortland. She is very excited to join PAI this Fall and get back to what she loves doing most; Dancing!
Clarissa Millen
Bridget O'Connor
Bridget O'Connor
Clarissa grew up in Long Island New York, where she began dancing at the age of 2. She recently graduated from Wake Forest University with a Masters of Science in Management. During her time there, she also earned her Yoga Teaching Certificate. Prior to that, she graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Arts in contemporary dance from University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
Bridget O'Connor
Bridget O'Connor
Bridget O'Connor
Bridget grew up just outside of Boston, MA and trained at several local studios from ages 3-18. She earned her BA in Dance Education from Winthrop University and served as captain of the Garnet Girls Dance Team during her college years. She has had the privilege of traveling and teaching dancers of all ages around the country as a VIP for
Bridget grew up just outside of Boston, MA and trained at several local studios from ages 3-18. She earned her BA in Dance Education from Winthrop University and served as captain of the Garnet Girls Dance Team during her college years. She has had the privilege of traveling and teaching dancers of all ages around the country as a VIP for Dance America-Dance Olympus Conventions, and an instructor for the Universal Dance Association. Most recently, she performed with DanceWorks Boston and spent a few years teaching English abroad in Madrid, Spain and Seoul, South Korea. Bridget is happy to now call the Finger Lakes region home, and is excited to join the PAI community!
Grace Horan
Bridget O'Connor
Grace Horan
Grace has been a dancer for 17 years and has found a true passion for dance. She danced at a local dance studio in her hometown on Long Island, where she was part of a competition team. Throughout her years of competing, her team has won many National Championships and Grace herself has won a National Solo Title. She has extensive trainin
Grace has been a dancer for 17 years and has found a true passion for dance. She danced at a local dance studio in her hometown on Long Island, where she was part of a competition team. Throughout her years of competing, her team has won many National Championships and Grace herself has won a National Solo Title. She has extensive training in ballet, lyrical, modern, jazz, hip-hop, tap, and acro. After graduating and leaving her home studio she realized that because she couldn't continue to dance on a competitive level, she wants to share her passion with others and teach.
Ashley McGrath
Ashley McGrath
Ashley McGrath
Ashley has been dancing since she was 2 years old and loves it more than anything. She was on a competition team for her studio on Long Island for 11 years, and started teaching for them during her senior year of high school. Ashley has trained in almost every style such as, ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip hop, acro, and lyrical and she cannot wait to join PAI!
Alexa Attanasio
Ashley McGrath
Ashley McGrath
Alexa grew up in the Hudson Valley, where she began dancing at the age of 3. She was a competitive dancer for 12 years, and was also on the USA Dance Team in 2017, where she competed in Germany at the World Tap Championships. She graduated high school in 2020 and since then has become a recreational dance teacher and competition choreogra
Alexa grew up in the Hudson Valley, where she began dancing at the age of 3. She was a competitive dancer for 12 years, and was also on the USA Dance Team in 2017, where she competed in Germany at the World Tap Championships. She graduated high school in 2020 and since then has become a recreational dance teacher and competition choreographer for all ages, levels, and genres. She is an Acrobatic Arts Certified Teacher and is now attending SUNY Cortland for Exercise Science and Sports Management, along with being apart of the Cortland Dance Company. She is so excited to be a part of PAI, and share her love and passion for dance.
Bailey Marks
Ashley McGrath
Bailey Marks
Bailey is so glad to be back home at PAI. Though she started dancing as a toddler, PAI was where she really began to grow as a dancer, and her experiences there continue to inspire her dancing. She has participated in various dance and choreography roles since graduating and has never stopped dancing, even if just in the living room. Her
Bailey is so glad to be back home at PAI. Though she started dancing as a toddler, PAI was where she really began to grow as a dancer, and her experiences there continue to inspire her dancing. She has participated in various dance and choreography roles since graduating and has never stopped dancing, even if just in the living room. Her favorite styles include ballet, modern/contemporary, African, and salsa dance, and she loves to incorporate mindfulness and body awareness into everything she does.
Guest Faculty/ Choreographers
Aisling Halpin
Aisling Halpin
Aisling Halpin
Aisling Halpin is from Upstate NY and has been dancing since the age of 2. She has ten years of experience teaching dance. Aisling received a BFA in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University. She is currently based in NYC also working as a professional actor in the Theatre and Dance industry. NYC credits: One Thrilling Combination, Public
Aisling Halpin is from Upstate NY and has been dancing since the age of 2. She has ten years of experience teaching dance. Aisling received a BFA in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University. She is currently based in NYC also working as a professional actor in the Theatre and Dance industry. NYC credits: One Thrilling Combination, Public Theatre and The Time Machine, NYMF. National Tours: Cabaret, Peter and the Starcatcher, A Chorus Line, Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Favorite regional credits: Dames at Sea, Mamma Mia, Grease, 42nd St, The Producers, Chicago. As a Teacher/ Choreographer, Aisling has taught Theatre Workshops across the country, as well as many dance styles for all ages here in the Northeast. She has choreographed for Regional Theatres, Competitive Dance Companies, Ballets, and Recitals.
Bailey Kote
Aisling Halpin
Aisling Halpin
Bailey has been with PAI since its beginning as a student and then teacher. Bailey graduated form Rider University where she earned a BFA in Musical Theatre. Bailey has worked professionally at regional theaters across the country.
Catherine
Aisling Halpin
Catherine
Originally from Binghamton, New York, Catherine grew up dancing a variety of dance styles since she was 3 years old. She graduated with a BA in Musical Theatre from SUNY Cortland and went on to further her training at Broadway Dance Center’s Training Program in New York City. Recently, Catherine was working with Disney Cruise Line in sho
Originally from Binghamton, New York, Catherine grew up dancing a variety of dance styles since she was 3 years old. She graduated with a BA in Musical Theatre from SUNY Cortland and went on to further her training at Broadway Dance Center’s Training Program in New York City. Recently, Catherine was working with Disney Cruise Line in shows like Frozen (Featured Dancer/Anna understudy), and Aladdin (featured dancer). Some of Catherine’s other professional performing credits include the Wizard of Oz National Tour (ensemble/swing), A Chorus Line (Maggie) and Hello Dolly (Ermengarde). When Catherine isn't performing, she loves to share her passion of dance with her students and teaches classes in ballet, prepointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, acro, leaps and turns and technique. Catherine has also worked with Stage Door connection teaching masterclasses of original Broadway choreography across the country and internationally and choreographed numerous award winning dance competition numbers for ages 12-18. Catherine has been with the Cortland Performing Arts Institute since 2011 and is so grateful to be a part of the PAI family