Our Staff
Chelsea Taylor
Chelsea is the first “C” in CMC, and eldest daughter of Marjorie Taylor. She was a member of CMC’s very first competition team and remained on the team until graduating from CN-S high school in 2008. While on CMC’s competition team, she was given the opportunity to dance as a member of the United States Dance Team. At age 15, she began teaching dance classes at CMC. Chelsea went on to become the captain of the Ithaca College Dance Team, and treasurer and choreographer for IC Unbound Dance Company. While on Ithaca’s Dance Team, she performed at several football and basketball half time shows and competed at several Universal Dance Association collegiate competitions. After graduating from Ithaca College, Chelsea returned home to become an instructor and choreographer at CMC. While teaching, Chelsea attended LeMoyne College to earn a degree and certification to become a Physician Assistant, and now works full time as a PA in the community. She is most proud to be a mom to Mateo, and wife to her husband Jorge, both familiar family faces around the studio! Chelsea enjoys working with all of her students, and is entering her 15th year of teaching!
Madison Taylor grew up in Syracuse, NY where she danced competitively at the CMC Dance Company, founded in 1997 by her family. She has earned many Awards and Scholarships throughout her career including being selected for the United States Dance Team and earning opportunities to perform in New York City’s Times Square, Disney’s Magic Kingdom, various community events, and many Regional and National Dance Competitions. In addition to the professional teaching staff at CMC, Madison has studied with renowned dancers and companies including Savion Glover, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Jon Lehrer Dance Company, Sheena DiMatteo, and many more. In 2015, Madison was featured as the “Extraordinary Talent of the Week” for her work by Carrie Lazurus from News Channel 9. Of all the dance styles, Madison’s natural feet and rhythmic ear fostered an affinity for the art of Tap Dance. Madison has earned several awards for her tap technique and choreography, also while loving to teach in additional styles such as Lyrical, Contemporary, and Jazz. Madison trains both our competitive and non-competitive students at the CMC Dance Company and is honored to continue sharing her passion with the next generation of dancers!
Madison Taylor
Courtney Taylor
Courtney Taylor has been dancing for over 25 years. She is passionate about all forms of dance but specializes in Hip Hop and Contemporary dance styles. Courtney has earned many awards for her choreography in dance and cheer throughout her dance career. She is our resident competitive Hip Hop teacher at CMC. Courtney continued dancing at Monroe Community College and Buffalo State College where she earned a Bachelors Degree in Health and Wellness. While at Buff State she founded the award winning Buffalo State Pom Dance team which continues to be the largest student run organization at the college. In her spare time she directed the Boys and Girls club dance program in Buffalo. Courtney was also a member of the Silver Nights Dance team which performed for the Syracuse Silver Nights semi-pro soccer team. During her tenure with the team she facilitated the Junior Knights Dance Camp. For the past 4 years Courtney served as the Head coach of CNS High School Dance team, where she continues to train students in all forms of dance while choreographing routines for competition. Courtney says her favorite place to teach is at the CMC Dance Company. She loves being able to watch children grow from their debut at 3 years old all the way to professional levels. Courtney also works full-time at ÉLAN STUDIO where she is a Professional Hair and Make-Up Specialist.
Ms. Emma has more than 40 years of experience as a dance teacher, coach, choreographer, adjudicator, and administrator. A master teacher and founder of International Ballet Intensive, Ms. Emma was recently guest pedagogue at the prestigious Varna International Ballet Competition / Ballet Academy in July 2018. She has been a guest ballet teacher at the Laura Alonso, Pro Danza Company, Havana, Cuba; National Opera and Ballet of Bulgaria; The National Ballet School of Bulgaria; Ballet Academy Marian, Bulgaria; International Ballet Competition USA; Atlanta Ballet; and Ailey II Company among others.
After training at the Pennsylvania Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet and Boston Conservatory of Music, Ms. Emma studied ballet technique extensively with world-renowned master teacher, Madame Darvash. Ms. Emma has designed, developed and facilitated numerous educational programs in the United States.
In August 2012, Ms. Emma formed her own organization, International Ballet Intensive. IBI is dedicated to sharing the elegant science of classical ballet technique with professional and pre-professional dancers to enhance their capacity as performing artists through educational programs, performance opportunities and international cultural exchanges. Ms. Emma is currently on faculty in the Drama Department at Syracuse University. She is a member of International Dance Council. In 2015, Danita Emma was named a Fulbright Specialist in Dance and has served on the Fulbright Selection in the US and Bulgaria. Ms. Emma has been on faculty of CMC Dance for the last 13 years.
Danita Emma
Jessica Saralegui
Miss Jess began dancing at the age of 4. She grew up studying and competing at CMC Dance Company, Inc. There she received many regional and national awards including being crowned Miss Dance of Northern NY at the 2006 USTD Regional Dance Competition. Upon graduating from high school, Miss Jess attended the University at Buffalo to further her training. At UB, she received a B.A. in dance, a B.A. in psychology and a minor in education. There, she choreographed for Dancer’s Workshop and was selected to choreograph for the Emerging Choreographer’s Showcase twice. Miss Jess was a member of Zodiaque Studio Dance Ensemble her freshman and sophomore years of college and a member of the Zodiaque Dance Company as a junior and senior. She was also selected to be the Assistant to the Director of the Zodiaque Dance Ensemble her junior year and the Assistant to the Director of the UB Dance Department her senior year. Miss Jess attended the LehrerDance Summer Intensive, the Urbanity Dance Co. Summer Intensive and the River North Chicago Dance Summer Workshop throughout her college career. Miss Jess made the SUNY Buffalo Dean’s List every year that she attended the University at Buffalo and was the recipient of many awards including the SUNY Buffalo Honors College Research and Creative Activities Grant, the Amanda Occhino Memorial Scholarship, the SUNY Chancellor’s Award and the Dance Department’s Outstanding Senior Award. For the 2013 - 2014 dance season, Miss Jess was the Assistant Director at Dance Time in Buffalo, NY. Miss Jess was a guest choreographer for Dance Time and the Infinity Dance Project in Buffalo, NY from 2014 - 2016. Throughout her teaching career, she has won various choreography awards, on top of receiving recognition for her work with students both technically and emotionally. Miss Jess was thrilled to have returned to the CMC Dance Co. family in 2017 and looks forward to continuing to share her passion, drive and dedication with all of her students!
Ms. Lisa has been dancing since the age of 3. She has taught dance for roughly 20 years in and around the Syracuse area. She is a 1998 graduate of Liverpool High School and a 2002, and 2005, graduate of LeMoyne College. She studied dance with Joan Condlin of the Liverpool School of Dance and then served as head choreographer and executive director of the LeMoyne Student Dance Company. Ms. Lisa worked closely with Al Gilbert, Daryll Retter, and Janice Barringer, serving as an assistant instructor at their national dance conventions and was featured in their training videos. Beyond that, she has received training at at intensives in New York City, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, and Toronto. Her position as an English teacher for the North Syracuse Central Schools led to her coaching the CNS dance ensemble for a time, earning national recognition, and allowed for her to choreograph 10 years of school musicals. She joined the staff at CMC, and rejoined Mrs. Marj, when her oldest daughter began dancing. She finds CMC to be a place for students and staff alike to fall in love with the art of dance and the power of artistic expression. She works hard to instill positive goal setting and self esteem in her dancers. She looks forward to each season with CMC.
Lisa Van Beveren
Jordyn Torchia
Ms. Jordyn has been dancing since the age of 3. This is her third year teaching dance at CMC. She is a 2011 graduate of New Hartford High School and a 2015 graduate of Siena College. She studied dance at the Mary Lourdes Academy of Dance where she was a member of their competition team. In college, she was a member of the Siena College Dance Team for all four years and was a Captain her Junior and Senior years.
Corina Miller grew up in Syracuse, NY where she danced competitively with CMC Dance Company for many years. She then went on to receive a BFA in Dance from The College at Brockport in 2014. Corina has been lucky enough to study with great dancers such as Jon Lehrer, Bill Evans, members of the Taylor 2 Dance Company and more. Throughout her time at Brockport, and after graduation she has had the opportunity to participate in multiple professional performances, including Inside/Out at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Rochester Fringe Festival, and The American College Dance Festival. Post college, Corina went on to spend a year in New York City, furthering her dance education, and dancing with various modern dance companies. She then spent a year teaching Modern, Jazz, Ballet, and Contemporary in studios across Buffalo, NY. She is currently choreographer for the Syracuse Children's Theatre and is attending SUNY Cortland for her Master's in Physical Education. Corina loves teaching at CMC hopes her students find the same love of dance there that she has!
Corina Miller
Browse Our Website
Contact Information
- Mon - Thu
- -
- Friday
- Closed
- Saturday
- -
- Sunday
- Closed
Summer Hours:
Tue & Thu 5:00 pm - 7:00pm
Our Location