ALISON LIGI, DANCE CENTER DIRECTOR
Alison’s love of dance began at 5 years old when she started taking ballet, tap and jazz. Over the years she expanded her repertoire to include hip-hop, lyrical and pointe and pursued her love at Springfield College where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dance, with a minor in psychology in 2006. While in school she was a member of the SC Dancers and the CT Titan All-Star Open Dance Team. She has continued her education by taking master classes and attending dance conventions throughout the tri-state area. She has taught all ages and genres at studios, educational programs and summer camps in CT and MA, and has coached and choreographed for local CT high school dance teams. A featured dancer in Mike Lembo’s “Can’t Come Down” and Bgirl Trinity’s “Dance With Me” music videos, Alison has a fun, high energy approach to teaching and hopes to instill her passion for the art in the students at the Westport Weston Family Y Dance Center!
MICHELE HARGROVE
Michele started dancing when she was 4 years old and has always kept it an important part of her life. She minored in modern dance at Skidmore College where she also led the school’s hip-hop dance team, Rithmos. After college, Michele taught multiple dance-inspired fitness classes at SUNY New Paltz and various gyms in Dutchess County, NY. Wanting to expand her technique, Michele spent a couple years studying ballroom and Latin dance and then taught at Planet Ballroom in Charlotte, NC. After having her daughter, and taking a hiatus from teaching, Michele is excited to be back in the studio teaching what she loves most!
JESSICA MATTHEWS
Jessica began dancing at the age of four. At age twelve she jumped into her studio’s competition team and never looked back. She is trained in various styles of dance including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical and Hip Hop. During her competition years, she achieved numerous awards for her performances on stage. A Sacred Heart University graduate, she earned her B.A. in English and minor in dance. Jessica hopes to continue to grow as a dancer, creative being, and teacher so that she can inspire younger dancers to become their very best.
TAYLER FRELOT
Tayler is a seasoned professional dancer hailing from the lively city of Los Angeles, California. Her journey in the dance industry began at the tender age of 8, when she started working professionally for renowned production companies such as Disney and Nickelodeon. These early experiences not only honed her skills but also ignited in her a passion for dance that has been burning brightly ever since.
Over the past two decades, she has channeled this passion into choreography and has had the privilege of choreographing a wide range of pieces, from solo performances for artists to large-scale productions for theaters. Her work has also graced music videos and competition stages, always leaving a memorable impression.
In 2012, she realized a lifelong dream of hers by opening her own boutique dance studio in Sherman Oaks, California. The studio became a cherished space for budding dancers to learn, grow, and express themselves through the language of dance. However, in 2019, life took her on a new adventure to the East Coast. While the studio remains a proud part of her past, she is excited about the opportunities that await her in this new chapter of her life.
DANIELLE PIERCE-MASTER
Danielle, “Clare and Ryan’s Mom,” loves all things movement and dance. She has an MA in Dance Education from New York University and a BA in English from Fordham University. She also trained in Brain Compatible Dance Education practices at the Summer Dance Institute for Teachers at the Creative Dance Center in Seattle. Danielle has taught creative dance at The Spence School and Steps on Broadway, both in New York City.
Danielle performed throughout the NYC metro area as a member of the Tap Olé Dance Company and Dance Visions New York, in addition to works by Belinda Sáenz and Alfdaniels Mabingo. She presented her choreography at Donation Dance NYC, Amalgamate Dance Company Showcase and Greenspace’s Fertile Ground. As an NYU student, Danielle had the opportunity to travel to Kampala, Uganda to participate in an exchange program, where she got to learn local dances and to teach modern dance to children.
Ms. Master has presented her work at the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) and Dance and the Child International (daCi) Conferences. Beyond her practice as a Dance Educator, Danielle is licensed to teach Zumba ® Fitness for children and adults and is certified to teach Pilates Mat and Apparatus through the Pilates Academy International.
ADRIENNE MORRISON
Adrienne’s passion for dance ignited at just 2 years old when she started classes at the New School of Ballet. By 6, she was performing with the New York City Ballet at SPAC. As a teenager, she became a founding member of Capital Ballet Company, guided by former NYCB soloists David Otto and Leslie Roy. She also honed her skills during summers at prestigious institutions, including Chautauqua Institute of Dance, NYSSA, and the School of American Ballet. After briefly stepping away from dance to pursue a degree at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Adrienne returned to her roots by teaching Barre and Pilates classes at Exhale and Physique 57.
STEPHANIE SMITH
Stephanie is thrilled to be teaching dance again. She previously taught all ages ballet, tap, and jazz before taking time off to raise her three kids. Her favorite Theatre Credits include the First National Tour of 42nd Street, Swing in the National Tour of My Fair Lady, Charity in Sweet Charity, Latin Feature in Swing, and Tess in Crazy for You. She has a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Oklahoma, and a MA from Teachers College, Columbia University in Music Education. She also teaches Pilates Apparatus and Mat Classes.