Kristina Leitenberger

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Kristina Leitenberger, born and raised in Briarcliff Manor, NY began dancing at age 3. Growing up in the competition circuit, Kristina was exposed to endless master teachers and choreographers such as Joe Tremaine, Ray Leeper, Joe Lanteri, and Stacey Tookey, that helped shape her technique and style. Winning countless regional, national, and international awards and scholarships, Kristina continued her training at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA.

Kristina received the prestigious Presidential Scholarship all four years and graduated with honors in 2011 receiving her BFA in Jazz Dance Performance. During school, Kristina performed across New York City at Marymount Manhattan, New Dance Group, and the Hudson Guild Theater. Throughout her four years, Kristina was also able to travel abroad to Bari, Italy to study and perform under Desmond Richardson and Michele Assaf, and to Reisa, Germany to compete in the World Dance Championships. Kristina was trained as a Jazz Performance Major at University of the Arts under the direction of Molly Misgalla and Wayne St. David along with Scott Jovovich, Roni Koresh, Ginger Cox, Anthony Burrell, and Gary Jeter.

Upon graduation, Kristina moved to Las Vegas to continue her teaching and performing at various world-renowned hotels. After a year in Las Vegas, Kristina was offered a contract with world famous ballroom dancer and magician, Rick Thomas, to travel to Asia with her Las Vegas Family. Kristina's television credits include ABC's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Skinny Cow Ice Cream commercial, and Fox's hit show "Raising Hope." Besides performing, Kristina has always enriched her dance life by teaching all levels and ages of dances, but most specifically in jazz, contemporary, and lyrical.  Kristina's choreography has been performed at the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, the opening number of the Thanksgiving Day Parade, has won numerous awards across the country. Kristina is so excited to be seeing her dream come true at Artistry Dance Project, the "Best of Westchester" studio in Pleasantville, beside long time friend Lori Spada, in sharing their knowledge and passion for dance with the next generation.

Lori Spada Lynch

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Lori Spada born in Wilmington, Delaware, began her dance training at the age of four, under the direction of James Jamieson and Victor Wesley. By the time she had reached her early teens, she was a part of both The Wilmington Ballet Company and Brandywine Contemporary Company, while also studying at The Boston Ballet Summer Intensives. She continued training at Towson University where she received a BFA in Dance Performance, working along side choreographers such as Alonzo King, Peter Pucci, and David Parsons. She was also the recipient of the Jim Snyder Award for Outstanding Technical Achievement in Dance.

Upon graduation, she was contracted with Rincones and Company, a contemporary ballet company in Washington D.C., under the direction of Juan Carlos Rincones. During her four years as a company member, she performed all over the D.C. area, including several Kennedy Center performances. Her career eventually moved her to NYC where she has resided since 2002. She has been an active choreographer in New York, featuring works at Manhattan Movement and Arts Center, Alvin Ailey Studios, Madison Square Garden, New Dance Group, Hudson Guild Theater, Harkness Studios, Grammercy Theater, Spoon Theater, and Chelsea Piers. Off Off Broadway credits include New York Jazz Choreography Project and "They Walk Among Us." Regional choreography credits include: Waterbury Regional Theater.

Along with performing she has been an active ballet, jazz, and contemporary teacher in both Washington DC and New York since 2001, as well as, director, assistant director and choreographer for several different companies within the schools. She has also been a part of numerous outreach programs that have allowed her to share her talent and knowledge with under privileged kids throughout the different communities. Teaching credits include: DC Dance Studio, Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Langley Performing Arts High, Key School of the Arts, Anacostia High School, Lab School for the Performing Arts, North Shore Dance, Half Hallow Hills High School, Academy of Dance Arts, City Center Dance, Edge School of the Arts and AMDA (American Musical and Dramatic Academy NYC.)

Kaitlynn Edgar

Kaitlynn Edgar grew up training in all styles of dance. Upon graduation Kaitlynn went on an international tour with a contemporary ballet company, Rock the Ballet as a principal dancer. After touring she moved to Los Angeles where she has danced for Shaping Sound, Nicki Minaj, David Guetta, Camilla Cabelo, and many other artists. She has been featured on many television shows such as The American Music Awards, the Late Late Show, SNL, Fosse/Verdon, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She was a featured dancer in the film “In the Heights” , JLO film “Marry Me” , “Spirited” & “IF”! When not on stage or screen she teaches all over the country sharing her talents with the next generation of amazing dancers! Kaitlynn is super excited to watch all of your talent shine!

Ginger Cox

Ginger is on faculty at Broadway Dance Center, Pace University and Sacred Heart University. She holds a MS in Kinesiology, a BFA in Dance from Temple University, and is certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a Corrective Exercise Specialist. She’s taught master classes in Europe, Mexico, Japan, Danse Encore festival Quebec, the Joffrey Contemporary Ballet, and studios and dance conventions throughout the U.S. As a choreographer, Ginger’s work is described as ‘absorbing and inventive, with amusing creativity,’ by the Jazz Dance E-news, and Bob Boross quotes, “the greatest exploration of the choreographic voice within jazz dance was seen in the work of Ginger Cox.” She’s choreographed for Nike, the NJ Nets Dancers, recording artist Lijie, Hanayashiki Show in Japan, the Élan Awards, honoring Mr. Lar Lubavich, Dancing Wheels Company, Earl Mosley Institute, the Brooklyn Dance Festival, Wise Fruit, Giving Tree Series, NY Jazz Choreography Project, Choreographer's Canvas, Wax Works, DRA, Independent films, industrials, and the NuDance Festival, where the NY Times quoted “the selection of choreographers was unusually good.”

Ginger is the founder of the Dancing Anatomy Workshop and has presented anatomy/movement-based seminars at the Dance Science and Somatics Conference, the Bill Evans Somatic Conference, and the Dance Educators Training Institute. Ginger was featured in Dance Informa for her integration of anatomy in dance training, and in Dancetrain Magazine for her teaching methods and dynamic style. She’s contributed to articles in Dance Teacher Magazine, Dance Spirit, is on the Faculty Advisory Board at BDC and the Young Choreographers Dance Festival and developed curriculum for BDC’s ISVP program and the Dance Educator Development (DTW). Some of her many performance highlights include Saturday Night Live with Molly Shannon and Jimmy Falon, artist Lou Bega, industrials and dance concerts.

Michael Cusumano

Michael Cusumano began dancing at the age of 6. At the age of 14, he won the Bronze Medal at the International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria, the youngest male dancer to medal in the competition's history at the time. That same year he went on to win the special Jury Prize at the Prix de Paris 1994. Michael then joined the American Ballet Theatre at the age of 15, the youngest male dancer in the Company's history.

After ABT, Michael danced as a principal with Alabama Ballet, then as a soloist with the Boston Ballet. He went on to perform in the original cast of All Shook Up on Broadway, then most recently starred as "the jury" in the smash hit, Chicago The Musical on Broadway. Michael competed and won the title of "Mr. Broadway" in the Broadway Beauty Pageant in 2011. Other credits include The Most Happy Fella at New York State Theater, On The Town at Encores, Live with Regis and Kelly, The Today Show, ABT Now for PBS, Le Corsaire for PBS, and the feature film Center State. Michael is currently on faculty at Pace University and so excited to be working with the talented dancers at ADP!

Katie LaDuca

Katie is a professional dancer, choreographer, and educator based in New York City. She recently finished her year long run at the Wintergarden Theatre playing Linda Mcfly in Back to the Future on Broadway. She’s traveled the country serving as Dance Captain/Swing on the National Tour of Saturday Night Fever. Some of her other professional credits include: A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Mamma Mia, Singin in the Rain, Gypsy, The Addams Family, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, and Beehive the 60’s Musical. Katie is certified with the Youth Protection Advocates in Dance and is committed to creating a healthy environment for the next generation of artists. She uses her platform on social media to showcase her choreography and teaching style while advocating for the emotional safety and well being of young dancers during their training.

Reed Tankersley

Reed Tankersley, from Northern California, earned his BFA from the Juilliard School in 2014. Shortly after, Reed joined Twyla Tharp’s 50th Anniversary Tour and has continued to perform with the company in numerous Tharp works including In the Upper Room, Nine Sinatra Songs, How Long Blues, The Fugue, Brahms Paganini, Ocean’s Motion, and Eight Jelly Rolls. He has also worked as a repetiteur for Tharp’s Baker’s Dozen. In 2019, Reed ran away to the circus and toured the country as the lead performer in Cirque Du Soleil’s Volta. He has been seen on the Dolce and Gabbanna runway, and with artists such as CharliXCX, Dorian Electra, and Kimbra.Reed is a YoungArts Winner and one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch.”

Kara Walsh

Kara Walsh born in New York City raised in  New Milford Ct. Kara started dancing at the age of 10 at the School of Performing Arts in New Milford  and instantly fell in love with dance. At the School of Performing Arts under the direction of Arlene Begelman she had the opportunity to study with many former New York City Ballet dancers including Maria Calegari and Robert Maiorano. She also studied with some of Broadways biggest stars including Elizabeth Parkinson and Mary Ann Lamb who’s she still works with today.

Kara spent summers at the Jillana Ballet Program in Taos New Mexico learning more of the Balanchine Style. At the age of 17 she moved back to New York City to study at the Alvin Ailey Independent Study Program. Shortly after that she was offered a contract with Donald Byrd’s Spectrum Dance Theater in Seattle WA where she performed his works touring the west coast and worked with the 5th Avenue Theater in Seattle.

In New York Kara has had the opportunity to work with Francesca Harper, Susan Misner, Mary Ann Lamb, Abdur Rahum Jackson, Benoit Swan Pouffer The Black Iris Project, and Buglisi Dance Theater, Kara has taught ballet at schools around New York and Connecticut. And is a master trainer at Ballet Beautiful in SoHo. Currently, Kara is working with The Francesca Harper Project, and in her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband and rescue dog Stella. And soaking up as much dance and art as possible. Kara is excited to join the ADP family.