Meet the Team | highermovementdance

Our Team...

Teachers:

Miss Kirby

Kirby is the owner and artistic director at Higher Movement. She is passionate about dance, starting as early as the age of 3. Kirby studied at her studio in Wallingford, CT, as well as the Educational Center for the Arts (ECA) in New Haven, CT during high school. Following high school, Kirby chose to continue her dance training and education by attending the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York City. Since attending AMDA Kirby has been a part of The Providence Dance Project. She is currently the director of the dance program at the Jewish Community Center in Woodbridge, CT. She is truly eager to impart her wisdom on her students and watch them grow into true artists.

Owner / Artistic Director , Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Combo Classes, Zumba

Miss Tracy

Miss Tracy is the Acro and Tumbling Teacher here at Higher Movement! This is her seventh year teaching at the studio. Miss Tracy did competitive gymnastics for seven years and competed in all four events: Floor, Vault, Uneven Bars, and Balance Beam. Over the course of her seven years competing, she won multiple state championship titles in all four events, as well as many other achievements and gold medals at local meets. Teaching Acro and Tumbling is one of Miss Tracy’s favorite things in the world and she loves to watch her students grow into amazing dancers!

Acro

Contemporary and Jazz

Miss Madison

Madison "Maddie" Oquendo is very excited to make her debut as a dance instructor for Higher Movement Dance Studio. She is thrilled to join such talented artists by her side and make her feel welcome for the season. Madison has been a dancer since she was 2 years old and has trained under various artists. Madison received her Bachelor's degree from Central Connecticut State University this past May in which she studied Psychological Science and Dance. She was a part of a collegiate dance company called Dancentral the performance company at CCSU. Madison has taken master classes in New York City with the Radio City Rockettes and I am Musical Theatre. She is grateful for her grandmother a previous dance studio owner in Meriden and teacher along with her mother for their dance training and expertise throughout the years. She wants to thank Kirby for giving her this opportunity and Melissa for such a warm welcome.

Miss Aschlyn

Miss Aschlyn is excited to join the Higher Movement team this year teaching Hip Hop 1 & Tiny Tots Hip Hop. She began dancing at 2 years old and danced competitively at her hometown studio in Terryville, CT. Throughout her dance career, she has trained in multiple dance genres including ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, tap, and hip hop. Miss Aschlyn’s favorite styles of dance are jazz & hip hop. When she isn’t dancing you can find Miss Aschlyn at her nursing day job, working out in the gym, or hanging out with her dog, Koda. She is so excited to get to know & build relationships with the staff, families, and dancers here at HM!

Hip Hop / Tiny Tots

Miss Kelly

Kelly began dancing at the age of 2 at the American Dance Experience in Hamden, CT. She danced competitively in tap, ballet, jazz, and lyrical/contemporary in both local and national competitions. She was a performer, choreographer, and instructor for NUDANCO and No Limits Dance Crew while attending Northeastern University in Boston, MA. While living in the Boston area, Kelly was also an instructor of both children and adult classes. She is the co-founder of OnStage Dance Company, a performance group for adults, and also served as its Associate Director. When not dancing, Kelly is a middle school teacher who is busy chasing around her five kids James, Grace, Lily, Anna, and Giulia with her husband, Joe.

Jazz and Ballet/Tap Combo

Miss Susie

This is Miss Susie's second year teaching at Higher Movement. She has a strong passion to work with children and help them build passion and excitement for dance. She has been dancing for 36 years. She started at the age of 8 at Sunshine Dance and still performs to this day (she took eight years off to have her three children). The owner, Sheila Tetreault inspired her so she has an incredible passion for dance. She took master classes in New York City, growing up with the studio. She was also a tiny tots assistant to Miss Sheila prior to teaching there for over 6 years. In high school, she studied ballet in Cape Cod and was the choreographer of many high school musicals at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Springs Maryland. Susie attended ECSU for a degree in Dance and then transferred to Southern Connecticut State University where she received a degree in Exercise Science and Nutrition. She has been a certified dance/fitness instructor since she was 16 years old. She is so excited to start her second year at Higher Movement and work with her prior and new students.

Toddlers in Tutus Tap, Ballet, Move

with Me and Tap

Miss Molly

Miss Molly is from Woodbridge, Virginia, and began dancing at the age of 3. She started at Strictly Rhythm Dance Center and began competing at 5 years old. She studied ballet, tap, musical theater, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical, and jazz. At 12 years old, she switched to KLR studios for Dance and Music and continued competing. She was on the high school dance team and competed nationally with pom and kick. She attended the Center for Fine and Performing Arts program at Woodbridge High School and Colgan High School where she studied modern dance. Molly attended Christopher Newport University and graduated with a degree in Environmental Biology. She is very excited to teach tap this year!

Tap

Miss Caroline

Originally from Rock Island, Illinois, Caroline Cady began her dance training at the age of three with Ballet Quad Cities School of Dance. Throughout high school, Caroline served as a trainee for their professional company, Ballet Quad Cities. In 2024, Caroline graduated summa cum laude from Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in dance and a Bachelor of Science in psychology. Caroline has been a dance instructor since 2016, working with students of all ages in a wide variety of styles. She is currently dancing in her first season with Ballet Hartford as a trainee. Caroline is thrilled to be joining the Higher Movement team this year.

Ballet and pre-pointe

Miss Nadija

Nadija Limberger is a passionate acrobatic art dance teacher dedicated to sharing the art and technique with her students. With a background in a myriad of dance styles, Nadija has developed a deep appreciation for the balance, flexibility and strength that acro requires.

Certified in Acrobatic Arts, Nadija brings a blend of foundational techniques and a positive, supportive teaching style to the mat. Emphasizing safety, fun, and progressive learning, Nadija is committed to helping students build confidence, improve flexibility, and cultivate a strong acro practice.

Mr Raymon

Raymon “Red Ink” Padro has been doing Hip Hop since 2007 at the age of six. Once he found his love and passion for dance he started teaching Hip Hop at the age of seventeen! He isn’t only so passionate about turning his students into stronger dancers, but also turning his students into stronger individuals. Raymon has been part of several performances and competitions around the U.S . In 2017, Raymon placed 2nd in the Adult Team Division at World of Dance Boston. Which led Raymon into a life changing experience when he competed at World of Dance Championships in summer of 2018. Ever since then, Raymon has taken dance to a whole other level by teaching dance workshops, attending dance battles, and creating content on social media with choreography he has created himself or learned from other talented dance teachers. With all the information Raymon has gathered on dance, he loves to spread the knowledge to educate as many dancers as possible to keep the Hip Hop dance scene strong, and growing for the present, and the new generation.

Front Desk Staff:

Miss Melissa

Melissa is our Office Manager and has spent many seasons with Higher Movement! Although she has no dance history, she’s been a “Dance Mom” for over twelve years. Melissa is married to Bud who’s a Minister here in Meriden and they have two daughters and a son-in-law. She always has a smile on and loves greeting our new and returning dance families as they arrive! If you see Miss Melissa at the studio be sure to say hello.

Office Manager

Miss Jessica

Miss Jessica is the newest face at the front desk here at Higher Movement. She is a former Trust & Estates paralegal of 10 years who took a step back from her career to be a full-time mama to 2 under 2. These days her dancing is mostly relegated to spinning around the kitchen with husband Paul, son James and baby girl Maisie but she wouldn't have it any other way! Jessica is an avid outdoor enthusiast who loves to relax by camping with family and friends in her home state of Vermont. When she's not enjoying the great outdoors, you can usually find her curled up with a blanket and one or more of the family's cats trying to make her way through her ever-growing list of TBR books or working on one of her many knitting projects.

Front Desk Staff

Admin Staff:

Miss Arielle

Arielle Joseph is our Enrollment Coordinator.

She’s almost at her one-year mark with Higher Movement and is with us virtually from Florida!

Arielle handles all trial sign-ups and enrollments. She loves talking to our families over the phone.

She’s a mom of two little ones and has a passion for helping others! In her free time, she sews bridal dresses! Designing has been her passion since the age of 9 and she followed that dream by getting her bachelors degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising.

Enrollment Coordinator

Miss Kelsey

Hi! I'm Kelsey, and I run Higher Movement's social media accounts. Growing up in gymnastics, I've always had a love for dance and all things fitness. I am also a Marketing Director and love to bring the excitement and essence of a business to the world. When I am not working, I enjoy living life to the fullest with my husband and pup Leo, traveling and creating amazing experiences.

Social Media Coordinator

Mission Statement: Higher Movement dance studio is dedicated to providing quality dance education in a safe, welcome & family friendly environment.