OWNERSHIP

Lindsey Kaplowitz
Founder and CEO, Dance Teacher

Lindsey has been dancing for 37 years, and teaching for 24 of them. She started training at a young age with former Radio City Music Hall Rockette Cheryl Andersen, and then trained as a teenager with Keith Banks and with the Valley Dance Theatre. While the thrill of being onstage is indescribable, Lindsey's truest passion is sharing the joy of dance with her students and helping them fulfill their potential both inside and outside of the dance studio. Nothing can compare to the twinkle in a student's eye, and the smile across their face when they learn and perfect a new dance skill. Click here to read more about Miss Lindsey.

Janice Rava
Co-Founder and Executive Director

Miss Janice is our Executive Director who works tirelessly behind-the-scenes to ensure all of our staff members and dance families are taken care of and in the best hands. Miss Janice is our secret weapon to organization and our incredible recitals and events. You can often find her in the office helping countless dance families along with her Boston Terrier (our studio pup), Mugsy! Miss Janice has been to more recitals than you can count on fingers and toes, and loves being able to share knowledge and joy with our dance families. She is Miss Lindsey's mom and one of her greatest inspirations.

FACULTY + STAFF

Ayesha Ahmed
Dance Teacher

Originally from the DC Area, Ayesha began dancing at the age of 2, and learned from former Rockettes and NFL cheerleading professionals as she grew in dance. Ayesha trained in all styles, including Ballet, Pointe, Cecchetti, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Hip Hop, and Pom, and competed at both the elite studio and all-star levels. Ayesha completed a dance minor throughout college, and after graduation she found her way back home to her all-star dance studio in northern Virginia, where she began coaching numerous competitive dance teams and leading them to many titles and growing their skill sets. She most recently competed in the Open Hip Hop Division at the Dance Worlds in 2024. Ayesha's teaching philosophy centers around goal-setting, fostering growth mindsets, and creating confident dancers in and out of the studio! 

Erica Davis
Dance Teacher, ​Starlette Assistant Coordinator

Miss Erica comes to us from Long Island, where she started dancing at 7 years old. She competed in Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop and Contemporary. Erica was also a member of her high school and college Kickline teams and served as a captain for both teams. After graduating from SUNY Cortland with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, Erica began performing with a professional dance team in Syracuse, and began teaching and choreographing for a local dance studio's competition team. Erica moved to North Carolina in 2018 for her full-time job. She is excited to return to teaching and share her passion for dance with the next generation of dancers.

Toni DePaoli
​Lead Dance Teacher, ​Starlette Team Manager

Miss Toni holds a BA in Dance Studies and a BA in Drama from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she was awarded a scholarship for her excellence in Musical Theatre. During her time there, she also served as Dance Captain for several collegiate and regional musicals.

In 2022, Miss Toni took on leadership of the Starlette and Professional Path Programs, and that same year, she launched the Competitive Hip Hop program at Starpath. In 2024, she earned recognition for "Most Entertaining Choreography" at several dance competitions, including Encore, Inspire, Ignite, and Imagine, and received the "Highest Scoring Group" award at Ignite and Inspire. Additionally, she directed the Starpath Holiday Show, "Santa Everywhere!" for three consecutive years. Miss Toni teaches a variety of dance styles including Dancing and Acting, Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyripop, Musical Theatre, and Tap, for students ranging from Junior levels to Adults.

Crystal Hodak
Front Desk Receptionist

Crystal's love of dance started by taking Tap, Lyrical, and Jazz during her childhood and has continued the last 16 years as a dance mom to her two daughters. Since Starpath opened its doors, she has volunteered by working backstage at recitals, been a lead team parent, and also co-founded the Starlette Parent Association, which supports the studio's competition team. She has a BA in Psychology and more than 25 years of experience working with children. Crystal is excited to bring her "dance mom" knowledge to the front office!

Caitlyn Lane
​Dance Teacher

Miss Caitlyn has been dancing for 19 years, with an emphasis on Modern, Lyrical, Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, and Tap. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance and an Associate's degree in Business Administration from SUNY Potsdam. Caitlyn has had some amazing opportunities throughout her dance career including working with Paul Taylor Dance Company, receiving a scholarship for a dance intensive in Florence, Italy, and training at Perry-Mansfield in Colorado with Peter Chu and Chuthis Dance Company. ​Miss Caitlyn loves to teach and has taught all ages at a private studio in New York as well as at the University.

Liz MacConnell
​Dance Teacher

Liz MacConnell has gained experience in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, and contemporary over the past 20 years. Originally from New Jersey, Liz started dancing at the age of 6 and performed in the Philadelphia Ballet's Nutcracker for three seasons. She was on her high school dance team and performed seasonally at various studios. Throughout high school, Liz worked as an assistant preschool teacher. She graduated from Rowan University with degrees in Elementary Education and English. Since moving to North Carolina with her husband in 2021, Liz has been a 2nd and 3rd grade teacher, practicing her passion for helping students reach new goals and developing ways to be creative in the learning environment.

Katie Mickunas
​Dance Teacher

Katie grew up in North Carolina, training in a wide range of styles including tap, jazz, musical theater, lyrical, contemporary, and commercial jazz, while competing up and down the East Coast. She received her BFA in Dance Performance from East Carolina University. She then launched her professional career at the longest running outdoor drama, "The Lost Colony," followed by five years as Dance Captain at Cedar Point amusement park and another five years Katie dancing aboard the Holland America and Princess Cruise Lines. Katie has transitioned into teaching to share her passion for dance, with a special focus on tap. Katie is thrilled to be joining Starpath and can’t wait to teach, inspire, and share her love of dance with students of all ages and levels.

Marley Pittman
​Dance Teacher

Marley Pittman has been dancing since she was two years old! She has learned from various instructors who have shaped her dance career. She has trained competitively in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, acrobatics, hip hop, and pompom. Miss Marley has also taken classes with the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders and made it to the final round of the Miami Dolphins Cheer auditions! She has an obsession with all things pink, and she will never turn down a visit to a coffee shop! 

Katie Pope
​Dance Teacher

Katie Pope has been dancing for 22 years in North Carolina. She graduated with a BFA in Dance Education from East Carolina University, where she received the Outstanding Senior Award for Dance Education. Following graduation, Katie was hired to open Green Level High School as the Dance Director and Varsity Dance Team coach. There she built and maintained a superior rated program and a nationally ranked dance team. Katie is excited to bring her experience and knowledge to Starpath and to work with kids of all ages!

Kalei Porter
​Dance Teacher

Kalei Porter is a dedicated dance instructor with over five years of teaching experience and two decades of training and performance in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and more. In college, Kalei trained through the Colleges of the Fenway Dance program and served as the co-President of the Simmons University Dance Company. Since then, Kalei has enjoyed fostering creativity and skill with students of all ages as a teacher at various studios.​

Nicole Reese
​Dance Teacher

​Originally from Central Arkansas, Nicole began her dance training at the age of 2 and has never stopped performing. She has studied all styles of dance but loves Jazz, Lyrical/Contemporary, Musical Theatre, and Hip Hop most. Throughout her life as a dancer, she attended convention and performed in local events! She grew up in the competitive dance world and was the director of the Competition Team at her home studio in Central Arkansas for six years before making the move to North Carolina. She has a passion for working with students of all ages and helping them find a love and passion for dance the way she did.

Devin Siebert
​Dance Teacher, ​Curriculum and Special Events Coordinator

Miss Devin has been dancing for 30 years, studying Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, and Hip Hop. She has taught dance at Starpath Dance Academy for the past 10 years! Before teaching at Starpath, Miss Devin planned and implemented her own dance curriculum at Get into GEARS, a recreation-based community center for kids and adults in Elizabethtown, PA. Miss Devin has degrees in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, and Special Education! She's taught first grade, second grade, and self contained special education. Miss Devin has a passion for working with and educating children.

Ella Volpe
Dance Teacher

Ella Volpe trained for 11 years prior to attending summer intensive programs at the Carolina Ballet and Boston Ballet. In 2019, Ella joined the School of Carolina Ballet on scholarship as a pre-professional student. There, she had opportunities to rehearse and perform with the company. ​She is currently a corp de ballet member.

Jené Ward
Dance Teacher

Miss Jene is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill where she was President, Choreographer and teacher for Blank Canvas — the same largest group on campus that Miss Lindsey was President of herself years ago! Jené loves all styles of dance and has been surrounded by it her entire life, as her mom owned a studio of her own for 20 years. Jené has been a dance teacher since high school and loves teaching kids of all ages!

STUDENT STAFF

Anvi Ambardar
Front Desk Receptionist

Bio coming soon!

Sydney Brown
Dance Teacher

Sydney has been dancing at Starpath since it opened in 2013, and she is currently a member of the Green Level High School Dance team. Sydney loves all styles of dance but competes her solo in tap. She has won numerous First Overall awards, Miss Competition, Scholarships, and Special Judges Awards for her flawless musicality and intricate steps. Sydney has been a Teaching Assistant at Starpath since 2019 and has led several Starpath social events. We are so excited to have her join us as an official teaching staff member!

Isabella Demasi
Front Desk Receptionist

Isabella is a fabulous Starpath student and student at Green Level High School. Isabella's favorite style of dance is Hip Hop. This season she won many awards for her Hip Hop solo, including First Overall and the "Natural" special judge's award. Isabella loves to answer all of your questions and help your dancers in and out of class! She works hard to ensure you have all the information you need!

Ella Hodak
Dance Teacher

Ella has been dancing since she was 2 years old! She has been attending Starpath since it opened in 2013, and has been on the Starlette competition team since 2015. She is currently a member of the Green Hope High School Dance Team, where she has led as a captain and choreographer. Ella has been a Teacher's Assistant at Starpath since 2017, and has experience leading classes, camps, and special events. Her favorite styles of dance include Hip Hop, Jazz, and Musical Theater.