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

Erica Bennett
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 and Starlette Coordinator

Miss Toni double majored in Dance and Drama with a minor in Musical Theatre at UNC-Greensboro. ​She has worked professionally as a dancer and participated in several musicals and was the Dance Captain of South Pacific at Triad Stage. She was also dance captain of Heathers and Pippin at the University. She has experience teaching dance to ages 4-18 in a variety of styles.

Forrest Hershey
Dance Teacher

Forrest Hershey recently received their MFA in Dance from The Ohio State University where they were also awarded the Graduate Associate Teaching Award! Prior to attending OSU, Forrest toured as a performer with the West Virginia Dance Company and also taught workshops for thousands of K-12 students. They have also worked at the American Dance Festival for seven summers as the Audience Services Assistant. Forrest has been teaching styles including ballet, contemporary, jazz, stretch, improvisation, and more for eight years.

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.

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.​

Kailey Rabel
​Dance Teacher & Wellness Coordinator

Kailey has been dancing for 17 years, ever since watching her older sister’s dance recital. Kailey grew up in Aurora, CO, and has trained in many styles, including Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary, Musical Theater, and Hip Hop. After graduating high school, Kailey found her way to Oklahoma City University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in American Dance Pedagogy with a minor in Spanish. She taught dance classes to OCU students, where she learned more about her teaching style. Kailey loves bringing her joy and love of dance to young students, where she can create meaningful relationships while helping them grow their confidence.

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.

Sarah Roberts
​Front Office Manager

Sarah is a recent New Jersey transplant and is excited to join the Starpath team! Sarah grew up dancing competitively at her hometown studio and continued her love for dance on her university team. She has since stepped into professional roles where her passion for the arts is displayed through her care and dedication to creating a positive and productive office environment. Sarah is committed to ensuring that every dancer and family feels seen and supported throughout their time here at Starpath!

Devin Siebert
​Dance Teacher and Curriculum & 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.

Brittany Spartz
​Dance Teacher and Camp Manager

Miss Brittany has been dancing since she was four, and started competing at 12 in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Clogging, and Musical Theatre. Brittany discovered her true passion when she began teaching during her junior year of high school. She attended Meredith College, and earned a B.A. in Dance Studies and a B.S. in Business Administration, with a minor in Marketing. Brittany was a part of the Meredith Jazz and Tap Company, Meredith Dance Theatre, and President of Nu Delta Alpha. Brittany was a multi-year performer at the American College Dance Festival for three years and was chosen to dance under various guest artists including Julia Rhoads, Kristin Sudeikis, and Tina Marie Custer. Brittany also received numerous honors from faculty at Meredith such as the Outstanding Leadership and Metamorphosis awards.

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 recent 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

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!

Shaya Sharma
Front Desk Receptionist

Shaya is a member of the Starlette performance team and a student at Panther Creek High School. She also participates in her school dance team and enjoys volunteering in the community. Her favorite styles of dance are hip hop and contemporary! You will find Shaya working at the front desk when she is not in class.