Huntington Dance Theatre Faculty

Huntington
Dance Theatre

Faculty

It is important to know the people that make the entity. HDT is
extraordinarily lucky to have a teaching staff with a
wide range of talents and personalities from broad and varying
dance backgrounds. The combined teaching
experience is unparalleled and HDT is proud of its teacher’s
ongoing dance education, training and performance.

Maria Aiello - Instructor, began dancing at age 3 with January's Academy
of Dance in Charleston, WV. Maria continued her dance training with the
River City Youth Ballet, joining the Charleston Ballet as an apprentice in
2001 and as a company member in 2003. Maria began dancing at HDT
in 2007, and after taking a year’s break, is overjoyed to be back to teach,
choreograph, and perform. Maria has also performed with
the Children's Theatre of Charleston and danced at the Catholic
Congress in Charleston. In addition to her continuous training, Maria has
studied with Miguel Campaneria, Duncan Noble, Ronnie DeMarco, David
Howard, Christopher Fleming, Freddie Fourie, Yves de Boutellier, Rob
Royce, Luis Montego and Kim Pauley. Maria has performed in the
Nutcracker with Huntington Dance Theatre, the Charleston Ballet,
Alabama Ballet, Moscow Ballet and Ballet South. Nutcracker roles include:
Angel, Ginger Snap, Mouse, Spanish, Chinese, Arabian, Dew Drop,
Flowers, Snow, and Snow Queen. Other performances include: The
Seasons, Les Partineurs, My Many Colored Days, Green Mansions,
Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Coppelia, Paquita, Alice in Wonderland and
Play Ball. Outside the studio, Maria is a working toward her M.A. in Clinical
Mental Health Counseling. She also works as a mentor at the College
Program for Students with Asperger Syndrome and the librarian in the
Autism Training Center library.

Melissa Buchanan - Instructor, began dancing at the age of 2 with Nancy's
School of Dance, eventually joining Huntington Dance Workshop under
the instruction of Mary Marcuzzi, continuing through to become a company
member with Huntington Dance Theatre where she danced until the age
of 21. Melissa took a hiatus for several years, marrying Jonathan (now
husband of 11 years), obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing and had
two beautiful children, Mackenzie and Brody. In addition to choreography
for HDT,   Melissa has coached several award winning cheer leading
squads. Melissa is currently a Registered Nurse working as the District
Nurse for Fairland Local Schools.

Molly Daniel aka “Miss Molly” - Guest Instructor, began dancing the Fall
1990 under the instruction of Mary Marcuzzi; she wanted to follow her
sisters, Amy and Laura, onto the stage. While she has performed many
roles with HDT's "Nutcracker", Molly has realized several of her dance
dreams by performing the role of "Clara" in 1999 and (as her personal
favorite) the Sugar Plum Fairy for the past 6 years. She has trained with a
variety of instructors ranging from David Howard and Duncan Noble at the
WV Festival to Nina Danilova from NCSA and travelled to Ballet Theatre
Midwest for a summer intensive. Within the area, Molly has advanced her
knowledge of the art of dance by studying with Ms. Ella Hay at the
Art Center of Dance and other local studios in the tri-state area; she firmly
believes that, as an instructor, continuing dance education is the mark of
a successful performer and instructor. In addition to teaching and
creating curriculum at HDT, Molly has created and organized dance
workshops within the community for the HMOA's Kids Art program as well
as the Marshall University Writing Project. Currently, she is far from home in
Tallahassee pursuing her PhD at Florida State University in Rhetoric and
Composition. While here, she plans upon participating in the rich dance
community the university offers as well as surrounding studios to
continue her dance education and keep her "in her happy place."
Huntington Dance Theatre will always be her home and have a special
place in her heart; she is incredibly proud and awed by her dancers at HDT
that she will see periodically as she drops in for classes and cannot wait
to share her new knowledge she will inevitably gain while away.
Merde, HDT, Merde.

‘bekah Finlay – Instructor, began dancing at age 3 with Huntington Dance
Theatre. HDT has been her home for instruction and performance while
she has also received instruction from guest instructors at many dance
festivals, etc. ‘bekah has worked closely with Donald Laney for Modern
dance development. ‘bekah has been an assistant in several dance
classes for HDT and is now pleased to assume instruction
responsibilities during her senior year. ‘bekah is a 4.0+ student at
Huntington High School where she is part of the Honors Program and
involved in many clubs and activities and where she is a teaching
assistant for a Special Education class. In addition to dancing featured
roles such as “Clara” and “Snow Queen” in The Nutcracker, ‘bekah’s
dancing highlights include her selection to the Cincinnati Ballet Summer
Dance program in 2011.

Laura Finlay - Co-director, began dancing at 5 through the YMCA and then
moved to Huntington Dance Workshop under the instruction of Dr. Mary
Marcuzzi from Beckley Dance Theater studying ballet, jazz, modern and
tap. She also studied with many other instructors and has continued her
dance study into adulthood. Laura apprenticed into Huntington Dance
Theatre at 11 performing with HDT and Beckley Dance Theater. Laura
assisted classes at 13, taught the apprentice level at 16, and has been
teaching ever since. Laura has participated in many workshops and
annually attends WV Dance Festival. She has organized and hosted
dance/movement
workshops for WV Governor's Honors Academy, Huntington Museum of
Art and within local schools. Her works have been selected for
performance at WV Dance Festival. Laura completed her Master's Degree
(Public Administration) in December of 2000 and began her career at the
Department of Veterans Affairs in April of 2001. Laura is married to Chris
and they have one daughter, ‘bekah, a company member with HDT. It has
been Laura’s pleasure to be part of the HDT family and friends for
30 years.

Anna Lafferre – Instructor, began dancing at age three in Morgantown, WV
before moving to Huntington at age four and beginning ballet and tap with
Jackie Stillwell at The Dancing Place. Anna joined Huntington Dance
Theatre in 1994 and was selected to dance her dream role, Clara in The
Nutcracker, for the first time in 1997. Over the years Anna has performed
such roles as Dewdrop Fairy, Gypsy Doll and Rat King, and was again
selected as Clara for her senior Nutcracker performance in 2001. Upon
graduating high school, Anna attended Shepherd University where she
was Student Government President and Homecoming Chair and
graduated in 2006 with a major in Political Science and a minor in Mass
Communications. She then moved to Prague, Czech Republic where she
taught English at an international preschool. After two years living and
working in Washington, DC, Anna is now back at Huntington Dance
Theatre, as a company member, instructor and choreographer, teaching
Creative Movement, her favorite class, as well as company classes.
Recently, Anna was selected to dance the role of Guardian Angel in The
Nutcracker, a role she has always wanted, and the part that made her
believe dreams still come true, even when you're old! She annually
attends West Virginia Dance Festival and HDT’s summer intensive.
Outside of the studio, Anna is the Development Officer at the Huntington
Museum of Art and an active member of the Huntington Young
Professionals and Junior League and is working on her Master's in
Journalism at Marshall University. She lives in Huntington with her favorite
"person," her sweet rabbit, baby Snickers.

Danielle Lewis - Artistic Director, began dancing with the Huntington
Dance Workshop at age 3 and was an original cast member of HDT’s
1981 Nutcracker, cast as “Clara” at the age of 6. Danielle teaches and
choreographs with HDT and has performed in every performance of the
Nutcracker. Danielle is most closely identified with her Nutcracker role of
Snow Queen that was hers for 10 years. Danielle has choreographed
countless works for HDT’s Nutcracker and concerts, many of which have
been chosen for performance at the WV Dance Festival. Danielle works
in the Radiology Dept at Cabell Huntington Hospital.
The accomplishment of which she is most proud is her beautiful
daughter Olivia.

Jamie Turner - Director, began dancing in Huntington at age 4 with
Dickinson School of Dance. She subsequently studied in Phoenix, AZ with
a focus on ballet in addition to gymnastics, jazz, tap and other disciplines.
Upon returning to Huntington, Jamie studied with both Joanna Dinkins
and Ella Hay. Jamie joined HDT's company in 1995. Amongst others,
she has performed Nutcracker roles such as Marzipan, Ballerina Doll,
Gypsy Doll and the Sugar Plum Fairy. Jamie has taught for HDT and has
choreographed often, including works chosen for performance at the WV
Dance Festival. In 2000 Jamie moved to Pittsburgh, PA where she
continued to study dance at Point Park University under the instruction of
Madeline Adams of the Romanian National Ballet and with Pittsburgh
Ballet Theatre, under the instruction of Bob Vickrey, assistant to the Artistic
Director and former dancer with the San Francisco and Harkness
Ballets.    In 2006 - 2008 Jamie moved to the Philadelphia area,
continuing to study dance with various top ranked companies and schools.
Jamie has a BBA from Marshall University and a MBA from Point Park
University. She is currently a Human Capital Leader with Humana, Inc. in
Louisville, KY. Jamie continues to perform and teach
with HDT and has been operating as HDT's director since 12/2004.

Assistants
Abigail Hensley
Dominique Neff