Staff | International Dance & Fitness Academy | United States

Michelle Mauro

Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Creative Movement &Dance Fitness

Michelle Mauro is a CT native where she has been teaching for the past 32 years as owner and director of Kiks Dance Center. Her back round in dance includes many styles such as Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Creative Movement & Dance Fitness. While beginning her career directly out of High School she was still able to train with many professional companies such as Broadway Dance Center (NYC), Joe Tremaine (LA), Frank Hatchett, Luigi, Mia Michaels, and many more. Her mission is to keep the classic training of knowing your basics while always reaching the students by staying updated with new school styles.

Joey Army

Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical & Modern/Contemporary

Joey studied dance at Vassar College where he was a principle in the Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre company. During this time he intensely studied ballet with John Meehan, a former principle with The Australian National Ballet, and pointe with Miriam Mahadaviani, a former soloist in New York City Ballet. He is also well versed in various schools of modern learning Graham, Taylor, and Limone techniques from principles within the respective companies. Joey has had the opportunity to perform many famous works in repertory including Paul Taylor's "Aureole," Mark Morris's "Grand Duo," and Balachine's "Valse Fantasie" where he had the incredible opportunity to work with famed NYCB dancer Merrill Ashley. Joey has also been a part of the original construction and staging of pieces for various New York based dance companies, such as Alvin Ailey and Takehiro Ueyama.

Julia Maranzano

Hip Hop, Ballet, Jazz, Creative Movement (Tap/Jazz)

Julia has been dancing for over 13 years, training in styles including tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, modern, and most recently, pointe. She has seven years of experience as an assistant teacher for children’s classes aged three years and was awarded Most Valuable Player. Julia is a veteran member and captain of KDC’s ELEV8 Dance Company, where she has participated in many competitions, conventions and workshops, and trained with world renowned choreographers. In her free time, Julia dances in her home studio and takes classes from different teachers of all styles at Broadway Dance Center in NY and Double up Dance Studio in Fairfield, CT . She is looking forward to working with the children and helping their love of dance continue to grow just as hers does everyday.

Byanka Goode

Dance Fitness

Byanka is a certified COMMIT Instructor along with many other formats including MixxedFit, Turnup and Resistance Band Workouts.
* COMMIT-Dynamic funfilled HIIT style dance workout that is taught in levels to introduce movement and modifications to ensure success!
*GRIT- 30 minute High Intensity Interval training. This workout uses barbells & Body weight exercises to blast major muscle groups.

Her passion for Dance, Fitness & Nutrition goes back to her training when she was a young girl. Her father was an Instructor of the Ballet De Folklorico where Byanka learned to perfect and perform her traditional Mexican Folk Dance for 20 years.