OUR STAFF
Learn more about the owners, teachers and choreographers that make Maxine’s Dance Studio successful.

Maxine Chapman
Artistic Director and Founder

Kimberly Chapman
Artistic Co-Director
Is a graduate of Juilliard, and danced professionally with the Eliot Feld Ballet. She received two choreographic scholarships to Jacob’s Pillow in 1985 and 1986, received the Monticello Choreographic Award in 1987 and was the recipient of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA Dance Scholarship in 1987. She was on the dance faculty at University of Nevada at Las Vegas from 1996-1998, and was the ballet mistress of the VRDC from 1990–1996 …

Kassiday Gagliardi
Master Teacher

Dillon Shifferly
Master Teacher/Choreographer
GUEST TEACHERS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS
In addition to our outstanding teaching staff, upper level students regularly study with guest teachers and choreographers who maintain performing and choreographic commitments, bringing these perspectives to their classroom teaching. Many have attained graduate degrees in dance education and have won awards for their teaching. All are committed to our philosophy of dance education, which includes providing the atmosphere and training that will nurture both the potential artist and the dance student who studies only for the inherent rewards: self-discipline, physical fitness, and a greater appreciation of movement, music and the arts. These guest teachers are provided to the dancers at no additional fee.
Colby Damon: Born in Richmond VA he began his training at the Virginia School of the Arts. A former dancer with Ballet X he is their current class teacher.
Bruce McCormick: Juilliard Graduate/Former professional dancer with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Bavarian State Ballet in Munich, Germany and the Bern Ballet of Switzerland/Choreographer and Master Teacher/Former VRDC Dancer
James Ihde: Principle Dancer with Pennsylvania Ballet
Angelo Lemmo: Resident Choreographer and Faculty member at Canton Ballet
Gwen Baraniecki Zwil: Former Maxine’s Studio of Dance Student and VRDC dancer; Gwen is an NYU graduate and certified in the Horton Syllabus.