OUR TEAM
Amanda Cacciotti
OWNER/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Miss Amanda began taking dance lessons at the age of 4. She has been sharing her passion of dance and mentor-ship with her students for over 15 years. She has been technically trained in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Acro, Contemporary, Lyrical and has competed locally and on the national level for many years. She is Acrobatic Arts AAC1 certified and has completed Teacher Training through More Than Just Great Dancing™. She continues to study dance education with famous choreographers and educators as she attends dance seminars and workshops across the country every year. She is certified through Youth Protection Advocates in Dance, and is CPR and AAD certified. As a graduate of the Dance Masters of America’s Teacher’s Training School held at the University of Buffalo, she is certified to teach by Dance Master’s of America and is a proud member of chapter #8.
Nicole Cimato
MUSICAL THEATRE, LYRICAL, JAZZ, TAP
Nicole studied Theatre and dance at University at Buffalo. She has performing professionally for over 15 years both locally and regionally. Some her past credits include Evita at Tennessee Repertory Theatre. She has performed in over a dozen musicals at artpark, Copa Cabana, Full Monty, Fame, and Swing to name a few. She has worked locally for Theatres such as MusicalFare, Kavinoky and O’Connell and company. Nicole has taught Musical Theatre and Jazz and done Musical Theatre master classes for local dance studios. She has also choreographed musicals for high schools in the area. She is looking forward to working at Celebrity Dance Emporium and teaching new students the joy of dance, acting and singing.
Jackie Bartels
PRESCHOOL, JAZZ, TAP
Jackie is a graduate of Niagara County Community College with a degree in Applied Science. She has been dancing since the age of 4. Her studies have included Tap, Jazz, Ballet, and Musical Theater. Jackie has also taught Kinderdance in the community for 13 years. Jackie completed Teacher training through More Than Just Great Dancing™ and is a AAC1 certified Acrobatic Arts instructor. Jackie loves working with children of all ages and encouraging the love of dance. Jackie Lives in Clarence with her husband and two daughters. Jackie is very excited to be part of the Celebrity Dance team and community!
Morgan Bartels
JAZZ, TAP
Morgan has been dancing since the age of 5 in her home town of Clarence, NY. She has studied in almost every genre of dance with a focus in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical and Hip Hop. Morgan has danced competitively for most of her dance career and she has spent the last 5 years as a part of the Celebrity IP team. Morgan believes that the purpose of dance is not only for the body but for the mind and spirit as well. Morgan is a graduate of Celebrity’s Assistant Teacher Mentor Program and will begin the Dance Master's of America Teacher Training School. Morgan is currently attending Bryant and Stratton College pursuing a degree in Medical Reimbursement and Coding. With a drive for success and a tender heart towards the lives of her students, she is thrilled to be part of the Celebrity Dance team!
Adeline Brown
JAZZ, TAP, ACRO, BALLET
Adeline has been dancing since the age of 3 and has grown up at Celebrity Dance Emporium. She has danced competitively for Celebrity’s intensive team for many years, training in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Hip Hop, and Lyrical. Adeline graduated from CDE's Assistant Teacher Mentor Program, as well as completed Teacher training through More Than Just Great Dancing®. She has been teaching at CDE since 2018 while completing her nursing degree. She is now also working as a nurse in the NICU! She is thrilled to be back at her childhood studio doing what she loves most, teaching dance and watching children grow!
Melaina Ranger
PRESCHOOL, FRONT DESK
Melaina grew up a dancing since the age of 3 at Celebrity Dance Emporium. She has trained in Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet, Acro, Hip Hop and Contemporary. She danced competitively for 5 years. Melaina has recently completed CDE's Assistant Teacher Mentor Program and has been assisting for 6 years. She will be attending UB in the fall for Marketing as well as teaching and working the front desk at Celebrity. Melaina is so excited to join the CDE team and make a difference in her students lives!
Nicole McDonald
TAP, JAZZ, HIP HOP
Lydia Detrow
BALLET
Lydia was born and raised in Ohio and began dancing when she was five years old. She studied Ballet and Pointe all the way through high school. Lydia attended summer intensives at Ballet Magnificat, and after graduation she joined Light of the World Ballet (LWB) in Syracuse, New York. While there she participated full time professional dance training, teacher training, and also performed with the company throughout New York, and also overseas in Israel. Upon completing LWB’s trainee program in 2015 she returned to her home state of Ohio. During that time she began doing her own teaching and founded Inspired Movement Dance Studio, where she served as director and teacher. She is excited that the doors have opened for her to move back to the state of New York, and to join the staff of Celebrity Dance Emporium. She looks forward to getting to know the students and families!
Hannah Dodge
PRESCHOOL
Hannah is a Western New York native who has been dancing since the age of three. Throughout her dance education Hannah has studied and taught Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Modern, Contemporary and Musical Theater. Hannah graduated from Eastern Michigan University with her Bachelors Degree in Public Relations and minor in Dance. After college she moved to North Carolina where she started her family and continued to teach dance for 10 years. Hannah returned to the Buffalo area in 2019 and started working with Roy Hart High School to choreograph and co-produce their annual musical. Hannah found Celebrity Dance in 2020 when looking for a dance studio for her daughters and fell in love with the quality of dance education and feeling of community CDE provided. She is thrilled to now not only be a CDE dance mom, but a Celebrity Dance team member as well!
Rebecca Ferguson
PRESCHOOL, TAP, JAZZ, HIP HOP, ACRO
Rebecca has been dancing since the age of 8 and grew up at Celebrity Dance Emporium. She danced competitively on Celebrity’s IP team for eight years and trained in a variety of styles including tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, and musical theater. Rebecca graduated from CDE’s Assistant Teacher Mentor Program and has been teaching in both regular schools and at the JCC school of dance throughout her undergraduate studies. She just graduated from Binghamton University with a BS in Biology and is now taking a gap year before continuing on with her education. She is so incredibly excited to be back at her childhood studio, helping bring the joy of dance to the next generation!
Betsy Hendricks
OFFICE MANAGER
Betsy is a Western New York native and started dancing at 10 years old in her hometown. She graduated from SUNY Fredonia with a bachelor's degree in Speech Pathology. She loves connecting with parents and students at the studio, and loves seeing the progress each child makes from the first day of class to the last. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, crafting, traveling, and relaxing near just about any body of water. Betsy lives in Clarence with her husband and three beautiful children. She is excited and humbled to be a part of such an incredible team at Celebrity Dance!
Madison Heburn
ACCOUNTS AUDITOR
Madison is a graduate of Niagara University with a degree in Biology. She is currently attending LeMoyne College for her Masters in Physician Assistant Studies. She has been dancing since she was 3 and was a student at Celebrity Dance Emporium since the age of 6. She has trained in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Musical Theater, and Modern including dancing competitively in Tap for many years. Madison is a graduate of Celebrity’s Assistant Teacher Mentor Program and taught at the studio for two years after graduating high school. Madison is grateful to be able to continue to work for her childhood studio and is excited to watch the studio grow!