Winter Workshop - Jan 17, 2027

Jordan, a native of West Palm Beach, Florida, graduated from The Juilliard School in May of 2015. Jordan danced at Thomas Dance Studio from the age of five, and later moved on to study dance at Alexander W. Dreyfoos High School of the Arts. Jordan has trained in ballet, among many other techniques including Limón, Horton, Gaga, Graham, contemporary partnering, contact improvisation, and tap. He furthered his training by attending Springboard Danse Montreal and multiple Joffrey Ballet Summer programs. Jordan has worked with many talented teachers and choreographers including Lawrence Rhodes, Risa Steinberg, Troy Powell, Andra Corvino, Francisco Martinez, Alphonse Poulin, Loni Landon, and Larry Keigwin. Jordan danced professionally with Lar Lubovitch and James Sewell Ballet where he performed on stages across North America. While dancing for James Sewell Ballet, he served as the company event coordinator, rehearsal director, and choreographer. He has been teaching dance for over a decade at multiple studios, summer programs, and conventions in Florida, Minnesota, Michigan, Montana, Colorado, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Jordan is also a professional photographer and videographer that specializes in dance and weddings. He and his wife, Deanna Lefton, now own and operate Lefton Dance Complex and Relevé and Sparkle Co. 

Anna is a dance teacher and award winning choreographer based in Massachusetts. While younger, she danced competitively, and found her true passion not to be on the stage, but rather creating pieces for it and developing the artistry behind them. Anna trained in all styles growing up, as well as taking dance classes at the collegiate level; she holds a degree in Psychology with a minor in Childhood Studies, allowing her to put her students' well-being at the forefront of their training. Anna believes in lifelong learning and regularly continues her Tap education through drop in classes, conventions, and online platforms from educators across the country. Anna's work in Tap focuses on celebrating its history & drilling its technique, then using that strength to fuse styles and create bold emotional storytelling. Anna finds that the perfect blend in a Tap class includes her students seeking out joy, while connecting to their artistry and growth. It is truly the greatest honor to share both the love and the curiosity of dance with her students.

Riley is a freelance dance artist, choreographer, and educator from New Hampshire. She began dancing at the age of three at her family’s studio, NH School of Ballet, where she trained extensively in a wide range of dance styles. In 2023, she graduated summa cum laude from Montclair State University with a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography.

Throughout her professional career, Riley has had the privilege of performing works by renowned choreographers including Ohad Naharin, Doug Varone, Stefanie Batten Bland, Paul Taylor, and Roderick George, among others. She toured internationally as an artist with Gaspard & Dancers contemporary company, performing in Romania and Armenia. Riley later joined Kizuna Dance under the direction of Cameron McKinney, and had the opportunity to perform in Japan! Riley has also performed at the New York City A.C.E. Awards, earning a Top Three Finalist placement, and also at the Dance Educators Collective in Nashville.

For nearly a decade, Riley has shared her passion for dance through teaching and choreography. She has also co-directed and curated a summer dance intensive alongside her sister for the past seven years. She is passionate about creating an encouraging, inclusive environment where dancers are inspired to grow, take risks, and express themselves authentically. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes sharing artistry with others—not proving it—while helping each student build confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of movement!

Derrick began his formal training in his hometown of Southwick, Massachusetts, studying ballet, jazz, tap, and acrobatics with his teacher and mentor Brenda Barna, and grew up dancing and competing in the Dance Masters of New England community. He continued his training at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Performing Arts and New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

As a performer, Derrick has danced with Ballet Hispanico of New York, Battleworks Dance Company, The Joffrey Concert Dancers, Koresh Dance Company, Northern Connecticut Ballet, and A.S.H. Contemporary. Additional credits include the First National Tour of "Footloose," the European tours of "Evita" and "West Side Story," Radio City Music Hall's "Christmas Spectacular," Walt Disney World's "Kids of the Kingdom," and the world premiere of the opera "Le Cid" starring Placido Domingo.

His choreography has been commissioned by ABC Television for the Boscov's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Sunoco's Welcome America 4th of July Parade, the Barrymore Awards, and the Philadelphia 76ers Dance Team.

Derrick has served on the faculties of Steps on Broadway, The Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet, Connecticut College, and The National Theater Institute, and as Artistic Director of the pre-professional companies Z Artists Group and Bridge Dance Concepts. He teaches master classes, choreographs, and adjudicates for studios and dance organizations across the United States and Canada.