Miss Arielle
Owner/Director
Although Arielle loves to dance, her true passion is teaching. She began dancing at the age of two and competing by the age of 6. Her dance training has taken her all over the United States. She spent most of her time as a dancer participating in Master Classes and National Dance Competitions in Las Vegas, New York City, Boston, and many other cities. Currently she spends her free time in Las Vegas and New York City taking classes with the best in the industry to bring back the most current dance styles to the Limelight Dance Center students. She also enjoys participating in Dance Studio Owner Workshops to continue making Limelight Dance Center the best that it can be. Arielle is passionate about making her studio a safe, nurturing, and exciting environment for all of her students! Arielle is proud to be supporting the community she was raised in! Limelight Dance Center currently offers multiple children in our community free dance on "Chance2dance Scholarship" for children that would otherwise not be able to afford to dance. She started Limelight Dance Center at the age of 18, over 12 years later Limelight is full of talented and dedicated dancers. As a graduate of UMASS Amherst's Isenberg School of Business, she has acquired the skills to run a well organized, successful business and she encourages and mentors all of her students to follow their dreams, passions, and educational opportunities.
Mr. Jason
Assistant Director
Head Choreographer
Jason Desjardins has been passionate about dancing since early childhood. He has competed in numerous dance competitions, demonstrating true dedication to his craft. In 2020, Jason began teaching dance and has continued to do so for the past four years at Limelight Dance Center. He is also devoted to advancing his skills, attending training at Dance Teacher Web Live & Dance Life Conferences and sharing the knowledge gained with his students. In addition to his dedication to teaching, Jason is certified in preschool acro dance with Acrobatic Arts and is competitive judge at both the regional and national level for dance competitions around the Northeast. Despite his commitment to teaching, Jason takes on other roles to gain a comprehensive understanding of the dance world and competition operations. He has performed in various live events, including backup dancing, live theater, and charity functions. Jason's goal is to empower his students, fostering confidence in a comfortable and inclusive environment.
Miss Rylee
Recreational & Competitive Teacher/Choreographer
Studio Coordinator
Rylee is a passionate and dedicated dance teacher with many years of experience in the dance industry. Rylee began dancing at the age of 3 and has been dedicated to the art ever since. Rylee is known for creating a nurturing and inspiring environment where dancers of all ages and skill levels can thrive. With a strong background in Jazz, Acrobatics, Tap, Ballet, and Contemporary, Rylee emphasizes technique, creativity, and personal growth in each class. Rylee is certified in Acrobatic Arts Module One and is dedicated to continuing her education by attending dancing and teacher conferences each year in Las Vegas and on the East Coast. Rylee is committed to helping students discover their unique potential and express themselves through the art of dance.
Miss Jordan
Recreational & Competitive Teacher/Choreographer
Administrative Assistant
Jordan's dance journey began at the tender age of 3, training in jazz, tap, lyrical, and ballet under the guidance of Joanne Galavotti at Joanne’s School of Dance in Palmer, MA. As she grew, Jordan began dancing competitively, particularly excelling in hip-hop. Her passion for the performing arts expanded to musical theater, where she started participating in community and regional productions at age 7.
At 12, Jordan enrolled at Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School (Class of 2019), where she studied dance, music, and musical theater. During her time there, she performed in various productions, including Little Shop of Horrors, A Chorus Line, and Urinetown. In high school, Jordan performed with Starlight Youth Theater, serving as a lead dancer and student choreographer for their production of Newsies. Her talent and dedication led to her being hired by Starlight to choreograph their production of Fiddler on the Roof during her freshman year of college.
In 2021, Jordan earned her first professional acting credit in Brother’s Wright, produced by Scantic River Productions, and later became an intern and assistant to the Artistic Director. She pursued higher education at Dean College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 2023. At Dean, Jordan studied musical theater, dance, and liberal arts, training in tap, jazz, hip-hop, musical theater, ballet, and modern dance under the tutelage of esteemed professors with professional accolades.
Jordan has received further training attending both the Dance Teacher Web Life Conference and Dance Life Conference. Taking classes in Choreography, Classroom Management and style specific master classes such as Acro, Contemporary, Jazz funk and more.
Jordan is passionate about teaching and dance, aiming to inspire and create a positive environment where her students can thrive, find joy, and cultivate their love for dance
Miss Meg
Recreational & Competitive Teacher/Choreographer
Competition Coordinator
With over a decade of teaching experience, Meg began her passion for dancing over 20 years ago, in New York where she grew up with her background in both the pre-professional and competitive dance circuits. Due to this experience, Meg brings a unique blend of expertise and artistry to the dance studio. Meg is a certified AcroArts instructor and has attended several teaching conferences including Dance Teacher Web and Dance Life. Fueled by a relentless drive for excellence, Meg honed her craft through rigorous training in various dance styles, from classical ballet to acro, jazz, tap and beyond. The dedication and talent propelled her into the professional dance scene, where they flourished under the guidance of renowned mentors and instructors. Meg remained committed to her own artistic journey, pursuing a professional dance career while simultaneously attending university during both her undergraduate and graduate studies. This unique blend of academic rigor and real-world performance experience informs Meg's teaching style, offering students a comprehensive understanding of dance as both an art form and a discipline.
Miss Audra
Competitive Choreographer
Audra Briggs began her ballet training under the guidance of Noble Barker of New Haven Ballet. Later, she entered the competition and convention circuit, where she earned many titles and scholarships, both at the regional and national level. During her younger years, she appeared in print advertising for Pepsi, Lever2000, and Family Fun Magazine. Audra's commercial appearances include Hasbro, State of Ct, and Macy's. She attended the University of Connecticut, earning a B.S. in Pathobiology and Veterinary Sciences. While at UCONN, Audra was a member of the Division 1A nationally ranked UCONN Dance Team. She was nominated and selected as a National Dance Alliance Collegiate All-American in 2012 and 2013. Audra has appeared on ESPN, CBS, ABC, and the NBC Today Show representing the UCONN Spirit, Pride and Tradition Program. Audra had the privilege of cheering on the Huskies to win dual NCAA basketball national championships. She has been teaching since 2010 and has won numerous choreography awards. In class, Audra emphasizes precision, confidence, and musicality and hopes to develop each of her students to their full potential. She believes dance is the perfect balance between athleticism and artistry. Audra also works with high school and college dance teams in the New England area; choreographing for game performances and helping them prepare for competitions. Audra is a company member of The Dance Collective in Hartford. She is a Senior Mako Product Specialist for Stryker Orthopaedics, educating surgeons how to use the Mako robotic arm for primary joint replacements