Stepping Stone Dance Studio

Nikki Cordero began dancing at the age of 3 under Knecht Dance Academy. She has been trained in Ballet, tap, modern, lyrical, jazz, acrobatics, pointe, and hip-hop. She passionately competed in dance for 6 years, including regional and national competitions. She performed in many different shows for Eclipse Dance Company and graduated from Wendys Dance Center. Nikki attends Bucks County Community College and is majoring in Business Administration. In 2009, Nikki taught ballet, tap, and a ballet/tap combo at a studio called Cherubini?s Arts Academy in Burlington, NJ. She also taught modern, ballet, and hip-hop at Carol Wilsons Studio One for two years. Nikki is also a licensed ZUMBA Dance Fitness Instructor. She is certified in ZUMBA fitness, Zumbatomic (ZUMBA for children), and ZUMBA Toning. She attended ZUMBA fitness instructor classes and dance workshops at the 2011 ZUMBA Fitness Convention in Orlando, Florida. She currently teaches at two different locations and will now be holding classes at Stepping Stone Dance Studio. For 3 years, Nikki worked for Sesame Place Theme Park in the Entertainment department. She was a dancer in the theme park’s shows and parades and worked well with many children. Currently, she is employed under all Neshaminy elementary school’s after school program called Neshaminy Kids Club. Nikki is the dance instructor for the program. She has completed a hip-hop program, jazz program, and Zumbatomic for the children.

Chelsea began dancing at the age of 4 under Joyce Lehman at Turning Pointe Performing Arts Academy and then moved onto Carol Wilson Studio One at the age of 8 under Carol Wilson, Andrea Slavin, Kim McManamon, Rachel Grisi, and Michelle Galione. She had the opportunity to participate in the Rockette Experience at the age of 10 in NYC at the Radio City Music Hall.  Once Chelsea was of age she joined the Avalon Dance Company. During her time at CWS1 she performed in numerous productions including the Nutcracker, Twas the Night Before Christmas, The Little Match girl in which she held the title role, Enchanted Toy Shoppe in which she held the role as the Ballerina Doll, and in Winterbrook: The Legend of Princess Harmony where she also held the lead role. During her time with the Avalon Dance Co. she was given the opportunity to choreograph for her fellow peers and at the young age of 13 she had won best choreography by studio audience vote. Chelsea also studied under Rachel Grisi and The Nest where she performed at BCCC in the Nest's production of The Four Seasons and the Nutcracker where she held lead role of Dew Drop Fairy. After graduating from BCTHS; Chelsea joined the InArc Dance Project as one of their youngest members. During Chelsea's years of dance she studied Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Lyrical, Acrobatics, Hip Hop, and Stretch. Chelsea taught teen ballet 1 year at Just To Dance and she also taught Kinder, Ballet, Tap, and Acro for Dance Strong Dance Academy. Chelsea works full time as a Dental Assistant at Steven Dannin DDS in Holland, PA.

Melanie began dancing under the instruction of Carol Wilson in 2002 at Carol Wilson Studio One and continued dancing with Stepping Stone Dance Studio beginning in 2011. During her school years she studied jazz, modern, lyrical, ballet, stretch, and acro. From 2007-2011, Melanie participated in Bristol Riverside Theatre’s Artrageous summer program, which taught skills in script writing, acting, singing, and dance and provided the opportunity to participate in local theatre performances. Melanie graduated from Arcadia University in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and Italian studies. During college, she was a member of Arcadia's Knight Club, dancing in a recital each semester and choreographing two pieces of her own. She has also volunteered for the Puerto Rican Cultural Association Bucks County, teaching children traditional folkloric dance. In addition to assistant teaching at Stepping Stone, Melanie works in Philadelphia as a case manager for families of children with autism spectrum disorder.

 Michelle started dancing when she was 4 years old. She has been trained in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, pointe, hip-hop, and Irish dancing. She studied for 15 years at the Just to Dance Studio under Dana Pirollo. Michelle graduated from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Leisure and Sport Studies. During her time at Kutztown she was President and Vice President of the Black Flame Dance Team. After college Michelle worked at the Lower Bucks Family YMCA in Fairless Hills where she created a dance program there teaching ballet, tap and hip-hop programs. Currently Michelle is in school studying for a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology. Michelle enjoys taking master classes and has taken classes with choreographers such as Will “Willdabeast” Adams, Nicole Kirkland, and Phil Wright. In August of last year Michelle received her Zumba instructor license and is a Zumba substitute teacher and assistant at SSDS.   

Miss Sam has been dancing her whole life.  She started at the age of four at Carol Willson Studio One and continued her dancing career at Stepping Stone Dance Studio.  Through her many years at SSDS she studied a vast array of styles including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Broadway Jazz, Modern, Hiphop, Stretch, Lyrical & Acrobatics, taking a special interest in Jazz and Tap.  Sam was also a member of the SSDS Performance Dance Team for Nine Years.  Performances include numerous sports events; Sixers & Harlem Globetrotters Games, local community parades, fundraisers, Studio Spring Productions, Disney performance, Holiday Shows, and many more.  Her most notable role was Alice, in “Alice in Winter Wonderland.”  Sam started student assisting at the age of 12 at SSDS.  Sam recently graduated from Harry S. Truman High School with honors and is currently a student at Arcadia University majoring in early education and special education.  Sam is very excited to be back with her SSDS family and looks forward to sharing her gift and love of dance with the next generation of dancers.

Miss Cassidy started dance at Stepping Stone Dance Studio at the age of 12 years old.  She has studied Ballet, Pointe, Hiphop, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Broadway Jazz, and Stretch.  Cassidy was also a member of the SSDS Performance Dance Team for the last 3 years.  Performances include numerous sports events; Sixers & Harlem Globetrotters Games, local community parades, fundraisers, Studio Spring Productions, Disney performance, Holiday Shows, and many more.  Her most outstanding role was ”Gretel”, in Hansel & Gretel’s Winter Adventure.   Cassidy started student assisting at the age of 13 at SSDS.  She recently graduated from Harry S. Truman High School with honors and is currently a student at Penn State University studying in Hospitality Management.  Cassidy has always felt that the studio was her second home, and she cannot wait to share her passion of dance with our SSDS Dance family.