THE JUDGES

**FERNANDO**
Teacher, Choreographer, and Adjudicator, Fernando Naranjo, has extensive experience teaching classes and workshops at numerous schools and studios / competitions / conventions around the US. His broad, rich and varied dance training affords him expertise as an instructor in Contemporary, Tap, Jazz, Musical Theater, and Latin Dance. Choreography credits include setting pieces on a variety of studios and schools to “Hip Hip Chin Chin”, “The Tornado”, “Surfin”, “Black & Gold” and “Love In The Dark” as well as creating a tribute to Celia Cruz. Co-Owner of The Power Of Three Training Intensive, A well rounded dancer, his performing credits include company membership in The Showbiz Dancers, performing on the stage of The Kennedy Center as well as a wide variety of other venues. He has worked with and trained under such dance luminaries as Shawn Cosby, Derrick Evans, Bonnie Slawson, and Julio Agustin

**RACHEL**
When she needs to get somewhere, Rachel doesn’t walk there; she dances. You may even catch her tap dancing down grocery store aisleways. Rachel is a dance educator, choreographer, and dancer from Ohio who has been dancing since the age of three. Her passion followed her to the University of Cincinnati where she attended musical theatre classes at the UC College Conservatory of Music and was a member of the UC Dance Team. She is trained in numerous styles of dance including jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, musical theatre, modern, contemporary, and more.
Following college, Rachel danced and choreographed for several professional dance teams in the midwest, including the MLL Ohio Dance Machine. She has choreographed for over 20 years, and in that time, achieved numerous choreography awards and created multiple award-winning routines at regional, national, and world competitions.
Rachel taught in the education sector at performing arts academies and has a State of Ohio Department of Education 5 Year Professional Designated Subject (Dance K-12) License. Along with her extensive dance education, she is a certified member of Dance Masters of America Chapter 16, having tested in ballet and tap. She continues to share her love of dance as she performs with New Vision Dance Company and adjudicates at dance competitions throughout the midwest and east coast.
What she loves most about dance is using her experience to connect, educate, and inspire the next generation.
In addition to dancing, Rachel enjoys acting, and her credits include commercials and movies such as “The Last Summer” (2019), “Cherry” (2021), and “Sweet Girl” (2022). She has was formerly crowned Miss London Ohio USA and Mrs. Columbus Ohio and is currently the reigning Mrs. Buckeye State Captivating titleholder.

**ANDREA**
Andrea has been dancing for over 20 years and has been sharing her talents as an educator for more than a decade. She is the co-owner/artistic director of the Bucks County School of Performing Arts in Doylestown, PA. She received her formal training at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia under mentor, Scott Jovovich and other excellent Faculty such as Zane Booker and Christine Cox (Ballet X). As a student of Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Modern, she has also worked with Princeton Dance & Theatre under the guidance of Susan Jaffe. She has performed throughout the Tri-State Area in landmark venues such as The Merriam and Painted Bride Theatres, and was a regular at the historic Bucks County Playhouse for several years. Among her numerous Regional Theatre Performances, some favorites include A Chorus Line, Cabaret, 42nd Street, The Wedding Singer, Footloose, Oklahoma!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Jesus Christ Superstar. As a choreographer, her work has earned her great praise from Main Stage Credits across New Jersey Regional Theatres and with other Performance Based Dance Programs in The Greater Philadelphia Area. Her work with the BCPA Dance Company has been the recipient of Technical Excellence, Choreography, Creativity, and Best Director Awards. Most recently, Miss Andrea led her team to many victories which included several nominations for the Industry Dance Awards.

**AMY**
Amy Eileen is a distinguished studio owner, choreographer, performer, model, and dance educator originally from Northern Pennsylvania. As the Artistic Director of Premiere Danse Academy in Lancaster, PA, Amy leads with a passion for the performing arts. She frequently guest teaches at studios across Pennsylvania, New York, and Canada.
Amy holds degrees and credits in education and the performing arts from Misericordia University, St. Joseph’s University, and New York University Tisch School of the Arts. She serves on the National Dance Education Organization’s National Awards Committee and is the founder of The Tap Intensive, which brings premier tap training to Pennsylvania. Additionally, she is a tap educator at Greater York Dance It Forward and a dance educator for the Movement and Music program at the YWCA.
Her choreography has been featured in high school musicals, community theaters, and regional theaters. Amy also holds the roles of Talent Coordinator and Manager for Derose Entertainment and serves as an MC for song releases and shows. In her free time, she models and does print and commercial work with agencies such as Professionally Pretty and Central PA Talent.
Amy has trained dancers who have gone on to perform on cruise ships, national tours, Broadway shows (including Hamilton, Rock of Ages, Saturday Night Fever, and Finding Neverland), Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Miss America Organization, Nickelodeon, Sesame Street Live, and numerous school and regional theater productions. She travels extensively to guest teach and provide teacher training in PA, NY, NJ, and Canada.
Amy has adjudicated for the NDEO Dance Scholarship Program and has been recognized in Who’s Who Among America’s Top Dance Educators and Who’s Who Among Leading Small Business Owners. Amy is also an award winning tap choreographer which includes one of her speciality skills of jump rope tap. She is committed to community outreach, bringing the performing arts to children who lack access to dance studios or cannot afford them. Dance is her passion, and music is her heartbeat. Amy is dedicated to sharing her love for dance and being a part of each individual’s dance journey.

TRUSTY

Amanda Trusty (they/them) is an artist, educator, and advocate equipped with diverse performing arts training and a gift for working with youth. They are especially excited to judge this weekend's event after spending many a weekend at Gloria Dillon's Performing Arts Alliance competitions "back in the day". Known primarily as “Trusty” across the industry for the past twenty years and mentored under Gregory Hines and Savion Glover protégé Andrew Nemr, Trusty is a tap dance educator who pulls upon an extensive background in music theory to teach tap dance as an instrument. Holding a degree in musical theater and a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association for thirteen years, Trusty has performed in esteemed venues across the country, captivating audiences as a musical theater actor, stand-up comedian, and tap dancer “sitting in” with jazz bands including the Glenn Miller Orchestra. They are sought out for their creative choreography and intuitive teaching skills, always customizing communication to serve individual learning styles and reflect the current sociopolitical climate. Trusty was a dynamic leader in the Hawai’i theatre community for a decade, building tap dance and musical theatre programs across the state. On the Big Island, Trusty served as Artistic Director for Kona Dance & Performing Arts, Aloha Teen Theatre Advisor for Aloha Theatre’s CREATE program and also founded and directed Trusty Tap & Vocal during the pandemic to provide learning opportunities in virtual and open air environments. Trusty is especially passionate about empowering fellow neurodivergent and queer artists of all ages to find their voice through holistic vocal training and connect with their bodies through movement. An eating disorder advocate, public speaker and published writer, Trusty was named one of nine people bringing body positivity to dance by the Huffington Post and was approached by Oxford University Press to collaborate on a book about socially conscious dance education. Trusty proudly served on the judging roster for Impact Dance Adjudicators for many seasons and continues to work with them closely. Learn more at trustytapandvocal.com.

**LAUREN**
Lauren is a dance teacher, choreographer, judge, and professional dancer in the Tri-State Area. Lauren has been dancing for 20 years and has been teaching/choreographing for 10 years. Lauren has been dancing and competing since she was a young child. She competed and trained in all styles such as: contemporary, lyrical, jazz, modern, hiphop, ballet, acrobatics, tap, and musical theater. Lauren has always had a passion for dance and choreography, as she started choreographing and competing her own solos and duets at 15 years old. Lauren knew she wanted to be a professional dancer and choreographer so she went to college for Dance as well as Elementary Education. Lauren trained in college focusing on dance choreography. Lauren started dancing professionally through the Stockton Dance Company at various venues performing different modern and jazz works. Lauren also performed as a Jazz Dance Entertainer in a company called Jazz One performing different jazz works at charity events and opening acts. Lauren was exposed to unique styles in college such as belly dancing, afro caribbean, latin dance, and Irish dancing.
As Lauren was dancing, she also was teaching and choreographing at different dance studios in New Jersey. Lauren specializes in jazz, contemporary, and acrobatics but can teach most styles. Lauren is an energetic, organized, creative, and artistic dance teacher who likes to instill hard work and passion into her students. Lauren travels doing guest choreography at different studios as well as teaching Acro workshops. Lauren has been a judge for team auditions at several studios and schools. This involved giving both oral and written critiques and scores for several styles of dance. Lauren also judged for high school dance team auditions which involved critiquing both solo and in group combinations. Lauren has continued her dance teaching education by training and learning from various well known teachers at workshops and seminars such as Shannon Mather, Dennis Wall, and more. Lauren has worked with reputable brands such as The Rockettes, Cheesecake Factory, Glam Gear Dance Bags, and Walmart. Some traits to define Lauren are: hardworking, organized, flexible, energetic, positive, and dedicated.

**JULIE**
Julie is originally from southern New Jersey, but recently moved to the northern New Jersey area from New York. Julie began dancing at the age of 5 at a local studio and continued her training at various studios, schools and intensives throughout the years. She was given the opportunity to travel across the country to tour with the Dance Olympus VIP program at the age of 16.
She earned her BFA in Dance Performance from Montclair State University in 2014, receiving the Linda Roberts Outstanding Performer Award and Magna Cum Laude honoree. She performed works by choreographers such as Larry Keigwin, Paul Taylor, Martha Graham, Jose Limon, Frederick Earl Mosley and Andrea Miller in venues like The Joyce Theater and The 92nd Street Y. After graduating from MSU, Julie worked in New York as a freelance dancer for Freespace Dance, TunanuT, Life Dance Company and KN Dance Entertainment. She was booked excellent projects including SKYES “Give Me More” music video, a World Premiere of “Aubade” with Douglas Dunn & Dancers, and more.
During her time as a freelance dancer, Julie earned her certification in personal training to expand on her knowledge and help develop strong, healthy and well-rounded dancers. She leaned on her training and experience from both her performance and fitness career to transition into teaching. She currently teaches multiple styles, including dancer conditioning, and works with all levels and all ages of dancers.

**MICHELLE**
Michelle studied with **Barbara Sandanato** who was trained by George Balanchine; **Judith Jamison**, former lead dancer of the Alvin Ailey Company and **Milton Myers** who was also a lead dancer at Ailey and now serves as head of the Contemporary Division of the world famous Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. Michelle began her professional career during her junior year when she started dancing for Group Motion. Michelle studied pedagogy techniques at The Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet and later became a master instructor. In 2004 she was chosen to be the first American instructor invited to the International Dance Festival in Ladek Zdroj, Poland where she teaches more than any other instructor. She has been asked to teach at various festivals throughout Europe. Michelle continues to direct Melange, the Pottstown Dance Theatre, and assistant direct Contempradance; and her students were invited by the American Alliance of Performing Arts Educators to perform in London during the 2012 Olympic Games where a representative of the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (founded and partially funded by Sir Paul McCartney) saw her work and requested her instruction for summer of 2013. Michelle also recently completed Pedagogy training at the Martha Graham School in NYC and continues to train as an instructor there.

THE JUDGES

FERNANDO

RACHEL

ANDREA

AMY

TRUSTY

LAUREN

JULIE

MICHELLE

DREW

RASHAWN

JOHN