
Hope DiPietro
Artistic Director
Performing Arts Educator,
Competition & Dance Team Choreographer and Coach
Award Winning Coach & Choreographer
Member of: Professional Dance Teachers Association of America
Board of Directors, Director and Choreographer: Newington Children’s Theater Company (NCTC)
Graduate of: Central Connecticut State University
Alumna: Caroline’s Dance Center, LLC: Dance Legacy
Choreographer & Associate Director: The Nutcracker
Nicole Ciriello
Associate Director
Performing Arts Educator,
Competition & Dance Team Choreographer and Coach
Graduate of The Hartford Conservatory, 2001
Director: Visual Rhythm Dance Company
Alumna: Caroline’s Dance Center, LLC: Dance Legacy
Alvin Ailey Dance Co.-NYC, Synergy Dance Company
Fred Astaire Dance Studio & Broadway Dance Center
Co-Choreographer: The Nutcracker. Dance Team Choreographer & Coach, 2014 Disney Team Choreographer & Coach, Acro Coach
Platinum Award Winning Coach & Choreographer, Grand Supreme Champion
Production Dance Team 2020
Gina Scacca
Performing Arts Educator,
Competition & Dance Team Choreographer and Coach
Alumna: Caroline’s Dance Center, LLC: Dance Legacy, Visual Rhythm Dance Company.
Competition: Dance Team Choreographer & Coach, Gym Team Coach. Berlin Cheerleading Coach. Co-choreographer: The Nutcracker.
Choreographer: NCTC. Lead Roles In: The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella.
Platinum Award Winning Coach & Choreographer, Grand Supreme Champion Production Dance Team 2020, Diva Team 2020, Jewel Team 2020
Kristen Holmes
Performing Arts Educator, Competition Choreographer & Coach
Graduate of St. Joseph’s College, West Hartford
Alumna: Caroline’s Dance Center, LLC: Dance Legacy. Visual Rhythm Dance Company
Co-Choreographer: The Nutcracker. Award Winning Coach & Choreographer
Assistant to Jacques D’Amboise Summer Dance Series at St. Joseph’s College (5 years).
Showstoppers, Nexstar and Starpower Platinum Award Winner.
Julianne Balavender
Performing Arts Educator,
Competition & Dance Team Choreographer and Coach
Graduate of Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT.
Member of: CCSU award winning Dance Team.
National Title Winner & Dance Champion
Gracie Schilling
Performing Arts Educator, Competition Choreographer & Coach
Alumna: Caroline’s Dance Center, LLC: Dance Legacy
Member of: Eastern Connecticut State University Dance Team
National Title Winner & Dance Champion
Linnea Tucker
Performing Arts Educator
Alumna: Caroline’s Dance Center, LLC: Dance Legacy
Cassandra Paez
Performing Arts Educator
Alumna: Caroline’s Dance Center, LLC: Dance Legacy
Samantha DeFrancesco
Performing Arts Educator, Gymnastics Coach
Alumna: Caroline’s Dance Center, LLC: Dance Legacy
Caroline Van Austin
Founder
Miss Caroline is a Member of:
Dance Masters of America, Connecticut Chapter 18
Dance Masters of America, Certified Test to Teach
Dance Teachers’ Club of Connecticut
Dance Educators of America
National Association for Dance and Affiliated Arts
Berlin Jr. Woman’s Club
Greater New Britain Arts Alliance
Awards:
Berlin Board of Education 1998 & 1999
Berlin Chamber of Commerce: Community Service Award 2000
CT Outstanding Women in Leadership 2001
Willard School Volunteer Award 2003
Extraordinary Dance School–2006–DAP
Berlin Summer Youth Theater Scholarship Award
Artistic Director
The Nutcracker
Choreographer
Connecticut Cabaret Theater
Newington Childrens' Theater
ACT 2 Theater
Albertus Magnus College
Schools Attended:
Hartford Conservatory, Hartford, CT
The School of The Hartford Ballet, Hartford, CT
Harkness House–Performing Arts Center,
Dance Educators of America Training School, NYC
American Dance Machine, NYC
Hanover & Barbizon Modeling & Acting School
Hartt School of Music
Gloria Jean's School of Dance
Lillian Sjovall School of Dance
Showstoppers, Revolution, Starpower National Champion, Overall High Score, Award Winning Coach & Choreographer Top Teacher Award