Judy Daniel
Executive Director/Owner

Judy is the recipient of the Royal Academy of Dance teaching diploma. She has trained with internationally-known master teachers and examiners of the Royal Academy of Dance and has been actively teaching for over 32 years. She has previously held the position of chairperson for the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Royal Academy of Dance where her involvement has been instrumental in planning and providing workshops, lectures and social events for dance teachers and students in the Mid-Atlantic area of the United States. Mrs. Daniel has been on the faculty of the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Artists instructing both student and teacher workshops and has developed training programs, choreographed and coached for competitive dancers, gymnasts and skaters. She is honored to have been recognized in the 1993, 1997 and the 2001 Who’s Who for her contributions to American Society in the area of dance.

Julie Foley
Assistant Director

Julie received a BFA in Musical Theatre/Dance from The Boston Conservatory. She also studied and taught at Broadway Dance Center in New York. Julie then went on to perform for Norwegian Cruise Lines and travel the world. Other performance credits include national tours with Theatre Works USA, the TBC Hoofers dance company, Symphony Hall Boston, The Maryland Arts Festival, and a variety of others. Julie has choreographed musicals for theatres such as Barrington Stage Company, SpeakEasy, and Towson Dinner Theatre. Her choreography can currently be seen at Harford Dance Theatre, Gilman, St. Paul’s, and McDonogh where she recently filled in as director of dance. Julie is thrilled to be back home teaching at Upper Falls Dance Academy where her training began under the direction of her mother, Judy Daniel.

Melissa Daniel
Assistant Director

Melissa Daniel is proud to be teaching her 17th year at Upper Falls Dance Academy. Melissa has both a BFA in Dance Performance and Education and a BS in Exercise Science from Towson University. Her study of ballet has been based on the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus. Melissa is also trained in the areas of jazz, tap and modern dance. She is the creator and director of Boppin’ Babies, a creative movement program for toddlers 1.5 to 4 years old. She has taught dance and developed curriculum for Harford County Public Schools, as well as, instructed dance and choreographed for The Archdiocese of Baltimore and Roland Park Country School.

Gary Dieter
Instructor

Gary is a graduate of Towson University and holds a BFA in Dance Education, Performance and Choreography. He is certified in Dance through the Maryland State Department of Education and is qualified to teach grades kindergarten through twelve. He is a member of the Maryland council of Dance and a member of the National Dance Association. Recently , Gary was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from Towson University for his postgraduate work in the field of Dance and Performance. For ten successful years, he was the artistic director of GD Studio for the Performing Arts, his own school, where students were able to participate in classes in dance, musical theatre, private voice, guitar, piano and coaching. Gary has been teaching for the past 20 years in numerous capacities. Gary's performing career includes featured roles at virtually every major theatre in the Baltimore/Washington area. He can be seen dancing with Elizabeth Perkins and Kevin Bacon in the Paramount Film, He Said, She Said. He has been named "Baltimore Tap Dance Kid" by Winfred Walsh of the Baltimore Sun and his performance in 42nd Street was selected as one of the "Best of '88" by dance critic Carolyn Kelemen. Gary was recently nominated for the Helen Hayes Award for his performance in Forever Plaid.

Tara Kearney
Instructor

Tara is a graduate of Goucher College with a BA in Dance and a minor in Education. Her concentration was in dance history and criticism, as well as dance therapy. During her study at Goucher College, Tara traveled abroad and studied in Ghana, Togo, and Benin, Africa. She had the opportunity to work with inspiring dance figures such as Larry Keigwin, Sean Curran, and recently was in residency with Jennifer Archibald. Tara also performed at this year’s American College Dance Festival, and was honored to be placed in the gala concert as a member of the cast, Chasing Shadows. Tara is currently a member of National Dance Educators Organization, and is continuing her studies as a dance educator in Goucher College’s graduate program with hopes of receiving her Master’s in Education with a concentration in “at risk students”. She is excited and thrilled to be back teaching at Upper Falls Dance Academy for another season and cannot wait to take another leap into a great year.

Alyson Jacques
Instructor

Alyson is a graduate of Desales University with a BA in Dance and a minor in Business. She has participated in master classes with a number of guest artists through the DanceNow/NYC program. While at Desales, Alyson performed works by Tara Madsen-Robbins, Mishele Mennet, Alwin Nikolais, Trinette Singleton, Sydney Skybetter, Twyla Tharp, and Charles Weidman. She also performed in Tensile Involvement, by Alwin Nikolais, at Lehigh University and Hunter College for Sharing the Legacy. Alyson has presented choreography at the American College Dance Festival and has also created pieces for Desales University Emerging Choreographer’s Concert, an on camera project, and a Senior Independent Project. In 2010 she spent her summer in Miami studying at the Joffrey Jazz and Contemporary Intensive. Alyson was a member of the Creative Exploration Organization at Desales, taught for the Conservatory of Dance, and was resident advisor for the 2010 Desales Summer Dance Intensive.

Emily Antkowiak
Instructor

Emily is a graduate of the University of Maryland. During her time at the University she continued her study of various dance forms, and was captain and hip-hop choreographer of the award winning Unbound Dance Team. Emily is also a Zumba instructor and enjoys incorporating Zumba into her dance class warm-ups.