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Instructors & Staff

Thomas Merton

Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. 

Our Team

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Director
Lead Competitive & Recreational Instructor

Erica Bevevino

Miss Erica has over 40 years of experience in the dance industry. As she grew up in her mom’s dance studio which focused on Tap Jazz Ballet and Musical Theater. As a young teen, Erica was exposed to and created a passion for Hip-Hop, Lyrical & Contemporary. Erica began instructing at the age of 12, with her natural connection to students of all ages and levels. She was the face and advertisement of the talent/dance division for New England Cover Miss Cover Boy USA. She competed as a teen and won several high-score awards & placements. She was in numerous pre-professional plays including but not limited to ANNIE & a CHORUS LINE. She was also a member and choreographer for the former arena football league The Firebird Flames, where she was recruited by the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. However, Miss Erica took a different path taking master classes, and seminars and completing many certifications in NYC in preparation for her opening her own dance studio. Miss Erica opened her first studio, Stars of Dance, in July of 2006 in Clifton Park NY where she grew a tremendous foundation of students who are still a part of her dance world today. In 2012, Miss Erica joined forces with World Class Gymnastics and opened World Class Dance as the Director & Lead instructor/choreographer. Since then, WCD has grown tremendously under Miss Erica’s leadership with several programs within the company. Miss Erica’s greatest accomplishments are her two daughters, Bianca & Cara, who also danced with her when they were two and led the way in their mom's business in creating a well-rounded competitive dance program. Miss Erica truly puts her heart and soul into her students and loves and treats them as if they were her own. She’s proud and honored to have instilled the talent passion and love for dance in so many and to have alumni students continue to keep dance as a part of their lives and instruct for her now.

Miss Erica's favorite saying is “Ok, One More Time”, (Yeah right miss Erica… more like 5 more times) 

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Assistant Director
Lead Competitive & Recreational Instructor
Social Media

Lauren Rock

Miss Lauren has been at World Class since its grand opening in 2013. Starting as a Senior Competition Team dancer, all the way until she graduated in 2018. Although she has been at WCD since the beginning, Miss Lauren started her dance education at Creative Dance Arts focusing on ballet, tap, jazz, and modern starting at the age of two. Since then, she has continued teaching recreational and competitive classes in lyrical, jazz, contemporary, tap and hip hop choreography, as well as ballet technique at WCD! In High School, Miss Lauren was on the Shen Dance team and had the opportunity to choreograph some of the halftime dances for football and basketball games. She has had the privilege to dance in fascinating places, especially at Disney World for the Christmas Parade! Miss Lauren has her Masters Degree [MBA] in Business Analytics from Siena College.

World Class will always be home!

Miss Lauren's motto is... "Don't make me cry."

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Assistant Director
Recreational & Competitive Coach
Lead Specialties Coordinator 

Amanda Burke

Miss Amanda is our Wonder Woman! 

Dancing since the age of 4 she took jazz, tap, ballet, and pointe. At 19 she started Irish Step and was titled a Preliminary Champion! Miss Amanda is licensed and certified in MANY AREAS and has taught for over 25 years. To name a few certifications...USAG Certification in Acrobatic and Rhythmic Gymnastics Instructor/Judge, U.S. Safe Sport, Fundamentals of Gymnastics instruction, USAG National Congress training and so much more. Her experience in tumbling and gymnastics runs in her family! Her husband Gregg has been a USAG licensed gymnastics and cheer tumbling specialist for 30+ years. Her daughter Scotlynn (also licensed) is an All-Star World Cheerleading Champion!  Not only does Miss Amanda teach & coach at WCD, but she also takes care of ALL team costume alterations, as well as any other crafting needs. 

Miss Amanda's motto is... "Make it PRETTY!!" 

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Competitive Teams

1,2,3... WCD!

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Team Ballet Instructor

Amy Chen

Amy received her pre-professional ballet training with Perm Ballet School,  American Ballet Theatre, and The Australian Ballet. In Chicago, Amy performed with choreographers of the Joel Hall Dance Center, including Melinda Wilson, and Mike Gosney of Elements of Contemporary Ballet, and was a guest teacher and performer with Maywood Fine Arts Association for productions including “Sleeping Beauty,” “Cinderella,” “Swan Lake” and “Don Quixote.” In New York City, Amy trained at Ballet Academy East with teachers including Olga Dvorovenko and Ginger Thatcher. Amy also currently teaches circus arts with Bindlestiff Family Cirkus. Amy's experience and passion is an integral contribution to our competition team growth and success.

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Lead Instructor

Erin Bushey

Miss Erin started her dance training at the age of 3 in styles including hip hop, tap, jazz, ballet & contemporary. She traveled throughout the northeast performing and competing for many different talent companies. Miss Erin continued to express her love of dance throughout college performing with the Golden Knights dance team and teaching at a local studio.  She is excited to continue teaching dance and share her passion with her students at World Class.

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Lead Instructor

Natalie Ward

Miss Natalie was a dancer on the Senior team for 6 years. She now dances on the Siena College Dance Team as she studies Accounting. Miss Natalie has danced for Miss Erica since she was a baby! 

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Assistant & Lead Instructor

Mar Dickson

Miss Mar started dancing at 11 years old and is an alumni of the Senior Competition Team. After leaving for college and graduating with a degree in Political Science, she is so excited to be back home and back at the studio!

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Assistant & Lead Instructor 

Casey Byrne

Miss Casey has danced for 17 years. She’s a competition team alumni and now studies Education and English at Skidmore College. Miss Casey is so excited to work with and share her passion of dance with all her students.

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Desk Assistant

Assistant/Sub Instructor

Donata Ezekiel

Miss Donata was a dancer on various World Class Dance Teams for 6 years, until she graduated in 2025. She is so excited to help spread her love of dance to any classes or dance friends she meets! Miss Donata is currently studying Culinary Arts at SUNY Schenectady Community College.

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Substitute Instructor

Shelby Somelofske

Miss. Shelby has been dancing since childhood. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre and a Master’s degree in Special Education and Literacy. Shelby also has experience with adaptive dance programming during an internship with Boston Ballet. She danced at Celtic’s games during her undergraduate studies at Suffolk University and has since danced for local sports teams such as the Albany Empire. Shelby has experience teaching musical theatre, tap, jazz, and pom styles of dance. Outside of the studio, she is a teacher in the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake School District. 

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Substitute Instructor

Jessie Smith

Miss Jessie has been at World ​Class since opening in 2013! She is a 2 time Princess Title winner while representing World Class on the Senior team. Miss Jessie is now at the University at Buffalo on their college dance team, The Dazzlers! 


 

Studio Puppies

 

Miss Reese

 

Mr. Charlie

Please view our instructors' mission on our Home Page 

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