About Us
The Hornell Dance Centré will be celebrating their 23rd year in business this season. Now under new ownership, we are sure to continue the best possible training through our certified staff of instructors. We believe that dance is a highly effective way to help children build physical, social and intellectual skills.
Our Goal is to educate the public of the physical, social and emotional benefits of dance. We want you to have fun while learning to build and develop dancing skills. We also believe that the teacher to student ratio is very important so all of our classes have limited space.
Director
Jillian Gravelle -Director (Hornell Dance Centre) - Jillian is a highly trained award winning dancer and choreographer. For the past few years her choreography has won many outstanding awards taking first place twice last summer in local competitions. She developed an interest for dance at an early age and continued her love for performing arts for the next 18 years. She received her training through the Dance Centre under instruction of Miss Jane Petti and Miss Natale Harter. She continues studying dance through Dance Masters Of America at the University Of Buffalo where she attends DMA teacher training school and also holds an associates degree in sciences. She has choreographed and assisted in choreographing several company dances and area musicals. This Past year she choreographed “Give My Regards To Broadway” for the Canisteo Drama Club. She has also been a judge in many local talent contests. She has taught dance at the Dance Centre for the past seven years and became director of the Hornell Dance Centre in 2008. She has a passion and finds joy in working with her students and continues to push herself everyday to bring out the best in them. Jillian is looking forward to seeing everyone next year and greatly anticipates another year at the Hornell Dance Centre.
Samantha Alger - Instructor - Samantha starter training with Jane Petti and Natale Harter at the age of two at the Hornell Dance Centre and continued all through high school. Through her years of training she had the opportunity to observe impeccable studio etiquette and fantastic methods of working with children. She then continued to explore the world of dance by participating in dance competitions, workshops and high school and community musicals. These musicals include; “Peter Pan”, “The Wizard of Oz”, “Oliver”, “42 Street” and “The Nutcracker”. Samantha attended Alfred State College receiving and associates degree in Social Sciences and also continued her studies in dance. Currently Samantha is continuing her dance education through Dance Masters of America at the University of Buffalo. She will be attending her fourth year of DMA Teachers Training School this summer and is looking forward to excel her methods of teaching for her students. Samantha has also recently worked with the community choreographing “Fiddler on the Roof” for the Hornell High School and “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” for the Hornell community theatre group. Every moment Samantha spends in the studio working with her students is priceless to her. She loves to create a friendly, encouraging atmosphere that will allow her students to succeed above and beyond. She wishes all of her students and enjoyable and safe summer and cant wait for the upcoming year!
