ABOUT US

MISS NEFRA SULLIVAN-WIHBEY (OWNER/DIRECTOR)

A highly sought after Dancer, Choreographer, and Director throughout the area. Miss Nefra has studied with professionals such as Henry La Tang, Frank Hatchett, Phil Black and Alvin Ailey ( to name a few). She has staged and choreographed countless professional equity and regional theater productions and has also choreographed Miss America State and Local pageants, music videos and talent performances for many Miss America hopefuls. After performing Nationally and finishing her studies in New York, Miss Nefra returned to CT in 1988 where she joined forces with her mother Miss Susan as Co-director of Connecticut Dance Theatre& the Arts.

Since then, Miss Nefra has made Connecticut Dance Theatre & the Arts one of the hottest dance, theater and art schools in the Northeast. Her students are some of the areas most talented performers. Miss Nefra created the Connecticut Dance Theatre & the Arts National Competition Team which to date, ranks in the top 7% of dance schools. Winning top ranking awards such as: Top Teacher, Best Choreography, Outstanding Tapping and Great Technique . Her students have caught the eye of some of the most recognized names in National Judging. Since 2000 Miss Nefra has taken over the school as owner and director.
CONNECTICUT DANCE THEATRE 
& THE ARTS FACULTY

MISS MICAYLA BARROWS (Recreational and Competitive Jazz , Lyrical and Hip Hop-)- Micayla Barrows began her dance career at Connecticut Dance Theatre and the Arts at the age of 2. Throughout the next 15 years she remained as a member of the competition team, training in Contemporary, Lyrical, Ballet, Tap, HipHop and Jazz. She has won various awards with her Contemporary solos; First Overall Teen Soloist 2017 at Ticket to Broadway Dance Competition, Top Billing Routine 2017 at Ticket to Broadway Dance Competition, and Miss Senior Energy 2018 at Energy Dance Competition. In addition, she has starred as a backup dancer in a music video for Michaela Baranov, and won the Talent Award for her self-choreographed routine at the Miss Connecticut Competition. Micayla began as an assistant teacher at CTDTA at the age of 14, and started choreographing at 17. She currently teaches both competitive and recreational classes in Lyrical, Contemporary, HipHop, and Jazz. Her competitive group and duo routines have gone on and won various special and top scoring awards. When Micayla is not dancing at the studio she is either attending school at the University of Connecticut as a double major in Neuroscience and Psychology, or she is competing as a titleholder in the Miss America Organization where she stands as the former Miss Southbury 2018, and Miss Bristol 2019. Micayla plans to continue her dance career as a choreographer for CTDTA as well as a dancer herself for the Miss Connecticut Scholarship Organization. 

MR SHANE LYSKOWSKI (Tap and Rhythm Tap)- Shane Christopher a hairstylist, makeup artist, dancer and choreographer, has been dancing with Conndta for 20 years. Shane has training in Tap (his favorite), Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary and Lyrical. He has competed in the World Tap Championships in Germany, danced in the music video "VIDEO" for Michaela Baranov and won a number of titles from various competitions while at Conndta. 

MISS ERICA MANCINI (Competition Tap and Rhythm Tap)- Erica Mancini is a dancer/ choreographer who resides in Watertown, CT. Starting at the age of 5, she has trained in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary and hip hop dance. She has studied in Los Angeles, CA at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy and currently studies at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway in NYC. She was awarded the Artstone Global Entertainer Award, Overall Excellence in Tap Award, Gene Kelly Award, Savion Glover Award, and Gregory Hines Award. Erica has traveled to Riesa Germany in 2009 and 2010 to compete in the World Tap Dance Championships representing the United States. As part of the USA Tap Team she placed in the top 4 against 30 other countries. Erica is a former tap dancer for Speaking in Taps Company out of North Andover, MA under the direction of Aaron Tolson. She has performed in several shows and performances in NYC and around the New England area. Erica is currently a tap instructor at CT Dance Theater and the Arts, teaching advanced and intermediate tap technique and competition routines. Throughout her years she has studied with several top choreographers including Savion Glover, Brenda Buffalino, Aaron Tolson, Derick Grant, Barbara Duffy, Acia Gray, Laurie Johnson, Chloe Arnold, and many choreographers from the hit TV show So You Think You Can Dance. As a choreographer her students have won several regional and national awards. Erica’s choreography has been recognized with Overall Choreography Awards, Best Choreography, Overall Technique, Most Entertaining and Overall Performance Awards. Most recently, Erica was recognized as “Choreographer of the Year 2016” at a national competition. She currently travels throughout the U.S with Elite Dance Challenge working both regional and national events. Erica continues to further her dance career studying and performing in NYC and sharing her love of dance with her students.

MISS CHRISTINA RINALDI-SANCHEZ (Competition Musical Theater Jazz and Lyrical)- Miss Christina received her bachelors degree in dance from Manhattan College, New York.  She has performed in the off-Broadway Production of "Move."  While in New York, she was a member of the ensemble with the "Crowd Theater Company."  She has also danced with the "MFA Jack Cole Project" at New York University and assisted in choreographing various projects with Ed Kresley, Professor at Marymount Manhattan College.

MISS TAYLOR SMOOKE (Ballet)-Taylor started her pre professional ballet training at age 15 with The Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory for two years. She continued her training with the Woodbury Ballet where she studied under Alexi Tcherichov. After graduating from their concentrated program, she went on to perform with Dimensional Dance in West Hartford. In the company, she performed in contemporary pieces and neoclassical solos. While performing, she began to teach ballet classes and coach privately. She then went on to complete the ABT Teacher Certification in levels Pre-Primary to level 5.

MISS KIM THOMPSON (Competition Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop)- Miss Kim has been dancing at Connecticut Dance Theatre and the Arts since the age of 6 and is proud to call CTDTA home. She was a member of the studio’s competition team for a number of years and has been an instructor at the studio for more than 12 years. Over the years, her competitive dances have received numerous choreography, entertainment, and special judges’ awards. In 2005, Kim held the title of Miss Greater Waterbury and was able to compete for the prestigious title of Miss Connecticut.  She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice – Investigative Services and a Master of Science Degree in Elementary Education, both from the University of New Haven.   Upon graduating she was awarded the Student Affairs Leadership Award for her contributions to the campus community.  In addition to teaching at the studio, Kim spent three seasons with the Woodland Hawks High School Dance Team, initially as the Interim Head Coach and later as the Assistant Coach.  She has also spent numerous summers working at YMCA Camp Mataucha in various capacities including: Dance Camp Counselor, Performing Arts Camp Counselor, Unit Director, and most recently Assistant Camp Director. Kim loves working with children, helping them critically think and problem solve, and has spent many years working in area school systems.  She currently teaches sixth grade language arts and social studies. 

MISS KIM THOMPSON (Competition Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop)- Miss Kim has been dancing at Connecticut Dance Theatre and the Arts since the age of 6 and is proud to call CTDTA home. She was a member of the studio’s competition team for a number of years and has been an instructor at the studio for more than 12 years. Over the years, her competitive dances have received numerous choreography, entertainment, and special judges’ awards. In 2005, Kim held the title of Miss Greater Waterbury and was able to compete for the prestigious title of Miss Connecticut.  She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice – Investigative Services and a Master of Science Degree in Elementary Education, both from the University of New Haven.   Upon graduating she was awarded the Student Affairs Leadership Award for her contributions to the campus community.  In addition to teaching at the studio, Kim spent three seasons with the Woodland Hawks High School Dance Team, initially as the Interim Head Coach and later as the Assistant Coach.  She has also spent numerous summers working at YMCA Camp Mataucha in various capacities including: Dance Camp Counselor, Performing Arts Camp Counselor, Unit Director, and most recently Assistant Camp Director. Kim loves working with children, helping them critically think and problem solve, and has spent many years working in area school systems.  She currently teaches sixth grade language arts and social studies. 

MISS BRAYDEN WIHBEY (Competition Tap and Rhythm Tap)- Brayden has been dancing since the age of 2. She became a member of the Conndta competition team at the age of 5 and has never stopped dancing since! Brayden has graced the competition stages with her rhythmic tap dances and recieved numerous titles and special awards. She was a member of the "Speaking in Taps" company and held the title of Miss Hamden's Outstanding Teen 2018. Brayden has studied at Broadway Dance Center and Steps in NYC . Although she loves Tap, she is also a competitve lyrical, contemporary and Hip Hop dancer. Brayden is now a student at Sacred Heart University majoring in phycology with a dance minor. She is a member of the Sacred Heart University's prestigious Dance Company. Her dream is to dance on the Radio City stage as a Rockette. 

MISS OLIVIA ZEMBRUSKI (Recreational Preschool, Jazz, Tap and Hip Hop)-Olivia Zembruski began her dance career at the age of five at Connecticut Dance Theatre & The Arts. She continued to dance and compete here until she graduated high school and continues to pursue her love for dance by teaching the next generation of students. Outside of dance, Olivia can be seen on the campus of Southern Connecticut State University completing her double major of Elementary Education and Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in English and Biology. At school Olivia also is the president of the Pediatric Cancer Awareness Organization, is a Peer Mentor for first semester freshman, and is an active member of the American Sign Language Club.

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Professional Affiliations

Connecticut Dance Theater & the Arts is a proud member of the following organizations:
Dance Educators of America

 Dance Masters of America

Professional Dance Teachers Association

 National Association of Dance and Affiliated Artists

Actors Equity Association

Broadcast Music Inc. 

Licensee of American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers 

Call Us Today At ♦ (203) 758-5644

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