Ms. Alexa

Miss Alexa Chambers originally from Media, Pennsylvania began dancing at the age of three. She studied at the Academy of Notre Dame’s performing arts program and continued her training at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA where she obtained her BFA with honors in Jazz Dance Performance in 2013. Throughout her college dance career, she has been privileged to work with top choreographers such as Roni Koresh, Brian Sanders, Helen Simoneau and Forsythe legend, Douglas Becker. Formerly a dancer under Xhale Dance Company, Alexa performed throughout Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and for Synthesis Dance Project in New York City. Alexa began her professional career in Chicago dancing for Giordano Dance Chicago, working with Chicago’s best-known instructors and choreographers including Nan Giordano and Homer Bryant. In addition, she was on faculty at Joffrey Ballet. After returning to the east coast, Alexa performed with Michael Susten & Company in New York City followed by four seasons with Philadelphia’s Project Moshen, a female Jazz dance company set out to revive the style of Jazz. Her passion to create and teach inspires her to work with dancers throughout the Philadelphia area. Alongside teaching dance, she is also a certified Barre Instructor. She recently returned to her alma mater on faculty, The Academy of Notre Dame in Villanova, PA to expand the Dance Department. When Alexa is not dancing or teaching she proudly holds the title of Mommy to two busy little boys, Jack and Cors, who continue to keep her on her toes!

Ms. Ashley

Ashley Hillis started dancing when she was two years old and has been a competitive dancer for sixteen years. Her professional training includes; jazz, lyrical, ballet, tap, contemporary, hip hop, acrobatics, and musical theatre. She is going into her senior year at West Chester University studying Dance and Nutrition. This is her second year as the captain of the West Chester University Dance Team which is a student run organization. She has been chosen to be a student choreographer for the University Dance Company for three semesters. She performed on national television with Colbie Caillat and Wyclef Jean in “Nickelodeon’s Mega Music Fest” and also performed as a dancing cartoon character in “Dora’s Explorer Girls.” Ashley made several appearances in movies and commercials. She has performed at The Academy of Music in Philadelphia, The Joyce Theater and The Schimmel Center in New York City, and The Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Ashley danced as a backup dancer with Lacey Schwimmer (former dancer on Dancing With the Stars) on a live broadcast. She has been able to share her passion with dance to all ages by teaching master classes and holding clinics for all students interested in collegiate dancing. Ashley is excited to bring her passion and love for dance to Kicks!

*Ms. Ashley is certified in Child & Adult CPR and Emergency First Aid.

Miss Holly

Holly McMenamin started dancing when she was two years old and has been a competitive dancer for 15 years. Her professional training includes; ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary, modern, and acrobatics. She is going into her junior year at West Chester University majoring in Early Childhood Education with minors in Dance and American Sign Language. Currently she is the captain of the West Chester University Dance Team which recently received the title of National Open Hip Hop Division Champions. Also, she has been chosen as a student choreographer for the University Dance Company. She has loved sharing her passion of dance with all ages through many different classes, collegiate clinics, and performances.

Ms. Kristin (MK)

Kristin Hackney has been dancing since the age of three and has been teaching for over 20 years. While her foundation was received locally, Kristin has trained extensively in Philadelphia and New York and has had the privilege of apprenticing with Tap Team II & Co. Kristin has choreographed and taught for many studios throughout the tri-state area and has showcased her work at Walt Disney World. In addition, Kristin has choreographed for various high schools, theater groups and dance teams, and has led many competitive teams to victory. Kristin is a member of the International Tap Association and has been a longtime Board member of International Teachers of Dance, Inc. where she currently serves as President. Kristin has been sharing her talents with our KICKS students since 2012.

*Ms. K is certified in Child & Adult CPR and Emergency First Aid. She is also a certified Rhythm Works Integrated Dance instructor.

Ms. Caitlin

Caitlin McQuade began dancing at the age of two at Anita Ehrler’s Dance Extensions in Bergen County, New Jersey. Growing up in Northern New Jersey, Caitlin had the privilege of living in close proximity to New York City, where she was able to be introduced to the professional dance industry at a young age. At her studio in NJ, she competed for seven years, starting at the age of ten, and has won various awards and scholarships, both in the competition and convention spaces. She’s most proud of becoming a Prodigy at Artistic Dance Exchange where she was able to travel the country and assist the choreographers on faculty at convention.

When Caitlin was thirteen years old, she knew that dance was not just a passion, but more of a career path. This is when she began dancing in New York City, and prioritized her training at the world-renowned Broadway Dance Center. For her senior year of high school, Caitlin made the choice to stop competing, and train in New York full time, which created a more seamless transition into her professional career. Being a high school student with accolades and a professional dancer booking jobs simultaneously was definitely a challenge at times, but Caitlin lives by the quote, “She believed she could, so she did,” and that is what motivated her.

Some of her credits include: MTV Flashmob for “Be Myself” by Montana Tucker and Todrick Hall under the direction of Theresa Stone, The Society New York Fashion Week under the direction of Lane Napper, Broadway Dance Center Student Showcase performing choreography by Nijawwon Matthews, Josh Assor, and Sheila Barker, Dumbo Dance Festival, Brooklyn Youth Arts Festival, and a multitude of other performances across the city. Caitlin has also been able to experience working on set of many movies and television shows including High Strung Free Dance, Fuhgeddabout Christmas, and Gravesend. She has also been a backup dancer for many artists including Jenna Rose, Spencer X, and others, with the opportunity to choreograph routines for performances as well. She also attributes so much of her growth as a dancer to her mentors, Tracie Stanfield and Nijawwon Matthews, who saw something in her at a young age, and helped mold her into the dancer she is now.

Throughout her professional career, Caitlin began experimenting with her own choreography, which led to setting pieces on her friends in the city, and eventually teaching  in New Jersey. Teaching is where she fell in love with dance in such a new way. If you talk to her, she will tell you all about how being “Miss Cait” is her favorite thing in the world. Caitlin believes that dance education is just as much about nurturing the mental as much as it is about coaching the physical. Her pedagogy is built upon foundational technique, self-expression, and artistry. She believes there is a special place in between structure and spontaneity where magic happens. Caitlin promotes creativity in her class and loves getting to see her dancers have breakthroughs when they discover they are capable to do so much more than what they believe they can.

Since moving to Pennsylvania, Caitlin’s mission as a dance educator is to bring New York to the dancers here, who don’t have the same opportunity to travel to there every day to get industry training. What keeps Caitlin inspired is always remaining a student herself, to continue to learn and grow, and be better for not only herself, but for her students as well.

Ms. Kaila

Kaila Moses began her dance training at the age of five here at KICKS. She trained in all styles and was part of the Company Program. After high school, she moved to New York City to attend Fordham University and The Ailey School where she graduated with honors and received a BFA in dance. During that time she performed works by notable artists such as William Forsythe, Martha Graham, Jessica Lang, and Ray Mercer among others. She was also able to complete and participate in many choreographic projects there. Following graduation, she has danced with the Steps Repertory Ensemble, under the direction of Bradly Shelver, and Elisa Monte Dance, under the direction of Tiffany Rea-Fisher, in NYC. She has also toured with Jessica Taylor’s DamageDance in Denver, CO. Most recently she has been a company member of Carolyn Dorfman Dance, under the direction of Carolyn Dorfman, since 2018. While in Carolyn Dorfman Dance, Kaila has toured nationally and has taught at many residencies for children of all ages and dance backgrounds. She is very excited to continue to share her knowledge and love of dance at the studio where she grew up.