Miss Hannah Carter

Miss Hannah Carter began my dance training at the age of three here at Kicks & then joined the Company program for 7 years. I attended many competitions year round and even had the opportunity to dance in the Disney parade. While I was performing and training, I was also a student assistant for the fundamental dance classes here at Kicks. I also had the opportunity to self-choreograph a few solos for myself as well as an elementary jazz routine for one of the younger competition divisions during this time. After these experience’s, I knew that I had a special love for choreographing and working with children. I then went on to college to become an Elementary school teacher. In addition to dance, I currently have an associate degree in early childhood education, and I am attending an online university to obtain my bachelor’s degree in Elementary education. While attending college fully online, I also work full-time at a local school in the area. I have always loved working with children in and out of the classroom setting, and I am so excited to share my passion for dance with these students at Kicks! I am super excited to be back at my home studio where my love for dance and choreographing originated. I am also CPR & First Aide certified.

Miss Kelly Eckstein

Miss Kelly Eckstein began her dance training at a small studio in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She studied with several renowned instructors and danced competitively. She attended Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio where she received a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree with a focus in Dance. Kelly has studied with the Giordano Jazz Dance Company in Chicago, under full scholarship. She has worked for Royal Caribbean Productions and was a performer on the Freedom of the Seas ship. Kelly served as the Jazz Instructor at Turning Pointe Dance Studio in Falmouth, Massachusetts. She is Acrobatic Arts certified, module one, and was the Acrobatic Instructor at Maddox Dance Studio in Warrenton, Oregon. While in Oregon, Kelly co-coached the Astoria High School dance team and took them to three state competitions. Kelly then moved to Sitka, Alaska and brought Tap to the Sitka Studio of Dance. She was a dancer for The New Archangels and performed for many cruise ship audiences. In 2021, Kelly moved to West Chester, PA. She began working behind the scenes as the office manager for Kick’s Academy of Dance, while continuing to teach and rehearse the company dancers. Kelly loves sharing her passion with dancers of all ages. When Kelly is not dancing or teaching she proudly holds the title of Mommy to three beautiful girls, Zoe, Vivian and Hazel and is a proud military wife.

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. Emma

Emma Holt began dancing in elementary school and was a part of the KICKS Company Team for 9 years. Within this team, Emma attended numerous competitions year round, and even had the experience of dancing in the Disney parade! Throughout her competition years, she fell in love with the progress of not only improving as a dancer, but also as a team member and a person. Emma fell in love with the faculty members, and the experience of getting to express herself through dance. To continue her passion for dance, Emma joined a dance team at the University of Delaware, where she has hosted open dance classes, and has choreographed dances for the team to perform on stage. Emma knew after her memorable years within the KICKS family that she had to return and give dancers the same amazing experience she once had. This is Emma’s first year teaching at KICKS, and she can not wait to challenge her students and build special connections with the faculty and students.

Ms. Aleyna

Aleyna Kitapci started dancing at the age of 3 and was a member of the KICKS Company Program for 10 years. There, she competed both regionally and nationally. She was exposed to professional dancers and Broadway performers. During her time as a competitive dancer, she gained an interest in choreography, after co-choreographing a competitive group dance with her peers and choreographing competitive solos for herself. She knew that she wanted to be a teacher that would set dances for ambitious students. She is going into her sophomore year at the University of Delaware as an English major. For the past year, she has been assisting master classes and substitute teaching classes at several studios including; KICKS, Angela Bates Dance Academy, Lionville School of Dance, and Villa Maria Academy. This is her first year teaching at KICKS! She is thrilled to be a member of the faculty. She looks forward to creating bonds with her students and being able to act on her passion of teaching.

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.

Mr. Todd Munoz

Mr. Todd Munoz became entranced with the hip-hop scene at the age of 19. He devoted the majority of his time to training under Andreas Johnson and Versatile Entertainment. While pursuing a degree in Physics and Mathematics Education at the University of Delaware, Todd discovered the opportunity to combine his passion for education with his love for dance. Todd continues to enjoy a life of performing and choreographing. He has worked on projects such as Silver Linings Playbook, BET 106 & Park, MTV’s PromPosal, work with University Dance Teams, as well as local and international education building and performances. Todd is currently the Owner and Director of Beat Addikts United and the founder of the DelAWAREness Charity Showcase, benefiting Autism Delaware but celebrates nothing more than being a loving husband and devoted father to his twin girls.

Miss Danielle Stubbolo

Miss Danielle Stubbolo began dancing when she was in kindergarten and has had a passion for dancing and the arts ever since. Her dance education spans varying dance styles such as tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, and hip hop. She has had the opportunity to take master dance classes from Chloe & Maud Arnold, Rochelle Haynes, and receive dance training at the Broadway Dance Center in NYC and Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. During her training years, Danielle danced as part of an award-winning dance competition team. To enhance her competition experience, she also previously served as a staff member of the Dance Expressions Dance Competition. Danielle brings to Kicks 13 years of dance education experience, inclusive of teaching at the Western Family YMCA, Delaware Dance Company, and Delaware Arts Conservatory across a range of ages and dance styles. Her favorite dance style is tap, and is excited to share her joy and enthusiasm for dance with the Kicks dance family. When not teaching dance, Danielle enjoys going on fun adventures with her husband and two kids.