meet our staff

Miss Allison​
CO-Owner

Miss Allison has been teaching for over 25 years.  She is trained in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical and Tap.  During her Ballet training she also participated in the Royal Academy of Ballet's examination where she graduated from the program.  She also studied at SJSU where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in History.

​Over the years, Miss Allison has created and developed an award-winning competition program for dancers of all ages and levels.  She is the Director of the Competition program and "The Company". Her teams and soloists have won national titles, scholarships, and numerous specialty awards. A number of her students have gone on to be accepted at many prestigious college dance programs such as, Chapman University, Long Beach State University, UC Irvine, Dominican, Gonzaga, Marymount Manhattan College, and Lines Ballet trainee program.

Taylor FIELDS
CO-Owner

Miss Taylor has been dancing since early childhood and teaching dance for over 20 years with CDC. She is formally trained in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, and Tap.  She was a member of the award-winning Pioneer Dance Team where she was also a Captain. Miss Taylor attended SJSU where she earned a Bachelors Degree in Political Science.

​After college she worked in the non-profit sector for many years in fundraising. She then began working full time at CDC in 2013 as the Studio Manager. Under Taylors management, the studio has grown and evolved both in size and infrastructure. Taylor loves managing the business side of the studio alongside teaching. 

Miss Taylor loves sharing her love of dance with her many students of all ages, levels and styles. She looks forward to growing into her new role as Co-Owner. 

Melissa rAMOS
bALLET pROGRAM dIRECTOR

Miss Melissa has been dancing with CDC since 1985. She has trained extensively in Ballet as well as Jazz, Hip Hop and Lyrical. She completed her Royal Academy of Ballet examinations and completed her Performance Awards through the American Academy of Ballet. Since receiving her Gold Award with Distinction for her work in Level 12 (highest level) she has mentored and trained our advanced dancers. Miss Melissa also trained with the Joffrey Ballet Summer Workshop.  She is an alumnus of Santa Clara University, receiving her Bachelor's Degree in Accounting.

After Miss Leslie retired in 2022, Melissa was promoted to Ballet Director. She directs our Ballet curriculum, ballet teacher trainings and Pointe program. Melissa also directs our Performance Awards program with the American Academy of Ballet. 

cHELSEA lAUWERS
Performance director

Miss Chelsea has been dancing with CDC since she was six years old. .  She is trained in Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Hip Hop, Salsa and Afro Cuban.  . While attending Hawaii Pacific University, where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, she was a member of the dance troupe, "Hawaii's Finest,” where she merged all her dance training with the Honolulu Dance Club and the Punahou Dance School.

Miss Chelsea created and oversees CDC's Contemporary program. Miss Chelsea is passionate about connecting with her students and exposing them to her unique Contemporary Style. 

Chelsea was recently promoted to Performance Director of our Summer Performances. She is excited to expand her role with the studio.

Cassy sarti
Studio manager

Miss Cassy has been dancing since the age of three and loves to share her love of tap and ballet with her students.

Miss Cassy attended San Jose State University and  majored in Dance with a style focus in Jazz. She oversees the Tap program and is also a choreographer for CDC's competition teams and soloists. Miss Cassy is also a costume and prop designer, creating pieces for CDC's competition teams as well as the annual performances. 

Miss Cassy was recently promoted to Studio Manager and she is happy to step into this new role!

kaela norwood
INSTRUCTOR

Kaela Norwood is originally from Chicago Illinois, spending most of her dance training and career time within the Midwest. She has danced for numerous modern and contemporary companies in Chicago, was a dancer/singer with Carnival Cruise Lines and  has spent the past four years working as a show Director with Spotlight Dance Cup. Kaela has over a decade of teaching experience, in private studios, open adult classes, residencies with highschools, private training, and in private schools across the states as well as setting national title winning choreography. She is committed to to helping young artists develop their skills in dance and grow as people overall.
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Kaela is thrilled to begin her dance educator journey here in the bay area with the students of Capital Dance Company.

ELIZABETH inSALACO
iNSTRUCTOR

Elizabeth dance experience spans over 25 years. She began dancing at Studio One for the Performing Arts in North Little Rock, Arkansas, where she later became the Owner and Artistic Director. In 2002, she graduated from San Francisco State University, with a BA in Cinema and a Minor in Dance. Elizabeth spent many years working on TV and film in Los Angeles, CA.

​Most recently, Elizabeth taught for six years at Dance Effects in Campbell, prior to their closing. She recently moved to the beautiful city of Monterey.  This is Elizabeths second year with CDC and she loves to share her love of dance with all of her students.

RANDI LEE ISAACS
​INSTRUCTOR

Randi started her dance training in sunny Santa Cruz, then trained with summer intensives starting in her teen years at Joffrey ballet school in New York and Georgia,  Modas intensive in New Mexico and San Francisco conservatory of dance. Randi became a Joffrey jazz and contemporary trainee at the age of 19, training for three years under teachers with extensive professional careers.

Randi  also has had her choreographic works performed numerous times at Joffrey ballet school chosen for student show cases, spotlight dance performance and collaborating on her own show.

Randi has found a deep love in teaching. She believes in building her students confidence, helping them find the joy in the hard work. Randi also likes to dabble in poetry, backpacking, hiking and loves to see live music when possible. ​

marissa Angelique
iNSTRUCTOR

Marissa began her training in classical ballet and folk dance at the San Jose Cleveland Ballet, then changed to Ballet San Jose. She performed in The Nutcracker and spring productions both with the school and the Ballet San Jose company, also receiving additional training at the San Francisco Ballet School and summer intensives at the Joffrey Ballet School, ABT, in Paris under former Paris Opera Ballet Étoile and in St. Petersburg, Russia. 

She performed with the Moscow Ballet in Nutcracker, performing soloist roles. She has been a professional dancer and actress in the Bay Area, highlights include being a member of San Jose Dance Theatre.Marissa holds a BA and MA in Communications from San Jose State University, minoring in dance and studied abroad in five international countries. 

Marissa is fueled by music and takes great pride in the artistic process of developing a student’s musicality. She is thrilled to be teaching at CDC, passing down her roots to her students. 

Adriee wONG
​iNSTRUCTOR

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Adriee began dancing at age four when her parents placed her in community ballet classes. After training in jazz, ballet, and lyrical styles throughout her grade school dance program, she attended UC San Diego where she double majored in dance and general biology. While performing with Ascension Hip Hop and Finesse Dance Company, she participated in competitions and contributed to showcases as dancer and choreographer.

​Adriee's teaching experience spans 15 years and ranges from teaching primary school students all the way to adult learners in ballet, lyrical, and contemporary. Her teaching philosophy encompases the goal of empowering dancers of all experience levels to gain confidence in both dance and life. When not teaching at CDC, you can find Adriee sewing, hiking, and helping people smile since she is also a dentist. ​

​Maureen Holcomb
​ music Manager&Front Desk

z​Miss Maureen began dancing at 5 years old and has loved it ever since.  She trained under Keith Banks at Studio 10 and was the Captain of her Cheer/Song Team at Cupertino High School.  Miss Maureen is CDC's Music Producer, and oversees the audio engineer for CDC's annual performances and Competition Program. She is also our Music Director on Dress Rehearsal and Show Day every year.  

Miss Maureen has worked at our front desk since 2018 and is always happy to assist our dance families. 

FRONT DESK STAFF

Iona robinson
Assistant

Marley ROmero
Assistant