Our Faculty

Christine Titus

Artistic Director | Pre-Ballet, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Adult Fitness

 Ms. Titus began dancing at the age of three and continued her studies through college where she graduated magna cum laude from SUNY Buffalo (majoring in Dance and Psychology). Credits include numerous national and international theatrical productions, regional theaters, dinner theaters, cruise ships and membership in the Foot & Fiddle Tap Dance Company in New York. Ms. Titus is a member of the prestigious Dance Masters of America (“certified by test to teach”), Connecticut Dance Alliance, and the International Tap Association. She is also a judge for national dance competitions and has an extensive fitness background, including being a continuing education provider for several certifying organizations. Ms. Titus is thrilled to share her lifelong love of dance with Conservatory students and is immersed in developing an exciting new era of dance at the Conservatory!

Leslie Troost

Pre-Ballet / Tap Combo | Office Manager

Ms. Troost has a degree in accounting and is certified in early childhood education. She has worked as a preschool teacher in both Ridgefield and Wilton.  She is certified in children’s yoga for ages three to seven through Growing Lotus Kids.  She resides in Wilton with her husband, two sons and daughter.  Ms. Troost is excited to share her love of music and movement with the students at the Conservatory!

Brianne Clancy

Brianne is a graduate of The University of Connecticut, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and her Graduate Certificate in Digital Media and Design. She began dancing at the age of 5 in Connecticut and since then has been actively involved in the industry by teaching and choreographing around the state. She has choreographed pieces that have been performed at national dance competitions including; StarSystems, Groove, Turn It Up!, Star Power. Brianne is part of the faculty at Double Up Dance Studio, where she teaches a number of different styles and genres, she also judges for various dance competitions around the nation. At UConn, Brianne was an executive board member, choreographer, and dancer for the Uconn Dance Company. Still an involved dancer and performer, Brianne has danced for DRA: Dancers Responding to AIDS at the Joyce Theatre and Purchase College, RAW Artists CT Impact at Oakdale Theatre, Double Up Dance Studio’s annual showcases, as was she a previous member of the UConn Dance Team where she cheered for UConn's athletic programs at the XL Center, Madison Square Garden and Gampel Pavilion. Brianne is delighted to share her love and passion for dance with the Conservatory.

Jaclyn DiDonato

Jaclyn DiDonato has been a professional dance instructor for 12 years through out the East coast and upper South regions of the United States. Before joining the COD faculty she held the position of Dance Director for Revolution Dance Company, a competitive team based in Northeast Tennessee. Jaclyn grew up loving dance, both performing and competing as often as possible. Excited to further her education, she attended Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ), receiving her Bachelors of Arts in dance. Jaclyn continues to dance and perform as often as possible, most recently she was seen as Cha Cha DiGregorio in Grease. When she is not teaching dance, Jaclyn is the Lead Teacher at Pure Barre Mt. Kisco motivating her adult clients to lift, tone and burn their way through every barre class she instructs. Some of her other interests include health, fitness and nutrition.

Cynthia Izoldi

Cynthia Izoldi, was born in Brazil and moved to the USA to pursue her passion of dancing. She started on stage at the age of 14 performing with the Lyrical Theater of São Paulo- Brazil. After graduating from Municipal School of Ballet of São Paulo she continue her studies under master Halina Biernaka ( a ballerina and former pupil of Bronislava Nijinska), she also danced professionally before making a career and life change to New York City where she received an scholarship at the Joffrey Ballet School. While in the USA she studied with ballet masters such as: Meredith Baylis ( a former Ballet Russe ballerina), Dorothy Lister, Jacques Cesbron, David Howard, and in special master Wilhelm Burmann - whom she learn the quick speed and musicality of American ballet technique. She danced professionally with Connecticut Ballet Theatre, Ballet Classique and the New York City Opera Ballet for over 15 years. Upon retiring she went on to become a mother and then to teach classical ballet. In order to perfect her teaching skills she participated in various teaching programs such as: The Paris Opera Ballet School, The Vaganova Method with Oleg Vinogradov ( former Kirov Company Director), the Cuban Method and the early child development “Leap & Learn” program. She has been teaching classical ballet for over 25 years and has gone back to Brasil to share her passion teaching Master Classes.

Rachel Blackwelder

Ms. Blackwelder trained with The Northwest Florida Ballet, joining the company in 1998. There she performed in the ballets Cinderella, Giselle, Coppelia, and The Nutcracker, in addition to the repertory of modern, jazz, and contemporary ballet pieces, including Fernando Bujone's Jazz Swing. She began teaching for NFB after earning her first Pilates certification from the Physical Mind Institute in 2000. Her summers were spent abroad or at ballet intensives including the Rock School in Philadelphia, the Rosella Hightower School in Canne, France, and Joffrey Ballet in New York. Her time in NYC inspired her to explorer a broader range of performance disciplines, and in 2006 she graduated with a BA in Theatre from the University of Central Florida, with a Dance focus. During this time, she participated in the National Society of Arts and Letters Dance Competition as a national finalist, under the instruction of Gary Flannery. After moving to New York, Ms. Blackwelder joined the faculty of the Conservatory of Dance in 2010. She is a member of SAG-AFTRA and fills her spare time with a wide range of creative endeavors. Her greatest passion is for choreography, and helping young dancers unleash their artistic potential.

Kayla Clancy

 Kayla began her dance career at the age of 3 in Monroe, CT. She grew up training in various genres such as; ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, and hip hop while also participating in competitions around New England and attending nationals each year in New Jersey. She has had the privilege to perform at DRA (Dancers Responding to AIDS) at the Joyce Theater in NYC and also Purchase College. She continued her dance career while attending UConn and joined the UConn Dance Company where she choreographed several pieces, and was a member of the executive board all while also obtaining a Bachelors of Arts degree in speech, language, and hearing sciences. When not found at the studio, she is a speech teacher at an elementary school in Monroe. Kayla is super thrilled to be a part of such an amazing, talented studio!

Kelly Buck

Kelly Buck, originally from Boston, moved to NYC to pursue her dreams of performing and choreographing! In her youth she received extensive tap training from the founders of the American Tap Company and went on to perform professionally in musical theatre as a child actor. Kelly then earned her BFA in Dance with an emphasis in Choreography and Kinesiology from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts. She is a proud member of Actor's Equity. Some of her professional theatre credits include: AIDA (Kansas City Starlight Theatre), Kiss Me Kate (understudy Lois), 42nd Street, Anything Goes (REV Theatre Company), High School Musical, and Fame (North Shore Music Theatre). She has had the pleasure of performing in the concert dance world as a company member of dre.dance (co-founders Broadway/TV/Film star, Taye Diggs and Broadway Choreographer/Performer, Andrew Palermo), dancing in pieces like beyond.words and the world premiere of dre.diohead. She has also worked with highly regarded theatre colleagues such as Tony Award Nominee Jonathan Groff (Hamilton, Spring Awakening), Michael Arden (Broadway director and performer) and Ryan Vandenboom (MJ the Musical, Something Rotten). Kelly's original choreography debuted in Kingdom Come, A New Musical, in the Downtown Urban Theatre Festival, winning best play. Her choreography, through grounded foundational technique, intentionally evokes a flair for storytelling within each dance genre. Kelly has an innate passion for teaching children, passing on her love, knowledge and expertise of dance and theatre to the next generations of artists and visionaries. 

Mackenzie Farrell

Mackenzie began dancing at the age of 3 and hasn’t stopped since! Growing up in New York is where she found her love for performing. When she decided to become serious about pursuing a career in the arts, she moved her training to New York City. Mackenzie is a graduate of Oklahoma City University and received a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance Performance. She has performed in regional theater productions in the ensemble of Guys and Dolls, Something Rotten!, and Roxie in Chicago to name a few of her favorite credits. Mackenzie believes there is a place for everyone in the performing arts industry. Her teaching goal is to create a safe space for students to learn, grow, and explore their ability to express themselves. Her classes have an emphasis on proper technique, artistry, and individuality. Everyone has something unique to bring and Mackenzie encourages students to embrace that. No matter the age or skill level, Mackenzie will provide her love and knowledge for dance to guide her students to thrive in their dance journey. As Mackenzie continually explores the limits and possibilities of her own performance and creative practices, she becomes better equipped to drive her students forward. 

Karlie Zabin

Karlie Lynn Zabin graduated as part of Muhlenberg College's class of 2020 completing her studies as a dance major and history & Jewish studies double minor. While at Muhlenberg, Karlie completed her concentration in choreography and premiered several original works and digital screen dances, as well as assisted repetiteur Randall Anthony Smith in a restaging of Donald McKayle’s “Rainbow ‘Round My Shoulder” at Desales University. In 2019, Karlie traveled abroad to Tel Aviv, Israel to work as a development intern at Batsheva Dance Company. While at Batsheva, she trained in Gaga, the movement language created by Ohad Naharin under Naharin himself, as well as with and amongst Batsheva’s dancers. She has participated in Gaga WinterLab with former Batsheva Company members Shamel Pitts, Omri Drumlevich, and Zina Zichencko, alongside several summers spent training with University of the Arts dance faculty and working for Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Karlie continues to pursue a career in choreography and teaching, while instructing at a variety of different studios, venues, and exploring the world of videography, editing, and movement as one. 

Stephanie Smith

Stephanie is thrilled to be teaching dance again. She previously taught all ages ballet, tap, and jazz before taking time off to raise her three kids, Will, Ainsley and Owen. Her favorite Theatre Credits include the First National Tour of 42nd Street, Theatre of the Starts 42nd Street Tour, Swing and Assistant Dance Captain in the Cameron Mackintosh National Tour of My Fair Lady, Charity in Sweet Charity, Latin Feature in Swing!, Carla in NINE, Joan in Dames at Sea, and Tess in Crazy for You. She has a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Oklahoma, and a MA from Teachers College, Columbia University in Music Education. She also teaches Pilates Apparatus and Mat Classes.