NEWFANE STAFF

Meet Our Family

Miss Jackie

Miss Jackie has been teaching dance for over ten years, the highlight of which has been working with all of you and your children! When she was only six years old she knew she wanted to open a dance studio, she knew it would be named Jaclyn Carol's Dance, and she had even designed the logo. Flash forward to 2008 - Miss Jackie officially opens JCDA in Niagara Falls, NY while still in her sophomore year studying Dance and Interdisciplinary Arts for Children at The College at Brockport, commuting back and forth between teaching and studying to make her childhood dream a reality. The business grew quickly from a small shared space at the Summit Park Mall, to the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, to a three-story property on Niagara Falls Blvd, to our most recent and largest expansion yet - our incredible new facility in Meadowbrook Square. Our dance family has grown from just 9 students and 3 staff members that first year, to over 300 students and 12 staff members today; but the dream continues. In 2019 Miss Jackie welcomed Diane's School of Dance (Newfane, NY) into the JCDA family. We are blessed to carry on the Zabel family's legacy and ensure the music and memories from Diane's School of Dance play on for many years to come.

Miss Jackie was the choreographer and founder of Destiny In Motion Dance Team of Niagara Falls, New York, where her choreography consistently earned High Silver, Gold, and Platinum scores. She also teaches and choreographs for a community theater troupe, the Niagara Experience Players. Miss Jackie was choreographer for the college dance team at Canisius College, The Dance Griffs from 2012-2014 (National Champions 2012, Regional Champions 2012, 2013). She has also choreographs for the Niagara Wheatfield Senior High School Musicals and has choreographed for Edward Town Middle School Musicals.

Miss Jackie has extensive experience teaching Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical/ Contemporary, Modern, Hiphop, and Musical Theatre. She has received dance training from such schools and individuals as Rachel Novelli, Kathy Abondanza, and Patti Hewitt of the Lewiston Dance Center, Courtney World, Marianne Reilly, Suzanne Oliver, Eddie Murphy, and Bill Evans of SUNY Brockport, and many workshops and classes at Niagara Community College, Tanzen Dance Company, Niagara Dance Centre, Niagara University, Buffalo State College, and The Broadway Dance Center. Miss Jackie holds a Bachelor Degree of Science in Dance and Interdisciplinary Arts for Children from The College at Brockport; State University of New York. Thank you for being a part of this dream!

Miss Shari

Co-owner and office manager of JCDA, Shari Palmer, has over a decade's worth of experience in the world of performing arts. Artistic Director for the Niagara Experience Players and dance mom for 20 years - Shari has been on both sides of the production. Miss Shari has been considered a dance mom by hundreds of kids throughout the ten years and has touched every child’s heart that she has worked with. Shari Palmer was also the President of the Wheatfield Music Parents Club 2009-2010. She has been a highly respected Real Estate agent with Hunt Real Estate for twenty-years. Her great organizational, business and customer service skills make her an asset to our team. Without Miss Shari JCDA could not exist. Find Miss Shari behind our front desk of our North Tonawanda studio nearly every day!

Miss Megan

Miss Megan has been dancing for about 16 years under various styles of dance! This is her 4th year teaching at Diane’s School of Dance and before that had been assisting classes for about 5 years. Miss Megan is attending her senior at Canisius College while also dancing on the dance team, the Dance Griffs. Megan is proud to be the Dance Griff captain this year as well. Miss Megan is so excited to meet and work with new students and share her love of dance with a new family!

Miss Lizz

Miss Lizz began dancing at Diane's School of Dance when she was 3. Since then dance has always been a very special place for her. The studio became a home away from home. She began helping with classes in high school. In 2007 she began assistant teaching in the preschool program at Diane's School of Dance, and became a lead teacher in 2011. She is extremely excited to be working with the JCDA family and is already looking forward to many good times to come. She is a stay-at-home-mom to 3 awesome boys and Saturday mornings are a beautiful way to end every week. Listening to laughter and watching the children learn dance from my love of dance is very special to me. She looks forward to meeting you!

Miss Kim

Kim is an Adjunct Professor at Niagara County Community College (NCCC), faculty at The Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart and faculty at Jaclyn Carols Dance Academy teaching various styles of dance at all locations along with directing the resident dance company of NCCC, Tanzen.

Kim has performed professionally with Buffalo Contemporary Dance under the direction of Leslie Wexler and the Mone Dance Company under the direction of Nakita Mone. Kim has worked in an academic standing with H.T Chen and Dancers, Jose Limon and Doug Elkins through SUNY Brockport. Kim has performed at the International Dance Festival that was held in New York City. Recently, Kim has sat on a panel at the first Annual Dance Fair and Expo held in Amherst, New York. Kim holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Masters of Fine Arts in Dance from SUNY Brockport. Kim is also a certified personal trainer through the National Federation of Personal Training (NFPT).

Kim continues to work in the Buffalo area by creating pieces and having them perform at various venues. Kim’s goal is to reach out to many community members to share the creative process and passion for dance. Kim also tours the dance company, Tanzen to various venues including, Niagara County Fair, Erie County Fair and most recently Dance Days of Buffalo.

Miss Kimmie

Miss Kimmie has been dancing since she was six years old, under many different styles. She is the assistant choreographer for the Niagara Experience Players, a summer theater program for kids. Miss Kimmie has been with JCDA since we began in 2007, competing with the JCDA Competition team for 9 years, earning Top Scores at National level competitions. She is currently attending NCCC. She was an assistant teacher with JCDA for many years and joined the teaching staff in 2017. Miss Kimmie is very excited to work with your kids and can’t wait to see them on the big stage!