WELCOME TO NORTHSTAR DANCE ACADEMY

Kandie Melendez

Owner/Director

Mrs. Kandie discovered her passion for dance at the age of  7 while with the Betty-Jane Turner School of Dance.  Under the guidance of Miss Betty-Jane she realized her love of teaching as well, and after 20 years of teaching there she opened Northstar Dance Academy; which is currently in its 15th season.  Mrs. Kandie has studied all types of dance and continues to attend classes/conventions on a regular basis.  She is Certified by Test to Teach through Dance Masters of America, and is President of Ch 18, Dance Teachers Club of CT, as well as being on the National Board of Directors.  Mrs. Kandie’s goal is to run a family-oriented studio that instills a love of dance in each and every student that will stay with them always. 

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Marissa Hubele

Office Manager

I was Ms. Kandie's student for over ten years.  I worked as an assistant teacher, before taking over the role of Office Manager. I handle families' financial accounts, scheduling, and registration of new dancers. You can see me with any questions you may have about Northstar! I am happy to assist!

Erin Courtney

Teacher

I grew up dancing with Northstar’s original competition team and have been with the studio since opening day in 2003. At twenty-two years old, I am currently enrolled in my senior year at the University of Connecticut as an Allied Health Sciences major. I have been teaching my own tap, jazz, lyrical, and competition classes at Northstar for the last seven years and I enjoy every second of it. During the few nights I am not teaching at the studio, you will find me at rehearsals for UConn’s Dance Company or UConn’s Tap Team, which I am a captain of.

Kayla Leavitt

Teacher

I am 19 years old and currently a student at the University of Hartford where I am studying Psychology.  I have been dancing for almost 18 years and teaching for 6 years.  At Northstar I teach hip hop, jazz & lyrical. I also assist Ms. Kandie with anything else she may need. 

Erin Belden

Teacher

I started dancing at 3 years old, but really found my passion for dance at 7 years old when I started dancing at Steppin’ Up! Dance Studio under the direction of Ms. Linda Regulbuto. I studied jazz, tap, ballet, acrobatics and street jazz and was a member of the Dance Company, the Tap Company and the Aerialstars Acrobatics Competition Team. After college I was on the Mohegan Wolves arena football dance team and the Hartford Wolfpack cheer squad. I’ve been teaching for 20 years now, and have experience teaching tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop and acrobatics at the recreational and competitive levels. In my free time I like to attend concerts and spend time with my husband and two little girls.

Angela Mia Belmonte

Teacher

I grew up in Clinton, NY.  I studied ballet, jazz and tap at Munsun Williams Proctor Arts Institute in Utica, NY.  I later continued my training at Belhaven University in Jackson, MS studying Ballet and Modern.  I am now dancing as a company artist with Ballet Hartford.

Ane Arrieta

Teacher

Ane Arrieta has trained in classical ballet, classical modern, and contemporary at Newport Academy of Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, The Rock School of Dance Education , Bolshoi Ballet, Rioult Dance, and The Martha Graham School.  She has performed with Island Moving Company, Missouri Contemporary Ballet and Ballet Hartford.  She has performed works by José Limón, Martha Graham, George Balanchine, Miki Olsen and Brian Arias. Miss Arrieta is a Junior BFA student at the University of Hartford Hartt School where she is majoring in Dnce Performance and Ballet Pedagogy. 

Corey Hutchins

Teacher

Bio coming soon...please check back

Student Teachers

Left to Right: Madigan Flynn, Maddie Duval, Sarah Grous

Classroom Assistants

Left to Right

Back Row: Elena Tipton, Brenna Schnitzke, Sophia Dillon, Mekyra Frison, Rachael Mullen, Emily Schwabe

Front Row: Julia Zingler, Isabella Maldonado