HOT SHOES DANCE

*A fun and loving atmosphere while teaching the proper technique of dance!*
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                                     Instructors

 
Karen Casagrande
Karen holds a B.F.A in dance from Stephens College in Columbia, MO., where she studied Jazz, Modern, Tap, Ballet, Spanish, East Indian, and Hawaiian dance, and was a student of the noted Modern dancer and choreographer Harriet Ann Gray. She was soloist with the Stephen's College Dance Company and toured throughout the Midwest.  In New York, she studied with Lee Theodore at The American Dance Machine and with Charles Kelley and Frank Hatchett at the Broadway Dance Center.
     She has been lead dancer and choreographer for over 25 musicals, with her credits including "Guys and Dolls", "Brigadoon", "Anything Goes", "Fiddler On The Roof", "West Side Story", "Kiss Me Kate", "Man of LaMancha" and "My Fair Lady". Karen also, for many years, volunteered her services as the choreographer of the Veterans Park musicals and continues to choreograph the East Ridge Middle School musicals.  She also choreographed the short film "La Toiletta", seen on Nickelodeon.  Karen has been a dance teacher for 32 years, owner of Hot Shoes for 27, and is the director and choreographer of the Hot Shoes Dance Company.
     
 
 
Diane Fried
Diane Fried has been a dancer, choroegrapher and teacher at Hot Shoes since its inception in 1985.
     Diane has a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Point Park College in Pittsburg, PA. where she studied jazz, ballet, pointe, tap and modern and was a member of the American Dance Ensemble.  She did Summer Stock at the Actor's Studio Cabaret where she played parts in "The Fantastics", "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown", and assorted musical reviews.
     Diane danced with the Ridgefield Civic Ballet and in productions at the Wilton Playshop and the Ridgefield Workshop.  She has choreographed and danced in numerous benefits at the Danbury Music Center, Candlewood Theatre, The Quick Center at Fairfield University and Fairfield Theatre.
     Besides choreographing so many extraordinary dances for her classes and the Hot Shoes Dance Company, she has choreographed musicals such as "Carousel", "70 Girls 70" and "Gypsy" for  RHS, Ridgefield Workshop and Wilton Playshop.  Diane has studied with Charles Kelley and Frank Hatchett at the Broadway Dance Center.
 
 
 
 
 Alison Lott
 Alison holds a BS degree in dance from Springfield College, Springfield MA.
She brings high energy and a wealth of experience to her classes.  She has recently taught at the Stamford Performing Arts Center, the JCC, and Steps Dance Studio in Stamford.
     Alison has choreographed and danced in the NY, MA and local CT area, including the Titan All-Stars Open Dance Team, and has continued her dance education in workshops and master classes with Mia Michaels and Shane Sparks.
     With a minor in psychology and a love of teaching, she shares her passion for dance with students of all ages.
 
 
 
 Brittany Bello
 Brittany has been with Hot Shoes Dance since the age of 3!
     Her talent in tap and jazz was obvious to everyone as she danced her way through being in all of the Hot Shoes Dance Companies.
     As smart as she is beautiful, Brittany continues to study dance, work full time as a Manager at CVS in Ridgefield, and recently graduated from Iona College.
     Brittany's innovative choreography and dancing inspires her students.
 
 
 
  
Kirby Ward

Kirby Ward has been in the entertainment industry for over thirty-five years and is a veteran of over sixty theatrical productions.  He’s performed for The Queen of England and appeared as Bob Hope at the Library of Congress’ 100th Birthday celebration of the comic’s life.  As the original Bobby Child in the London West End premier of "Crazy For You" he received an Olivier Award nomination and later a Helen Hayes Award nomination at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.  You can hear his performance on the London cast recording.  He was also featured in the Broadway revival of "Show Boat" directed by Hal Prince, as well as numerous other Broadway Shows.  Kirby has played many of the World showrooms with luminaries such as Debbie Reynolds, Phyllis Diller, Shecky Green and Bill Cosby. As director and choreographer, he has created material for Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor, worked with Bette Midler and James Caan on the film "For The Boys", and has directed and choreographed both off-Broadway and regionally all over the US.  He’s been named Best Director of 2002 and 2005 in Boston for his critically acclaimed productions of "Singin' in the Rain" and "Crazy For You" and recently received the San Diego Critics Circle Craig Noel Awards for Best Director of a Musical for 2005 and Best Choreography for 2007.  He’s appeared in concert at the Hollywood Bowl, with the Buffalo Philharmonic and Virginia, New Mexico, Atlanta, Maryland, Winnipeg, Pacific and Hong Kong Symphonies.  Kirby has written for television and film, most recently winning Best Short Film at the Kent Film Festival for his original film, "Down in the Mouth", a movie he wrote, directed and edited. His original new musical, "The Gypsy King", was featured at the Goodspeed Music Theatre's New Artists Festival and the National Alliance of Musical Theatre’s New Works Festival in 2008.

 

 

Shannon-Courtney Egan

Dancing since the age of 3, Shannon has over 25 years of experience in dance. She received her training in Tap, Jazz, Ballet and Musical Theatre dance.  An accomplished Choreographer and Director her work has been seen throughout CT, NY, Off-Broadway and internationally.  A graduate of the WCSU theatre program, Shannon holds a BA in Communications, Theatre Arts and Vocal Performance and a MA in Education.  Shannon is the Choreographer and Assistant Director for the Ridgefield High School Musicals and has had the privilege to work with this program for the past 12 years.  She has been nominated the past three years for Outstanding Choreography of a Musical at the Connecticut Music Theatre Awards, for "Thoroughly Modern Millie" in 2009, for "Oklahoma" in 2010 and for "42nd Street" in 2011, and won the 2009 CMTA for Outstanding Musical and the 2011 CMTA for Outstanding Choreography.  Shannon is also an accomplished performer. Favorite credits: "Anything Goes" (Reno Sweeney), "Kiss Me Kate" (Bianca/Lois), "Funny Girl" (Fanny Brice), "Rocky Horror Show" (Columbia ), "Nunsense" and "Nunsense 2" (Sister Amnesia) and "South Pacific" (Nellie Forbush). 

     Shannon enjoys working with dancers of all ages; with over 10 years experience teaching preschool, she loves working with the littlest dancers.  Shannon is thrilled to be part of the Hot Shoes family.