About Us
Dance as a lifestyle since 2008.
Meet the Founders
Enrique Alarcon
Founder/Director
Enrique's journey began with training in a wide array of dance styles, including ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, Latin, ballroom, and folk dance. His natural talent for movement, combined with a keen ear for music, quickly set him apart as both a performer and a choreographer. His early collaborations with dancers and choreographers in Peru sparked a desire to develop his own choreographies, teaching methods, and philosophies. After attending law school in Peru, Enrique realized that his passion for dance was undeniable. He made the bold decision to pursue his dreams, relocating to the United States to become a sought-after dance coach and choreographer for prestigious dance schools, companies, and theater groups in Fairfield County and New York City. Enrique's career took a pivotal turn when he earned his certification as a life coach, integrating this knowledge into his teaching. By blending his dance expertise with life coaching principles, he creates a transformative environment for his students. Enrique’s holistic approach goes beyond perfecting technique, focusing on personal growth, confidence, resilience, and a strong sense of self. He empowers dancers to overcome challenges, achieve their goals, and find purpose both on and off the stage.
Amanda Parton
Co-founder
Amanda- wife, mother, businesswoman, student, dancer. These are the words she would use to describe herself, as well as her current career as a dancer, coach and studio owner. Amanda also held down a long and successful career as an Art and Creative Director for Ogilvy, out of London and Singapore. Amanda moved to the States in the late 90’s and it was not long before she met Enrique. They became best friends and dance partners. In 2008 they started The Dance Collective to promote their love of dance to people of all ages and abilities. She recently branched out into pro-am competitive ballroom dance and trains with world-renowned coached from across the globe.
Meet Our Teachers
Deanna Garcia
Tots in Tights / Ballet & Contemporary Faculty
Originally from Miami, Florida, Deanna began ballet training at age four and went on to study with Miami City Ballet and later Dance Alive National Ballet. She has performed in numerous classical and contemporary works, including national tours and community outreach productions, and holds training from prestigious programs like New World School of the Arts and the Joffrey Ballet School. Deanna has appeared in The Nutcracker, Carousel, and Rite of Spring, and is currently a company member with Thomas Ortiz Dance, performing across Fairfield County and NYC. With a diverse background in ballet, jazz, contemporary, and more, Deanna brings both technical depth and performance experience to her teaching.
Katarina Kendall
Ballet & Contemporary Faculty
Katarina Kendall is a professional dancer, educator, and choreographer dedicated to inspiring the next generation of dancers through excellence, creativity, and confidence. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of South Carolina, along with minors in Business Administration and Psychology. During her collegiate training, Katarina worked with internationally recognized artists and companies including Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and The Joffrey Ballet. Professionally, she has performed with Unbound Dance Company, Ashley Daigle Dance Company, and is currently a company member with MorDance in New York City. Katarina believes every dancer deserves an encouraging environment where they can develop strong technique, artistry, discipline, and confidence. Her classes are designed to challenge students while helping them discover the joy of movement and a lifelong love of dance.
Lexi Callaghan
Hip Hop & Contemporary Faculty
Lexi Callaghan is a dance educator, choreographer, and performer who is passionate about creating a positive and inspiring learning environment where every dancer feels supported, challenged, and encouraged to reach their full potential. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Psychology from Salve Regina University with a concentration in Performance and Choreography. During her collegiate training, she developed extensive experience in performance, choreography, artistic leadership, and dance education while training in ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and hip hop. Lexi has taught dancers of all ages throughout Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. She believes every student learns differently and strives to create a classroom where dancers build confidence, develop strong technical foundations, and express themselves through movement. Her classes emphasize musicality, artistry, creativity, and performance quality while fostering discipline, self-confidence, and a genuine love of dance. Lexi is committed to helping every dancer grow not only in their technique but also as confident, creative individuals both inside and outside the studio.
Ada Cacciatore
Private Coaching & Guest Teacher
Ada Cacciatore is a dance teacher and choreographer from Italy with more than 8 years of experience in the US. She began her professional dance training at the National Academy of Dance in Rome, where she received her B.A in Dance. She continued her study at The Ailey School, the official school of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater where she completed her Independent Study program. She is a trained dancer in multiple styles including ballet, modern, contemporary and jazz. Ms. Cacciatore has performed works by many choreographers including Donald Byrd, Darshan Singh Bhuller, Amaury Lebrun, Francesca Harper, Sidra Bell, Lakay Worrell and Max Luna lll. She joined the ABT’s production as supernumerary and she is a proudly ABT Certified Teacher. Recently she joined the Ailey family as a Dance Teacher in the Junior Division . AC founded "One World Dance" in 2022 to bring people together through the joys of dance. She is a dedicated and passionate teacher who has a love for helping children grow and develop. Responsible for creating a safe and inclusive learning environment where students can feel confident to explore and express themselves. She believes in hard work, creativity and fun when it comes to teaching dance.As a team member at The Dance Collective, what I love most is the opportunity to inspire and shape the lives of students through the art of dance, witnessing their growth and bringing immense satisfaction.