Dance Faculty
Janelle Bradway
All levels of Dance & Fitness Instructor, Studio Owner & Director
janelle@newstepsdanceandfitnesscenter.com
Miss Janelle graduated from Central Connecticut State University with her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion. She also became a certified Health and Fitness Specialist through the American College of Sports and Medicine. Miss Janelle has been dancing at New Steps since she was five years old. She has been teaching with the company since 2001 and was named New Steps Dancer of the Year in 1998. Miss Janelle has attended the New York City Dance Alliance Convention in Boston for many years, where she has had the opportunity to receive dance training from teachers from around the country.
In addition to dancing at New Steps, Miss Janelle has taught creative movement, tap and jazz for the Glastonbury YMCA. Miss Janelle was also the Director and Choreographer for the Glastonbury YMCA productions of High School Musical, Annie, Alice in Wonderland and Beauty & the Beast.
Miss Janelle founded Fitness with Janelle in 2008. After working in big gyms and experiencing group fitness classes from other teachers, she developed a style of teaching that is appropriate, approachable, effective and fun. She takes pride in working with each of her students.
Lauren Crooks
All levels of Dance Instructor, Studio Assistant Director
lauren@newstepsdanceandfitnesscenter.com
Miss Lauren graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Statistics, and a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences. She was a member of Figments Youth Dance Ensemble from 2012-2018 where she was a choreographer for three years. Miss Lauren has danced at New Steps since she was two and became a demonstrator at thirteen, but her family has been with the studio since before she was born!
Miss Lauren has been keeping active by attending Spin, Pilates, and Yoga classes. Throughout college she helped backstage for New Steps’ recitals, taught summer classes, led virtual and in person classes during the 2020-21 dance year, and became a head teacher in 2021. In her senior year of college, she directed the New Steps Dance Company pilot season. This fall, she is so excited to continue teaching classes!
Sydney Boettger
All levels of Dance Instructor, Studio Assistant Director
Miss Sydney graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2013 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and a Certification in Elementary Education. She went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Central Connecticut State University in 2016. After spending eight wonderful years as a 4th and 5th grade teacher in New Britain, she now brings her passion for numbers to her current role as a Math Interventionist.
Miss Sydney’s love for dance began right here at New Steps when she was just six years old. By age 13, she stepped into the role of teaching assistant, discovering a passion for mentoring younger dancers that lasted all the way until she left for college. Throughout her university years, she stayed active by jumping into every dance opportunity available, from campus pop-up classes to Zumba sessions. She also remained a dedicated part of the New Steps family, frequently helping backstage during dress rehearsals and recitals.When the opportunity arose to officially join the faculty, she leaped at the chance!
Staying active has always been a top priority for Miss Sydney. A former cheerleader, she now keeps moving by taking barre classes, training at OrangeTheory, and running outdoors. Life became even more rewarding in December 2022 when she and her family welcomed their beautiful daughter. Outside of teaching and dancing, her absolute favorite pastime is making memories and spending quality time with her family.
Meghan O’Brien
Sunshine Stars Head Teacher & Ballet/Tap combo Instructor
Miss Meghan danced with New Steps from the age of 4 through her senior year of high school. She attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst earning a degree in Communication Disorders. She worked in the field of Special Education for many years before starting her family. Outside of the studio, she has a home bakery creating custom cakes and sugar cookies!
Miss Meghan is excited to be a part of New Steps, with Sunshine Stars and the Ballet/Tap combo classes!
Alyssa Crooks
All levels of Dance Instructor & Office Manager
Miss Alyssa has been dancing at New Steps since she was two. She became a demonstrator when she was thirteen and continued to assist at the Studio until she graduated high school. After taking some time off to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Connecticut and her law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law, she’s returned to New Steps!
Miss Alyssa is excited to be part of New Steps again, teaching multiple classes and assisting with office work!
Chelsea Vendette-Lopez
Tap Instructor
Miss Chelsea began dancing with New Steps at the age of 4 and taught tap, ballet, and jazz in high school until she left for college. At New Steps she developed a love of dance, but most especially, tap. She graduated from Hofstra University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater. She has continued to take classes after graduation at Broadway Dance Center as well as Steps on Broadway. She has taken classes with Savion Glover, Brenda Bufalino, and Felipe Galganni, as well as studied musical theater dance under Liza Gennaro. She is extremely excited to teach at New Steps again and share her love of tap with others.
Stacey Hansen
Guest Dance Instructor
Miss Stacey majored in both psychology and dance at Elon University in North Carolina. During her undergraduate years, she performed in multiple showcases with the Elon Dancers and other theater performances. In 2005, she received her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Central Connecticut State University.
Miss Stacey began dancing at the age of eight at Dawn’s Studio of Creative Dance in Vernon, Connecticut. She instantly fell in love with the art and enjoyed every minute in the studio. Following her graduation from Elon, she returned to Connecticut to continue her master’s program and began teaching jazz, contemporary, technique and hip hop at Dance Express in Tolland. She continued to teach at Dance Express for thirteen years, later making the difficult decision to take a break from teaching to focus on her family and career as a therapist. She is now co-owner of Center for Behavioral Wellness in South Windsor and Stafford Springs, Connecticut.
Dance has remained a passion for Miss Stacey and she enjoyed taking an adult hip-hop class at New Steps, following her move to Glastonbury in 2018. She is so happy to be a part of the amazing staff at New Steps and share her love and knowledge of dance with the students!
Tracy Lombardo
Guest Dance Instructor
Miss Tracy is a graduate of Adelphi University, where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. There, she performed and choreographed for the Adelphi Dance Theater. She has also performed in Frank Hatchett’s Broadway Dance Center Showcase in New York City, in the First East Coast Aerobic Competition and in The Taste of Hartford. The Rockville Festival, Manchester Food Festival and The Vernon Tri-Town Taste are a few other local performances Miss Tracy has taken part in. Miss Tracy choreographed and performed in a commercial for Formal Elegance in Manchester.
Miss Tracy‘s training began at the early age of five with Helyn Flanagan. She taught three years at the Flanagan Studio and demonstrated for Miss Flanagan at the nationally attended Dance Caravan conventions. She began teaching, choreographing and directing New Steps Dance Center in 1988.
Along with sharing her talents with New Steps, Miss Tracy has performed with The Sonya Plumb Modern Dance Company and taught creative movement at the Glastonbury YMCA for six years. She is also a teaching artist with JDPP Residency at Parkville School in Hartford as well as the Bridging Boundaries program. Miss Tracy also teaches at the Greater Hartford Academy of The Arts and is currently performing with the Judy Dworin Performance Ensemble.
Tammy Carlson
Guest Dance Instructor
Miss Tammy is a graduate of Goucher College where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance. She has been associated with the Professional Dance Teachers Association in a teaching capacity during a Boston convention. She has performed at many levels. At the age of 10, her earliest dance experience was under the direction of the nationally-known Helyn Flanagan. During college, she performed with the Hartford College for Women Dance Club, Trinity College Performing Arts Dancers and the Goucher College Dance Festival. She also has danced competitively on a local level and has placed well in those events.
Miss Tammy’s teaching experience includes eight years of teaching for Helyn Flanagan, from whom she received her performing arts training. She taught for over six years at The U.S. Dance Club and has also been a part of Judy Dworin Performance Ensemble Residency at Parkville School in Hartford and Snow School in Middletown, teaching dance and movement to children. Miss Tammy founded New Steps Dance Center in 1984, where she has taught, directed and choreographed.
Miss Tammy and some of her students have performed in the Taste of Hartford, Vernon Tri-Town Taste and Manchester Food Festival. She choreographed and danced for Northwestern Hair Show for Ethiopia at the Hartford Hilton. Miss Tammy performed in Frank Hatchett’s Broadway Dance Center Showcase in New York City.
New Steps Aerobic Team, choreographed by Miss Tammy, placed third in the First Annual East Coast Regional Aerobic Competition. Miss Tammy, Miss Tracy and the New Steps Dancers have performed in various fundraisers including “Touch of Love” Benefit (babies with AIDS), and the unforgettable Collection Hair Show.
Allie Goodin
Guest Dance & Pilates Instructor
Miss Allie is currently a student in the Honors Program of Drexel University, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Spanish and Nutrition. She is also studying to be a Pilates instructor. Miss Allie was a student at New Steps for 15 years, and enjoys coming back whenever possible. She loves to dance and especially to share it with others!
Karen Lesh
Guest Tap Instructor
Miss Karen began Tap dancing when she was five years old, and fell in love with it. She grew up dancing here at New Steps, co-founded Cornell University’s first and only Tap troupe, On Tap, which still exists today, and has studied/taken classes with Savion Glover, Clare O’Donnell, Nancy Newell, Artis Moon, and more.
Dani Lombardo
All levels of Dance Instructor
Miss Dani is a Connecticut native, dance instructor, choreographer and movement artist. She began her training at New Steps before continuing her pre-professional studies through the Dance Division at the Hartt School. Miss Dani earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Jacksonville University and a Masters of Social Work from New York University.
After several years living in New York City, where she developed therapeutic dance and visual arts programs for incarcerated individuals, she returned to Connecticut to share her passion for dance education. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes creativity, confidence, discipline and joy in the learning process.
Miss Dani is also the Founder & Director of Motion Lab Collective, a movement-based arts initiative focused on dance education, creative exploration and community engagement. To learn more follow @motionlabcollective on social media or visit motion-lab-collective.square.site.
Meet our assistant dance teachers, student assistants & dance class demonstrators who help us throughout the year...
Miss Lily Claire
Demonstrator
Miss Lily Claire is a 7th grader at Smith Middle School. She has been dancing since she was 3 years old. This is her 5th year dancing with New Steps and her 4th year as a demonstrator. Miss Lily Claire loves demonstrating at New Steps because she enjoys helping other dance students grow and explore their talents. Outside of dance, Miss Lily Claire enjoys reading, skiing, playing the piano, biking with her friends and visiting Texas.
Miss Marin
Marin is 9 years old and is in 4th grade at Corpus Christi School in Wethersfield. She has been dancing at New Steps since she was 3 and is in her 7th year of dancing at New Steps. This is her first year demonstrating and she is looking forward to teaching younger students. Outside of dance she enjoys swimming, playing mini golf, rock climbing, playing with her cat, and loves spending time with family and friends.