Spirit in Motion family truly believes in our dancers and through compassionate instruction we achieve their goals! Our teachers love and nurture every dancer empowering them through the love of dance!
It all begins with passion not perfection.
Kate Amdur
Kate has over 25 years of dance training, which she received throughout studios in North Central Massachusetts. She has extensive training in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary and Duncan Dance. Kate was accepted to Fitchburg State, where she studied Theatre and in Special Education. During this time Kate started creating an adaptive dance classes as an independent study to support dancers with disabilities. Kate had the opportunity to study abroad in Australia, during this time she began to explore the concept of dance as a means of non-verbal communication and kinesthetic expression. Soon after, Kate was introduced to Dance Movement Therapy.
She continued to pursue this avenue and was accepted into Lesley University’s Dance Movement Therapy graduate program. Kate used this time to explore movement as an expressive and healing tool and further develop her curriculum that would combine her two passions, Special Education and dance. After developing her curriculum, Kate was given the opportunity to implement her dance curriculum at Belmont S.P.O.R.T. Successfully, she continued with Belmont S.P.O.R.T. for 5 years, where she spent time further developing and fine tuning her curriculum to support the individual needs of each student.
Kate became a Certified Movement Analyst through the Laban Movement Analysis Program at LIMS. Kate believes that everyone should be provided the tools to dance and express themselves. Her goal is to break the stigma that only certain individuals are capable of this talent and allow all individuals to be heard and seen.
Recently Kate received her certification in Acrobatic Arts as well as a certification from the University of Nevada Las Vegas’s Dance Teacher University.
Kelly Maccioli
Kelly grew up dancing right here in Marlborough, where she spent 14 years studyingJazz, Tap, and Lyrical. She spent her college career as an art student, while alsostudying Ballet, and quickly fell in love with it. On top of Ballet classes, as anundergraduate at Colby-Sawyer College, she was very active in the dance community,choreographing for the Dance Club on campus and rose through their ranks to becomefirst a supporting officer, and then President her Senior year. As President sheproduced 2 shows a year, and managed over 100 dancers, while continuing tochoreograph and dance herself. She graduated in 2003 with a Bachelors Degree inFine Arts (BFA).
Since graduating Kelly has taught at various Dance Studios throughout Massachusetts, including most recently right here in Marlborough, where she lead the Elementary Dance Program at a small studio from 2017 - 2022. Here she taught, choreographed,and designed the curriculum and summer programs for all Tap, Jazz, and Ballet classes for dancers ages 12 and under.
Kelly is a Pointe Safe certified teacher and is also certified by Dance Masters of
America to teach Ballet, Tap & Jazz. She is an active member of the local chapter,
Dance Masters of New England Chapter 5 (DMNE) and is dedicated to continuing to
learn and grow as a teacher and dancer. Taking advantage of her membership to
DMNE she attends workshops multiple times a year, and was awarded a scholarship to
the National Dance Educators Organization (NDEO), and to attend the Unity Dance
Conference in New York City in the Summer of 2023. She was also a performing
member of Dance Movement Worcester, a dance collaborative for adults, from
2020-2022. She will forever be a student of ballet, and continues taking Ballet classes as
regularly as her schedule will allow.
Miss Kelly loves teaching here at Spirit in Motion! She has 3 children who also dancehere at SIMDA alongside her and spends most of her spare time watching them shineboth on stage and on all the athletic fields around the city. For fun she runs marathons,and likes to read and draw.
Aura Ortiz
Aura's passion for dance began at the age of 8 where she trained with Boston Ballet. Aura later expanded her knowledge in the performing arts in 2005 attending the Alvin Ailey Camp. Early in 2007, Aura pursued dancing with Hip Hop alongside local group “Golden Kidz Inc”, within the same year her passion expanded with her acceptance to the Boston Arts Academy. She graduated as a dance major from the Boston Arts Academy in 2011 while working with Jo'Me Dance Company, Chance Dance Company and 4 Star Dance Studio Sr and Jr Performing companies. Aura continued her education receiving a degree in dance and arts from University of Massachusetts Boston in 2016.
She is an emotionally driven dancer/ teacher/ choreographer who has always felt compelled to teach students to be themselves to enact success. Aura created S.E.E.D. (Self Empowerment Encountered through Dance) as a student lead club at University of Massachusetts Boston with a focus on using dance as physical fitness focusing on increasing self-esteem, confidence and health; Aura then brought S.E.E.D. to the Boston Community to increase accessibility of experienced young professionals while promoting health and fun. Aura Is excited to get back to teaching dance after becoming a mother, and hopes to grow alongside her students while having fun moving.
Travers King
Travers King, a resident of Hudson Massachusetts, has been studying theatre and dance for as long as he can remember. He began his education at various schools including Hudson Dance Academy, Center Stage Dance Studio, and Ms. Kim’s School of Dance. In 2009 Travers received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance at The University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he concentrated on Contemporary and Ballet Techniques. Travers also studied at The London Contemporary Dance School, one of the most prestigious dance conservatories in the United Kingdom. Not only is he an award winning choreographer but has performed works by renowned choreographers including Paul Taylor, Murray Louis, Bebe Miller, Siobhan Davies, Shapiro and Smith, Gregg Lizenbery, and Jeff Rubudal. Before returning to the mainland in 2011, Travers was working professionally with Honolulu Dance Theatre, Ballet Hawaii, and teaching for The Movement Center: Creating good people through excellent education in the performing arts. Other Credits include, Honolulu Broadway Baby’s: A Miracle on Bethel Street, 42nd Street, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, Chicago, Red Hot and Cole, and Meet Me In St. Louis. Travers is also the Director for The Melrose Youth Ballet’s, Nutcracker. Most recently Travers was the director of The House of Dance in Sudbury, as well as the General Manager of Northern Lights Entertainment. Though he is onto new adventures he truly looks forward to bringing his love for dance to Spirit in Motion Dance Academy.
Cali Lentoni
Cali has been dancing for over 18 years, beginning her training with Jodi Palmieri and proudly following her when Spirit In Motion opened its doors. Throughout her college years, Cali remained deeply connected to Spirit in Motion attending every competition as an assistant. Cali’s journey with Spirit In Motion Dance Academy has truly come full circle. After graduating in 2024, she officially joined the Spirit in Motion faculty. She quickly became an integral part of the competition team, choreographing award winning routines and helping to guide the program. She’s honored to inspire the next generation of dancers.
Cali discovered her passion for choreography at just 14 years old, when she was given the chance to choreograph her first piece. Since then, she has choreographed award-winning routines and even semi-professional dance company works.
Dedicated to her own growth as an artist and educator, Cali also believes that the best teachers never stop learning. She continues to expand her knowledge and training by attending conferences, conventions, taking adult classes, dancing with adult collaborative and working toward certifications. Her commitment to professional growth ensures she brings fresh, innovative, and safe teaching practices into the classroom.
In addition to her teaching, Cali has also been Spirit In Motion’s Marketing Manager for over a year, bringing her love of storytelling and design into building Spirit in Motion’s brand and community presence.
Cali genuinely cares about each and every one of her students. As a teacher, Cali believes in more than just teaching steps. She is passionate about shaping confident, resilient, and expressive dancers. She pushes her students to reach their full potential, encouraging them to strive for excellence while always staying true to themselves. Known for her energy, encouragement, and unwavering commitment, Cali is the kind of teacher who never gives up on her dancers and makes every class feel like home.
Taegan Ronan
Taegan started dancing at age six but took her training to the next level around age 11. Taegan currently advances her training by attending classes at Spirit in Motion Dance Academy, conventions, master classes, and conferences throughout the year. Taegan regularly trains in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary and Hip Hop. She has been competing since age 8 where she started with Jodi Palmieri Dance Company. Taegan has won multiple regional titles going on to win a national title. Taegan has received a number of scholarships, performance invitations and judges awards in recognition of her performances.
Summer 2023 Taegan continued her training and performed at Worcester Academy Performing Arts Center with a dance collaborative. She attended the Web Teachers Conference in Las Vegas where she successfully completed classes in both dance, anatomy, injury prevention, and graduated with her certification as a dance instructor through the University of Nevada Las Vegas’s Dance Teacher University. Taegan has been a teacher's assistant at Spirit in Motion since 2020 in both classes and competition team. In her free time Taegan enjoys assisting Jodi Palmieri Photography with photo shoots, drawing, basketball, and theatre. Competition season 2023-2024 Taegan choreographed her first competition piece which went on to place and take special judges awards. 2024-2025 Taegan has continued to win both regional and national titles at multiple competitions. This year she was very excited to win a national choreography award for her competition choreography here at Spirit in Motion. Taegan also received and invitation to become an ambassador for Embody Dance Conference. Embody Ambassadors are dancers with a specific calling to become leaders and change-agents in their communities. Ambassadors are trained to work with peers as mediators, touchstones, and role models. Taegan is excited to join the Embody Conference this year!
Taegan came to realize how much of a tool dance can be to those who struggle and those who want to express themselves, that’s why she loves it. She is excited to teach our younger dancers and inspire them to find their passion for dance while gaining confidence in themselves.
Andrew Howarth
(Guest Teacher)
Andrew began his desire for dance at age 6 IrishStep Dance, where he studied for 5 years. He then chose to pursue training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, and Musical Theater and competed Regionally and Nationally and achieved the National Title of “Teen Mr. Dancers Inc 2010” at the Dancers Inc NationalCompetition in Hershey, PA. Andrew then received training in Vaganova Russian Ballet from Russian Ballet Master Zhanat Baidaralin and also competed Regionally and Nationally. He was casted the role of the Nutcracker and Prince in the Production of “The Nutcracker”. He was a dancer and choreographer for the Non Profit Dance Organization “Stylized Movement”, principal dancer, choreographer and promotional model for the Dance Company “Shadows - Dance Art Experience” where he was also honored to have been Assistant Producer for the dance company’s first showcase. He performed with the Project Movement Dance Company in the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra“Holiday Pops” Concert.
Andrew is a certified active member of Dance Masters of America, Inc - New
England Regional Chapter 5. He is Alixa Flexibility Module One and Module Two certified
where the focus is working with all levels of abilities and ages, building a solid flexibility
foundation with the concentration on injury prevention and safety. Andrew became certified in
the Nan Giordano Certification Program®️ to teach the Basic Level of the Giordano Jazz
Technique.
Andrew has been teaching and choreographing at various dance studios and colleges throughout New England. Andrew and his students have achieved numerous choreography, overall, and high-score awards at Regional and National competition levels. Andrew loves to exhibit his artistry through movement and choreography. He continues to further his education by attending teacher rejuvenation’s, retreats and workshops including Dance Masters of America and Radix conventions to bring the latest dance education and training to his students.
Andrew’s choreography has been showcased in benefit performances
and dance festivals throughout New England such as “Dancers at Heart for Kids at Heart” to
support Boston Children’s Hospital and “Move for the Movement” to support the American
Cancer Society. Andrew’s dance instruction helps his students prepare them for a career in the performing arts. He is continually working hard to develop technically trained dancers and artists. Andrew enjoys passing on his love for dance and is a positive influence in the dance education of his students.