Notable Dance Alumni

Moving to NYC after graduation, Alli Bollinger has been an apprentice and featured soloist in Synthesis Dance, a RWS Entertainment dancer and consistently trains with the top choreographers in the dance industry. Most recently, Alli completed her first season as a Radio City Rockette in the Christmas Spectacular.

Katie Tomney is a professional dancer, singer, teacher, and choreographer currently residing in the New York City area. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from UB.  Since graduation, Katie has had many performance-based contracts across the country. To date, her favorite contract has been serving as the Dance Captain and a Dancer/Singer onboard Carnival Cruise Lines in 2022. New to the New York City area, Katie is excited about new opportunities and experiences in the near future! Past credits include Carnival Cruise Lines, Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, RWS Entertainment, Kings Dominion Entertainment and Starring Buffalo Theatre Company.

Originally from Buffalo New York, Angel Mammoliti is a dancer/educator currently based in Los Angeles and represented by Clear Talent Group. She graduated from the University at Buffalo with BA in Fine Arts in Dance and a BA in Psychology all while training with the Joffrey School of Ballet in New York City and The Conteur Academy in Toronto, Canada. After performing with Phoenix Ballet, she now is a member of Entity Contemporary Dance in Los Angeles, California. She is seen acting and performing in Paramount’s “Don’t Worry Darling” and has most recently been on Madison Beer’s Life Support Tour. She has appeared on televised award shows such as the Latin American Music Awards, American Country Music Awards and has done episodic work for Dellacorte, Lucifer, Stumptown. She has worked with artists such as The Weekend, Halsey, Banks, Miguel, Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull, The Dixie Chicks, Carly Rae Jepson, Ingrid Michaelson, Little Big Town, Maluma, and Viktoria Modesta. Currently she is on faculty with Hollywood Vibe Dance Convention and Hollywood Dance Jamz. Her style blends her technical jazz and ballet training with explorative movement pathways and diverse musicality creating a fusion of styles that can range from contemporary ballet to jazz-modern fusion.

Ashley Rossi is a dancer/educator based in Buffalo, NY. She graduated from the University at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance in 2018. While at The University at Buffalo, she was in Zodiaque Dance Ensemble, Zodiaque Dance Company, and choreographed for Dancers Workshop. After college, Ashley performed with Balasole Dance Company as a featured soloist.

Brittany Sprung is a professional dancer and aerialist originally from Upstate New York, now residing in Las Vegas. Holding a BFA in dance and a BA in math from the University at Buffalo, she specializes in jazz, contemporary, aerial arts and acrobatics but has trained in all areas, including ballet, tap, hip hop, and baton. Brittany has performed with Norwegian and Royal Caribbean cruise lines, on tour with Disney Live, in the Pro Bowl half time show, at several theme parks, with the Backstreet Boys, for iHeart Radio Music Festival and Samsung Mobile, and can be seen on truTV’s Fake Off. She has taught, choreographed, and directed across the nation and judged for Starquest, Spotlight, Starpower, and Dance Masters of America competitions. Currently, she is an E-commerce Lead for lululemon, an aerial rehearsal director for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, and a core member of the specialty act, Piano in the Sky.

Heather Dorler graduated from the University at Buffalo in 2019 with her BFA in Dance Performance. At university, Heather was a member of the Zodiaque Dance Company and was thrilled to expand her dance vernacular by performing pieces in styles including Bharatanatyam, House Hip-Hop, Fosse inspired Jazz and so much more. Prior to her senior year, training brought her to Lucca, Italy for DanceItalia, a three-week intensive where she studied under NobleMotion, Kidd Pivott and Ohad Naharin Repertory. Heather also has a love for theatre and was the dance captain and ensemble member in the Kavinoky Theatre's production of "Rock of Ages" and played Gloria Upson in "Auntie Mame" for the TrueRep Theatre. Heather is currently living outside of Boston, MA where she is the apprentice for Pantos Project Dance, a contemporary based company that focuses on honing in on human experiences to create and perform technically driven and emotionally charged works. For the past 7 years, she has also been a head instructor for the Universal Dance Association where she travels the country to lead dance camps for competitive high school and college teams. Through UDA, Heather has helped lead Disney's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Citrus Bowl Halftime Show as well as the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade. Along with her performance, she coaches the Hingham High Dance team who placed 3rd overall in the state of Massachusetts this past year. Always enthusiastic about helping her community through movement, Heather enjoys coaching at Orangetheory Fitness as a personal trainer. 

Dr. James D. Walters was born in Hilton, New York. In 2011, he graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University at Buffalo with a BFA, in Dance. Following his career as a dancer, Dr. Walters pursued an education in Chiropractic at New York Chiropractic College, where he graduated with honors in 2019.  

Following graduation from UB, Lisa Kaemmerlen was an apprentice for the dance company formally known as LehrerDance. and then went on to work as a dancer for Norwegian Cruise Lines and traveled to over 30 countries. Lisa then returned to school to earn her degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant from Villa Maria College. She earned a 4.0 GPA and began working at Buffalo Rehab Group immediately after graduation. Lisa enjoys working with patients of all ages, especially dancers, gymnasts, and other young athletes needing care. While working at the clinic, Lisa also teaches in local dance studios educating young dancers in the area utilizing the education she has gained as a Physical Therapist Assistant to make dancers stronger.

Mariangela Perrella graduated from the University at Buffalo in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Psychology. While at UB, Mari earned nominations for Fulbright and Marshall Scholarships, was named Outstanding Senior in Psychology, and participated in the National Honor Society for Dance Arts. Currently, Mari attends Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, working towards her doctorate degree in school psychology. Mari continues to incorporate dance into her professional and personal life. Her dissertation will study the effects of a school-based dance therapy program on social-emotional outcomes for students with emotional and behavioral disorders. She has also shared her love for dance as an instructor at Lancaster Dance Center (NY), Orlando School of Dance (NY), and Valley Dance (PA).

Melissa J. Hunt is currently traveling the country with the 2nd national tour of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as a swing. Regional credits include: Anybodys in West Side Story (Weston Playhouse, Wick Theatre, Engeman), Velma in West Side Story (Harbor Lights), Associate Choreographer/Dance Captain in Annie (Axelrod). NYC performance credits include: Hair to Hamilton Public Theater Gala with Baayork Lee, American Dance Spectacular (Northeast Tour - Al Blackstone), Born To Dance (Workshop - Al Blackstone), Boy in The Velveteen Rabbit (TYA) and Easter Bonnet Competition with the cast of King Kong Alive on Broadway. Melissa is a graduate of the University at Buffalo Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in dance and is represented by LDC Artist Representation.

Miranda Spada received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance from the University at Buffalo under the direction of Tom Ralabate. There she was a member of the prestigious Zodiaque Dance Company where she was able to work with numerous choreographers. She was honored with being named director of Dancers Workshop for two years. After graduation, Miranda stayed in the Buffalo area where teaching opportunities opened and she found her passion. She is currently the Competition Director at Tonawanda Dance Arts and also directs and runs her own Mentorship Program called LEAD.  This program facilities the growth of individuals who are looking to enhance their training and work towards pursuing a possible career in dance. She enjoys giving her students opportunities in and out of New York that enhance their dance journeys.

Arielle Cole is a choreographer, performer, and dance educator. She holds a BFA in Dance from University at Buffalo, and MFA in Dance and Masters of Management from Mills College. Some of her professional credits include Keshet Dance Company, World Dance Fusion, PERSpectives Dance Company, Aleño Dance Project, and Velocity Arts & Entertainment. In 2018, Arielle started her dance company, ArcTangent Dance, with a vision of creating a professional dance company that provides exhilarating work to both performers and audiences. Her choreographic interests revolve around democratizing both the creation process of a project, as well as the audience experience. Learn more by visiting ariellecole.com.

Lauren Green is a certified virtual facilitator, certified coach, experienced visual note-taker and effective leadership development trainer. She believes in the power of visualization to support productive and dynamic group processes and knowledge management. Lauren has an extensive toolkit of modalities for designing inclusive, engaging and productive sessions, whether they are held in person, online or in a hybrid/blended format. Lauren is the owner and executive director of Dancing with Markers®, a team of visual practitioners who hold space for individuals, teams and organizations, as they work towards their vision and achieve their goals. Lauren launched the podcast This Meeting Sucks in 2022, with the goal of bringing meeting skills to the masses. Lauren holds a master’s degree in Organization Development and Knowledge Management from George Mason University. Lauren is an International Coach Federation certified coach and an MBTI® and EQi (emotional intelligence) Practitioner.

Cesar Salinas is a UB Theatre and Dance alumnus with a BFA in dance. Originally from Portland, Oregon, he is Artistic Programs Manager for Giordano Dance Chicago. Salinas began his formal studies in dance with Zohar School of Dance, under the direction of Ehud Krauss in Palo Alto, CA. There he was introduced to the classic jazz styles of Gus Giordano, Luigi, and Matt Mattox.  He moved to Oregon where he studied at Willamette Ballet Academy under Deborah Higginbotham. After graduation from UB he received a scholarship to Giordano Dance School in Chicago, IL, in 2004 and 2005. From 2006 until 2011, Cesar joined the Giordano Dance Chicago as a full company member performing throughout the United States and Europe. During his tenure, he was proud to be a part of GDC's educational outreach program, teaching science and health dance classes to 4th and 5th grade students in under-resourced public schools in Chicago. Cesar was honored to be on the cover of Dance Magazine (August 2007) and to teach at the Jazz Dance World Congress in 2007, 2009, and 2012.  In 2013, he was chosen as a soloist for BalaSole Dance Company performing Hunted in New York City’s Alvin Ailey Citigroup where he received rave reviews: “richly physical performance that drew the audience’s unfettered enthusiasm” – Philip Gordon. Cesar toured the world with Royal Caribbean cruise lines as a performer in the Broadway production of Saturday Night Fever as well as an aerialist. In the January 2018 issue of Dance Teacher Magazine, Cesar demonstrates the Giordano Technique alongside Nan Giordano in honor of the company’s 55th Anniversary as Artistic Director for GDC.