Miss Cathy Mae’s dream has come true! Over 20 years ago, Cathy Mae Cavanaugh helped her dance teachers open Turning Pointe – A Dance Studio in Longwood, Fl. She has been a huge part of the dance studio ever since and in 2013 she took ownership of Turning Pointe! Her love for dance and teaching children are apparent within the first few minutes of every class. She is a compassionate teacher and her students adore her. She is always there to listen and support them outside the walls of Turning Pointe. “What I teach these children goes beyond pointing their toes. I love to help them grow as people. They learn to be responsible, loving, caring, dependable human beings.” Says, Cathy Mae.
Cathy Mae Cavanaugh graduated from Bishop Moore Catholic High School and continued her education at Valencia Community College and the University of Central Florida. She received her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Psychology in 2002. Go Knight’s! She grew up dancing in the Orlando Area and competed through high school. She has worked with community theatres as lead choreographer and co-director on shows such as, Alice In Wonderland, Annie Jr., Willy Wonka Jr., Fiddler on the Roof, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Anything Goes just to name a few. She has attended dance teacher conferences, summits and workshops throughout her career as a dance teacher. Cathy Mae believes that “Today’s dream is tomorrow’s dream come true. I hope all my students past, present and future know that they should never give up. Dreams can become a reality.”
Angela Kenski has been a part of the Turning Pointe family since it opened. She started as a twinkler and worked her way up in the STARS program. She competed until she was 18 winning multiple dance awards. After she graduated from Lake Brantley High School she started teaching and continued to for 5 years. After Two years of living in New York, she is back and ready for a great year. Her specialty areas are Jazz and Lyrical.
While attending Lake Brantley, she was a member of the varsity dance team for 4 years as well as captain for 2. This included a large variety of styles of dance including: kick, pom, jazz funk, military commands and others. While being a member of the team she also choreographed many routines which when on to place at state competitions and even won choreography awards. After graduating she continued to help coach for two years after.
Outside of dance Angela enjoys traveling and spending time with her family. She is continuing her education at Seminole State College in the early childhood education field with a minor in Business. She is also a teachers assistant at Annunciation Catholic Academy. She loves seeing the dancers grow up at Turning Pointe, and is so honored to be apart of it!
Danielle Justine is a Florida native with an experienced and well diverse background in dance. While growing up she worked for Pamela Bowling at Downtown Disney at the young age of twelve. Danielle was also a back-up dancer for, Motown Records, Colby O’Donis’ major motion picture soundtrack, “Mouse in the House” which was featured on the 1999 Stewart Little Soundtrack. She has also danced on a live televised show for Harlem Globetrotter, Curly Neal. Danielle appeared on a live televised show dancing in the opening routine for Showstopper National Dance Competition. Recently she performed in an opening routine for Paul Mitchell Hair, and danced for a charity fundraiser at the Lithuanian World Center (Chicago, IL) which was broadcasted in the country of Lithuania.
As a dancer, Danielle has won numerous top soloist awards from Showstopper Dance Competition, NexStar, Urban Jamm, Star Systems, Dynamite, Star Power, International Dance Challenge, and American Dance Awards. Special awards earned by Danielle were the “Look at Me”, “Superb Style”, and “Most Distinguished Performer”, awards. She also received dance scholarships to the Company Dance Convention, Showstopper Dance Convention, Urban Jamm Dance Convention, and Fire and Ice Dance Convention.
Stepping in to her role as a choreographer Danielle has placed dancers in the top ten at numerous competitions as well as winning titles, choreography awards, technique awards, and intensity awards. At Encore Dance Competition (Nationals), she placed one of her petite soloist first place not only for her solo but for the entire competition as the “Highest Scoring Petite Routine.” That same competition Danielle won the highest scoring choreography award for the junior division with routine named, “My Face Remains”. Recently Danielle moved to Chicago, Illinois where she taught at Turning Point Dance Company and worked with their competitive team, Ignite Dance Company, taught at Center Stage Dance Academy and worked with their competitive team, Envision Dance Company, Dance Duo Studios, Mohler Dance Academy, and Starland. Working with Ignite Dance Company she was blessed to have received both technique and choreography awards. Her senior competitive small group contemporary piece, “Walk on By” received first place both regionally and nationally as well as highest scoring in the senior division. Her soloist “Bitter Song”, “Word Up”, and “Born to Die” won first place overalls, titles, and special awards. Working with Envision Dance Company junior contemporary soloist “Latch” won first overall at Starbound Nationals. Danielle has also had the honor to work with Cheri Crabtree (active member of Dance Masters North Carolina, and studio owner at Steps on Stage Academy of Performing Arts). Danielle has taught master classes at her studio in North Carolina and choreographed some pieces for their 2015 season. Danielle continues to find hard working and passionate dancers so she can mold them and create them in to well respected adults and dancers.
Shelby Ratchford Sweet, a native of Lake Monroe, Florida, began dancing at age three with a small local studio in Sanford, FL. At age ten, Shelby performed in a Disney Christmas parade as Hilary Duff’s backup dancer on live national television. At age thirteen, she was accepted at the Orlando Ballet School as a pre-trainee. She quickly moved up in the school as a trainee at age fourteen. Shelby studied under Samantha Dunster, Kim Marsh, Peter Stark, Fernando Bujones, Yen Chen, and Bruce Mark. She attended many summer ballet intensives such as Joffrey Ballet, North Carolina School of the Arts, School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre in New York, and Houston Ballet. In 2004, Shelby won first place, in pas de deux, at the Youth American Grand Prix finals. 2005, she won fist place at the American Ballet Competition and was awarded a scholarship to La Scala Ballet School in Madrid, Spain. In 2006, Shelby was a competitor in the International Ballet Competition. At the age of sixteen, Shelby joined Orlando Ballet as an apprentice under the director, Bruce Marks. There she performed many corp, Demi soloist, and soloist roles, such as, Swan Lake, Coppelia, Cinderella, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Nutcracker, Spartacus, and Balanchine ballets Serenade, and Who Cares, and Twla Tharps ballet Water Babies.
In 2010 Shelby joined Columbia Classical Ballet under the director Radenko Pavlovich. There she performed the Dewdrop in the Nutcracker, big swan and the Hungarian Princess in Swan Lake, Odalisque in Le Corsaire, and the principle role of Esmeralda in the Hunch Back of Notre Dame. In 2012, Shelby was accepted into the Marshall Ellis Dance Company, a classical/contemporary company in central florida. She performed in soloist and group pieces entitled Premiere, Bella, Heroes, and Lust with various choreographers. In 2014, Shelby received her first job at Disney in the Festival of the Lion King at the Animal Kingdom. There she is a principle equity dancer performing the role “Maji”. Shelby performs a beautiful balletic pas de deux to “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and literally soars above all in flight.
Erik “Silky” Moore started dancing at the early age of nine. He received his initial training from Debbie Fratta’s Dance Concepts. While still a member of this studio Erik appeared as a featured performer on the St. Jude’s Telethon for two consecutive years. Erik continued his training at the Connecticut Academy of Performing Arts. While there, Erik was asked to perform for the Governor of the state of Connecticut. In September of 2003 Erik joined the dancers at Studio 5D of Oviedo, Florida. During his first months at the studio Erik was asked to serve as the teacher to the advanced tap classes. Studio 5D is where Erik began his competitive dance career. In his first international competition Erik won the title of Teen Mr. Starquest. Erik is a very entertaining and inspiring dancer, who’s specialties include Tap, Hip-Hop, Modern and Jazz. You may have seen him recently as a featured dancer on seasons five, six, and 11 of Fox’s hit television show “So You Think You Can Dance” or maybe in one of his many performances at Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, or for professional athletic events. His style and choreography has won numerous awards and made him a wanted choreographer in many parts of the country.
Hannah Rusk has been a part of the Turning Pointe family since she was 4 years old. Her training includes ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary and her favorite, musical theatre. Hannah started competing with Turning Pointe at age 7 and later joined the amazing staff. During the summers she co teaches Musical Theatre Camp at Turning Pointe. Hannah extends her knowledge of dance through local community theaters by choreographing their productions.
Hannah is a 2015 graduate of Lake Brantley High School. She will be attending Valencia College to receive her associates degree and then attend University of Central Florida to major in Elementary Education. She hopes to surround herself with the smiling faces of children on and off the dance floor.
Bio coming soon!
Marie Wiley was born and raised in Rochester, N.Y. She has been dancing since the age of 5. She attended Brockport State University of New York. There, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Dance. She is a former NFL Buffalo Jills cheerleader, and also an AFL Orlando Predators cheerleader.
Marie has been teaching and mentoring children of all ages for both recreational and competitive groups since she was teenager. She has taught locally here in Orlando for Showtime Dance Studio, Dance Centers of Orlando and has now found her home at Turning Point A Dance Studio.
Her passion for teaching has also lead her to become a school teacher for grades K-3. She currently teaches at The Crenshaw School. She continues to bring her love of dance into the academic world by coaching her dance team called "The Crenshaw Dance Stars."
Marie has trained in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical, modern, acrobatics, and musical theatre. Her choreography has earned her multiple awards such as outstanding and most creative choreography just to name a few.
Jessica Lepp has been dancing at Turning Pointe since she was 2 years old and started competing at age 5. She has trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, musical theatre, pointe, and specializes in tap. Jessica has been assisting classes for years and found her passion in teaching and inspiring students to work hard to achieve their goals. She also co teaches at Turning Pointe's Musical Theatre camp over summer.
Jessica will be graduating from Lake Brantley high school with the class of 2018 and has been a proud marching patriot all 4 years of high school. She hopes to pursue a career as a child-life specialist aiding children in the hospital.
Miss "Aunt" Becky retired after 37 years of service from the US Department of Agriculture/NASS (National Agriculture Statistics Service). Upon her retirement, she joined her niece, Miss Cathy Mae's Dance Studio! She found it to be an easy transition because of the friendly and professional atmosphere.
Becky works in the office with the Accounts Receivable. She answers the phone and returns messages.
As a side job, you can find her helping children with their homework. She says, "I tell the kids math is like dance, the more you practice the better you get!"
Julia trained under the direction of Chet Zercher, Irma Millard and Lupo Serrano, to name a few. At the age of 10, she was accepted into the formal program at the School of Pennsylvania Ballet where she studied and performed for 4 years. She also trained extensively with Phil Black and Luigi in New York City. She brings to Turning Point over 30 years’ experience in instruction and production as well as over 20 years’ professional performance experience.
As a professional dancer, she traveled to Japan, Great Britain and Europe performing in shows, as well as dinner theaters, conventions, commercials, TV specials, theme parks and the QEII. Throughout the years, she has taught all forms of dance to all ages in Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Central Florida. Additionally, she pioneered a dance program in Central Florida for at-risk children that provided them with weekly instruction as well as performance opportunities.
For the last 20+ years in Central Florida, Julia has taught at various studios including the Central Florida Ballet, Spotlight Dance Center, and most recently for the last 7 years at New Dimensions Dance Academy.
Julia takes weekly classes herself, she believes that it not only makes her a better teacher but a better person as well. She is a native Floridian, a wife of 24 years, mother of 2, and owner of her own entertainment agency, Corbin Entertainment. Julia is an energetic and dedicated instructor who is passionate about sharing her love, experiences and knowledge of dance with those she teaches. She takes pride in passing down the traditions techniques and etiquette of dance with the greatest of care and to honor the wonderful teachers she was fortunate enough to have studied under.
Bio coming soon.
