Why Integrity Dance Dynamics?
Integrity means that you hold yourself to a higher standard, especially in terms of
moral or artistic values.
As a dancer, it means you honor the movement, technique, and beauty of dance as an art form. Integrity is both a personal trait and a skill that is developed over time, just as a dancer develops their technique and precision over time.
At Integrity Dance Dynamics, our instructors lead our dancers by example, teaching proper technique and acting as a guide on their dancer journey with the intention of helping them foster a lifelong love and appreciation of the art of dance.
Miss Sam, Owner/Director
Miss Sam was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, where her love of dance started early, as it seemed as if she was dancing before she was walking. She formally began her dance training at the age of three at the Hallmark Dance Studio, and she has been able to share her talents and passion across the country into her adulthood. As captain of her high school dance team, she led the troupe in performances at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, the Pro Bowl in Hawaii, and on the Carnival Cruise Lines along the Gulf of Mexico.
In 2008, Sam was accepted into the Environmental Engineering program at SUNY-ESF, where she continued to perform as a member of Syracuse Dance Works, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 2012. During school, she met her now-husband Dan, and they welcomed their baby boy Colt in 2020, who already seems to be taking after his mom’s passion for dance.
She has continued to spread the joy of dance by teaching in local studios and performing as a member of Deviant Dance Tribe and dancing with Lady Knights for the Semi-pro soccer team Silver Knights. While working full time she has attained a Masters of Science in Engineering Management, received her professional engineering license, and has been chosen as one of Central New York Business Journal’s “40 Under 40”.
Sam loves teaching students because to her, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing the look on their faces when they master a skill they’ve worked so hard on. She loves to welcome each new dancer into the studio and provide a safe space where children can nurture and express their creative selves through the art of dance.
Miss Nicole, Assistant Director/Instructor
Nicole Holmes was born and raised in Camillus, New York. She started dancing at TDS CNY when she was 2. Nicole was a company dancer, taking ballet, tap, jazz and hiphop for 15 years. She was also a member of the TDS Camillus Competition Team, competing in Tap and Hip Hop for 4 years.
Nicole graduated from SUNY Oswego where she studied Human Resources with minors in Accounting and Psychology. During her time at Oswego, she was a member of the Del Sarte Dance Club as a dancer and choreographer.
She choreographed multiple jazz routines and continued to dance a variety of styles such as jazz, tap, hip hop, and lyrical. Her favorite style of dance is tap! Nicole is thrilled to be a teacher at Integrity Dance Dynamics and share her love of dance!
Miss Emily, Assistant Director/Instructor
Emily is originally from a small town in western New York. She began dancing at the age of 3 and has not stopped since! Emily received most of her training at her home studio, Infinity Dance Academy, where she realized dancing was not just a hobby, but a passion.
She grew up competing in various styles of dance including tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, musical theater, ballet, and hip hop. Emily holds a BA in Linguistics, with a minor in Dance, from SUNY Oswego and an MA in Student Affairs Administration from Appalachian State University.
During her time at Oswego, Emily was a member of Del Sarte Dance Club as a dancer and choreographer. Fun Facts: Emily has performed in a Disney World parade, met Cyrus from So You Think You Can Dance, and made it to the Semi Final round for an NFL dance team audition. She is absolutely thrilled to be a part of Integrity Dance Dynamics and cannot wait to watch her students grow.
Miss Mackenzie J., Instructor
Mackenzie Jackson is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher. She is a Syracuse native and began her training with Camillus Dance Centre, located in Camillus, NY.
In 2023, she received her Bachelor of Science in Dance Studies and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Leadership from Nazareth University. In 2021 Mackenzie because a member of the National Educator Dance Organization and also attended multiple American College Dance Association Conferences representing her college.
Mackenzie has performed works by Jose Limon, Janice Rosario, Yoshito Sakuraba, Heather Roffe, Doug Varone & Dancers, Koresh Dance Company, Kizuna Dance, Cheryl Johnson, Nicolette Ferguson, Catherine DeAngelis Olson, Francesca Genovese, Maureen Gorman, Michelle Pritchard, Caitlin Mahon, and Heather Acomb.
Miss Mackenzie P. , Instructor
Mackenzie started dancing at three years old with Sonja Ward. She took tap, ballet, musical theatre and jazz for 15 years. She started dancing in her school’s high school musicals in the 6th grade. Her credits include Crazy For You, Les Mis, Titanic, Beauty and the Beast, Anything Goes, Hello Dolly, The Pajama Game and High School Musical.
She graduated from LeMoyne College where she studied sociology and childhood education. While there, she danced and choreographed for the LeMoyne Student Dance Company. She also worked with Fabius-Pompey to choreograph their musical and summer theatre program.
During high school, she started teaching and choreographing with her dance program and continued there for 15 years until the program closed. Mackenzie is thrilled to be teaching dance again and to start with Integrity Dance Dynamics and sharing her love of dance with others!
Miss Nina, Instructor
Nina Cognato has been dancing since the age of 3, and for almost all of her dance journey danced at the Movement Box Dance Studio. She started with ballet, tap, and jazz, but later discovered her love for hiphop when one of her dance teachers noticed her love for hiphop and recommended competition. Since then, Nina has done competition dance in the styles of hiphop, jazz, musical theater, contemporary, and many solos and duets, and has loved every second of it!
She also did one year of company dance, but had to step down to also participate in softball and musicals. Along side dance, she was actively part of sports and music.
Nina graduated from Westhill High School in 2024, and will be attending Onondaga Community College to later transfer. She is studying zoology and wildlife science.
Nina wanted to continue to be involved with dance after graduating, which is why she is very excited to be at Integrity to help students grow and have fun as dancers!
Miss Kaylie, Instructor
"With over 10 years of experience in the dance world, Kaylie is a dedicated instructor who strives to inspire and empower dancers of all ages. Specializing in jazz, lyrical, and contemporary, Kaylie combines technical expertise with a heartfelt passion for teaching, creating an environment where students feel supported, challenged, and celebrated.
Born with a love for movement, Kaylie started dancing at a young age and quickly developed a deep connection with the art form. Outside of teaching, Kaylie enjoys spending time with her dog, Ace, who is always by their side. When not dancing or teaching, Kaylie can often be found indulging in their love for all things Disney, whether it's watching her favorite movies or visiting the theme parks for a dose of magic and inspiration.
Dance has been a part of Kaylie's life since childhood, when they first stepped into the studio at the age of 7. Growing up training at Always Dancing, Kaylie developed a deep love for dance that laid the foundation for their future as both a performer and educator. The encouragement and mentorship she received from their childhood instructors helped shape their teaching philosophy, which emphasizes building confidence and fostering creativity in every student.
Kaylie is excited for the upcoming seasons and can not wait to see her
students grow and thrive!"
Miss Taylor, Instructor
Taylor grew up in Camillus, NY, and began her dance journey at age three. Her passion for dance formed early and has remained strong ever since! She attended SUNY Oswego, where she earned a bachelor's degree in wellness management with minors in nutrition and dance.
Throughout her dance career, she has studied a variety of styles, including ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, lyrical, heels, pom, and hip-hop. She has even taken on learning salsa! Taylor is also a certified barre fitness instructor and a 200-hour certified yoga instructor. You may catch a few yoga moves in the warm-up or cool-down portion of her dance classes.
Her experience spans semi-pro and professional dance groups in central NY, as well as a transformative year in Los Angeles, where she attended top dance studios including Millennium Dance Complex, The Playground, and Ruts. While in LA, she focused on hip-hop and heels style classes - her favorite styles!
Passionate about continuous growth, Taylor regularly updates her skills and aims to offer a dynamic blend of traditional and modern techniques in her teaching. Most importantly, she strives to provide a safe, welcoming, and fun space in her classes!
Miss Lily, Instructor
Lily began dancing at the age of three, training first at Tawn Marie’s Dance Center before continuing her competitive career at Artistic Designs Dance Company. She has studied ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and musical theater, and served as head choreographer for Liverpool High School’s theater department, creating and staging choreography for annual productions.
Lily is currently pursuing a degree in Environmental Biology at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, with plans to begin a master’s program next year. Alongside her dance background, she has extensive experience in education through her work in environmental outreach and volunteer efforts in astronomy education.
She is passionate about helping students grow as dancers while also developing confidence and joy in themselves through movement. Lily is excited to share her love of dance with the next generation at Integrity Dance Dynamics.
Miss Steph, Instructor
Steph began dancing at Marilyn Schneider School of Dance in Rochester, NY, at the age of 3 and has been passionate about it ever since. She has studied a wide range of styles, including jazz, tap, ballet, pointe, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, and musical theatre. Steph grew up competing in various styles at prestigious competitions such as Tremaine, NYCDA, Dance Masters of America, Starbound, and Starpower. In 2014, she was honored with the title of Teen Miss Dance of WNY!
Steph earned her BA in Broadcast and Mass Communications from SUNY Oswego, where she was an active member of the Del Sarte Dance Club as both a dancer and choreographer. She also served as the club’s Public Relations Officer and President, further honing her leadership and creative skills.
Steph is thrilled to be a part of Integrity Dance Dynamics this season and is looking forward to sharing her love of dance with new students. She can't wait to see her students grow and shine on the dance floor!
Miss Kristin, Instructor
Kristin is an experienced and passionate educator with a diverse background in movement and performance. She began her dance training at just three years old, studying jazz, tap, ballet, and hip-hop throughout her school years. Kristin’s experience expanded to theater and colorguard, where she gained valuable performance skills and stage presence.
Her teaching career began in 2006 through a school program, and she has been choreographing local high school musicals since 2014. Kristin served as director, instructor, choreographer, and designer for the Jordan-Elbridge colorguard from 2010 to 2022, building a dynamic program and inspiring her students to excel.
Kristin also brought her talent to Inspire Dance studio, where she taught and choreographed for two years and performed with the Inspire Dance Company. Her dedication to the arts shines in every class she teaches, as she works to share her love of dance with each and every student.
Miss Kayla, Instructor
Kayla is a dedicated dance educator with a rich background in both performance and teaching. She began her dance journey at just five years old through her school’s dance program, later joining Inspire Dance studio for her junior and senior years in high school. As a member of the Inspire Dance Company for two years, she honed her technique and performance skills. Alongside dance, Kayla spent six years participating in her school’s Winterguard program, later serving as a coach for both JV and Varsity teams for seven years.
Kayla continued her dance education at LeMoyne College, where she joined the LeMoyne Student Dance Company and earned a minor in dance. She also contributed her skills as an assistant choreographer with the Jordan-Elbridge Musical Players for four years. With experience teaching dance across multiple school districts, Kayla is passionate about inspiring young dancers to grow and thrive in their artistry.
Miss Kajsa, Instructor
Kajsa Kenney grew up in the Hudson Valley, NY, where she developed her passion for dance at Take the Leap Dance Studio. Her training focused on jazz, lyrical, and contemporary styles, with additional experience in hip-hop, heels, and ballet.
In May 2024, Kajsa graduated from Binghamton University with a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and minors in Education and Data Science. During her time at Binghamton, she was an active member of Evolution Dance Company. Starting as a freshman dancer, she went on to serve as choreographer, treasurer, and president in her senior year. Her dedication to an inclusive and welcoming environment helped the group double its membership during her final year.
Kajsa is now a Data Analyst at Syracuse University and is pursuing her Master’s in Data Science part-time. Though not originally from Syracuse, she is deeply grateful for the supportive and vibrant community she has found there. She is passionate about creating uplifting and encouraging spaces in all her classes, inspired by the connections she has built through dance.
Kajsa is thrilled to join Integrity Dance Dynamics this season. She believes in the power of movement to unite people, and she strives to create an environment where everyone can learn, grow, and create together.