About Westchester Dance Academy

Westchester's Leading Dance Studio for Kids Ages 2–18 | Mt. Kisco, NY

Westchester Dance Academy Mt. Kisco NY, Competitive Dance Team, Westchester Dance Academy

Our Story


For nearly 30 years Westchester Dance Academy has been one of Westchester's most trusted dance studios for kids since 1997 — offering dance classes for ages 2 through 18, from absolute beginners to nationally competitive dancers.

Originally launched in September 1997 in Harrison, NY as the Westchester Performing Arts Center, the studio was renamed Westchester Dance Academy in 2002 and moved to its current home in Mt. Kisco in 2008. What started as a single studio has grown into a 7,000+ square foot facility with four large studios, an elite faculty, and a community of dancers and families that keeps coming back year after year.

Today, WDA offers a wide range of weekly dance classes in Westchester — including ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, acro, lyrical, and more — along with summer dance camps and our nationally recognized Elite Dance Company for competitive dancers ready to train at the highest level.

One of the Most Celebrated Dance Studios for Kids in New York

Westchester Dance Academy is a leading dance studio for kids ages 2 through 18, serving families across Mt. Kisco, Westchester County, and the surrounding area. With four large studios and over 7,000 square feet of dedicated dance space, WDA gives every dancer room to grow under the guidance of an elite faculty of professional dance instructors. We offer a wide variety of weekly dance classes in Westchester — including ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, acro, lyrical, and more — for every age and level, from first-time dancers to nationally competitive performers. Whether your child is stepping into a studio for the first time or training toward their next big stage, WDA is the place to do it.

Kelly Burke Westchester Dance Academy Creative Director, Competitive Dance Team, Westchester Dance Academy

Kelly Burke-Fitzpatrick

Artistic Director, Westchester Dance Academy


Since 1997, Kelly Burke has been the driving force behind the success of Westchester Dance Academy (WDA). Kelly combines her years of extensive professional training, including the School of American Ballet and American Ballet Theater, with her love of teaching to create a unique experience in dance education for her students. Her personal experience and pervasive success in the competition industry has played a pivotal role in the consistent accomplishments of WDA’s Elite Dance Company and Dance Team. Kelly has been recognized with countless awards for her celebrated choreography and role as a dance educator including being featured on the cover of Dance Teacher Magazine. Dance Spirit Magazine listed Westchester Dance Academy as one of the top dance studios in the country. 

Faculty

  • A woman with long, curly brown hair and light skin poses against a purple background, wearing a gray sleeveless top and a delicate necklace.

    Jordan Casanova

    Jazz

    Jordan Casanova discovered her passion for dance at the age of eight. Training in all styles of dance under the influence of the industries top choreographers. She has won many prestigious awards throughout her career including the “Music Center Spotlight Award”. She was also a top eight finalist on season eight of the hit show “So You Think You Can Dance”. Casanova was a performer on the nationwide tour of “SYTYCD” and “Ballroom With A Twist”. She has performed with a variety of artists including Paula Abdul. She has executed her skill set on various television networks inclusive of ABC, CW, FOX, NBC, OXYGEN and MTV. Jordan has also assisted numerous choreographers and directors such as Kenny Ortega, Tyce Dioro, and Kat Burns. She is certified in Classical Pilates and is the third generation trained under Joseph Pilates. Casanova has had the honor to have toured with “Wicked The Musical” twice in her career. Jordan is now living in New York City furthering her career on Broadway.

  • A woman in a black dress standing outdoors near a garden with flowers, with a body of water and boats in the background.

    Victoria DeAndrea-Prieto

    Young Children Dance Program: Ballet, Tap, Jazz

    Victoria DeAndrea-Prieto has been with Westchester Dance Academy since the beginning. She was one of 14 children selected to join the very first competition Troupe at WDA. She studied under the direction of Kelly Burke in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary and acro and was one of 60 tap dancers in the nation chosen to be in the Off-Broadway show "Tap Kids" for two consecutive years. She graduated from Manhattanville College with a B.A. in communications and also holds a masters in marketing communication management. When not teaching, Victoria is the Professional Development & Communications Manager at the Greenwich Association of REALTORS®. Ms. Victoria, as she's affectionately called by her students, leads the Westchester Dance Academy Young Children Dance Program.

  • A woman with blonde hair wearing a sleeveless black and white striped crop top, standing against a plain background.

    Kaitlynn Edgar

    Lyrical, Contemporary

    Kaitlynn Edgar grew up training in all styles of dance. Upon graduation, she went on an international tour with contemporary ballet company Rock the Ballet as a principal dancer. After touring she moved to Los Angeles where she has danced for Shaping Sound, Nicki Minaj, David Guetta, Camilla Cabelo, and many other artists. She’s been featured on television shows such as The American Music Awards, the Late Late Show, SNL, Fosse/Verdon, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She was a featured dancer in the film “In the Heights,” “Marry Me,” “Spirited,” & “IF”! When not on stage or screen she teaches across the country sharing her talents with the next generation of amazing dancers!

  • Hector Flores, Westchester Dance Academy Faculty

    Hector Flores

    Technique + Improv, Acro, & Dance Team

    Hector was born in El Salvador, raised in Southern California, and started as a gymnast and dancer at the age of 8. By 14 he was working in professional musical theatre with the Glendale/Long Beach & Riverside CLO, The Young Americans, and Aladdin at Disneyland. Immediately after dancing for Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Celebrity Cruise Lines, Hector moved to NYC and continued training and working alongside some of the city’s most influential teachers and choreographers. He began teaching for Joffrey NYC, as well as countless studios across North America. He’s been featured in Shakira MTV VMAs, Guiding Light, All My Children, Latin Grammys, Miss Saigon, West Side Story, A Few Good Men, Dancin’ European Tour, Radio City Spectacular, PaperMill Playhouse, and countless industrials and commercial work.

  • Chris Hale: Contemporary, Ballet, Westchester Dance Academy

    Chris Hale

    Contemporary, Ballet

    Chris Hale is a dynamic dance educator and Life Coach with credits including Sex And The City, Saturday Night Live and more. Co-founding the Pushing Progress Contemporary Training Program, Chris developed a method of dance training with a blend of functional anatomy and mindset coaching, guiding students to success in NYC's top companies. He’s taught at NYC’s premier studios including Broadway Dance Center and Steps NYC. With over 20 years of experience, he’s trained dancers at elite East Coast studios leading students to some of the country’s top dance programs. Chris’s impact has extended to fitness as a SoulCycle instructor and as an adjunct ballet instructor at Montclair State University. His passion for personal development shines through, inspiring students to take control of their lives. Chris is a recognized thought leader in the self-development space with a deeply rooted belief that personal development and healthy striving are the keys to success.

  • A young woman with fair skin, dark brown hair styled back, and hazel eyes looking directly at the camera, wearing gold hoop earrings, against a plain light background.

    Hailey Karcich

    Young Children’s Program (Creative Movement, Ballet, Tap, Acro)

    Hailey grew up dancing at the Dance Academy of North Jersey, where she trained in all styles with Jason Luks, Jaclyn Walsh, Terk Lewis Waters, Jennifer Savelli, Michaela McGowan, Sharon Hockenstein, and Kelby Brown. Currently, she is pursuing a BFA at SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance, with a minor in psychology and a certification in Pilates. She studies ballet, Limón, Graham, Horton, Cunningham, contemporary, Gaga, and improvisation. Her performance experience includes works by Nelly Van Bommel, Andrea Miller, Nijawwon Matthews, and Shahar Binyamini. She has also attended summer intensives at the GagaLab, Martha Graham, and Gallim.

  • Mia Li, Competitive Dance Team, Westchester Dance Academy

    Mia Li

    Ballet

    Mia is a native of Taiwan, received her training at The Boston Conservatory with a full scholarship double majoring in ballet and modern dance. She was the leading solo performance in a Martha Graham production and was hailed as “sprightly and articulate” in The Boston Globe. Her debut performance with Ballet Hispanico in 2007 blew the audience away and she was featured in the New York Time and described as “moving seamlessly from nightclub apache dancing to a tender ballet duet.” In Dance Magazine, Mia is featured as one of Ballet Hispanico’s young talents who has the potential to rise to the top of the dance world. Mia has been honored to be featured in Ballet-Dance Magazine and on the front cover of Dance Magazine. Mia has been performing at The Metropolitan Opera since 2013. Most recently she was invited to be part of the dance crew in the widely popular musical “In the Heights” by Lin-Manuel Miranda which won 4 out of 13 nominated Tony Awards.

  • A man with short brown hair, blue eyes, and light skin looking directly at the camera. He is wearing a black shirt and a green jacket, holding the jacket collar with one hand. The background is plain and neutral.

    Brendan Moran

    Hip Hop, Ballet, Jazz

    Brendan Moran has been dancing for over 20 years and brings a dynamic blend of artistry, athleticism, and technical precision to the classroom. From a young age, he trained extensively on the competition and convention circuit, developing a strong foundation in hip hop, jazz, and ballet.

    Brendan continued his education at Pace University, earning a BFA in Commercial Dance, where he trained under some of the industry’s leading choreographers and educators. After graduating, he performed in the national tour of Cats, with Holland America Line, and in an industrial for Netflix, gaining invaluable professional experience across stage and commercial performance.

    At Westchester Dance Academy, Brendan teaches hip hop, jazz, and ballet, combining his professional performance background with a passion for mentorship and precision training. His classes emphasize musicality, confidence, and performance quality—helping each dancer bring their unique personality to the stage.

Associate Faculty

  • Portrait of a young woman with long dark hair smiling outdoors with a blurred green background.

    Gillian Gordon

    Gillian Gordon discovered her passion for dance at the age of 6 at Westchester Dance Academy, where she trained in all styles for 12 years and became a proud alumna. She gained extensive training opportunities, attending prestigious programs such as the Complexions Contemporary Ballet Intensive and the Radio City Rockettes Intensive. As a member of WDA's competitive troupe, Gillian toured the country, earning numerous accolades, including National Best Ballet Studio and Best Lyrical Studio, as well as recognition as one of the Top 20 Best Dancers at the Dance Awards in both 2022 and 2024, competing against hundreds of talented dancers. After graduating in 2024, she began her pursuit of a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance at the University of Texas at Austin's School of Fine Arts. Passionate about nurturing the next generation of dancers, Gillian is committed to sharing her profound love for the art form and inspiring others to reach their full potential.

  • A young woman with long, wavy red hair, smiling and wearing a sleeveless red dress with a gold necklace.

    Tori Gordon

    Tori Gordon, now an alumnus of Westchester Dance Academy, is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance at the prestigious Johns Hopkins Peabody Conservatory, where she continues to refine her artistry and expand her creative horizons. Her journey began at the age of 6 at Westchester Dance Academy, where she trained in a variety of styles for 12 years and developed the foundation of her technique and performance skills.

    During her time at WDA, Tori was a member of the competitive troupe, contributing to national accolades such as Best Ballet Studio and Best Lyrical Studio. She also pursued additional training at programs like the Complexions Contemporary Ballet Intensive, which provided her with invaluable experience and mentorship.

    With a passion for teaching and inspiring others, Tori is committed to sharing her love for dance. She strives to help the next generation of dancers unlock their potential and cultivate their own deep connection to the art form.

Westchester Dance Academy National Dance Competition Awards, Competitive Dance Team, Westchester Dance Academy

Awards


As one of the most successful competitive dance studios in New York and nationwide, we take great pride in the accomplishments of our dance team and elite dance company of competitive dancers, dance instructors, and choreographers.