JoDee Cooper
Tumbling Instructor
JoDee is a life-long resident of the Dunkirk-Fredonia area. She started dance at the age of 5 at Crino’s under the direction of Sally Crino. At the age of 6, she started gymnastics at Crino’s coached by Geza Farkas, 1956 Hungarian Olympian. Although she danced and continued to perform for 3 more years her passion for gymnastics was much stronger and at the age of 7 she started competing with the Chautauqua Gymnastics Club at Crino’s. She qualified for her first State competition at the age of 10 and placed 6th overall on the vault. She continued her training at the Jamestown YMCA. She also trained at Penn State University , Stumps Gymnastics in Williamsville NY. and Gleason’s Gymnastics in N. Tonawanda, NY. For 11 years she has competed in both USGF (United States Gymnastics Federation) and YMCA competitions traveling throughout the New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Maryland areas placing on all 4 events in every competition. She has qualified for States every year with the last 2 years placing 1st in New York State. She retired as a gymnast at the age of 17 and worked for Dynamics Unlimited. She has been teaching tumbling for the last 3 years at Infinity.
Daniel Longo
Lyrical/Modern Instructor
Daniel Longo has been dancing since three years of age. He started off at On Your Toes Studio of Performing Arts, then to Accent on Dance, and he is currently a senior at SUNY Fredonia as a Exercise Science Major and a dance minor. He has competed regionally and nationally and has won numerous titles and high score awards. He has choreographed for Orchesis Dance Company at SUNY Fredonia since his freshman year and has held a spot as an Executive Board Member for three years. He has also choreographed and directed musicals. He is currently applying for Graduate dance programs at several universities and hopes to become a Professor of Dance.
Emily King
Pre-K Ballet/ Tap Instructor
Emily has been dancing for 11 years. She started her training at Danza. She has taken several dance forms including Musical Theater. She took ballet and modern at Chautauqua Institute Summer Dance Program. She was a member of Danza’s Dance team for 2 years and has been a member of Infinity’s Dance and Cheer team for the last 3 years. She was awarded 1st place for her solo at the Upstate Milk Talent competition in 2006 and 1st place talent award at the Festival of Grapes pageant in 2007. She has taken several 1st place trophies in the last 2 years including National Champion in Cleveland. She has been an assistant teacher for 4 years and began teaching last year.
Heather Leary
Tap, Jazz, and Musical Theater Instructor and Choreographer
Heather dance journey started at Dance Arts in Olean, NY. She started dancing at the age of 5 and has had extensive training in ballet, tap and jazz as well as some training in acrobatics. She started assisting at the age of 10. She graduated valedictorian in her class of 2000. Heather graduated from Point Park University with a BFA degree in Musical Theater in 2004 with training in acting, singing and dance. In 2003 and 2006 she held comprehensive and intensive tap and jazz workshops for upper level dance students. In 2005 she began her teaching career at Dance Arts in Olean, NY. She has performed in musicals such as “A Chorus Line” and “Little Shop of Horrors”. She has performed at several theaters and has taken classes from professional dancers such as “Tom Ralabate”. She recently choreographed East Aurora’s School Musical. Infinity is very excited to have Heather on board.
Lindsey Luther
Tumbling Instructor and Cheer Coach
Lindsey started cheerleading and gymnastics at a very young age. Since the age of 5 she has taken gymnastics at several gyms in the area including Crino’s, Dynamics and Hamburg Gymnastics. She started cheering at the age of 4 and hasn’t stopped. She has been a member of her high school Varsity squad for 7 seasons. During her high school years she received such honors as being chosen as an All American Elite Cheerleader at camp, chosen to represent her school at the Big 30 Charity Classic and being captain of her team. After high school, she attended Elmira College and continued to pursue her cheering career. She moved back home and was the coach for Gowanda Varsity squad for 5 seasons in which the won Grand Champion at a local competition. In 2004, she joined RGC Sub Zero Blizzard and came home with several 1st place trophies. She is certified by the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors (AACCA). She started her coaching career at Infinity in 2005 and has taken her teams to numerous competitions and has earned several 1st awards and Grand Champions. Recently her teams came home with 1st place Nationals in Cleveland and Sandusky. She coaches 10 teams for Infinity.
Elizabeth Schmits
Ballet Instructor
Elizabeth is a graduate of National Ballet School in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She has taught classical ballet for George Brown College School of Dance, York University’s children’s dance program and in private studios in Toronto, Kington, Petersborough and St. Catherines, Canada. She currently is a ballet instructor at Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet in Jamestown, NY. Elizabeth joined Infinity last year and is an important asset to our studio.
Jennifer Corcoran-Vigue
Ballet Instructor
Jennifer has had extensive training in ballet, pointe, ballet variations, jazz and various character dances. In 1988 she received training at the New York Summer School for the Arts in Saratoga Springs, NY. From 1987-1990 she studied classical ballet and other dance forms at Ballet Regents School in Saratogo Springs, NY. She completed dance training at Albany Dance Institute in Albany NY from 1990-1996. During that time she also attended Smith College in Northhampton, Ma. where she completed 5 college dance degrees which included courses concentrated in ballet as well as others in jazz, modern and tap. From 1997-2003 she participated in professional level ballet classes at Boston Ballet and Fresh Pond Ballet in Cambridge, MA. She graduated from Boston University in 2003 with a Masters of Science, Arts Administration. She has performed at several ballet institutions such as Pioneer Valley Ballet, Smith College and Boston Dance Company. She has been teaching ballet since 1998 and is currently an instructor at Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet. She is looking forward to teaching at our studio this year.