JODY C DELORIA
Jody C. (Houk) DeLoria began her early training at Dance Dimensions, under the direction of Susan Beckman and Chris Kastner. After high-school, she spent one year at SUNY Geneseo where she studied with Jonette Lancos and Jacqueline McCausland. Upon transferring to SUNY Brockport, she studied under José Limón Company members James Payton and Susannah Newman, received the Rose L. Strasser and Departmental Scholar Awards and went on to graduate magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance and psychology.
Prior to opening Jody B’s Studio of Dance in 2003, Jody gained teaching experience at Dance Dimensions, Hochstein School of Music & Dance and the dancentré. Over the years she has continued her dance education, attending workshops sponsored by Broadway Dance Center, Dance Masters of America Teacher Training School, The Limón Institute, and the Bill Evans Teacher Institute, to name some. Through these opportunities she has had the privilege of studying: jazz with Tom Ralabate, Sheila Barker, Joe Tremaine, and Debra Knapp, ballet with Kitty Daniels, Elizabeth Wadell and Kerry Ring, Tap with Barb Denny, Michelle Dorrance, Germaine Salsberg, and Toni Noblett, and modern with Bill Evans, Alan Danielson, Jonette Lancos and Melanie Aceto.
Jody has extensive experience teaching ballet, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical and acrobatics. Her students and choreography have received special recognition at many regional competitions. This season, she was voted “Teacher of the Year” by her colleagues at The Invitational Talent competition. Jody appreciates the qualities that each dance form brings to create a well-rounded dancer. However, she is first to admit her partiality to both, tap and modern dance. Many of Jody’s students have gone on to continue their dance training in college dance programs and have become wonderful instructors and choreographers. Others have reveled in the rare opportunity to work for and perform in Disney World, major touring musicals, and dance companies.
In 2012, Jody joined the faculty at SUNY Geneseo where she remains an adjunct in both the Theatre and Dance, and Music departments. In 2013, she returned to study dance formally as an M.F.A. candidate. Graduate school uncovered her aptitude for combining structure with creativity. Her thesis project, a collaboration with composer Paul DeLoria, culminated in the performance of two unique works both of which were based on the same permutational structure. The contemporary work, Who am I?, and the tap work, R1E2V3O4L4V3E2S1, were choreographed on students and performed in the spring semester Geneseo Dance Ensemble concert. Jody earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in performing arts: dance from The Peck School of the Arts at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
ZACHARY J. FRAZEE
Zachary J. Frazee (they/them) is a mover, creator, educator, photographer, and creative entrepreneur based in Rochester, NY. They are the Founder and Artistic Director of Frazee Feet Dance – a contemporary dance company based in Rochester. Their choreographic works have been featured in festivals and events across the country in cities such as New York, Chicago, Boston, Richmond, and more. Frazee has performed with companies such as the New York State Ballet, Biodance, electricGrit Dance, Project 44, among others, and they currently teach Pilates, ballet, and contemporary technique at various local dance studios and universities. When they are not in the studio, they are usually behind a camera lens, talking to their cats, or breaking the binary one fabulous outfit at a time.
VICTORIA BOGACKI
Victoria Bogacki has been an adjunct at RIT for the past 12 years teaching Beginner/Intermediate and Advanced Ballet, Jazz, and Contemporary World Dance courses. She earned her Bachelor of Arts with a Dance Minor from SUNY at Buffalo; there she studied Ballet, Modern, International Folk Dance, Choreography, Creative Movement, and Dance Teaching. She continued on to study, perform, teach and choreograph with The Empire State Ballet, Hochstein, the Orcutt/Botsford School, and Park Avenue Dance with Christine Fendley. To deepen and refine her understanding of Ballet technique, she attended Teacher-Student Workshops and studied under Ballet Master Jurgen Schneider (Russian Syllabus) of The American Ballet Theatre, and Madame Janina Cunova (Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus) of the Australian Ballet School. For 20+ years Victoria has taught and coached Ballet to children through adults, ranging levels beginner through professional. She is happy, excited, and honored to be at Jody B’s Studio of Dance.
SUNNY KRUPNICKI
Sunny Krupnicki is currently employed at Sage Rutty as a Retirement Specialist. She graduated May of 2019 with a Communication and Business Administration degree from SUNY Geneseo. Sunny has been dancing since she was four years old, completed her younger years competing at Little Red Dance Studio and continued dancing on the kickline team throughout college. Jazz and Hip Hop have been her strong suits but has a well-rounded technique from all other styles. Going on her 6th year on the JDB team, more excited than ever to have another great season. She takes great pride in being able to train and share her passion for dance with the JBD students and can’t wait to start the new year!
PS- She is getting married in October so her new name with be Sunny Ramirez
GINA SCHREIBER
Miss Gina grew up in Webster where she attended the Donna Smith School of Dance for 13 years. During this time she studied ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, pointe, and musical theater and attended competitions, conventions, and performed in The Nutcracker at the Eastman Theatre with the North Carolina Dance Theatre and the RPO. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education from St. Bonaventure University (SBU) and a Master of Science Degree in literacy from Nazareth College. While at SBU, Gina served as president of the Dance Team and performed with the Legacy Dance Company. Prior to joining the Jody B’s family, she taught dance for nine years at Dance 22. Before having her children, Miss Gina taught in the West Irondequoit Central School District for 10 years. She resides in Walworth with her husband Brian, son Fritz, and daughter Elena. It is a joy for Miss Gina to have the opportunity to share her love of dance with her students.
RACHEL KOTAS
Rachel Kotas started her dance training at the age of 4 in Rochester, NY. She has danced with various studios such as A Time For Dance, Rising Talents, and the Draper Center. After high school, Rachel continued her dance education at the University at Buffalo where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. During her time in college, she trained under Jeanne Fornarola, Kerry Ring, Tom Ralabate, Joyce Lichtenberger, Danielle Sheather, and many other guest artists. Rachel was a member of Zodiaque Dance Ensemble, choreographed for Dancer’s Workshop, and was a Teaching Assistant for Ballet. She has been teaching in Rochester since graduating college. Although she loves all styles of dance, ballet is definitely her favorite.
CHRISTINA SAUERS
Christina first developed a passion for the rhythms of tap, in middle school when she was enrolled in dance classes at LaDanse Workshop. Since then, she has continued her tap and jazz training, taking classes with Tremaine Dance Conventions, Park Avenue Dance Company, as well as, the prestigious Broadway Dance Center in NYC. She has experience choreographing for local high school musicals such as, Cinderella and Aida. Christina holds a bachelor’s degree in education from SUNY Geneseo. Her schooling has informed her unique ability to instruct dancers of all ages, including her Wee Dance and Adult classes for which she holds a particular affection. In addition to teaching, through the past few years, Christina has assumed many of the office responsibilities at Jody B’s Studio of Dance. When she is not upstairs teaching she is in the office answering emails, working on invoices, ordering shoes or organizing costumes.
MICHELLE THIBODEAU
Michelle Thibodeau is currently a student at Saint John Fisher College studying childhood inclusive education. She owes part of her love for teaching to her time spent assisting along side Miss Sunny during her time as a dancer at Jody B’s Studio of Dance.
Michelle started dancing at the age of two, when Jody B’s first opened, and has been a part of the studio in some way ever since. She studied everything the studio offered, but favored ballet, modern and hip hop, of course. She was part of the Jody B’s competition team for countless years, and got the opportunity to train in conventions and at the Broadway Dance Center in NYC along side her team.
Michelle is excited to continue to be a part of the Jody B’s team as she always strives to better herself as a dancer and teacher at Jody B’s Studio of Dance.