Syracuse School of Dance
MaryPat Speno
Owner & Director
Jazz & Ballet Teacher
A popular, talented & energetic teacher, MaryPat has taught at SSD since its conception. She performed in musicals for Salt City Playhouse & Syracuse Musical Theater & choreographed for the "Festival of Nations", Jamesville-Dewitt Schools, was the creator & director of the Dance Workshop Ensemble, & participated in the Baldwinsville's "Arts in School" program. MaryPat also choreographs for ice skaters & has been part of the Liz Team Skating Seminars in Lake Placid. A long-time student of Lorraine Havercroft & Gus Giordano (Chicago), she has also studied at Le Ballet Jazz, Montreal & Alvin Ailey, New York City. MaryPat serves as Artistic Director of the Syracuse Contemporary Dance Company.
Laurie Deyo
Office Manager
Modern Teacher
Laurie has taught, choreographed & performed with SSD since 1984. She was a member of the dance faculty for Syracuse University & has a Master's degree in Dance & Dance Education from NYU where she studied Limon, Graham, & Cunningham techniques. Laurie also serves as the office manager for SSD.
Barbara Laneve
Tap, Ballet & Musical Theater Teacher
Barbara has studied ballet, musical theater, jazz, modern & tap locally and with Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, Rennie Harris & Garth Fagen. She received her degree in Exercise Science & Dance at Syracuse University & has a NYS teaching certificate in Dance Education.
Helen Moore
Ballet Teacher
Along with having her Master's degree in education from Syracuse University, Helen has studied dane on Long Island at the LeRoy School of Dance & with Muriel Daks. She has also studied at Ballet Arts, New York School of Dance & Steps in Manhattan. She continues a long affiliation with SSD.
Brandon Jones
Hip Hop Teacher
Brandon has been dancing & studying hip hop, musical theater & jazz for the past 13 years. He has choreographed & taught for the Ballet Dance Center, Dance Theater of Syracuse, Dominique's Dance Creations, Say Yes to Education, Peaceful Resolution, & LeMoyne Upper Bound Summer program, & also choreographed for several SCDS concerts & has been part of the SSD faculty for ten years.
Gilly Walker-Matthews
Ballet & Jazz Teacher
Gilly began her classical ballet training at age three with the River City Youth Ballet Ensemble in her home state of West Virginia. Throughout her life she has participated in numerous styles of dance with ballet, tap and modern as her favorites. She has performed with the Charleston Light Opera Guild in a variety of musical theatre shows including "The Sound of Music" and "Anything Goes." Currently she is completing her B.S. in Environmental Studies at SUNY ESF. After graduation, she plans on staying in Syracuse to pursue a career in environmental studies alongside her continued passion for dance. She heavily places an emphasis on diversity and inclusion within the dance world and is excited to teach again.
Rachel Prikazsky
Ballet, Pointe, Jazz & Contemporary Teacher
Rachel Prikazsky started dancing at the age of three with the Town of Onondaga Dance Program. At 14, Rachel trained in ballet, pointe, musical theater, hip hop, modern & jazz at Syracuse School of Dance. She earned a BFA in dance at SUNY Fredonia. At Fredonia, Rachel was in the SUNY Fredonia Dance Ensemble, the Jr. & Sr. Artistic Director of the Dance Ensemble, and performed & choreographed dances for the American College Dance Association. Rachel has choreographed world qualifying dances for dance competitions & choreographed for her high school’s musicals. She is also a national qualifying Irish dancer for the McDonald School of Irish dance, where she also assists with teaching.