​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

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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

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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.

Elizabeth Bryson

Ballet Teacher

Elizabeth (Liz) trained in classical ballet in Rochester, NY under the Lonond Royal Academy of Dance curriculum. She has performed as Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen & Soldier Doll in The Nutcracker; as Marie Taglioni in Pas de Quatre; & as a member of the corps in Sleeping Beauty. She has also performed in & choreographed contemporary ballet pieces & instructed preballet in Rochester. Liz holds a Master of Art History from Syracuse University & has worked in the field of museum eduation for ten years, teaching students of all ages & backgrounds, from early childhood to older adults. 

Whitney Miller

Modern Teacher

Whitney has been dancing for over 20 years & teaching for 11. She earned a BA at SUNY Geneseo & an MS in Education at the College of St. Rose. In both locations Whitney taught , choreographed & performed with the Orchesis, Geneseo Dance Ensemble, the Young Actors Guild, Maud Baum & Company and the eba Center for Dance.

Jamie Gartner

 Jazz Teacher

Jamie first trained in ballet, tap & jazz at Fitzsimmon's Dance Academy, followed by Toni Wright's Dance Studio, & performing ghrough college with the LeMoyne Student Dance Company. She dances modern & jazz with SSD & has been a member of the SCDC for the past eight years. For ten years, Jamie has choreographed the spring & summer musicals for the Syracuse City School District high schools, while also leading a dance team for Fowler & Corcoran. She has her BA in English & Adolescent Education & her MS in Literacy.

Rachel Prikazsky

 Ballet & Pointe 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.