JDT Adult Division Instructor: Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz
Debbie officially began her dance journey late in life, taking her first formal class at the age of 40. It has been an 8 year love affair ever since. However, her love of dance and movement started much earlier. In college she worked as a group fitness instructor and utilized the open studio time to choreograph and teach dance routines to anyone who would join her. For the last three years, Debbie has attended the Artemotion week long adult summer intensive at Ballet West in Salt Lake City, Utah. There she learned ballet, contemporary, modern and jazz from professionals Beckanne Sisk, Chase O'Connell, Rex Tilton, Kathryn Morgan, Allison DeBona and many more. Her favorite style of movement is contemporary followed closely by ballet, jazz, tap and lyrical.
Debbie attended the University of Connecticut and became a certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer through AFAA and ACE. She taught group fitness classes for almost 20 years, choreographing and teaching a range of simple to complex routines to students ages 15 to 85, with class sizes ranging from 10 to 100 participants. She believes that it is never too late to develop a love for dance and enjoys sharing that love with others. When she isn't dancing, Debbie is the Vice President and Director of Consumer Affairs at AEL&P and loves to spend time with her husband and their two dogs – an Aussie Shepherd and a Golden Retriever puppy – at their home out the road.
