MEET OUR TEAM
Christina Dunnington
Owner & Creative Director
Christina received her B.F.A. in Dance Performance & Choreography and B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Towson University. While at Towson, Christina focused her training on ballet and modern techniques, working with artists like the renowned Linda Denise Fisher-Harrell and Runqiao Du. During her summers, Christina attended programs to continue her training, such as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and completed an Internship with AileyCamp Baltimore that exposed her to the world of Arts Administration.
After graduating, Christina began to freelance dance, present choreography, and dive into teaching in the Philadelphia area. While doing so, she completed an Arts Administration internship with FringeArts Philadelphia and then worked as the Development and Communications Coordinator at BalletX. Christina also became a 200 RYT, completing her Yoga Certification in 2020.
In 2021, Christina co-founded the Flair Dance Festival. Feeling the potential of the growing community, Christina decided to expand and created Flair Dance Company. She continued to host the festival annually, started training programs, dance crews, and began the famed holiday show, Cracked Nuts. This led to opening the first studio location for Flair Dance Company in Collingswood, NJ. At the studio, Christina is focused on providing high level dance education and experiences to both Adults and Young Dancers.
Christina is so proud and grateful to be able to lead this organization and bring dance to so many different people. She is passionate about the mission of Flair to provide performance opportunities to all types of dancers. She is committed to encouraging dancers to be the best version of themselves inside and outside of the studio, pushing them to share their unique FLAIR. Her mantra she’s been following is “Be Brave. Be Kind. Be You!”
John DeStefano Jr.
Producer and Business Operations
John DeStefano Jr. is a theatrical producer, film producer, film director, actor, writer, and entrepreneur. He has been a part of Flair since day one and oversees all Flair productions and operations, providing creative insight and business advice as needed. John's claim to fame in the dance world is that he made it to the live shows of Season 5 of America's Got Talent, with his mummers club. He may have jokingly already told you about this and if not, he's happy to tell you more. More recently John portrayed Santa in our hit Christmas production, Cracked Nuts.
Outside of Flair, John is focused on his filmmaking career. Some of his projects worth noting are The Battle At Home, The Wildwoods, Concerned Citizens of Philadelphia, and Breakup Business. John has broken into the film industry with his startup, Vault Entertainment Investing. Vault is building a revolutionary platform that allows the public to invest in stocks for mainstream movies and shows.
For more about John, visit JohnnyMovies.com
For more about Vault, visit ExploreVault.com
Casey Van Newenhizen
Casey Van Newenhizen grew up training in classical ballet in South Jersey and received her B.A. in Dance with a concentration in Pre-Physical Therapy at Stockton University. While at Stockton, Casey trained in modern and ballet and worked with artists such as Rain Ross, Bryn Cohn, and Meredith Rainey.
After graduating, Casey began to freelance dance and present choreography in the Philadelphia area. She also became certified in Pilates through the Drexel Pilates Training Program, which emphasized her love of movement and anatomy.
Casey has been a part of Flair since the first Flair Dance Festival in 2021, where she performed in the show as a dancer. After that show, she knew it was something she wanted to be a part of then debuted multiple choreographic works and performed in the Festival, Cracked Nuts, and has helped with the training programs, Flair Jr., and teaches classes at the studio, including ballet, contemporary, Pilates, etc.
Lauren Bristow
Lauren has been dancing since the age of three, primarily at the Rock School West in West Chester, PA. She trained in various styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, and musical theater jazz. To further her ballet training, Lauren spent her summers at The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia and The Orlando Ballet School, later attending The Rock School’s pre-professional training program. At the age of sixteen, Lauren began musical theater training at the performing arts camp Stagedoor Manor, where she found her love of performing in musicals.
Lauren had the pleasure of working in the Philadelphia theater scene as a dancer, singer, and actor. She was previously seen on stage at the Media Theatre, Fulton Theatre, Walnut Street Theatre, The Kimmel Center, Citizens Bank Park, and Wells Fargo Center. Lauren now enjoys being on the creative side of the performing arts as a director, choreographer and teacher.
Lauren first came to Flair as a dancer in their 2023 Festival, and since that first performance she was hooked! She is so thrilled to be sharing her love of dance with Flair’s students and patrons.
Haley Migeot
Haley received her B.A. in Dance and B.S. in Biological Sciences from Rowan University where she studied under renowned artists in modern, ballet, and jazz. She was a member of Dance Extensions Company where her choreography was presented at the American College Dance Academy Festival. Haley was also on the Rowan University Dance Team for 4 years. Haley grew up studying, choreographing, and teaching various styles of dance both recreationally and competitively.
Haley has performed numerous times on the Avenue of the Arts in Philadelphia at venues including The Kimmel Center, The Wilma Theatre, The Arts Bank Theatre, and The Suzanne Roberts Theatre. Haley has trained with the Footwerx Tap Company in Philadelphia, the Ocean City Theatre Company, and the Gus Giordano Dance School in Chicago. Haley joined Flair in 2023 when she performed in the Festival and in Cracked Nuts, most notably as the Snow Queen. She is now teaching at Flair and is so grateful to share her love of dance with the Flair community!
Nadia Hayat
Nadia has been dancing since age three and has continuously trained in various styles within hip-hop, heels, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, tap, etc. She's attended competitions, conventions, and trained at various studios in London, New York, and Philadelphia. As an adolescent, Nadia taught multiple styles from age 2.5 to 17. In high school, she created a dance team for her school and choreographed all the performance pieces.
When Nadia began college, she focused on obtaining her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Criminal Justice, yet continued dancing recreationally, and teaching adults. Throughout this period in her life, she missed having the opportunity to perform on stage and stumbled upon the Flair Dance Festival. Ever since, she has become a crucial member of the Flair family.
Nadia continues to enjoy her love for dance through teaching, performing, and dancing with Flair Dance Company. She is very encouraging, always giving a helping hand, and is one of the biggest Flair advocates.
Cierra Edwards
Cierra grew up training and competing in all styles of dance. She graduated from the College of New Jersey with a M.A. in School Counseling and received her license as an Associate Counselor. During her time at TCNJ, she was a member of the University's Dance Team and competed annually at the Universal Dance Association College Nationals in Jazz, Pom and Gameday. The team has placed in the top ten for all three divisions year after year! Cierra is now in her third season as a member of the coaching staff and continues to help grow the program.
Cierra became connected with Flair at the very first Flair Dance Festival in 2021, which helped re-spark her joy for performing. Since then she has choreographed and performed in a multitude of opportunities Flair has created such as, the annual Festival, Cracked Nuts, the hip-hop crew, and has become a member of the teaching staff. Cierra believes that we’re all always students first, and being a part of the Flair family allows us to foster that passion both as a student and an educator. Flair has a way of reminding us of what we love, dance.
Jenny McCabe
Jenny has been dancing since she was 4 years old. She’s trained in all styles of dance, but now focuses on pro-team style. Jenny was a cast member in the 2022 rendition of Cracked Nuts and is a digital artist who has designed many of the Flair Dance Company programs and merchandise designs. She started her professional dance career with the Philadelphia Soulmates, and now dances for the Philadelphia Flyers Ice Team!
Jenny teaches weekly classes at Flair that consist of high energy choreography that will leave you feeling confident and invigorated! Some styles that you’ll catch Jenny teaching include Power Pom, Pro Team Style, and Zumba. If you are looking to prepare for pro-team auditions, a really great workout, or just a good time, Jenny’s class is the place to be!
Ryan Fiedel
Ryan grew up in South Jersey and started dancing at the age of three, training in all styles. He spent fifteen years performing on countless competition stages before graduating in 2013. Ryan attended Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports, Arts, and Entertainment Management in 2017. Tap has always been Ryan’s true passion, and he feels so grateful to be an educator who shares his love of tap with younger generations. He always strives to challenge his students and watching them shine in class/on stage brings him so much joy. Ryan’s choreography has often been recognized and has won numerous overall placements, as well as judges awards such as “Best Tap Choreography” (Beyond The Stars 2021) and “Critics Choice Nomination” (New York City Dance Alliance 2023). He continuously challenges himself to grow as a choreographer, pushing the limits of what he can offer to his students.
Ryan stays updated in the industry, including being selected for a closed professional tap workshop in NYC with tap icon and Broadway star Jared Grimes. He spent eight hours training at this workshop where he also received a full scholarship to DC Tap Fest from world-renowned tap stars and creators of the Syncopated Ladies tap group, Chloe and Maud Arnold. Ryan also takes many convention classes as a teacher, training with world-renowned industry tap dancers such as: Jason Samuels Smith, Aaron Parkhurst, Kaelyn Gray, Jared Grimes, Anthony Morigerato, Jason Janas, and Sarah Reich. Ryan has been seen performing in the Philly Thanksgiving Day Parade as well as on stage as a featured tap dancer and choreographer in Flair Dance Company’s “Cracked Nuts” and the Flair Dance Festival. He looks forward to continuously spreading awareness of and appreciation for tap as an art form, and challenges himself to create new and innovative tap choreography.
Cass Rompala
Cass is a teacher, choreographer, and dancer based in the greater Philadelphia region. Growing up, she received training in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and Hip Hop at the Diane Matthews School of Dance Arts and performed with West Chester Dance Works. Cass pursued a B.S. in Psychology and a Dance Minor at the University of Pittsburgh. While in school, she was elected as Vice President of the university’s hip hop dance crew, “Controlled Chaos”, and served on the board of the Pitt Dance Ensemble. Cass contributed choreographic work to both organizations and interned with the local STAYCEE PEARL dance project, with a focus on choreographic development.
Since graduating, Cass has continued her career in the dance industry, teaching and dancing with companies such as West Chester Dance Works, Balance Dance Company, Flair Dance Company, and others in the Philadelphia area. Her specialties include Hip-Hop, House, Modern, Contemporary, and Jazz. She strives to provide an inclusive classroom experience that meets everyone where they’re at, and that leads all students to walk out of class having learned something new.
Yaz Hernandez
Yaz discovered her love for dance at the age of ten. After training in multiple styles, she honed her skills at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York, where she earned a BFA in Dance Theater. She now specializes in salsa and hip-hop, as well as musical theater, and street jazz. Yaz brings a unique blend of passion and precision to the dance floor. and in her teaching, in both her choreography and classes.
In 2023, Yaz joined Flair Dance Company after being a spectator at Cracked Nuts the year prior. This led her to join the hip-hop crew and then to choreograph a piece at the Festival. Since then she has become an essential part of the Flair team as a choreographer and lead in Cracked Nuts, a teacher, and hip-hop crew member. Yaz is also our monthly Latin Night teacher and will choregraph your wedding dance, quinceanera, sweet 16, etc.! Whether you’re taking class from Yaz or dancing alongside her, you’re immersing yourself in a world of joy, laughter, and boundless creativity.
Niaya Taylor
Niaya is a teacher, choreographer, and performer from Salem, NJ. She has studied multiple styles of dance since seven years old, but hip-hop and contemporary have always been her favorite. Niaya is not only a member of Flair Dance Company, but also Pieces of a Dream Dance Company, and the Introspective Movement Project.
Niaya teaches weekly classes at Flair and at multiple dance schools in the tri-state area. She is on Flair’s hip-hop crew, has been a featured choreographer in the Festival and Cracked Nuts, as well as held the role of the Rat Queen in Cracked Nuts. Niaya is all about having fun & finding a vibe in anything and everything she does! If someone is starting a "Share Your Flair" chant, it's probably her. She is beyond excited to be sharing her love and passion here at Flair Dance Company.
Madison Mullen
Maddie grew up in Philadelphia, PA and trained in all genres of dance since she was two years old. At the age of seven, she made the 76ers Junior Dream Team where she performed on the court until she was fourteen. Maddie then went to The Creative and Performing Arts High School (CAPA) in Philly as a dance major where she refined her skills further and found a love for hip-hop.
Maddie now teaches hip-hop at Flair where her goal is to make all her students thrive in their originality, and never be shy when expressing their art. If you’re taking Maddie’s hip-hop class, you’ll feel comfortable, have fun, and learn the fundamentals.
Sabrina Mazzotta
Sabrina began dancing at the age of four and has studied numerous styles of dance over the years including: Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Hiphop, Contemporary, Modern, Musical Theater, Pointe, and Hawaiian. Sabrina graduated Magna Cum Laude from Rowan University in May of 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. Sabrina has attended the New York City Dance Alliance and Pulse Dance Conventions, along with performing at many Dance Competitions, winning many special awards and high honors.
Sabrina has also trained at the Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, California, Broadway Dance Center in NYC, Steps on Broadway in NYC, and the Millennium Dance Complex in Philadelphia, as well as performed in many charity shows including Dance for Life. Sabrina also auditioned, was accepted, and trained in the Radio City Rockettes Summer Intensive in New York City! Sabrina is very excited to be sharing her growing knowledge and love of dance with many students!
Ashley Varghese
Ashley began dancing at a very young age in Drexel Hill, PA. From the ages of 5-16, she studied and performed classical Indian dance technique, specifically in Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam. She has performed for a wide range of audiences for various Indian associations throughout Philadelphia, such as SNDP of Philadelphia and the Malayalee Association of Philadelphia (MAP). Ashley had the opportunity to perform in the cultural program during Pope Francis’ 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.
Ashley performed as a dancer in the Flair Dance Festival in 2022 and as a choreographer/dancer in Flair Festival 2023. She was also the Snow Queen in Cracked Nuts in 2022. Ashley holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice from Saint Joseph’s University and Juris Doctorate from Widener University-Delaware Law School. She is currently a practicing attorney in the State of New Jersey.
Bailey Fleming
Bailey is a Philadelphia based artist with KC Ballet Company and Terpischore Dance Company. She currently teaches at Flair Dance Company as well as Bowman Dance Company. Bailey also works in the administrative sector of Equilibrium Dance Company. She has performed and choreographed works throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York at venues such as Triskelion Arts, Arts on Site, and Icebox Project Space.
Ashley Rainey
Ashley grew up dancing and training in Delaware. She graduated from Dean College in Massachusts with a BA in Dance and a concentration in performance & choreography. As well as studying business for a minor. Ashley trained in various dance styles such as lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, tap, modern, creative movement, musical theater, & ballroom. Throughout her college experience, Ashley has not only been the president of the Dean College Step Team, but performed in Dean College’s company shows, at Gillette Stadium for the New England Patriots home opener & was a part of multiple musical theater performances.
After graduating, Ashley returned home and began her teaching career at New Castle Dance Academy (NCDA). She is entering her 7th year of teaching at NCDA, where she teaches students ages 18 mo-18 yrs. Ashley also coaches a high school dance team and choreographs for a high school musical theater department.
Ashley discovered Flair in 2022 when attending the Flair Dance Festival and wanted to be a part of what Flair was doing. This led to her performing in Cracked Nuts and Flair’s Hip Hop Crew. Ashley has been assisting Christina with administrative tasks for Flair and has been grateful to be a part of this growing organization!
Emily Wampler
Emily began her dance training at the age of three with Tricia Sloan Dance Center in Mullica Hill, NJ. She trained in various styles such as ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, jazz funk, pointe, musical theatre, and partnering. After graduating in 2020, Emily chose to further her studies in dance at Towson University. She is expected to graduate in December of 2024 with BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography with a certification in PreK-12 Dance Education.
Studying under accomplished professors such as Robert Kleinendorst, Susan Mann, Runqiao Du, and many more, she has the opportunity to train in ballet and modern with exceptional performance opportunities. She currently serves in many positions of leadership such as a student council representative for the College of Fine Arts and Communications, led by Dean Regina Carlow, ambassador for the scholarship circle and departmental auditions, representative for the PreK-12 Dance Education certification program, and as a student representative for the Maryland Dance Education Association. Emily also had the opportunity to present and attend the 2023 NDEO Conference in Colorado. She was one of four attendees who was selected to receive a scholarship for the conference.
Emily has worked at various studios in the Towson, Maryland area, and is currently sharing her passion and love for dance with Baltimore County Youth Ballet. Excited about teaching, Emily hopes to become an educator of dance in the public school system with hopes to get her master's in special education. Emily first participated and found her way into Flair with the 2022 festival as a performer and had the opportunity to showcase her own work in the 2023 festival alongside interning for Christina. She is excited and grateful to continue her journey with Flair for many years to come.
