Kendall Maloney- Owner/Director
Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical, Tumbling Instructor. Competitive Dance Team Coach
Kendall has been a dancer and gymnast since the age of 3. Her previous training and experience include:
30 years of intense dance and gymnastic training. Her training is in all dance genres including tap, jazz, jazz funk, ballet, modern, lyrical, hip hop, salsa, heels, contemporary and African dance. Kendall was also a competitive gymnast from the age of seven through her junior year in high school where she finished as a level 10 gymnast. She received many medals for all events but dominated floor and uneven bars which lead her to top “All Around” scores.
She spent two years in the Dance Center North’s production of The Nutcracker as a soldier and tumbling Bon Bon.
Hip Hop is the genre that captured her passion. She spent many summers going into NYC to attend “The Pulse on Tour” dance camp intensives with instructors Brian Friedman from “So You Think You Can Dance”, Chris Judd and many more. She also trained with Trae Turner, the founder of the Chicago based hip hop company “Boom Crack”.
Kendall studied dance at Columbia College Chicago where she was in several productions, focusing in modern, ballet, hip hop and African Dance.
As a competitive high school poms dancer, Kendall trained daily with intensive workshops, camps and many public performances. Her dance team performed kick line during school football games. In 2004 Kendall’s team took first place honors in both jazz and hip hop.
Kendall also studied Zumba where she got her license to teach Zumba dance and Strong by Zumba.
Lastly, but more importantly, Kendall and her husband Frankie are the proud parents of two sons, Owen age 11 and Spencer age 5. They love to be outside, watch movies and travel. Kendall is extremely grateful for having a very supportive family to help make all of this possible.
30 years of intense dance and gymnastic training. Her training is in all dance genres including tap, jazz, jazz funk, ballet, modern, lyrical, hip hop, salsa, heels, contemporary and African dance. Kendall was also a competitive gymnast from the age of seven through her junior year in high school where she finished as a level 10 gymnast. She received many medals for all events but dominated floor and uneven bars which lead her to top “All Around” scores.
She spent two years in the Dance Center North’s production of The Nutcracker as a soldier and tumbling Bon Bon.
Hip Hop is the genre that captured her passion. She spent many summers going into NYC to attend “The Pulse on Tour” dance camp intensives with instructors Brian Friedman from “So You Think You Can Dance”, Chris Judd and many more. She also trained with Trae Turner, the founder of the Chicago based hip hop company “Boom Crack”.
Kendall studied dance at Columbia College Chicago where she was in several productions, focusing in modern, ballet, hip hop and African Dance.
As a competitive high school poms dancer, Kendall trained daily with intensive workshops, camps and many public performances. Her dance team performed kick line during school football games. In 2004 Kendall’s team took first place honors in both jazz and hip hop.
Kendall also studied Zumba where she got her license to teach Zumba dance and Strong by Zumba.
Lastly, but more importantly, Kendall and her husband Frankie are the proud parents of two sons, Owen age 11 and Spencer age 5. They love to be outside, watch movies and travel. Kendall is extremely grateful for having a very supportive family to help make all of this possible.
Lauren LaPorta- Ballet and tumbling instructor
Lauren began her classical ballet training at the young age of three with the Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory in Torrington, CT participating in their year-round training curriculum which included classical ballet technique, ballet theory, modern dance technique, pointe, partnering, classical and contemporary repertoire, and performance experience. In her middle and high school years, she also participated in their summer intensive programs where she received further instruction from many professional guest artists from all over the world. She danced in several roles in their yearly rendition of The Nutcracker, as well as several excerpts from La Bayadere, Coppelia, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, and various other variations and repertoire choreographed by Nutmeg’s teaching artists and guest artists.
Following her dance training, she attended the University of Hartford receiving a Master of Science in Accounting. After several years working in public accounting, she and her husband began their family. When the first two children were very young, Lauren established an in-home daycare. Very quickly she came to find that children had a special place in her heart and sincerely enjoyed not only providing care to them but teaching and watching them grow and learn. Besides sharing her love for dance at Waves Academy, she is also employed by Yale University.
Lauren lives in Madison with her husband Joe and their four children Anthony 11, Elise 10, Natalie 8, and Vinny 6.
To my current and future students:
Throughout my years of dancing I gained confidence, discipline, and most importantly had fun! Those years are some of my most fondest memories of my life and I hope that rings true for you all too! I am honored and so excited to share my love and knowledge of dance with all of you here at Waves Academy of Dance!
With Love, Miss Lauren
Spencer Root- Lyrical, ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap instructor, Competative Lyrical Team Coach
Spencer has been dancing since the age of 6 when she began her training at Middlesex Dance Center in ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical. She then went on to compete for Triple Threat Dance Company and Lakeside Academy of Dance in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern and musical theater throughout high school. Spencer attended Central Connecticut State University where she minored in dance and was an active member and treasurer of the dance company Dancentral. While at CCSU Spencer expanded her dance training to include ballroom dance, Afro-Caribbean dance, and hip-hop. As a member of Dancentral Spencer attended many dance conventions including the CT High School Dance Festival and the 5X5 Festival. Through Dancentral Spencer also had the opportunity to work with various professional dance companies including the Elisa Monte Dance Company (now Emerge125) and Jennifer Muller/The Works. In 2014 Spencer fulfilled a childhood dream and was a part of the Albano Ballet Company’s Nutcracker. Since graduating from CCSU Spencer has continued to take weekly ballet, tap and hip-hop classes, including Miss. Kendall’s adult hip-hop classes! Spencer looks forward to being a part of Waves Academy and sharing her love of dance!
Kim Dirienzo- Office assistant, Tiny tumbler assistant, beginner tumbling assistant
Hi! My name is Kim DiRienzo. I attended SCSU where I earned my Masters in Elementary Education. I am a certified elementary school teacher and special education teacher, however I have recently resigned. My passion for dance started when I was a little girl and continued through college. I attended tap, jazz, hip hop and lyrical classes and I am thrilled to see that my two girls have developed the same love for dance! I look forward to combining my skills to help assist Kendall!
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Morgan Flickinger- Tumbling Instructor Assistant- Camp Counselor
Hi! My name is Morgan and I have been tumbling since the age of 3. I have had 13 years of experience and have been doing gymnastics for my entire life. I am a current competitive level 10 gymnast at ABC Shoreline Gymnastics where I train 20 hours a week. I compete for the Daniel Hand High School Gymnastics team and have led the team to multiple divisional and state championships. I have also claimed many individual medals on each of the four events. Floor has always been my favorite event because of the tumbling and dance combination. I plan on continuing my gymnastics career in college as I have attended a few college camps and showcases. I’ve had 2 years of coaching experience working at ABC. I have a strong passion for sharing my tumbling knowledge with the students. I love working with kids and teaching them new techniques and fun upgraded skills! I can’t wait to continue working with the tumbling students at Waves!
Chloe Flickinger- TUMBLING INSTRUCTOR ASSISTANT/PRESCHOOL ASSISTANT, CAMP COUNSELOR
Hi! My name is Chloe, and I am almost a freshman at Daniel Hand High School. I have been a gymnast for 11 years. I am currently a level 7 competitive gymnast and hoping to join the Hand high school gymnastics team this year! I compete for Waves Academy on their senior hip hop team. My dream is to go to the University of Tennessee. I am the youngest of two. My sister, Morgan, also works at Waves! Sometimes you will see the sister duo together! I’ve always loved tumbling, and I love the floor of all the events. I love working with kids and helping them be determined to do their best!
aLISYA dORMAN- ALL LEVEL TUMBLING INSTRUCTOR, TINY TUMBLER INSTRUCTOR
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Hi! My name is Alisya (Lis) and I'm a senior at Haddam Killingworth High-school. I've been a competitive gymnast for 16 years, and I'm currently going into my 3rd season of level 10 representing J.a.gymnastics. I am a two-time Level 10 State Champion for Connecticut, two-time Level 10 DP Nationals qualifier, and last year, I was a Level 10 National Medalist on Balance Beam. After Highschool, I plan to continue my gymnastics career in college! I also have a background in cheer and dance. Teaching is a passion of mine and I would love to major in education in college. I love working with kids and I'm super excited to share my talents and help improve students tumbling!
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