Main St. 56 Dance Company Staff
instructors:
Elijah VANepps
Elijah VanEpps is an actor and stage combatant based in Lockport, NY. He holds a BA in Theatre Arts from SUNY Fredonia.
He has experience in many forms of stage combat including unarmed, single sword, rapier/dagger, broadsword, and quarterstaff.
During his time at Fredonia, Elijah choreographed various pieces of stage combat performance and assisted in
the instruction of Stage Combat: Renaissance Weapons in Spring 2020.
He has experience in many forms of stage combat including unarmed, single sword, rapier/dagger, broadsword, and quarterstaff.
During his time at Fredonia, Elijah choreographed various pieces of stage combat performance and assisted in
the instruction of Stage Combat: Renaissance Weapons in Spring 2020.
JUnior Instructors:
samantha Balbi
Samantha has been a part of Main St. 56 Dance company since its opening. This is now her third year teaching with the Company and she can’t wait to teach for many more years to come. Samantha is attending SUNY Brockport in the fall and will be majoring in both Dance and English. Samantha had danced since she was 4 years old and dance has shaped her into becoming the person she is today. Most of the time she teaches Ballet, Tumbling, and Jazz but has trained in a wide variety of dance genres. Samantha can’t wait for this next year to start as she continues to become the teacher she has always wanted to be.
emma Cline
Emma is an Irish dancer from East Bethany, NY. She started Irish dance in 2010 at The McMahon School of Irish Dance. She has competed in many feiseanna along with the mid-Atlantic Regional Oireachtas from 2011-2016 and the 2015 North American Nationals. After 8 years with McMahon school of Irish dance, she took a break from competitions and joined Main St. 56 Dance Company. Emma is currently studying Irish Danace with Jamieson School of Irish Dance while earning her degree in General Studies from GCC. After graduating from GCC, she plans to attend a 4 year school for her Bachelors in ASL interpreting. Emma teaches beginner through advanced levels of Irish Dance for Main St. 56 Dance Company.
jocelyn coburn
Jocelyn is 17 years old and has been dancing with Main St. 56 Dance Company for 4 years. She has been acting since she was 6 years old and has preformed in over 30 shows with Batavia players. Jocelyn is a member of the Main St. 56 Dance Company competition team and will be participating in her first competitions this Spring.
MELANIA deSa e FRIAS
Melania deSa e Frias is a 16 year old dancer from Batavia, New York. She has trained in most styles of dance with a focus in tap. She has trained with Main St. 56 Dance Company and is additionally a member of Chloe and Maud’s No Filter Sole Talk Youth Tap Company. Melania has achieved NYCDA’s Outstanding Dancer Scholarship, 24/7’s Non-Stop Dancer Scholarship, and titles from Onstage New York, Elite Dance Challenge, and Legacy Dance Championships. She has performed at the D.C. Tap Festival, Big Apple Tap Festival, and at Radio City Music Hall during JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s Fourth Annual Women on the Move Leadership Conference with the Syncopated Ladies. She is so thrilled to share her love of tap dance with others.
teaching assistants
Leigh Lefevre
Leigh LeFevre is going into her Sophomore year in high school and lives in Batavia. She has been dancing at Main St 56 Dance Academy for 4 years. She joined the competition team this past year, and her tap solo placed first in its division at the Groove competition. Leigh also enjoys acting and has been performing with the Batavia Players since she was in 5th grade.
