Meet Your Judges

Alexis Pacheco is a dance professional with a rich background in concert, commercial and competitive dance, honing her craft by studying on scholarship at Giordano Dance Chicago, earning a degree  in Dance from Oakland University and a Masters Degree in Education and Sports Coaching from Michigan State University. Alexis’ extensive experience encompasses coaching and choreographing for prestigious competitive collegiate dance teams such as the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. Her expertise has also been sought after by nationally acclaimed dance studios as well as professional dance teams like the Detroit Lions Cheer Team and Detroit Pistons Dance Team of which she served as Captain and Choreographer. She also served as dance captain for productions at MGM Grand Casino and Caesars Casino in Windsor. Pacheco’s concert dance credits include AIDA the opera, for the nationally touring Eisenhower Dance Ensemble and a company member with More Dances Contemporary Dance Co. Her passion for dance education flourished through her roles as an adjunct professor of dance at Oakland University and the Director of Dance at Detroit Country Day Schools. With a focus on dancer wellness, Alexis became certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a Personal Trainer, a Fitness Nutrition Specialist, and a Stretching and Flexibility Coach. In addition to her adjudication accomplishments, she holds certifications with Acrobatic Arts as an instructor and adjudicator and through the Bolshoi Ballet Teacher Training Programs. Currently, Alexis, alongside her husband and two children, owns and operates a gym and training facility in Michigan dedicated to nurturing the growth and well-being of both youth and adults.

Originally hailing from Wadsworth, Ohio, Caitlin Lewis is a graduate of Vassar College (2021), earning degrees in Cognitive Science and Drama. While in school, she also was a member of Vassar Repertory Dance Theater (VRDT), allowing her to gain pre- professional company experience in modern, jazz, and ballet alongside her academic studies. After college, she moved to St. Louis to work with the Big Muddy Dance Company as a trainee, where she performed in various works including A Carol for the Holidays (2021) and Lemp Legends (2022). Currently, Caitlin dances as a company member with Ballet 314. She’s performed both contemporary and classical ballet works, including Ragtime (2023) and the Nutcracker and the World’s Fair (2022, 2023). Caitlin’s teaching experience includes all forms of dance and also includes leaps, jumps and turns.

Beginning dance at a young age, Chloe quickly learned that dance was her passion. Growing up at a studio in Everett, WA, she trained in every style the studio had to offer. At the age of 16, she began teaching. She moved to Los Angeles soon after to begin training at the Edge Performing Arts Center. After graduation, Chloe completed the Edge Performing Arts Center Scholarship program under instructors, Terri Best, Adam Parson, Helene Phillips, Bill Prudich, Randall Allaire, Malaya, Sabrina Phillip, KC Monnie, Denise Leitner, Tovaris Wilson, Sheryl Murakami and more.  Afterward, she assisted multiple LA choreographers both locally and traveled internationally to Switzerland, Brazil, Germany and New Zealand. Chloe has completed two National tours with the show, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. She has worked with Jillian Meyers and Micheal Riccio as a featured dancer in Sam Tsui and Megan Nicole’s La La Land VR Medley. As an actor, Chloe was featured in Warner Brothers’ Horror Made Here. As a guest choreographer for multiple studios, Chloe’s love for teaching is all thanks to her wonderful dance teachers in both Washington and LA, instilling the importance of making a connection through dance. When judging Chloe, first and foremost, wants every dancer to feel seen, with the hope that they feel inspired and confident the next time they take the stage.

Dancer, Teacher, Gymnast, Model, Choreographer. Based in Michigan, Deanna began her early training locally and continued working with such master teachers as Al Gilbert, Gus Giordano, Greg Russell, Joe Tremaine, Doug Caldwell and Laurie Johnson. Specializing in Tap, Acro and Jazz, her training also includes a strong Cecchetti ballet syllabus. Deanna is also a highly trained gymnast earning 10^th all around in the state of Michigan and 7^th all around in the Junior Olympics elite team. Deanna was a professional dancer and model for many years with the Jack Reed agency performing with such legends as Tom Jones, and with companies such as General Motors Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and for TV Guide. She also ran a weekly TV show through a local cable station teaching tap from beginner to advanced levels. Deanna’s real passion is teaching. She teaches all levels from age 3 to 18, from recreational to pre-professional. Her students have been recognized and awarded regionally and nationally, and many have gone on to achieve professional success performing at venues nationwide such as at Disney World and in Las Vegas. Deanna’s two studios are currently owned and operated by former students. 

Virginia Beach native, Emma grew up falling in love with the world of dance, winning awards throughout her youth at various dance competitions. Nailing her very first audition for The Governor’s School for the Arts, high school was where she found herself visualizing and accepting that this was exactly what she wanted to do. In 2006, Emma was accepted into the dance program at The University of the Arts, graduating with honors, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz Dance Performance and All Around “Teacher Recognition Award”. During her senior year, Emma signed with MSA Talent agency and decided that NYC was the next big thing. Emma landed performances with the likes of Neyo, Dr. OZ show, Nicole Fosse, and The Verdon Fosse Estate. Education didn’t stop there, and that summer she was asked to join the Jacobs Pillow musical theatre summer intensive working closely with Chet Walker (Fosse dancer, choreographer of Tony Award winning Pippin) and guest choreographers Patti Colombo, AC Ciulla (Footloose movie), and Andy Gale. Soon afterwards, Emma moved to Los Angeles. She was represented by Go2Talent Agency and her professional credits included The Ellen Show, Erin Condren Spring promo video, Pose FX, Listen Up! Movie trailer. Emma continues to dive into the ups and downs of the dance industry which includes teaching and judging and even dabbles in the fitness world as a Lagree Fitness instructor. Emma is excited to be to judge for Headliners, a competition she competed in as a young dancer.

Tri-state area based creative with a diverse background in award winning competitive dance, nationally recognized dance companies, and worldwide theatrical experiences. Gene has performed across the globe with shows such as Big Band Beat in Tokyo Disney Sea as well as multiple Mainstage productions with Holland America Cruise Line. He began his professional career at the age of 7, starring in the Off-Broadway show People Garden and has not stopped since. Professional credits include Seussical the Musical (Broadway National Tour), Oliver! (Broadway National Tour), Sarah, Plain and Tall (Off Broadway), Broadway Kids (Off-Broadway), & Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn at Papermill Playhouse. He is a 5-time National Dance Champion and Title Winner, giving him great insight into the competitive dance world. He has taught master classes across the tri-state area as well as for Dance Masters of Pennsylvania and B.Wise Productions, a company he co-founded to bring customized dance experiences and workshops to studios across the USA. He holds a BFA in Dance from Point Park University and an AS in Physical Therapy from Lackawanna College. Gene has performed many concert works such as Journey by Randy Duncan (Chicago Academy of the Arts), Fatum Inflictum by Terence Marling (Hubbard Street II), Bow Out by Val Caniparoli (San Francisco Ballet), and the Other Side of Now by Alan Obuzor (Texture Contemporary Ballet). His latest creative endeavor was acting as RWS Global Talent and Holland America Cruise Line’s Resident Director for their Grand & World Voyages, teaching, directing and installing 22 different shows over the last two years!

Gianna is the founder & director of Tucker Dance House + PowerHouse Summer Intensive. A certified dance educator, national judge, and award-winning choreographer, Gianna leads an undefeated public school dance department, and was awarded ADCC’s 2025 Studio of Excellence. She earned a B.A. in Dance Education from Montclair State University, graduating summa cum laude and is certified to teach dance across public institutions in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. Gianna has been recognized for her innovative title-holding choreography at the novice, intermediate, and advanced levels. She is also a collegiate choreographer, working with Ramapo College Dance Team’s NDA competitive program in 2023.  Gianna has been working professionally in the NJ/NYC area since 2018, with a performance portfolio that includes the KM Dance Collective, Padierna Dance Project, and guest appearances with Nitrogen: Taylor Wickham.

Versatile dance educator, coach, and choreographer, Gloria is passionate about empowering dancers, building confidence, and creating meaningful experiences through movement. Experience includes: Head Varsity coach at Bartlesville High School in Oklahoma, Assistant Dance Coach at the CSM All Star Competitive Theatre program in Tulsa and a guest Dance Teacher at multiple dance studios in the Tulsa, OK area leading warm ups, stretching, isolation drills, and freestyle sessions to develop students’ confidence, flexibility, and technical skills.Gloria has also worked as part of the crew for “An American in Paris” Broadway Tour. She is currently the Assistant Spirit Squad Coach at Independence Community College in Kansas where she collaborates with the head coach to prepare choreography for halftime shows, competitions, and other performances, as well as provide individualized feedback to dancers to improve technique, performance quality, and overall dance skills.

Gracen Nelson is a Brooklyn-based performer and freelance choreographer. Before relocating to New York, she attended college in her hometown of Charleston, SC, graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Arts Management. Gracen was a teacher and opening number choreographer at Intrigue Dance Convention and helped direct the Just Dance

Company, where her versatile training allowed her to mentor students of all ages. During this time, she also began setting choreography across the U.S.—work that has received multiple awards, including recognition for her distinctive choreographic voice. In New York, Gracen continues to advance her artistry through freelance work with contemporary companies. She has performed with Selah Dance Collective, Valleto Dance, Petra Zanki Dance Company, and BodyStories: Teresa Fellion Dance and had the opportunity to assist Ali Pfleger in setting choreography for CLI Conservatory and the Peridance Certificate Program. Her passion for dance extends beyond the stage and into film. Gracen made her on-screen debut in HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones 2 and later co-created a short film selected for the 2023 Rethink Dance Film Festival. Gracen is deeply driven by collaboration and is continually seeking opportunities to create and inspire through movement.

Holly Gannett is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo with a B.F.A. in Dance. Holly began her dance training at Kennebec Dance Centre in Maine and with Andrei Bossov of the Kirov Ballet. While in college, Holly was offered a job performing with Busch Gardens which she declined in order to finish her schooling. She became employed at the Central Wisconsin School of Ballet where she was hired to expand and develop the professional ballet school’s jazz, tap, and musical theatre programs. Holly’s performance and choreography credits include: Dance Captain for the US premier of Fame Forever, Carmen Diaz in Fame, Ariel Moore in Footloose, Mersister in The Little Mermaid, Marge in Suds, June (Squish) in Chicago, Adelaide in Guys & Dolls, as well as ensemble roles in Cabaret, Oklahoma, Little Shop of Horrors, West Side Story, Man of La Mancha, Working, and Mrs. Greer in Annie. While in WI, Holly choreographed for The Carnival of the Animals which was narrated by actor Tony Randall. She is on the board of Directors with the Maine Dance Teachers Club and the former Dance Director at Maine Arts Academy where she created the dance curriculum for the school, Maine’s first performing arts high school. Holly has been a guest instructor/adjunct faculty at several Maine Colleges including Colby, Thomas, & University of Maine at Augusta in addition to dance schools in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont, Indiana, and Wisconsin. 

Jadyn is a professional dancer and choreographer. She’s been dancing since the age of 3, and since the age of 18 years old, has taught at respected studios around the US, appeared on NBC’s World of Dance, and performed alongside Karol G, TLC, and Sabrina Carpenter across world tours, music videos, and live stages. While versatilely trained, she teaches and choreographs primarily in hip-hop, with experience in both performance and 

educational settings. Jadyn is excited to meet and teach new students and continue fostering growth through dance.

A well-rounded and versatile dancer with over 15 years of training from legendary dance influences such as Brian Friedman, Kinjaz, and The Bolshoi Ballet Summer Intensive. She was classically trained as a dancer at the early age of 6 years old and became proficient in ballet, contemporary, lyrical, jazz, tap and hip-hop. Jenna’s aspirations of performing and sharing her artistry to a wider audience transitioned her from the stage to new media and eventually television. Jenna became one of Disney ‘s Mouseketeers on “The Mickey Mouse Club” rebooted as “Club Mickey Mouse” which launched exclusively on Facebook and Instagram on September 8, 2017. Transitioning from social media, Jenna made her television debut on Showtime’s 2019 Golden Globe Nominated “Kidding” with Jim Carrey, which was produced by Dave Holstein, Jim Carrey and Michel Gondry. Jenna played ‘Havana’, a quirky, upbeat teen and potential love interest of Carrey’s on-screen son for two seasons from 2018 to 2020. In 2019, Jenna continued her acting career by playing ‘Liberty’, the confident and assertive captain of her dance team on Disney’s 2020 Emmy Nominated “Shook” starring Sofia Wylie and produced by the Duplass brothers, Mark Duplass and Jay Duplass. “Shook” first showed on Disney Channel’s YouTube and later premiered on Disney Channel as a Disney Channel Original Movie.