FSPA offers all levels of this fun and energetic discipline.

Jazz

Jazz classes explore traditional, Broadway and contemporary styles in a fun, energetic atmosphere. Classes begin with a warm-up with stresses technique, flexibility, coordination and strength, followed by progressions across the floor, center work and combinations. Beginner students learn fundamental jazz steps and basic vocabulary through across the floor exercises and simple combinations. Intermediate classes focus on body placement and proper technique, stretching and development of skills. Advanced classes emphasize quality of movement in addition to perfecting technique, performance skills and varied styles.

Standard Track Jazz

The standard Jazz track allows students to learn fundamental jazz steps and movement combinations. Classes emphasize jazz steps, vocabulary, body placement, stretch, rhythm and musicality. Ballet is not required for standard track students allowing for fewer requirements and greater flexibility of schedules.

Boys' Dance

Various styles of jazz and stage movement are explored in Boys' Dance. Classes are well suited to students in musical theater.

Dance for Musical Theater

This class includes a Jazz warm-up, incorporating isolations and modern and jazz technique along with stretching. Students learn stylized movement from choreographers such as Fosse, Bennett, Robbins and Cole, who not only influenced the musical theater world but the entire dance genre. Curriculum includes an in-depth look into choreographers from various Broadway shows and movie musicals, learning the history and motivation behind the movement.

Related Faculty

Casey Harkness Andrade

FSPA Dance Director, Dance Company Director; Instructor of Jazz, Contemporary, and Dance for Musical Theater

Casey Harkness Andrade is a professional choreographer, educator, and performer. She received her B.A. in dance performance from Rhode Island College where she trained and studied with exceptional choreographers such as Clay Talifaro, Sean Curran, and Mark Taylor. After graduation Casey continued her education at Broadway Dance Center in New York City and Boston Ballet, where she studied weekly in a variety of classes. While a dancer of the Andary Dance Company, Casey had the opportunity to perform at the Cunningham School in New York City and tour the northeast. As a new member of the Franklin Performing Arts Company Casey has enjoyed roles such as Morticia in The Addams Family Musical and the Amayzing Mayzie in Seussical. Casey has also been an adjunct faculty member at Rhode Island College and Dean College, teaching jazz, tap and working with the RIC dance company as assistant rehearsal director. She recently joined the dance faculty at Salve Regina University, once again sharing her passion for jazz dance with SRU dance majors. In 2010 she became an adjudicator and choreographer for the Elite Dance Challenge regional and national competition. Later Casey joined the judges panel for Celebration Talent Competition and Sheer Elite International Dance Competition. Currently Casey is the dance department director at Franklin School for the Performing Arts and the director of the FSPA Dance Company. She teaches a variety of classes in dance and musical theatre as well as creates and facilitates curriculum, placement of students, and performances for the school.  She joined the FSPA faculty in 2011.   

Alexandra Cardi

Instructor of Commercial Dance and Jazz

Alexandra Cardi fell in love with dancing at the age of three. She has experience in a variety of styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, modern, and contemporary dance. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Developmental Psychology with a minor in Dance from Plymouth State University in 2015 and a Masters in Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Salve Regina University in 2022. She was an active member of her undergraduate university’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble and Dance Team as a performer, choreographer, and captain. Her senior year, the dance faculty selected Alexandra as the recipient for the Contemporary Dance Ensemble Award. This merit award is given to a senior who has shown a strong commitment to faculty and student choreography within the dance division over four years of study.  Throughout her years at Plymouth, under the direction of Amanda Whitworth, she had the opportunity to work with professional guest artists such as Mziyanda Mancam, Urbanity, Bosoma, and Pantos Project. In 2018, she had the opportunity to perform at the Boston Contemporary Dance Festival as a dancer for Alchemy Movement.  Currently, Alexandra is working as a mental health counselor in Providence, R.I. and is a movement artist for Alchemy Movement, a New England based company.  Alexandra  joined the FSPA Dance Faculty in 2017.  

Nikki Sell

Instructor of Jazz

Nikki Sell began her dance education at a small studio in Western Nebraska.  As a teen, she spent her summers studying dance at the Ballet/Aspen program in Colorado and at the Dupree Studios in Los Angeles.  She completed her high school years at the Idyllwild School of Music and Performing Arts in California, graduating Valedictorian of her class.  She then studied at The Boston Conservatory, earning a BFA in Dance and graduating Summa Cum Laude and Salutatorian of her class.    Ms. Sell performed regionally and internationally with Prometheus Dance (Artistic Directors Diane Arvanites and Tommy Neblett), ACE Entertainment (Allen Collier, Tommy Coye, Jimmy Viera and Jeannette Neill), Impulse (Adrienne Hawkins), and Boston Dance Company (Jimmy Reardon and Clyde Nantais).  Her commercial and industrial credits include a leading role in an industrial video for Spalding sports equipment and a TV commercial for W.B. Mason office supplies, for which she was also the choreographer.  Ms. Sell also choreographed the 2006 Weston Drama Workshop production of “Ragtime” which won the prestigious Moss Award.  Ms. Sell has also presented two seasons of work with her own company, Hyperbole Dance.   In her 20+ years of teaching, Ms. Sell has been on the faculty at Jeannette Neill Dance Studios, Boston Youth Moves, Walnut Hill School & Academy, and The Boston Conservatory.  She has appeared as a master teacher for the Regional Dance America/SW Festival, San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet, Brandeis University, Framingham State College, and Arts Rochester.  She is excited to join the faculty at FSPA!  

Kellie Stamp

FSPA Dance Department Coordinator, Director of FSPA Dance Ensembles, Instructor of Tap and Jazz

Kellie Stamp is a graduate of Stonehill College where she was an active member of the Stonehill Theater Company.  She served on their Board of Directors and competed at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.  After receiving her Masters of Performing Arts Education from Emerson College, she continued her tap and jazz training at the On Stage Academy for the Performing Arts, as well as with Rosemarie Boyden and at the Broadway Dance Center in NYC. Kellie has also studied Dance for Musical Theater with Broadway actress and choreographer, Leslie Woodies. In addition to teaching dance classes as FSPA, Kellie choreographs for Electric Youth, Broadway Bound, Broadway Light and many FSPA and FPAC productions. She is also the Director and choreographer of CenterStage and Next Step.  Kellie first joined FSPA in 2001. Her performing credits include lead roles in 42nd Street, West Side Story and Sweet Charity, as well as many roles in FPAC productions including Addams Family, Anything Goes, Into the Woods, Humbug!, The Miracle Worker and Little Shop of Horrors.  Her choreography credits include FSPA and FPAC productions of Humbug!, Anything Goes, 'Tis the Season, Cabaret and many others.