Our Team
Michelle Hippensteel
Owner & Creative Director
Michelle is the Owner and Creative Director at Neighborhood Dance. She has more than 30 years of experience as a performing arts professional in the classroom and on stage. She received her B.A in Theater at Southern Connecticut State University and holds state teaching certifications in the areas of Theater and Dance in the public schools of Connecticut and North Carolina.
Growing up at a dance studio in South Florida, she has fond memories of the positive, creative environment it provided, and the experiences she had performing for her local community. Her interests in musical theater led her to pursue a career performing on stage, and she hired on with the likes of Disney, Hersheypark, Odyssey Dance Company, and Tuacahn Amphitheater, earning membership in Actor’s Equity Association (AEA) along the way. Her favorite role was when she played Rumpleteazer in Cats!
While performing, she pursued her other passion teaching dance and musical theater to children. She joined Tada! Youth Theater in New York as a teaching artist and choreographer. Then she spent 10 years in Connecticut teaching, choreographing, and directing musical theater and dance productions at the New Haven Ballet, Hartt School of Performing Arts, and performing arts magnet schools in Trumbull and Hartford. Some of her productions included Thoroughly Modern Millie, Music Man, Alice in Wonderland, and The Nutcracker. As a thought leader in performing arts education in Connecticut, she was selected by Hartford Public Schools to develop their curriculum guide for dance education in 2015.
Michelle is continuing her mission to bring quality dance and musical theater education to her community as the Creative Director at Neighborhood Dance.
Meet the Team
Kaitlyn Adams
Lead Dance Instructor
Pre-K, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Encore
Kaitlyn Adams is a dynamic dance educator who has been immersed in the world of dance since the age of three. Early in her journey, she began assisting her ballet instructor, sparking a deep interest in teaching that has continued to shape her career. With a strong foundation in classical ballet and pointe, Kaitlyn has also developed proficiency in jazz, lyrical, modern, and musical theater dance, bringing a diverse skill set to her classes. Her passion for performance is evident in her experiences dancing in iconic ballets such as The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake, which have provided her with a deep understanding of stage productions. Kaitlyn holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina, where she further explored interpretive and contemporary dance, and she is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT).
Kaitlyn’s teaching philosophy emphasizes a positive, inclusive environment where students feel supported and challenged to grow. She incorporates body conditioning and creativity through improvisation and artistic learning games to help students enhance their technique and express themselves. Kaitlyn’s favorite moments in the studio are seeing students bring challenging choreography to life, whether on stage or in the classroom. Outside of teaching, she enjoys hiking, fostering dogs, and staying active, all while continuing to inspire her students with her dedication and love for dance.
Susan Ayson
Lead Dance Instructor
Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Musical Theater, Encore
Susan Ayson is an accomplished dance educator with over 35 years of experience in teaching, performing, and choreography. As the former owner and director of Rooftop Rhythms Dance Studio in New Rochelle, NY, she led a thriving studio for over two decades. Susan is skilled in a variety of dance styles, including tap, jazz, lyrical, musical theater, and ballet, and has a strong commitment to creating a fun and inclusive learning environment for dancers of all ages.
In addition to her studio leadership, Susan has extensive experience in the education sector, serving as the Fine Arts Dance Director at Cardinal Spellman High School. Her work extends to numerous community outreach programs and school-based dance enrichment activities. With a BFA in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College and a rich background in choreography for musicals and competitions, Susan is dedicated to sharing her passion for dance while fostering creativity and growth in her students.
Amber Hutchings
Dance Instructor
Pre-K, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz
Amber Hutchings has had a love of dance and music for as long as she can remember, with childhood memories of dancing down grocery store aisles. A seasoned educator with over 15 years of formal dance training, Amber holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Brigham Young University. She specializes in ballet, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary dance, with experience in tap, hip hop, and Broadway-style storytelling and character dance. Her diverse background includes performing on competitive dance teams, acting in musical theatre, and teaching everything from elementary education to preschool ballet. Amber’s teaching is rooted in classical ballet and jazz techniques, with an emphasis on building mind-body connections and fostering a positive, inclusive learning environment.
In addition to teaching dance, Amber has directed and choreographed numerous school musicals, including Peter Pan and The Wizard of Oz, and performed notable roles such as Belle in Beauty and the Beast and Guenevere in Camelot. She was honored with the Teacher of the Year Award at Southland Elementary in 2017 for her creative contributions to dance and music in education. Amber’s approach to teaching empowers her students to feel confident in their abilities and nurtures a lifelong love of learning and performing.
Jeni Seas
Lead Dance Instructor
Pre-K, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Encore
Jeni Seas brings over 30 years of professional dance experience to Neighborhood Dance, along with an infectious passion for teaching. From her energetic childhood, when her parents lovingly nicknamed her “Spring Loaded,” to earning her BFA in Theatre Arts and Dance Performance from Northern Illinois University, Jeni’s journey in dance has been driven by dedication and a love for movement. She has trained extensively at prestigious institutions like Hubbard Street Dance and Gus Giordano Dance in Chicago, connecting with top choreographers and seizing performance opportunities. Her teaching career spans roles as associate director of DancEncounter Studio in Chicago and performances around the world, including a decade spent as a magician’s stage assistant. Jeni’s accomplishments are recognized with awards like the Starpower Choreography Award and the Rene LeBeau Dance Scholarship. She is also certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT).
Jeni’s teaching philosophy is rooted in building a solid foundation and strong technique, helping her students master the basics to achieve advanced dance success. Over the years, her students have gone on to receive dance scholarships, perform at the professional level, and gain acceptance into programs like the Joffrey Ballet’s prestigious Nutcracker production. Jeni takes immense pride in nurturing her students’ growth, believing that with hard work and dedication, they can achieve anything. Outside of the studio, Jeni enjoys staying active by hiking, running, and exploring new destinations with her husband, adding an adventurous spirit to her already dynamic life.
Jeni Seas
Lead Dance Instructor
Pre-K, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Encore
Kaitlyn Adams
Lead Dance Instructor
Pre-K, Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Encore
Susan Ayson
Lead Dance Instructor
Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Musical Theater
Megan Mayhoff
Musical Director
Musical Theater, Voice
Amber Hutchings
Dance Instructor
Pre-K, Ballet
Michelle Hippensteel
Dance Instructor
Pre-K, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Encore