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Stephanie A. Surowka-Sanders- Owner/Director 

Stephanie is the owner/director of the Conklin Dance Academy in Conklin, NY.  Mrs. Surowka-Sanders has been teaching dance for 20 years nationally, judging competitions and giving master classes up and down the east coast.  Most recently, Stephanie was awarded an Excellence in Choreography award for her routines "Bennie",“How Great Thou Art” and “Remedy”.  For 7 years, Stephanie was an Adjunct professor in the department of Theatre Dance at Binghamton University, teaching Ballet levels I & II, Musical Theatre Dance, and Jazz technique.    She is on the Faculty of the Foothills Opera Experience as the movement/dance instructor.  Stephanie received the majority of her dance training under the tutelage of the esteemed, Helene Yelverton.  Stephanie supplemented her training with Ballet Masters such as Finis Jhung and Dorit Kappel.  She is a certified teacher/member and sits on the board of directors for Dance Masters of America, Chapter 8.  Mrs. Surowka-Sanders continues her dance education through yearly attendance of Teacher Training Conventions in NYC.   She holds a B.S. in Psychology and Russian Studies from Binghamton University, and an M.S. in Education from Binghamton University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She lives in Endwell, NY with her husband Omar and beautiful Maine Coon cat, Nash. 

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Jamie Lyn Markarian

Jamie grew up in Great Bend, Pennsylvania.  At the age of six, she started her dancing career at Helene Yelverton Dance Studio, where she studied twelve years of dance and taught as an assistant at the studio.  

Jamie graduated Magna Cum Laude from Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pennsylvania.  She earned a B.S. in Elementary Education, while minoring in Dance, focusing on tap, jazz, ballet, and modern. While in Allentown, Jamie focused on her teaching and taught all age levels and dance styles at the Patricia Bostick Dance Center.  She also instructed children at the Performing Youth Theatre in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.  After college, Jamie returned home and taught several years at Windwood Hill Dance Academy, teaching all age levels and focusing mostly on tap, jazz, and ballet.

Mrs. Jamie Markarian currently resides in her hometown of Great Bend, Pennsylvania.  She is employed as a Kindergarten teacher at the Blue Ridge School District.  Jamie continues her education by completing classes in early childhood education.  She has attained a M.Ed. with a Reading Specialist Certification from Holy Family University.  She enjoys her busy life raising her four children with her loving husband, Matt.  She spends her free time reading, playing with her dog, King, and baking up new recipes for the family to try!  She looks forward to many more years of sharing her love of teaching dance at CDA!

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Ashley Samons

Ashley Samons has been teaching at Conklin Dance Academy since 2013. Before becoming a dance teacher, she trained in various genres of dance such as ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, musical theater, hip hop, modern, CaribFunk, and African dance. Ashley spent her formative and competitive dance years at the Helene Yelverton Dance Studio, which is where she began her journey with Miss Steph. Ashley went on to earn her B.A. in Dance from SUNY Potsdam. While there, she traveled to ACDFA (American College Dance Festival Association) for mutiple performance pieces, and was a member of the CariDanco dance company. She also had the opportunity to learn from, and dance for, various artists including A'Keitha Carey, Carlos Jones, Jon Lehrer, Heather Roffe, N'Jelle Gage, and Guy Thorne. Miss Ashley has group fitness training, is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique, and continues to take every opportunity to continue her dance education. As a teacher and choreographer, Miss Ashley believes in supporting and encouraging her students to be creative and find themselves as dancers, but also in challenging them and making sure they feel accomplished.

Miss Ash lives in Port Crane with her partner, Brandon, and their hound dogs Bella, Dodge, and Panda.

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Leslie Canfield

Miss Leslie Canfield has been teaching at Conklin Dance Academy for 6 years. She received the majority of her 15 years of training from Helene Yelverton and Stephanie Surowka-Sanders. Miss Leslie received further training through her 6 years as a competitive dancer, many years as a classroom demonstrator, and a year of training received from the Ballet Theatre of Scranton. Miss Leslie Canfield attended Clarks Summit University where she received her B.S. in Accounting, graduating with Highest Honor. During her time at Clarks Summit University she was inducted into the honors society, Alpha Gamma Epsilon. She lives in South Gibson, PA with her family.

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