JDC Dance Center
"For The Love of Dance"
326 Rowland Street
Ballston Spa, New York 12020
Ballston Spa Dance Studio
Email - jdcdanceoffice@gmail.com
(518) 886-8939
Faculty
Christina Pastore
Studio Owner/Director
Christina Pastore has lived in Ballston Spa for over 30 years. A former dancer herself she is pleased to own a dance studio that offers children a positive environment where they can develop their self-esteem, creativity, communication and become part of a team that is family. Christina along with her husband Michael have owned and operated JDC Dance Center in Ballston Spa for the past 10 years. The Pastores have 3 children Mike Jr., Jenna & Steven. The Pastore family is excited to offer dance programs that will nurture, educate and encourage all students to develop skills that will allow them to grow into confident individuals.
Candace Harblin
Dance Instructor
Candace has been dancing for over 40 years and has had the pleasure of teaching for more than 25 years. She started out as a dedicated student and worked extremely hard to become the dance instructor she is today. She studied tap, jazz, ballet, pointe and gymnastics under Joanne Sylvain. Candace currently teaches tap, jazz and ballet to students from ages 2 1/2 to 18 years old.
Candace continues to attend dance workshops to enhance her knowledge of dance, choreography and technique. Candace's competition tap teams have won many high placement and specialty awards. She's also received highly-sought-after choreography awards. For six years in a row, Candace has received the Apogee award from StarQuest in the classic division, which means her dance had received the highest score in the classic division. Her dances have also received the Critiques Choice Award at NYCDA. Each year, Candace sets an individual goal for herself and her students to reach and accomplish through each and every dance season. She strives to pass on skills that her students will use during their dance experience at JDC and in the future. Candace always tries to encourage her students to be the best that they can be and pushes them to their limits in a positive and fun environment.
Candace also enjoys her full-time job as a special education teaching assistant at Gordon Creek Elementary School. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Patrick and her 18 year old daughter, Cadence. Cadence was also a JDC Competition dancer who recently graduated high school and is now a Freshman in College. Candace strongly believes that dance encourages discipline, builds confidence and demonstrates the importance of teamwork.
"I would like to personally welcome each and every student to an exciting dance season at JDC. I am extremely excited to start a new year with my students and new JDC students.
It is so nice to watch our JDC family grow from year to year!
Happy dancing and be ready to "WOW the Crowd"
-Candace Harblin
Jenna Pastore
Dance Instructor
Jenna Pastore is a 2015 graduate of Ballston Spa High School. After graduation, Jenna attended Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts pursuing her passion in dance. In the spring of 2017, Jenna graduated Cum Laude and a Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society member with her Associates Degree in Dance. From there, Jenna transferred to Florida State University where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Arts, with a concentration in Dance and Communications. In July of 2022 Jenna received her MBA from Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. Along with her academic accomplishments Jenna is also a talented dancer.
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Jenna began dancing at the age of 2 ½ and starting competing at 10 years old. Jenna has won many regional competitions as well as high score placements nationally, including Runner-Up for Dancer of the Year for Dance America and the Nancy Stone Award. In addition, Jenna has won several scholarships to attend workshops and dance schools around the country, including workshops in Orange County, California as well as scholarships to Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway in New York City. Jenna also received a full scholarship to New York City Dance Alliance (NYCDA), a full Scholarship to Artist Simple Human (ASH) Summer Intensive and Scholarships to L.A. Tap Fest. She also attended tap intensives, including "SLIDE" in NYC. Jenna has competed and won the following Titles, Miss Starquest, Miss Teen Starbound, Top Talent Winner for Step-Up to Dance, Top Talent for KAR, Miss Senior Starbound, Title for Starpower and National Champion Soloist for Turn It Up Dance Challenge. Jenna was a Florida State Golden Girl with Florida State University and her most proud accomplishment was auditioning and making the Boston Celtics Dance Team becoming a 2016/2017 Boston Celtics Dancer.
Jenna’s love and passion is dance & fitness. During COVID, Jenna's love for fitness and training inspired her to pursue her Certification as Personal Trainer. In 2020 Jenna obtained her Personal Training Certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). Along with her personal training certificate Jenna also obtained her Nutrition Certification through NASM. Both of these certifications gives Jenna the knowledge and expertise to help dancers achieve whatever level of dance and fitness that they desire.
"As a dancer, I am very excited to mentor younger dancers not only the love and respect I have for dance but also the new and fresh choreography, technique and fitness I continue to learn as a dancer myself. Dance changed my life as a young girl and I truly believe that with passion, hard-work and dedication any dancer can achieve any level of dance they desire. I love being a part of such an incredible dance family and I'm excited to work with all the JDC Dancers."
Remember to always be true to yourself and “Wow that Crowd”!
- Jenna Pastore
Kasie Ritota
Dance Instructor
Kasie Ritota has been dancing for over twenty years. She started off as a student for The Dance Centre owned by Joanne Sylvain. Kasie started teaching when she was in high-school, which started with a few solos and a pre-school class. She now teaches students from ages 2 ½ to 18 years old. Her students range from beginners to competition students in solos all the way up to large groups and Productions. She enjoys working with all of her students and treats them all as family.
Kasie has had many students attend regional and national competitions where they have received high scores and special awards. Kasie also received regional and national highly-sought-after choreography awards. She enjoys working with students of many ages and enjoys taking classes of her own. She has had the privilege of taking classes from choreographers around the world in many different styles. She had competed from the age of 11 until the age of 21 where she has received many high scores and special awards for all styles of dance. In the summer of 2008 Kasie had the privilege of traveling the country for three weeks with Dance Olympus and Dance America. During this opportunity Kasie was able to grow as a dancer while studying under many choreographers.
Kasie proudly graduated from the College of Saint Rose in May of 2013, with bachelors in Early Childhood and Special Education. She uses her lessons learned in school while teaching her students in the dance room. Kasie feels strongly that her students will not only strive in the dance world but outside world with the lessons she teaches in the classroom. Kasie as well as the other instructors at JDC live, love, and breathe Dance. She is very excited to work with all the students at JDC.
“Welcome to our studio! We are very excited to have you and cannot wait to see you “WOW the CROWD” every week in your classes. We as a studio are excited to see the love of dance shine each and every day!
We know you will make memories that will last a lifetime!”
-Kasie Ritota
Madeline Spain
Dance Instructor
Madeline Spain has been dancing since the age of two and has continued to pursue dance after graduating from Saratoga Springs High School in 2017. While studying to earn her degree in business management focusing in entrepreneurship, Madeline continues to share her love of dance with others. Madeline was a member of the JDC Dance Center Competition Team where she earned many high score placements with her jazz and contemporary solos as well as many of her group dances. During her competition years, she loved performing on stage as well as traveling to conventions such as Jump, NUVO, and NYCDA to expand her knowledge of dance by learning from many talented and award winning choreographers. After graduating high school, she then became a member of the Albany Empresses Dance Team. After dancing in the Arena Football League for two years, she then became the assistant coach for the RPI collegiate dance team. Madeline currently continues to help the RPI dance team in their journey to the NDA National Dance Competition.
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"I'm so excited for another season of dance to share my love and passion with all the JDC Dancers."
~Miss Maddy~
Madison Wolfe
Dance Instructor
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Madison is a former JDC Competition dancer and a 2018 graduate of Ballston Spa High School. She is currently attending Hudson Valley Community College majoring in Mechatronics, which she plans to obtain her degree in the Spring of 2019. From there she plans to attend the College of Saint Rose pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education.
Madison started her dance career at the age of 3 and started competing by the age of 11. She began assisting around the age of 13, which helped her to realize that dance is more than just her sport, it is her passion. In her early years Hip-Hop was her style of choice but as she entered her teen year’s she started venturing into new styles such as, jazz, lyrical and tap. Madison has won many high score placements and awards in all genres and is excited to share her passion and love of dance with her students.
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I am beyond excited for Season 11, to share my love for dance with all the JDC Dancers!
~Miss Wolfe~
Sabrina Noti
Dance Instructor
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Sabrina is a 2014 Shenendehowa graduate. She attended SUNY Oneonta where she obtained her degree in Early Childhood and Childhood Education. She then went onto UAlbany where she received her Masters Degree in Special Education and Literacy. She currently works as an elementary special education teacher.
Sabrina has been dancing since the age of 4 and is a former JDC Competition Team Dancer. Sabrina was a member and captain of Shen’s dance team throughout high school where she had the opportunity to dance in the 2011 Disney’s Christmas Day parade and the 2013 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Sabrina continued dancing throughout college as a member of SUNY Oneonta’s Dance Team and as a dancer and choreographer for the Terpsichorean Dance Company. After college, she then danced for several local semi-pro sports teams including the Albany Empire, Albany Patroons, and the Albany Firewolves.
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