STAFF

Talent Factory owner and Director of The Talent Factory Dance Company, has spent the last 25 years following in the footsteps of her mother Debi Cusick D'Iorio and aunt Cheryl Cusick Igliozzi. Not only did they help develop her potential as a dancer at a young age, they inspired her creativity as a teacher. Dana has been teaching and choreographing since the age of 14. Dance is a passion for Dana as reflected in her positive, outgoing personality and ability to build esteem and efficacy in every child and adult she instructs. Dana has trained with some of the best in the business such as Henry LeTang, Thommie Walsh, Ronnie DeVito, Gil Stroming, Dan Karaty, Tawana Hall-Charlton and Savion Glover whom she had the privilege of privately studying with in NYC. Dana offers the same opportunities to her students by traveling with her dance company to numerous conventions and competitions all over the east coast. Dana is also the choreographer for the Miss Rhode Island America pageant where she is able to use her own company dancers as pageant performers. She continues to be a role model and inspiration to all her students! Dana takes pride in offering creative classes as she develops her students to reach their optimal potential. dana@talentfactoryri.com

Tara has been dancing since the age of two, beginning her studies at Dance RI’s Providence location, under the direction of Debi Cusick D'Iorio. While at Dance RI, Tara began competing at a very young age, participating in many conventions and master classes where she studied under such renown instructors as Scott Benson, Laurie Rousseau and Ron DeVito. In 1996, Tara began focusing solely on her ballet technique with Festival Ballet of Rhode Island under the late Christine Hennessey. She landed the role of Clara in their annual production of “The Nutcracker" in 1998 and soon after became part of the Junior Company. In 2001, Tara joined the Senior Company as an apprentice dancer under their new name, Festival Ballet Providence. Since then, Tara has attended many master classes from others in the business, including Suzi Taylor, Travis Wall, Joey Dowling, Jason Parsons, Dan Karaty, AC Ciulla and Scott Jovovich, to name just a few. At 25 years of age, her choreography has received recognition within the competitive dance circuit, receiving numerous Platinum, High Gold and Gold adjudications as well as Choreography Awards and Highest Overall Scoring Awards. Alongside Dana D'Iorio Adames, Tara has choreographed the Miss Rhode Island Pageant Dancers for a couple of years now. When she is not at the studio, Tara is using her business degree from Stonehill College as Recruitment Sales Representative at the Providence Journal. tara@talentfactoryri.com

VALERIE SOLES
BALLET, JAZZ, BALLROOM

Valerie began dancing at the age of six at Narragansett Performing Arts Dance Centre, under the direction of Cheryl Cusick Igliozzi. She has performed many lead roles in productions such as Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, The Lion King, and Aladdin, just to name a few. In addition, Valerie has traveled throughout New England competing and attending master classes with choreographers such as Dan Karaty and Mia Michaels. Along the way, she has brought home many Platinum, Gold, and Silver awards, along with a lifetime of unforgettable memories. Valerie is currently performing on Carnival Cruise Line and loving every minute of it! She left this past February and plans to be back at the Talent Factory in October!!! valerie@talentfactoryri.com

Melanie started her acting career at the age of seven and from that young age she knew that she had found her calling. Melanie did over 30 musical theatre productions, including tours both locally and in Brazil. Melanie has been a teacher for over five years teaching acting, voice, dance, and directing musicals. Melanie then moved to New Mexico and was featured in two union productions, Swing Vote and Love Ranch; and she also appeared in the TV series Crash. Moreover, she was the director of a nationally recognized acting and modeling school. She has since been offered other roles but finds that teaching is much more rewarding. Melanie has a lot to offer the students from on camera experience, behind the scenes work, stage experience, make-up design, directing, and much more. Sign up for her classes today, because space is limited! melanie@talentfactoryri.com

KERYN TOMMASIELLO
BALLET, JAZZ, CONTEMPORARY

Keryn has been dancing since the age of two, starting her studies at Dance RI RI, under the direction of Debi Cusick D'Iorio. At the age of seven, Keryn began competing at various competitions where she received Best Technical Execution, various Platinum, Gold and Silver awards for her performances and was also the recipient of a NYC Jazz Scholarship at Jump Convention in Boston. She has studied under some of the best in the industry such as Suzi Taylor, Travis Wall, Mia Michaels and Dan Karaty, to name a few. She started at the Talent Factory when it opened in 2004, where she focused solely one her favorite form of dance, contemporary. Since then, Keryn has been competing with the Talent Factory and assisting/choreographing for the Junior Company. In addition, Keryn recently traveled throughout Europe where she observed different forms of dance and culture. She currently lives in New York attending Syracuse University University majoring in Fashion Design. In her spare time, Keryn designs clothes and jewelry and dances with a dance organization, "Danceworks".

AMANDA SOLES
BALLET, JAZZ, CONTEMPORARY

Amanada has been dancing since the tender age of 5 and hasn't stopped! She has trained heavily in ballet, jazz, lyrical and contemporary and this past year starting teaching here at the Talent Factory. Over the years Amanda has trained with some of the best choreographers such as Mia Michaels, Andy Blankenbeuhler, Travis Wall, Suzi Taylor and Joey Dowling. She has also won numerous high scoring and prestigious awards throughout the east coast at NYCDA, WCDE, Access Broadway and Fire and Ice to name a few. Amanda is currently teaching Jazz, Ballet and Contemporary while attending the University of Rhode Island full-time majoring in Speech-Language Pathology. amanda@talentfactoryri.com

Sheryl is the proud mother of twin boys Travis and Tyler who are in Junior Company and CREW at the Talent Factory. Sheryl has an ecclectic background that includes dancing for 8 years herself. Sheryl is immersed in fitness in her personal and professional life. She is a successful fitness competitor and works as a personal trainer and group exercise instructor. Some of her certifications include SPINNING, TurboKick, Weight Mgt. Consultant, Life Coach, Personal Trainer. She teaches Yoga, Pilates, bootcamp, and dance as well. She has done workout videos and print work for RunnersWorld, Prevention, and Fitness Magazines. She is an instructor at the University of Rhode Island in the Human Development and Family Studies Department. She currently is the president of her Parent/ Teacher Organization, a coach for her twin's soccer team, and is very active in her community. Some of her past professional experience include working as a teacher, therapist, lecturer, researcher, and real estate agent. She is consistently striving for balance and bliss and has her priorities remains to be her family. Sheryl looks forward to doing personal training and group exercise at the Talent Factory and being part of this great team!!! Energetic, UNDENIABLY MOTIVATED, and often hilarious - Sheryl Anne Atwood. sheryl@talentfactoryri.com

RECEPTIONIST/OFFICE MANAGER

Miss Cathy is our wonderful and fabulous Office Manager. She has been involved in the dance world since she started both her daughters, Tara and Keryn, at Dance RI in the 80's under the direction of Dana's mom, Debi Cusick D'Iorio. Cathy knows everything about the dance world! She is not only our Office Manager but also the Talent Factory Mom. When you walk into the studio it is hard to miss her warm and loving smile from behind her desk. The babies love Miss Cathy who is ready on Saturday mornings with dunkin munchkins and stickers. Miss Cathy is at all Talent Factory events and never misses anything! She always goes above and beyond her duties of accepting monthly tuition and really makes the Talent Factory a home away from home. We love you Miss Cathy!!! cathy@talentfactoryri.com