Providers of Exceptional Performing Arts Education
Mission Statement
Stratford Performing Arts Academy offers a high-quality performing arts education to children and adults, in a noncompetitive and competitive, inspiring environment.
We believe that performing arts (dance, vocal, and theatre), enrich the lives of our students and families, and help to build community through cultural awareness. Our students become well-rounded students by allowing them freedom to participate in sports, and extra activities outside of the studio, while maintaining their focus and dedication to the company.
We focus on the proper use of technique, while developing artistry and self-expression, and of course, having fun!
"Dance plus academics equal education" has been our message to our students, with the hope that they will strive to reach their full potential, whether or not they choose a performing arts career.
Testimonials
Meet Our Amazing Faculty...updated bio coming soon.
Peter and Deborah Maida
Owners/Directors and Mini Ballet Company
Our business was established in 1982 (formerly Stratford Academy of Dance), and we are proud to be celebrating our 44th performance season. In January 2019 and 2022, we were honored with the "Best Director" Award at Access Broadway Competition, presented by Mr. Ron DeVito.
Miss Deb and Coach Pete have taught dance and vocal for over 40 years and are proud to have trained students at various levels, leading to many professional careers. Miss Deb has trained extensively in Ballet, Jazz, and Tap and currently teaches Adult Tap and Mini Ballet Company classes, and has directed the Baldwin Tap Ensemble at the Stratford Baldwin Senior Center for the past seven years. Her mini ballet company has received a Broadway Star Award, Overall High Scores, and Special Awards.
Coach Pete is a classically trained musician and vocal instructor. His knowledge and experience have contributed to the success of many professional performers. His vocalists continue to receive many Overall High Score Awards and Special Awards, including Top Vocalist at That's Entertainment PA 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021,2022, and 2023, Access Broadway, Groove, That's Entertainment, Star Quest, and Turn It Around 2022.
Some of our honors include the "Inspired by Passion" Award, Groove Competition 2019, and "Top Company" Award at the Turn It Around Competition, the ADCC Studio of Excellence award at Groove Competition in East Haven, February 2018, Access Broadway 2020 and Groove Competition 2020, "Best Musical Theatre School, Access Broadway 2021, Best Dance studio 2023, The Groove Award, Best Technical and Best Choreography, Groove 2021, The Viral Video Award at Star Quest, Best Production at That's Entertainment and the Spotlight Award at TIA. Most recently the One Beat Award at Reverb. We are genuinely proud of our Dance Family and appreciate the opportunity to share our love of the Arts with many talented students.
Julie Braziel
Co-Director, Sr. Company Lyrical, Modern, Ballet, Tap
Julie celebrates 44 years with Stratford Performing Arts Academy. She is the Co-Director of SPAA and currently teaches Senior and Junior levels of Ballet technique and Senior Lyrical/Contemporary, Tap, and Modern. Julie is a teacher's teacher, sharing 40 years of knowledge in the dance industry.
Julie was an alumnus of Stratford Academy of Dance for 12 years and has taught for the Academy for 30 years. She graduated from the Hartford Conservatory with a degree in Dance Pedagogy and attended Louisburg College in North Carolina as a Dance Major. She continued her studies with several master's teachers in the NYC area. In 2005, Julie instituted the first CT chapter of the National Dance Honor Society (Nu Delta Alpha), where she served as an advisor for several years and will be opening a new chapter this season. She is currently a member of NDEO (National Dance Education Organization). Julie has choreographed several plays in the community, such as "Wizard of Oz," "Into the Woods," "Babes in Toyland," "Big River," "Carousel," "West Side Story," "High School Musical," "Hello Dolly," and many more. Her senior company has won high scores in competitions, including nationals, for several years. Julie also received several "Best Choreography" awards for more than 15 seasons. Her work has been featured at the Joyce Theatre in NYC, and her company was ranked Top 3 in CT for competitive studios in 2009. She has served on the judging panel at competitions in the tri-state area and is also a freelance writer and former home-school teacher.
Tracey Pittman
Assistant Company Director/Company Ballet Instructor
Tracey's unwavering commitment and dedication are evident as she embarks on her 42nd season at Stratford Performing Arts Academy.
Throughout her years at SPAA, Tracey has assisted with organizing our competitive program and is a Ballet instructor for our Junior through Senior Companies. She is a Hartford School of Ballet graduate, and her credits include performances at Carnegie Hall, Martha Graham, and Downtown Cabaret, Children's Theater.
Tracey continues to mentor and teach classes to children ages 8 through teens. She is a Specialist at Griffin Hospital Cancer Center, where she was nominated for Employee of the Year in 2015.
Wendi Zdru
Company Lyrical Instructor
Wendi has been a member of the SPAA family for the past 36 years, including her years at Stratford Academy of Dance, where she danced and competed for more than ten years. Over the past 21 years, she taught our competitive and recreational students Ballet, Lyrical, and Jazz. She has recently taught Lyrical to our Petite, Junior, and Teen Company Members. Over the years, her students have been recipients of many awards including Overall High Score, Most Entertaining, and Best Choreography. She received her Bachelor's Degree from Southern Connecticut State University and also works as an IT Specialist, in addition to her time at SPAA.
Elise Pittman
Company Jazz and Noncompetitive Instructor; Assistant Director non-competitive
Elise is celebrating her 29th season as a member of the SPAA family and her 10th year as a member of our faculty and Assistant Director of our non-competitive program. She is an alumnus of Stratford Academy of Dance/Stratford Performing Arts Academy, where she began her dance training at age two. Elise attended the studio for 18 years and was a member of our competition team throughout those years. She became our youngest soloist to compete at age 5. Elise served as Vice President of the National Dance Honor Society Chapter in 2010. She is a graduate of Sacred Heart University, where she majored in psychology and was a member of the Sacred Heart Division 1 Dance Team. She also holds a Master’s in Developmental Psychology and is currently working on her Master's in Counseling. Elise was the Assistant Dean of Students at New Haven Academy and the Head coach of the Shelton Intermediate Dance Team. In addition to SPAA, She currently works for the Department of Child Services. Her greatest accomplishment was the birth of her baby girl in 2023.
Elise's classes at SPAA include Teen and Senior Jazz Companies, Pre-Ballet, Creative Movement, Production Company, and solo lessons for her jazz students. Her senior jazz company was voted "Best Production at Nationals in 2015, " and members of our staff received Best Choreography at Access Broadway 2020 for a jazz production. Her students continue to excel in all performance aspects.
Catie Simon Henning
Jr. Teen/Sr. Modern Co.; Junior Hip hop, Preschool Princess 3
Catie is an alumnus of SPAA after dancing and competing for ten years. She has been a member of the SPAA faculty for ten years. Catie has been dancing and competing since age three and has consistently won many overall high-score awards, scholarships, and grand championships. She graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in 2016 with a degree and certification in Special Education and now teaches at CES (Cooperative Educational Services) in the Developmental Learning Center. Catie was a 4-year member of the SCSU dance team and president and Captain of the team. Catie was also secretary and president of the National Dance Honor Society. She teaches Pre School Ballet/tap/jazz, Company Modern, and Lyrical and Hip Hop . Her Junior Modern class was awarded the Apogee Award of Excellence at Star Quest in 2022. She is the proud mom of MacKenzie and Michael.
Julianna Cruz
Julianna was a voice and company student at SPAA for 5 years, where she wond championships and high scores as a vocalist. At the age of 17 she won "Amateur Night at the Apollo" at the Apollo Theater in Harlem with her SPAA Vocal solo.
She went on to study music at the Hartt School's Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the University of Hartford. After graduation with her BA in Music Managment and Jazz Voice, she returned to UHart and recieved her MA in Business Administration. She is a Diretor of Marketing and has been awarded many business accolades including Hartford Business Journals 40 under Forty award. She is currently entering her second year as SPAA's Vocal and Theater instructor
Lindoria Pittman
Guest Instructor/ choreographer
Stratford Performing Arts Academy has been Lindoria's second home for 23 years. She began taking classes as soon as she learned to walk. She competed in all dance styles throughout her 17 years as a student. She fell in love with tap and competed in a tap solo almost every year, from 6 to 17. In 2016, she won the overall high score at nationals with her solo, "The Hanging Tree," choreographed by Julie Braziel. After graduating from High School in the Community, she attended Sacred Heart University. She was a member of the SHU Dance Team and performed at NDA, national ranking 3rd in Division 1 Hip Hop. In addition to teaching Tap, Hip Hop, Pre-Ballet, and Jazz at SPAA, she is a graduate of the Oxford Academy of Hair Design as a licensed cosmetologist. Her Senior Company received overall High scores at 5 regional competitions in 2023 and the Apogee Award of Excellence at Star Quest 2022! Lindoria currently works at the Boys and Girls Club in Ansonia.
B
Bio Coming Soon
Yanni is an alumnus of SPAA and recently attended Arizona State University Dance Program.
Talia Simpson
Princess 1 & 2, Ballet/Tap, Hip Hop 1, Petite Hip Hop
Talia is celebrating her fourth season as a member of the SPAA Faculty. She is an instructor for our Princess 1 Ballet/tap, Hip Hop 1 program, and Petite Hip Hop Company to her class schedule. Talia has extensive dance training and is a former Liturgical dancer and cheerleading coach for St. James Church/School.
She has been an SPAA Mom for the past ten years and is the proud mom of 13-year-old Shianne and 5-year-old Tamia, who are also members of our SPAA family. Her most recent addition is her baby boy, Brison.
Talia is an Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.- Theta Tau Omega Chapter member.
Kelsey Senteio
Guest Instructor/Choreographer
Another amazing SPAA Alumni, Kelsey, has co-directed our Summer Musical Theatre Camp for eight seasons. She is a graduate of Pace University, New York City, with a Theatre Major. She performed in a production of West Side Story in Bay View, MT. She is the former co-director of our Musical Theatre Program and continues to pursue her acting career. Some of her recent works include Downtown Cabaret's performances of Rent and her lead role in Cabaret. Kelsey also had the role of Belle at the LaChat town farm production of Fairytale Farm
Jasmine (Jazzy) Braziel
Pre Ballet, Hip Hop 2, and Petite Ballet, Junior Jazz, Senior Hip hop, Leaps and Turns
Jasmine is a third-year member of our SPAA Faculty. She is an Alumnus of Stratford Performing Arts Academy and has had extensive training for 17 years. Jasmine has studied Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Modern, Hip hop, and tap and has excelled in all areas. She has received several Overall high scores and Titles as a competitor throughout the years and is excited to share her talents with her students. She is now an award-winning choreographer who teaches Junior Company Jazz, senior Company Hip hop, and non-competitive classes. Her Junior Jazz and Senior hip hop classes have excelled and received several first-place high-score awards throughout the 2024 season.
Aside from her role at SPAA, Jasmine is a certified daycare assistant and a CNA. She is also a senior at the University of New Haven, majoring in pre-law, while continuing her dance training.
Shawn Goodhue
Modeling for Pageants and Competitions
Miss Shawn has been involved in pageants and dance for over 30 years as a pageant and dance mom, coach, and contestant. She owns and coaches East Coast Divas Pageant Coaching and will host her first pageant in August 2024. She is also a certified makeup artist and has produced many supreme title winners on the local and national levels. She has co-directed several fashion shows and trained models to walk at New York Fashion Week and bridal fashion shows in Connecticut and York.
Ms. Shawn's illustrious career is marked by a variety of titles she has held, including the 2008-2010 Americas Classic Liberty Ms. , 2009 Miss New England Classic Model Queen, 2009 Miss Royal America Classic Model Queen, 2009 Heavenly Angel/Dreamland Diva Supreme Queen, 2000 International Princess Regional Beauty, Model and Photogenic Queen, 2010 International Princess National Modeling Queens, 2010 Miss Northeast Plus Beauty Queen , 2012 America's Yankee Miss Model Queen, and 2012 Americas Yankee Miss Beauty Princess.
As a proud mother, Miss Shawn has nurtured the talents of her two daughters, Ashely and Yanni, who have both excelled as dancers and pageant title holders.