Our Faculty & Staff
We like to think of our studio as a big family. As we get to know your family, we hope that you'll take the time to know a little bit more about us.
Our Instructors
Caitlyn Hughes
Director
Tap, Jazz, Kinderdance, Competition Staff. Caitlyn is a graduate of the University at Buffalo, where she hold dual degrees in Dance and Business. During her studies, Caitlyn performed with UB's Zodiaque Studio Dance Ensemble. Following in her mother's footsteps, Caitlyn "grew up" in the studio, where she found a love for dance and a passion for teaching. A former competition student, Caitlyn has been teaching for over eight years, and has assisted with her mother (Miss Barbara) and her aunt (Miss Dawn) for many more. In addition to her training at ISD and UB, she continues to enrich her education with master classe including Dance Olympus and Matthew Clark (Buffalo, NY). She also performs locally at choreographic festivals throughout New York.
Miss Dawn
Assistant Director
Tap, Jazz, Kinderdance, Competition Staff. Dawn has taught for the Isabelle School of Dance since its opening in 1983. She was locally educated in tap, jazz and ballet. She teaches all levels of tap and jazz to children and adults. Kinderdancers love Miss Dawn! Dawn continues her education through master workshops including Dance Educators of America and Dance Olympus.
Miss Sherry
WSL Manager
Tap, Jazz, Kinderdance. Sherry is one of the original staff members and is a popular teacher with our students! She has a background in preschool education as well as aerobics. Sherry is a certified aerobics teacher for the Town of North Greenbush and has instructed St. Jude's after school program. She teaches an art class at a local nursing home where she has been a part-time Activities Director for many years. She is also an associate in the Individual Studies Department at Hudson Valley Community College. Sherry continuously attends a variety of dance workshops to further her education; her most recent was with choreographers Mia Michaels, Shane Sparks, Wade Robson, Chris Judd and Brian Friedman from "So You Think You Can Dance".
Miss Sherlyn
Hip Hop, Tap, Jazz, Competition Staff. Sherlyn 
completed her B.F.A. in Dance from the University at Buffalo. She is a former ISD Competition student and assisted her mother (Miss Sherry) for many years. During her college years, Sherlyn choreographed for various ensembles including the University at Buffalo's "Young Choreographer's Showcase". A member of the "Zodiaque Dance Ensemble", she was also featured in the "Dance and Percussion Ensemble". As a junior in high school, Sherlyn was selected to perform as a VIP Dancer with the Dance Olympus Summer tour. This is Sherlyn's fourth year teaching and choreographing for us!
Miss Shannon
Pilates. This is Shannon's fifth year with us! Shannon is in her second season with Nacre Dance and is loving it! She received a BS in Mathematics and Dance/ Performance Studies from Roger Williams University in 2006. Performing with the Roger Williams Dance Theatre for four years, she had many opportunities to choreography and perform professionally. “Pendulum”, co-choreographed with Kait Souza, was recognized at the American College Dance Festival (Boston, MA) in 2006, and also was showcased at Flight of Steps with Island Moving Company (Newport, RI) in 2006. In addition to teaching at Isabelle's, Shannon works as a high school math teacher and Pilates instructor.
Miss Renee
Hip Hop, Tap, Jazz, Competition Staff. Renée hails from Buffalo, NY, where she was educated locally and then instructed dance for five years. Renee re-located to Upstate New York where she has been with ISD ever since! In addition to teaching hip hop, jazz and tap, Renee has choreographed numerous award-winning competition pieces for our team and has won choreography awards for her tap, lyrical, hip hop and production pieces.
Miss Mary
Tap, Jazz, Kinderdance, Competition Staff. Mary is a former student of ISD and has a master's degree in Music Therapy and Music Education from Nazareth College. She teaches all levels of tap and jazz and is a favorite teacher of our 'Kinderdancers'. She is also currently employed as a full-time music therapist with Questar. Mary's tap choreography is famous for her intricate rhythms and footwork. In 2008, her acapella tap routine won special recognition at a regional competition.
Miss Kristina 
Tap, Jazz, & Kinderdance. Kristina has studied tap, jazz, ballet and lyrical for over 25 years at local studios, including the internationally recognized NYSTI. She is also a certified Country Line Dance instructor. Kristina has danced in Nashville on the "Wild Horse Saloon" television show and has also spent several years choreographing for local theater groups, where she also performs. Kristina is the President of Capital Area Productions, a local theater group where she Produces, Directs and Choreographs all the musicals performed. She was most recently seen onstage at Cohoes Music Hall and at the Schenectady Light Opera Company. This is Kristina's fifth year as part of the ISD faculty.
Miss Renata
Ballet, Kinderdance, Competition Staff. Renata is a former student of ISD and has assisted ballet classes for the last nine years. This will be her ninth year teaching with Isabelle's. Prior to Isabelle's, Renata studied dance at schools in Massachusetts, Kansas, South Korea and Maryland. She had been dancing for 18 years and is a graduate of the College of Saint Rose, double majoring in Studio Art and Art Education.
Miss Valerie
Tap/Jazz, Hip Hop Instructor. This is Miss Val's fifth year as part of our faculty.
Bio coming soon!
Miss Lisa R.
Ballet, Modern Instructor, Competition Staff. Lisa has been a dance enthusiast since she has been able to stand on her feet. Lisa graduated from Dean College in Boston, MA where she earned an Associates of Art degree with a concentration in Dance. At Dean, Lisa endured a rigorous academic schedule, dancing many hours every day. Prior to her graduation from Dean, she was an avid competitor in tap, jazz, and lyrical. Her love for dance has led her to teaching. She is entering her fourth season at Isabelle's School of Dance. She is a devoted teacher who inspires the spirit of dance in her students.
Miss Becki
Kinderdance, Tap/Jazz, Competition Staff. Becki is a former member of the ISD Competition team as well as a former assistant dance teacher. She is a graduate of the University at Buffalo with a B.A. in Communication. She also received a minor in Human Resources as well as in Theatre. While at Buffalo, Becki was a member of the "Dazzlers" Dance Team, took classes with the University's dance program and studied with renowned tap instructor, Matthew Clark (Buffalo, NY). Currently, she is the choreographer for Goff Middle Schools’ spring musicals and other Theatre groups in the area.
Miss Peg
Modern, Tap, Competition Staff. Peg holds a BFA in Dance and K-12 Education from Marymount Manhattan College, NYC. She is a former competition student of ISD and this will be her ninth year on our staff. Peg has choreographed numerous award-winning pieces for our Competition Team and had been recognized for her outstanding and unique choreography at many local competitions. There is never a dull moment in Peg's classes!
Miss Abbie
Ballet and Pointe, Kinderdance, Competition Staff. Abbie has studied classical ballet for over twenty years. She began her training locally with former members of the NYC Ballet, and continued training throughout Colorado, Pennsylvania and NYC. Abbie has studied and performed with dancers from Dance Aspen, The New York City Ballet, The Lake Erie Ballet and American Ballet Theater. She completed her training at Mercyhurst College, where she majored in ballet performance.
Miss Lisa W.
Tap, Jazz, Adult Tap. This is Lisa's tenth year as part of our faculty. Lisa is a former competition student of ISD, and has assisted the faculty in the past with children's classes. She is a graduate of RPI with a degree in Chemical Engineering.
Office Manager
Cindi S.