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Nadine Medina
Owner, Instructor, Choreographer
Nadine Medina is the founder and Artistic Director of Troy Dance Factory, where she has been teaching, choreographing, and building community for more than a decade. Her work spans commercial, concert, and educational spaces, shaped by a long-standing dedication to creative problem-solving, movement literacy, and sustainable training practices.
Nadine’s foundation as an educator includes over 20 years of teaching experience across contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, tap, heels, commercial choreography, and foundational technique classes for children and adults. She continues to invest heavily in her own development as both an artist and a teacher. Nadine has trained at Broadway Dance Center and Millennium Dance Complex, completed the accredited three-day PULSE Teacher Workshop with industry leaders such as Dave Scott, Wade Robson, Tyce Diorio, and Desmond Richardson, and participated in an in-person Artist Development Intensive with Galen Hooks. More recently, she has expanded her training through classes with Alexander Chung, Kenichi Kasamatsu, Chio, Brinn Nicole, and two multi-day small group intensives with Parth Sethi.
As a choreographer, Nadine’s work includes music videos for a range of regional and nationally touring artists, including Half Waif, Jocelyn & Chris Arndt, Northern Faces, Girl Blue, Zan & The Winter Folk, Camtron 5000, and Mirk. Her contemporary company, Synergia Dance Project, debuted its first full-length season at the prestigious Proctors theatre. She also served as a dance columnist for Collaborative Magazine, contributing writing that highlighted local talent and examined the craft through a thoughtful, accessible lens.
Nadine’s impact on the Capital Region arts community has been recognized through multiple honors, including The Alt Weekly’s “Best of 2018” awards for Best Choreographer and Best Dance Studio, as well as a “Capital Region Creatives Under 40” recognition and "Best Dance Studio" in the 2025 through Capital Region Living.
With a professional background in engineering and a strongly visual learning style, Nadine brings a clear, structured, and highly practical approach to her teaching. She focuses on helping adult dancers build confidence in their movement pathways, understand how to train safely, and develop skills that translate across styles. She believes in nurturing students’ long-term growth through consistency, sustainable mechanics, presence and mindfulness, musicality, and thoughtful exploration—always balancing technical clarity with space for individuality.
Above all, Nadine remains deeply committed to continuing her own dance education and evolving her artistic voice. She is driven by the dancers around her, the collaborative energy of her team, and the ongoing work of fostering an inclusive, curious, and creatively ambitious community at Troy Dance Factory.
DORRIE BOICE
Assistant Director, Instructor, Choreographer
Dorothy “Dorrie” Boice is a seasoned and passionate dance educator who has been inspiring students across multiple disciplines—including Chairlesque, Hip Hop, Open Style, Jazz, Vernacular Jazz, Jazz Funk, Tap, Lyrical, and Lindy Hop—since 2008. What began as a recreational interest quickly evolved into a powerful emotional outlet and lifelong pursuit.
Dorrie brings a unique perspective to her teaching, where she emphasizes the artistry of non-verbal communication and the transformative power of physical connection. She approaches every class as a dialogue through movement, encouraging her students to explore storytelling, connection, and self-expression and empowerment across all styles. Her teaching reflects both a deep respect for technical foundations and a passion for creative exploration.
Dedicated to continued growth and excellence, Dorrie actively trains through renowned programs such as CLI Studios, workshops at Broadway Dance Center, and national dance events. She is committed to staying current with industry techniques and trends, and is deeply devoted to passing on this evolving knowledge to her students.
When she’s not in the studio teaching, Dorrie serves as the Assistant Director of Troy Dance Factory, where she has been a committed Team member for over a decade. In this leadership role, she supports the studio's artistic vision, helps guide program development, and mentors both students and fellow instructors—contributing to the vibrant and inclusive community that defines TDF.
JAIMIE DROZDAL
Instructor, Choreographer
Jaimie Drozdal is an accomplished dancer and dance instructor at TDF. She's been dancing since she was only 3 years old, and from the time she could read and write it has always been her dream to become a dance teacher. Jaimie danced competitively in jazz for 9 years and has also trained in several different styles of dance including, ballet, pointe, modern, and lyrical.
Jaimie is from Willington, Connecticut. She first came to Troy to receive her B.S. in Cognitive Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and has remained ever since. Jaimie took her first class at TDF in the summer of 2017 and has remained a member of the TDF community since then.
When Jaimie is not taking classes at TDF, she's working on her PhD or teaching barre at Pure Barre Latham. Being a certified barre instructor since 2021 has taught Jaimie a lot of skills that she's looking forward to bringing to the dance studio. Jaimie wants to focus on creating a fun and empowering space to express and explore yourself through movement. She is dedicated to finding movement and music that can make every dancer feel comfortable to explore their energy, body, and sensuality.
carra forgea
Instructor, Choreographer
Carra Forgea is a versatile dancer and instructor at Troy Dance Factory. Originally from the Philippines, she earned a bachelor’s degree in International Studies with a focus on American Studies from Ateneo de Davao University, and later pursued law studies before moving to the U.S. in 2018.
In addition to more than a decade of hip hop training from her home country, Carra has been part of TDF since 2019, training in hip hop, open style, heels, and Chairlesque. Since becoming an instructor at TDF in 2023, she has led classes at TDF in many genres of dance!
As a performer, Carra has danced with Nacre Dance and appeared as a backup dancer in music videos and live performances for local artists including Camtron5000 and Dev Rosario. She has also taken classes from acclaimed choreographers such as Matt Steffanina, Yancy Greene, and Chuck Smith Jr.
Beyond the studio, Carra works at the New York State Bar Association and volunteers with the Maddie’s Mark Foundation. Whether performing, teaching, or training, she is dedicated to sharing her love of dance and hopes to inspire others to achieve their dance goals.
brenna roets
Instructor, Choreographer
Brenna is a contemporary dancer and dance instructor at TDF who has been dancing since the age of 6. In addition to her time in the competitive dance world, she participated in workshops and performances with The Next Stage Project in New York City (2013) as well as in dance projects while studying at Middlebury College (2013-2017). After college she moved to Japan, where she explored new genres of dance with classes and performances at En Dance Studio.
Since joining TDF in 2019, Brenna has trained in styles including contemporary, lyrical, ballet, and sensual heels. She was a member of Synergia, the studio’s dance company project, in 2020. She was one of the first crop of TDFsters to join the studio’s first ever floorwork class in 2022, and since then it has gained a special place in her heart. After several years of training, she now teaches beginner classes in the contemporary floorwork style, hoping to share her love of this unique and challenging genre with others and help her students learn new skills!
In addition to dance, Brenna is an amateur competitive figure skater- so if she’s not at the studio or at her day job, she’s probably at the rink!
winona kennedy
Instructor, Choreographer
Winona Kennedy is a passionate dancer and choreographer whose journey began in middle school. With training in ballroom, contemporary, and heels, she has developed a versatile background that shapes her teaching and choreographic style.
For Winona, dance has always been more than just performance. It is a way to build confidence, connect with the body, and embrace self-expression. She sees dance as both powerful and liberating, teaching control over movement while also opening space for vulnerability and release. Her teaching focuses on helping dancers grow while learning to trust themselves and move with intention.
Beyond dance, Winona graduated from the University at Albany in May 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Pre-Law and a minor in Creative Writing. She is currently preparing for the LSAT with aspirations of pursuing law, while continuing to share her love of dance and choreography with her community.
NIKKI ACIERNO
Instructor, Choreographer
Nikki Acierno grew up in Rochester, NY where she began dancing at the age of 3. She trained competitively for 15 years under the direction of Cheryl Flanagan at Spins Dance Studio where she earned many regional awards while studying ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and Broadway styles. In 2019, she graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a B.A. in Psychology
and dual minors in Biology and Dance under Jonette Lancos and received dance scholarships for Artistic Potential in Dance Studies (2015) and Dedication to Dance Studies (2018).
Throughout her undergraduate career, Nikki performed at American College Dance Association (ACDA) at SUNY Brockport in 2016 and had her choreographic work Of a minute; (2019) chosen and adjudicated at this festival in 2019. In 2017, she attended American Dance Festival (ADF) on merit scholarship at Duke University, where she studied with Jim Sutton, Otto
Vasquez, E. Moncell Durden, and Jorge Perez Martinez. Here, she had the great opportunity to perform the reconstruction of Lucinda Childs’ early work Concerto (1993) at the ADF Six Week School.
Currently, Nikki is a practicing Doctor of Physical Therapy in Albany after earning her graduate degree from the University of Vermont in December 2021. Nikki’s evident love of dance has carried her through years of performance and teaching experiences. She is passionate
about physical outlets, exercise, and artistic expressions of the human condition.
Jessica Osarenoma Airhienbuwa
Instructor, Choreographer
Jessica Osarenoma Airhienbuwa is a versatile dancer and choreographer, model, set designer, and creative director, with over 18 years of dance experience. Currently based in Albany, New York, Jessica has training in a broad range of dance styles, performance settings, and creative projects.
Her extensive dance training encompasses Hip-hop, Dancehall, Sensual, Contemporary Hip-hop, Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Contemporary, En Pointe, Majorette, Step, and K-pop. Jessica’s love of dance began when she was four, where she spent 13 years as a student at The Dance Studio in Schenectady, New York, performing at recitals and the annual Daily Gazette Holiday Parade. Her exceptional talent led to her selection for the exclusive Dance Company team at the studio, where she performed for three years.
Jessica’s dance career and leadership flourished during her time at the University at Albany - SUNY, where she served as Public Relations Chair and later President for the Under Construction Dance Team. As president, she led and managed a team of nearly 60 dancers. Her leadership, creativity, and performance skills granted opportunities for her team to perform at high-profile venues, including Madison Square Garden and the University at Albany Men’s Black History Month Basketball Half-time Show. Under her leadership, her team was accepted to compete in the World of Dance collegiate-level division, won first place in the Jamaican Student Association (JAMSA) Dancehall Competition, and multiple top placements in the Knemesis Dance Crew Khaotik Hip-Hop Competition, including a first-place win. Most recently, Jessica was voted sixth in the semifinals of the 2025 Dance Icon Competition, hosted by artist Ciara, an achievement she supported by creating a robust digital dance portfolio.
A skilled choreographer and instructor, Jessica currently teaches various levels of hip-hop and sensual dances to adults at Troy Dance Factory. Beyond growing her dance career, Jessica is a talented model, creative director, and set designer. She also holds a B.S. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology with minors in Africana Studies & English from the University at Albany - SUNY. Jessica plans on becoming an osteopathic physician with a specialty in pediatric neuropsychiatry in tandem with her artistic career.