Nadine Medina
Owner, Instructor, Choreographer
Nadine Medina, Owner of Troy Dance Factory and Artistic Director of Synergia Dance Project, has over 20 years of experience teaching and choreographing. She completed the 3-day certified and accredited "Pulse Teacher Workshop" in New York City with industry icons Dave Scott, Wade Robson, Tyce Diorio, Desmond Richardson, Robert Hoffman, and many others. Nadine has attended class at Millennium Dance Complex in LA, and more recently studied with Teddy Forance through an interactive class she offers through Troy Dance Factory. She had the honor of completing the 2-day "Artist Development" Intensive with Galen Hooks and was recently recognized in The Alt Weekly's "Best of 2018" reader's poll as Best Choreographer and Best Dancer, as well as TDF being named Best Dance Studio. More recently, she was recognized as a "Capital Region Creatives Under 40". Music video choreography credits include working for Half Waif, Jocelyn & Chris Arndt, Northern Faces, Girl Blue, Zan & The Winter Folk, Camtron 5000 and Mirk. Nadine was the dance columnist for Collaborative Magazine, and her Season 1 show for Synergia Dance Project, named “Dark Blue Sea”, was picked up by the prestigious venue Proctors in Schenectady, NY. Currently, she is undertaking a one-month virtual intensive under the direction of Kyle Hanagami. She continues to be humbled and inspired by her peers, and is excited to share her passion for the art form.
DORRIE BOICE
Instructor, Choreographer
Dorothy Boice (more commonly known as Dorrie), has been teaching dance in the styles of Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, and Lindy Hop since 2008. Transformed from being a recreational activity to an emotional outlet, dancing became a huge part of Dorrie's life. Partnered dancing in particular opened her eyes to the importance of learning communication through physical connection and using dance to have a conversation, she strives to demonstrate this with every genre she teaches. Dorrie continues to expand on her own experiences through programs like CLI studios, workshops/classes at Broadway Dance Center, and various dance events throughout the country. Knowledge of dance technique and keeping current is incredibly important to her and she is devoted to sharing what she learns with her students.
Sydney Kurzejeski
Instructor, Choreographer
Sydney Kurzejeski has been dancing at Troy Dance Factory since 2012, where she has connected with the art form and grown into her passion throughout the years. During her time at TDF she found a love for tap and hip hop, but has taken a variety of classes and continues to expand as she is introduced to new styles of dance. Sydney's found liveliness in spreading joy through dance and she uses her high energy and goofiness to share the beauty and depth of dance with others. We are beyond thrilled that she is joining our team after all these years of watching her grow and evolve not only in dance, but also as a wonderful human, teacher, and friend.
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.
carra forgea
Instructor, Choreographer
Carra Forgea is a versatile dancer and a dance instructor at Troy Dance Factory (TDF). Originally from the Philippines, she holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies with a focus on American Studies from Ateneo de Davao University. She later pursued law studies before moving to the United States in 2018.
Since joining TDF in 2019, Carra has trained in a variety of dance styles, including hip hop, open style, heels, and chairlesque. With over 10 years of hip hop training in her home country, Carra brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her dance classes.
As an enthusiastic and dedicated dancer, Carra is passionate about sharing the joy of dance with others. She is excited to begin her teaching career at TDF, where she looks forward to inspiring and motivating her students to achieve their dance goals.
When she's not teaching dance or taking dance classes, Carra works at the New York State Bar Association and volunteers at Maddie’s Mark Foundation.
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.
MICHAELA CURCIO
Instructor, Choreographer
Michaela started dancing in 2004 and hasn't been able to stop since. She danced competitively throughout middle and high school and started her role as a Teachers Assistant in high school, which later progressed into a head teacher/choreographer role in her Junior year.
Michaela is a 2021 graduate from Roger Williams University with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Minor in Dance and Performing Art Studies. She has trained under various professional choreographers such as Heidi Henderson and Raphael Xavier. Throughout her four years at Roger Williams, she was active in her dance community where she choreographed multiple hip hop, jazz, contemporary, and modern pieces for Dance Club and Dance Theatre. As a college student, she became a Guest Choreographer teaching Hip Hop for competitive teams in the Capital Region such as Art In Motion Dance Academy and Cheer Intensity's Dance Team.
Michaela is currently living her dream by working as a Mechanical Engineer by day and a Dance Teacher at night!
