Meet our DancExplosion Family

	Lauren Trollinger -  Lyrical, Jazz, Contemporary Lauren Trollinger holds a BFA in choreography and dance performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She started dancing at a young age where she studied all types of dance. She has had the opportunity to participate in the New York City dance Alliance Summer Intensive, Hoctor’s Dance Caravan National tour as a caravan kid, North Carolina Dance Alliance, and L.A. Danceforce scholarship program. Through this she had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Mia Michaels, Billy Angel, Suzi Taylor, Dan Karaty, and Scott Benson. In college she was graced with the opportunities to perform and study under such choreographers as Gerri Houlihan, BJ Sullivan, and Jan Van Dyke. As a senior at UNCG she not only participated in the American Dance Festival’s Winter Intensive but also began performing with the Queen City Jazz Company in Charlotte, NC. Under the artistic direction of Melanie Sullivan Coyle she spent three seasons performing prior to moving to New York City. She spent two years in New York studying at such places as Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, and Dance New Amsterdam.
	Kristy Rodriquez - Ballet Kristy graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in English and a minor in Dance, concentrating in Ballet. During her time at ECU, she performed as a part of the East Carolina Dance Theater. In addition, she was selected to perform in a ballet piece choreographed by ballet masters from the Jeoffrey Ballet. Kristy began pursuing Ballet at the age of 7 near Dallas, Texas, under Tuzer Ballet. After moving to North Carolina in 1989, she continued studying in the Raleigh area. In addition, she sought out extra master ballet classes from visiting ballet companies, including the Moscow Ballet. In addition, she attend a summer dance intensive with Ballet Magnificat in Jackson, MS. Kristy has 10 years of experience in teaching Ballet, from beginner ballet to advanced Pointe classes. While a senior in high school, Kristy found a passion for teaching and passing along her love of Ballet. After graduation, she continued teaching ballet in the Raleigh area. She feels that her English background helps her articulate the intricacies of Ballet in a fun and easy-to-understand way. Kristy is also actively involved in her church’s children ministry – incorporating dance into their Christmas and Easter programs. She currently resides in Garner with her husband and two, energetic little boys. Kristy is thrilled to be member the dance faculty at DancExplosion.
	Leah Catherine Conrad - Clogging Leah-Catherine has clogged since she was 6 years old. Her clogging background includes competition and exhibition performance, incorporating both traditional and contemporary styles. She danced with Clog Carolina, Dynamite Express, Catawba Valley, NC State Wolfpack, and Second String Cloggers throughout her dancing career. She is a member of the America's Clogging Hall of Fame 1999 All American Team.  A graduate of UNC Chapel Hill and currently working in Raleigh, she loves to dance any chance she gets!
	Colleen Fink - Clogging Colleen began clogging in 1993 with the Triple Toe Cloggers under the direction of Hope Outlaw.  She was a part of the competitive team until she graduated from Scotland High School in 2002.  From 2003-2007, she was the director of the Triple Toe Cloggers.  She has performed for Magic Music Days and the Clogging Spectacular in Disney World.  Colleen has also worked with the Just for Kix cloggers in Greensboro, NC.  After graduating from UNC Pembroke in 2007 she became a member of the Carolina Heartland Cloggers in Carrboro, NC.  She has taken master classes from All That, Audrey and Ellis Perry, NC State Wolfpack Cloggers, Second String, and Cane Creek.  Colleen has a passion for clogging and teaching and is very excited to be returning to DancExplosion.
	Amanda Creech - Preschool Amanda Creech grew up in the Garner area and danced as a student at Christy's for eight years before graduating from high school. During that time she worked as an assistant teacher for both Ballet/Tap 3-4 and Ballet/Tap 4-5 classes at Christy's.  This is her third year as an instructor for Ballet/Tap classes. She is a Junior at Campbell University studying Birth-Kindergarten Education. She loves the fact that she has the opportunity to combine her love of dance with her passion for teaching small children. She feels blessed to be a part of such a wonderful dance studio!
	Kasi Lynch - Hip Hop Miss Kasi studied numerous styles of dance for nineteen years at studios throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York City.  She began doing choreography in New Jersey at the age of 13.  During her senior year of high school  Miss Kasi began teaching hip-hop at For Dancers Only in Vernon, New Jersey, and won her school and county dance award.  In March of 2003 Miss Kasi began working at Techniques in Motion School of dance in Wilmington, North Carolina teaching hip-hop.  The dance season of 2004-2005 Miss Kasi became the instructor for KMOTION, Techniques in Motion's hip-hop competitive company.  Since this time Miss Kasi has won multiple choreography awards, eight of them within the past three competition seasons.  Under her instruction many of her routines have won prestigious awards for high scores, and many of her students have won specialty awards, scholarships, and other honors.  Miss Kasi has continued her own dance education through conventions, workshops and intensives studying hip-hop under Kaba Modern & Iconic Dance Crews from MTV’s “America’s Best Dance Crew”, Barry Youngblood, Dena Rizzo, Darrin Henson, Gerard Heintz, Geo Hubela, and Freddie & Q aka “The Boyz”.  Miss Kasi is also continuing her academic education at North Carolina State University, working towards her Master’s in Community Agency Counseling.