Our Team
Kelly DeRosa, Director
After experiencing 10 years of teaching at studios around the country, Kelly has made the leap and decided to pursue her dreams of opening up her own studio, and Alliance Dance was born. Kelly DeRosa is versed in all styles of dance, including Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Musical Theatre. She strives to ensure dancers are learning the techniques of these styles while having fun and gaining confidence. She is a founding member of Nick Dinicolangelo's Hands Down Tap Project, a tap dance company that features some of the most talented tap dancers from all over the country. Hands Down Tap Project has performed in New Jersey, Las Vegas, Boston, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and St. Louis. Kelly has worked for and toured with Adrenaline Dance Convention, Revive Dance Convention, and the National Dance Honors.
Kelly graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Communication Studies. While at JMU, Kelly was President of Madison Dance and served as head choreographer for the Jazz Team for three years. Kelly has taught for multiple studios in the New Jersey area in many styles, specializing in Tap, Jazz, and Hip Hop. She holds an inspiring number of awards and honors in acknowledgment of her choreography.
Brigid O’Leary, Instructor
Growing up in Flanders, NJ, Brigid found her love of dance at age 3 and trained in all styles. She danced competitively in Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, and Ballet from age 6 through high school, earning multiple awards and scholarships. While attending college at Arizona State University, she had the opportunity to perform in several shows with the dance program, be a part of a variety of projects outside the school, and enjoyed her time on the board of the “Free the Dance” club. She graduated with a B.S. in Communications and B.A. in Design Studies (Management). Her teaching career began at age 19 in Arizona, instructing kids and adults of all ages in Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet, and Acro at a local studio in Tempe. She also taught multiple Tap and Heels drop-in classes throughout the valley.
Brigid has been a member of the Hands Down Tap Project since 2014, connecting with tappers across the country and performing in shows each year. After settling back in NJ, Brigid works full time as a Digital Marketing Manager and is thrilled to assist Alliance with their social media and advertising.
Kaleigh Kist, Instructor
Kaleigh grew up on Long Island, NY, and competed at Michelle Ferraro's Dance USA (MFDUSA) for 15 years. She has trained in all styles including Ballet, Pointe, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Acro, Jazz, and Tap since she was 3 years old. She has participated in the Syncopate Tap Convention every year from 2009 - 2019. In 2013, Kaleigh joined Hands Down Tap Project. She began training with them and performed in her first show in 2014. Kaleigh also attended Tap Kids in 2014 in Burlington, VT, and performed in their finale showcase. She graduated in 2015 and finished her senior year winning Miss Dance America at KAR Dance Nationals with her tap solo Nicholas Dinicolangelo choreographed.
Kaleigh had the opportunity to audition for the American Tap Company to represent the USA in the Tap Olympics, competing in Germany. Unfortunately, she made a decision to deny her acceptance and attend the Pennsylvania State University, where she went on to receive her B.S. in Food Science. While at college, she was the president of Orchesis Dance Company. She choreographed jazz and contemporary dances for shows and competitions as well as shared her tap skills with the company. She was also a dancer on Whiplash Dance Team, which specializes in Hip Hop.
While in college, Kaleigh choreographed tap dances for Michelle Ferraro's Dance USA's competition team including solos, trios, large groups, lines, and productions. Her numbers have won choreography awards, top overall awards, and world championship awards. She continues to choreograph tap numbers for the MFDUSA competition team. After graduation, Kaleigh moved to NJ and started her full time job working as a Food Science R&D product developer for Mondelēz International. She gets to create new flavors for the Oreo Limited Edition line. In addition to all of this, Kaleigh has continued to train and perform with Hands Down every year since.
Kati Simon, Instructor
Kati Simon is a nationally recognized professional dancer and dance educator. Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, Kati is trained in a large variety of genres including contemporary, jazz, hip hop, tap, ballet, and ballroom. Kati began her professional career as a company member with Divinity Dance Company, under the direction of Krissie Edwards. She then became a touring member of Justin Giles’ SoulEscape the company. Since then, she has booked roles in both stage and screen industry projects.
Kati has spent eight seasons touring with Adrenaline Dance Convention as their Lead Assistant and part-time Faculty Member. Kati’s first performance role upon moving to New York City in 2021 was dancing as a Knicks City Dancer where she performed weekly at the World’s Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden. She is now so excited and honored to be a principal dancer on Candace Brown’s Soul Project Dance Company.
While Kati is passionate about performing, she is just as passionate about teaching and choreographing. She has taught/choreographed for studios and intensives around the country and internationally.
Sarah Bovat, Instructor
Sarah Bovat (she/her) is a New Jersey based artist, originally from Central Massachusetts. She grew up in competition dance, studying at Diane Kelley Dance Studio for 14 years. She received her BFA in Dance and a minor in Business from the University of the Arts. During her time at UArts, Sarah has worked with Sidra Bell, Helen Sinoneau, Tommie-Waheed Evans, Shayla-Vie Jenkins, Jesse Zaritt, Mark Castera, Da’Von Doane, and Katie Swords Thurman. As a teacher, she loves to inspire, encourage, empower, collaborate, and learn from young dancers. Sarah breaks the boundaries of how a studio class is run through journaling, collaging, and phrase making with students. She believes there is power in practices outside of dance, and such engagement can inform new ways of moving and thinking.
Sarah is excited to join Alliance Dance and meet everybody this fall!
Jess Paolillo, Instructor
Jess found her love for dance at the very young age of 1 ½ years old, and quickly started training in all styles. From the ages of 9 to 18, she danced competitively in jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, and musical theater. Growing up in Hillsborough, New Jersey, she competed with several studios throughout the Somerset County area.
Once in high school, Jess attended the Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School to study dance part time. Here she was able to not only further her dance training, but take other classes such as choreography, stage lighting, and even got her Pilates certification through this program. Jess was also a part of the Tap Company at Vo Tech for 4 years, and was the manager of the company her senior year.
Jess graduated a year ago from Montclair State University, with her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science. She now works full time as a daycare teacher, and is now working on obtaining her state issued teaching certification. Jess has not only a huge passion for dance, but a passion for teaching children as well, and cannot wait to join the Alliance team!