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Katie Fernes (owner/director)
Katie Fernes began dancing at the age of four. After graduating from Lansdale Catholic High School, she accepted a dance scholarship to DeSales University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance.
Her choreography has been featured in several productions, including performances by the Schuylkill Valley Regional Dance Company and DeSales University’s Young Choreographers Series. She also choreographed Lansdale Catholic High School’s annual spring musicals, with credits including 42nd Street, Crazy for You, George M!, Movies Were Movies, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
As a performer, Katie has danced professionally with ContempraDance Theatre, Schuylkill Valley Regional Dance Company, and Vada Dance Collective.
Katie is certified by the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet Society to teach the Vaganova Ballet Syllabus. She is also a Certified Balletone Instructor and an Early Childhood Dance Instructor (CECDI) through Little Peoples Creative Workshop in Greenville, NC.
She lives in Skippack with her husband, Chris, their son, Michael, and daughter, Ryann. Katie takes great pride in sharing her love of dance and strives to provide a space where students can discover their self-confidence, creativity, and passion.
Kelly Algier
Kelly has been dancing since the age of 3. Born and raised in Hatboro PA, she grew up dancing competitively at Kelly Richards School of Dance. Upon entering High School her love of singing and dancing came together while performing in many musicals during her time at Archbishop Wood. Her favorite role was Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street.
Her love of dance continued through her college years as a dance major at DeSales University. During her time there she performed in the Young Choreographer’s Series Concerts, Dance Ensemble Concerts, Dance Touring Company. She also performed in two MainStage Musicals, Carousel and as Dance Captain in Hello Dolly. She also had the opportunity to choreograph Rodgers and Hart:A Musical Review directed by Dennis Razze.
After graduation, Kelly moved to New York City where she spent a lot of time waiting tables, auditioning, and learning from Master teachers at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway. She became a member of Vada Dance Collective in 2005 which eventually led to her moving back to the Philadelphia Area. In early 2006 she started teaching at The Dance Centre and also started her career with My Gym Incorporated as a Director of their Children’s Gym in Exton, Pa. Her career with My Gym lasted close to a decade, with her serving as Director of 3 different locations in PA and NYC. She was twice voted Director of the Year for the worldwide Corporation.
In 2013, Miss Kelly and her longtime college sweetheart, Nick (Niko to his college friends) tied the knot. In 2016 they welcomed their daughter Gracie and in 2020 their son Jake. The whole Algier Family is thankful and proud to still be a part of the Dance Centre family. As her daughter Gracie always says “TDC is our happy place”.
CaROLINE CASEY
Caroline Casey grew up in Harleysville, Pennsylvania, where she began her dance training at The Dance Centre, studying ballet, modern, tap, hip hop, and jazz. She was also a member of the X-Tensions Dance Company during her time at TDC. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in both Dance and Psychology from West Virginia University. While at WVU, Caroline trained in a variety of dance styles, performed regularly, and taught beginner ballet at the university level. During this time, her psychology studies also led her to intern at a local autism clinic—an experience that sparked her passion for working with children with additional needs. After graduation, Caroline furthered her education and received her Master of Science in Dance/ Movement Therapy and is now a Registered- Dance/Movement Therapist.
While pursuing her master’s degree, Caroline continued to develop her teaching and choreographic style. She taught and choreographed for local dance studios in New York, leading classes in creative movement, ballet, jazz and musical theater, as well as a "Littles and Me" class for toddlers and their caregivers. Caroline brings a blend of technical training, creativity, and therapeutic awareness to each class she teaches.
Caroline believes deeply in the healing power of movement. Her therapeutic work focuses on creating safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental spaces where children, particularly those with additional needs, can explore self-expression, build confidence, and connect through movement. Whether in the dance studio or therapy setting, her goal is always to foster joy, community, and meaningful connection through dance. Caroline is extremely passionate about her work as both a dance educator and therapist, and is honored to return to The Dance Centre to now teach, connect, and give back through movement.
Carol Hebert
Carol is a graduate of the Hartford Conservatory of Music and Dance and received her BFA in Dance with honors from UMASS Amherst where she was a performing member of the University Dancers. After graduation, Carol furthered her dance studies in New York City at Peridance Center, the Limon Institute, Dance Space, and performed with the Deborah Carr Theatre Dance Ensemble, Soundance, and several independent choreographers. Carol has attended many workshops and festivals throughout the Northeast including the Portsmouth Percussive Dance Festival, White Mountain Summer Dance, and Jacob’s Pillow. She has studied with many master tap teachers including Brenda Bufalino, Josh Hilberman, Pam Raff, Diane Walker, Jeannie Hill, and Nicole Hockenberry. Her Teaching credits include the New England Dance Conservatory, The Hartford Conservatory, Springfield College, Elms College, the Hartt School, Mount Holyoke College, and the school of the Hartford Ballet. Her choreography has been performed by the UMASS University Dancers, Springfield College Dancers, and the New England Dance Theatre, where she was also a performing member. Since moving to Pennsylvania in 2004, Carol has performed in National Tap Dance Day Celebrations in Allentown and Bethlehem, and in the University of the Arts 60th Annual Alumni Dance Celebration in Philadelphia. She presently teaches dance throughout the Delaware Valley, and continues her studies with Tap Ties.
Jaclyn Russo
Jaclyn Russo began her training at age 13. She studied at the Lehigh Valley School of the Performing Arts and then later attended University of Utah where she received a BFA in ballet. She has been a guest artist with Salt Lake City Ballet, Hartford Ballet in Maryland, and Charleston Ballet. With invitation, she has also danced with Character Dance Ensemble in Ukraine. In 2014, she danced two seasons with Columbia Classical Ballet before joining The Georgia Ballet in 2016. Jaclyn has been teaching ballet for ten years. While living in South Carolina, she worked as Ballet Mistress of Columbia Ballet School’s dance company. In addition to her dance career and teaching, she also is a certified personal trainer and fitness coach.
Mary Kate Selby
Mary Kate is a graduate of DeSales University, where she earned her BA in Dance with a minor in Business Administration. She began her dance journey at the age of three at The Dance Centre, where she trained extensively in Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, Pointe and Irish dance. She was also a longtime member of X-Tensions Dance Company.
She is currently a First Company member of The Lady Hoofers, an all-female rhythm tap company based in Philadelphia. Her performance experience includes The Tapcracker and On Tap, both original productions by The Lady Hoofers, as well as the Emerging Choreographers Concerts and Dance Ensembles at DeSales University, the Michio Ito Guest Residency Program, American College Dance Association Conferences, the DeSales Traveling Performance Company, New Street Dance Company, and the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Broadening her international experience, she also studied at the Tuscan Summer Dance Intensive in Livorno, Italy.
Mary Kate’s choreographic work has been presented on several platforms, including The Koresh Young Artist Showcase, The Edge Performance Series, Ten Tiny Dances, and The Lady Hoofers. She continues to choreograph and set work on X-Tensions Dance Company.
She is the founder of The Village Showcase, a performance series in Lansdale, PA, created to support and celebrate local dance artists. In addition to performing, she also serves as Costume Manager for The Lady Hoofers, curating costume design for their annual productions of The Tapcracker and On Tap.
Passionate about dance education, Mary Kate is honored to be teaching at The Dance Centre, the place that shaped her as a young dancer and continues to hold a special place in her heart. She finds great joy in helping the next generation discover their own love for their craft.