Faculty and Staff

Rachel Rubin began her training at the Charlotte Klein Dance Centers in Worcester at the age of three. Through the years, Rachel continued with her training and eventually she joined the Charlotte Klein Dance Company and also worked as an assistant.

After graduating high school, Rachel continued her dance education and training at Dean College graduating Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. in Dance and a minor in Business. There she studied Ballet, Tap, Modern, Contemporary, Dance History and Pedagogy. At Dean she was a member and a soloist of the Dean College Dance Company and was also the co-captain and choreographer of the Dean College Dance Team. At Dean College she was awarded the Joan Phelps Palladino Scholarship, the Franklin School of Performing Arts Scholarship as well as the Trustees Prize in Dance.

From 2004-2006, Rachel was a member of the She Figure Dance Company where she performed in Cambridge, Boston and Martha’s Vineyard. In 2007 Rachel joined the Charlotte Klein Dance Center as a full time faculty member teaching students from 2 yrs through 18 yrs old in both the Worcester and Westborough locations.

Her choreography has been regionally and nationally recognized. This competition season she received a choreography award at the Hall of Fame Dance Competition for her contemporary duo “The Double.” In 2010, her modern piece “Arizona 1941” won 1st place high score at the Headliners National Competition. She also choreographed the routines for Master Dance of New England 2005, Teen Miss and Mr. Dance of New England 2009, Mr. Dance of New England 2011, co-choreographed Teen Miss Dance of New England 2013 and co-choreographed the current Miss Dance of New England 2014, Alexis Nevalsky.

In 2013 Rachel become the owner of the Charlotte Klein Dance Center. In addition, she is a teacher at Notre Dame High School in Worcester teaching dance, choreographing the Fall and Spring shows and is the director of the dance ensemble. Rachel is a member and an active board member of Dance Masters of New England. She loves sharing her passion with the dancers at the studio. “Seeing their faces light up when they accomplish something, whether it is getting their splits down or finally mastering the time steps, seeing the joy and the excitement in the dancers faces on their accomplishments is why I love doing what I do”. Besides her teaching and being the owner of the studio, she is a wife to Joel Rubin and the proud mother of 3 children, one of whom is dancing at the studio.

Christine Carlson is CKDC’s Associate Director, Senior Associate Artistic Director and Choreographer of the Dance Company and has over 27 years of teaching experience. Ms. Carlson received a B.F.A. Degree from The Boston Conservatory and has been a member of the faculty of Charlotte Klein Dance Centers since 1978. She is a president of the New England Chapter of Dance Masters of America and has been a guest teacher for DMA’s New England, New York and Pittsburgh chapters. She has also served as a competition judge in Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Canada, Florida and New York. Ms. Carlson has performed and taught in London and Paris with the noted teacher and choreographer Matt Mattox and studied with him at the 1990 Jazz Dance World Congress in Evanston, Ill.

Other past accomplishments include performing with Rudolf Nureyev in the film Valentino, the choreographer for the film Agatha, a member of Disney on Parade touring Europe and South America and appearances on BBC television. Ms. Carlson’s choreography has won numerous first place and highest adjudication awards at many regional and national competitions.

Callie Kamanitz danced with Charlotte Klein Dance Centers for 10 years and danced with the company for four years. She currently attends Washington University in St. Louis where she is working towards a BA in Psychology and Organization and Strategic Management with a minor in Dance.

Callie has choreographed multiple musicals for her highschool and taught dance classes for a variety of ages and levels at Charlotte Klein. She has also managed the front desk in the Worcester location. Callie works currently at Charlotte Klein as Director of Operations and as a special choreographer. She is excited to continue to be a part of the CKDC family!

Lynda Cadarette began her dance studies at Debbie Sichol’s Dance Center in Southbridge, MA where solid technique and the love of performing were the focus of each class. She went on to study with David Howard, Gus Giordano, Luigi, Charles Kelley, Maurice Hines and Frank Hatchett, and was awarded scholarships to Joe Tremaine’s and Steps on Broadway where she studied with Joe Lanteri and Zena Rommett.

Lynda has performed professionally in productions of Evita, Oklahoma!, West Side Story, A Chorus Line and many more. She was a member of a modern company called “Joan Karff’s New Dance Group” in Houston. She has appeared on PBS, Lifetime, and on NBC as an adagio dancer in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Lynda’s performance and choreography strengths lie in musical theatre, although she is an incredibly well rounded dancer/teacher/choreographer with a very strong ballet, jazz, tap and acrobat background. Lynda has taught classes and master classes at Steps in NYC, for several chapters of Dance Masters of America, and at many studios across the country.
She has been on the faculty of the Charlotte Klein Dance Centers since 1994. Lynda is certified by Dance Masters of America, Acrobatic Arts, and Alixa Flexibility. She not only choreographs for dancers, but also for competitive gymnasts. Lynda is a member and former President of Dance Master of New England.

As an adjudicator, Ms. Cadarette has served on judging panels for StarQuest, Dance Masters of America, OnStage America, Headliners, Sophisticated Productions, Dance Ovations, World Class Talent Experience and more. Lynda Cadarette is also a licensed massage therapist who works with dancers and gymnasts to overcome limitations by manual manipulation and assisted stretching techniques.

Jacqueline Head holds a B.F.A. from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts and Master’s in Education from Lesley University. She began her dance training at the age of 3 at CKDC where she later became a member of the Dance Company and an assistant dance teacher. She performed in the Boston Ballet and Dance Prism productions of the Nutcracker and in 1992 was a featured dancer in Paramount Picture’s School Ties. While attending N.Y.U., Ms. Head was a member of the Second Avenue Dance Company where she performed in several pieces including one by acclaimed choreographer and dancer Ann Reinking. Other accomplishments include performing for EJM Entertainment and with the New Jersey Red Dogs Dance Team and a member of the Washington Square Repertory Company in New York.

She was an adjunct professor at Nichols College 2006-2010 . Jackie was the Dance choreographer for The Youth Summer Program at the Hanover Theater and Conservatory for 5 years. Jacqueline is a full time dance teacher at the Burncoat middle and high school.

She is celebrated her 24th year teaching and choreographing at the Charlotte Klein Dance centers. She is proud mom to Jackson, Tanner, and Lillian who is a competitive dancer for CKDC.

Katie Kozul began her dance training at The Gold School in Brockton, Massachusetts under the direction of Rennie Gold and her mother, Kathy Kozul. She attended the Walnut Hill School for the Performing Arts and later went on to the Alvin Ailey/Fordham University BFA program. Kozul joined Hubbard Street 2 of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago as an apprentice in September 2012 and was promoted to company member in August 2013.

She had the opportunity to perform works by Alejandro Cerrudo, Robyn Mineko Williams, Terence Marling, Ihsan Rustem, and Bryan Arias. Katie is currently on faculty at The Gold School, Walnut Hill School for the Arts and has been invited to guest teach at several arts organizations in the area. She is also a certified pure barre instructor with Pure Barre Rhode Island. Katie is beyond excited to join the CKDC staff this season!

Lindsey Leduc (Southbridge, MA) began training with Terri Gordon in Sturbridge, MA. At 13, she became a Trustee Scholar at Wilbraham Monson Academy for her dance ability, exposing her to knowledge and cultural diversity that shaped and inspired her. She graduated cum laude from Hofstra University with a B.A. in Dance and Community Health.

While in New York, Lindsey performed in many projects including Robin Becker Dance, her choreography was showcased in the 2003 ACDF gala, and she earned her Actors Equity performing off-Broadway under Tony Award winner Hinton Battle. Lindsey went to Chicago on Scholarship to Giordano Dance School, was promoted to Giordano II and performed with Giordano Dance Chicago for seven years.

She has performed works and taught master classes nationally and internationally by Mia Michaels, Ron De Jesus, Gus Giordano, Liz Imperio, Randy Duncan, Christopher Huggins, Davis Robertson, Rennie Harris and more, in Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Latvia, Guatemala, Turkey and Hawaii.

Her work has been featured in Dance Chicago several times. She has works in the repertoire of Inaside Chicago Dance, Chicago Dance Crash, Movement Source, Continuum Dance Theatre, BoSoma, and her own Giordano Dance Chicago. She teaches and choreographs throughout the nation for Youth Companies and Orchesis groups. While in Chicago Lindsey taught for the Jazz Dance in Science and Health program in underserved Chicago Public Schools, on Master Faculty for Jazz Dance World Congress, served on Faculty at The Joffrey Academy of Dance and was a founding Faculty member of Foster Dance Studios.

Lindsey serves as an adjudicator and Master Teacher for the premiere dance competition, World Class Talent Experience and a Judge for StarQuest International. Lindsey was honored to be published in Dance Magazine’s “Why I Dance” in the January 2013 issue, and appeared on the cover in March 2013.

Maria Budzinski has been dancing locally for the past 30 years. Maria holds degrees in Performing Arts from Dean College, Acting for film from New York Film Academy, Harvard, and received high honors with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Suffolk University. Maria performed in two seasons for the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun and was one of the original dancers for the Boston Celtics. In 2005, she began to further her dance career as Performing Arts major at Dean College.

During her time there Maria worked closely with Gyro Tonic Master Lisa Pari, where she began intense training on body knowledge. Maria also spent years working under world-renowned modern professor; Nailah Randall-Bellinger, and also had the opportunity to work with Master Ballet professor Jill Silverman, choreographer’s Wyett Jackson, Kelly Peters, Jay T. Jenkins, and the Alvin Ailey Dance Company. Maria’s choreography has been recognized for its “creativity”, “emotional concepts” “artistic innovation” and “incredible partnering”. She is a proud member of the CKDC faculty and dedicated to unveiling the artist within each and every dancer she works with.

Monika holds a BA in Dance from Dean College. Upon graduation, she completed an internship at the Boston Ballet School as a Teacher’s Assistant in the Children’s Program.

In December 2018, Monika published her first book titled, “Dance: The Movement of Life” which emphasizes how dance never stops throughout the duration of one’s life. In 2016, Monika held the title of Miss Dance of New England through Dance Masters of New England.

Her most notable performances include Young Choreographers Festival at Peter Jay Sharp Theatre, Accept Me at Joyce Theatre and Dancers Responding to AIDS Dance from the Heart at Cedar Lake Theatre.

Monika continues to share her love of dance through teaching and choreography throughout the region. Her choreography has been recognized at dance competitions on a regional and national level. Monika is grateful to have the opportunity to train and inspire the next generation of dancers.

Sohaiyla Khalili started her dance training at Charlotte Klein Dance Centers at the age of four and was a member of the Charlotte Klein Dance Company. There, she received her formal dance training and worked with many accomplished choreographers.

Sohaiyla was an accomplished competition dancer and spent summers training with The Rock School for Dance Education, Dance Masters of America, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and numerous conventions taught by master teachers. At the University of Massachusetts, she continued her dance training under the direction of Billbob Brown, and performed works by the likes of Sidra Bell, Brenda Divelbliss, Paul Taylor, and Thomas Vacanti.

After graduating college with a degree in Chemical Engineering, Sohaiyla danced with several Boston based contemporary-ballet companies such as BoSoma2.

In recent years, her competition choreography has been recognized for outstanding choreography and overall adjudication. Sohaiyla is thrilled to continue her dance journey as a choreographer and competition judge & share her passion with younger generations.

Talia Luzzo began her training at Charlotte Klein Dance Center in Worcester Massachusetts at the age of two. There, she was trained in a variety of dance genres including Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Tap, Contemporary and Hip Hop. She has traveled throughout the East Coast competing as well as participating in National Conventions studying with artists such as, Brian Friedman, Joe Lanteri, Mia Michaels and many more. She has won Regional Titles in 2013 and 2016. Talia has participated in the AIM (Artists in Motion) program at the Broadway Dance Center in New York City.

Talia graduated from Wachusett Regional High School in 2016 and has decided to continue her dance training at the University of Arizona. Talia trains heavily in Ballet, Jazz and Modern in Arizona with a pristine faculty. She is in the process of receiving a BFA in Dance as well as a BA in Communications with a Minor in Business. When completing her time at the U of A, Talia hopes to continue her passion for dance professionally.

Michelle Poirier received her Bachelors of Arts degree in Dance from Dean College graduating Summa Cum Lade. She was a member of the Dean College Dance Company where she performed original works. She is a member of the Academic Honor Society Phi Theta Kappa and was awarded the Drusilla Carlson Phelps Award. She has also performed and choreographed for multiple showcases while at Dean.

Her contemporary and jazz choreography was selected to be performed and critiqued by Broadway choreographers. She has studied abroad both in Berlin, Germany and at the Laban School in London investigating contemporary movement, as well as, examining the cultures and philosophies of European Dance Theatre. Michelle attended the Ailey School in New York City. Eager to share her newfound knowledge, Michelle has returned home to the Charlotte Klein Dance Centers where she was a former company member and where she began her dance training. Michelle is thrilled to bring her passion and knowledge to the CKDC dancers.

Terry Burke is a Staff Assistant for both the Worcester and the Westborough studios for 17 years. She is the front desk support, assist with costumes  and any other tasks that are needed. Her background is a Human Resource Generalist and Quality Analyst and Training.

“A day at the studio is one when you see the dancers happy, passionate and enjoying the gift of dance which they have been given and they are able to share that gift with others.”