Your Dance Faculty

Andrew Kaczmarek, Assistant Director of Michigan Ballet Theatre and RSD ballet instructor, trained with Cornelia Sampson at the Rochester School of Dance and was a principal dancer of Michigan Ballet Theatre, Rochester School of Dance’s resident ballet company. Andrew has been featured in soloist and principal roles in MBT’s Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Coppélia and contemporary works choreographed by Michael Hicks and Deborah Dawn. Andrew was asked to participate with National City’s Stars of Ballet and Broadway with Meg Paul and Ron DeJesus and in 2008 was awarded 3rd place at Youth America Grand Prix Semi-finals in Chicago, Illinois performing Nutcracker Snow Pas de Deux. He later studied on full scholarship with American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and School of American Ballet. Andrew was accepted into Boston Ballet in 2009 as a trainee. In 2010, he joined GKA in New York City as a studio company member. Andrew guested with Cincinnati Ballet and finished his career dancing with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. Andrew teaches ballet, variations, pas de deux and men’s class.

Kaitlyn DeLeon, has been dancing since the age of six and has trained in all areas of dance. Beginning at Glenn’s School of Dance, she grew up dancing and competing and was a shining light at her home studio, performing, leading, demonstrating, and teaching. She has continued training as a student through Wayne State University in Detroit where she currently resides, taking on a minor in Dance as well as working with different choreographers and artists throughout the Detroit community. This is her first year teaching with the Rochester School of Dance and she is deeply grateful for how welcoming and kind the dancers, faculty, and parents have been! She is currently teaching ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop.

Catherine Pearson, has been an instructor at the Rochester School of Dance since the Fall of 2016. She was a member of Michigan Ballet Theatre for several seasons, performing and competing with the Company in local venues and at YAGP. Catherine has had the opportunity to study with American Ballet Theatre and the Gelsey Kirkland Academy for multiple summer intensive programs, as well as countless other exceptional instructors in nearly every genre of dance for over twenty years. Most of her earliest training in tap dance was at vaudeville veteran Charmaine’s School of Dance. Catherine has won awards for her involvement in local film and community theatre projects and is currently pursuing an accelerated BSN degree through Oakland University. Her choreography has been favorably recognized at local competitions. Catherine instructs Adult Ballet & Pointe, at RSD and finds great joy in teaching. She hopes to provide each student with the tools, knowledge, and passion to take their dancing to the highest levels that they choose in the life-long pursuit of their art.