Francesca has been dancing since the age of 6, and has many accolades which include being a contestant on CBS's Star Search. She is a graduate of Oakland University in Rochester Hills, MI, with a BFA in Dance and a BS in Business Administration. Ms. Garippa has been a guest performer with Eisenhower Dance Detroit, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Patterson Rhythm Pace, and Joffrey Concert Dancers. She also spent 2 seasons dancing with Take Root Dance Company in Rochester, MI. Francesca is now focusing her efforts as Assistant Artistic Director of Spotlight Dance Works in Chesterfield, MI. She is certified in Acrobatic Arts and Sugarfoot Therapy, and has a passion for educating her students in the area of injury prevention and body mechanics.

Mauricio Fernandez is originally from Mexico where he received his training at Estudio de Danza Antoinette de Puebla. To further his dance education he attended the Boston Ballet School, Orlando Ballet, Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet in New York City, Idyllwild Arts Academy and Milwaukee Ballet. He has performed with several ballet companies including Compania de Danza Antoinette in Mexico, InlandPacific Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Western Chicago Ballet, Hinsdale Ballet Theatre, Springfield Ballet, DanceWest Ballet, Albany Berkshire Ballet, Kentucky Ballet Theatre, Chicago Repertory Ballet and most recently Teater Vanemuine Ballet in Estonia. Mauricio is a Tap Gold medalist at Confederacion Inter-Americana de Profesionales de la Danza (CIAD), Intrancefest Tec de Monterrey. In 2018 Mauricio relocated to the Chicago area and decided to further his tap dance studies with Chicago Human Rythm Project and Tristan Bruns, founder and artistic director of the Tapman Productions. He has taken part of CHRP’s Rythm World Festival and MADD Rythm’s Chicago Tap Summit and had the privilege to study with tap dance masters such as Dianne “Lady Di” Walker, Sam Weber, Brill Barret, Daniel Borak, Star Dixon, Nico Rubio, Martin Dumas, Jason Janas, Charles Renato, & Ted Louis Levy. Mauricio most recently danced with Chicago Repertory Ballet, the CHRP’s Stone Soup Rhythms Tap Company and Teater Vanemuine Ballet in Estonia.

Carrie Nicastro Ruiz is a Chicago-based professional dancer, teacher and choreographer. She spent her early years studying the Cecchetti Ballet syllabus, and continued training on work/study at Visceral Dance Center, on full scholarship at the Lou Conte Dance Studio and at the University of Iowa (BA in Dance/Psychology). Company credits include: Thodos Dance Chicago, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre, Hedwig Dances, Level Dance, and Hanna Brictson & Dancers. Teaching credits include: Academy of Dance Arts (Faculty), and Steps Dance Center (Contemporary/Modern Program Director, Company Director). Carrie has received numerous awards for her choreography, and has been honored twice by the Industry Dance Awards (2015-People's Choice Finalist, 2019- Best Convention Performance Winner). You can also spot Carrie in the New York Times Bestseller, “Dancers Among Us”, and in the October 2018 issue of Dance Spirit Magazine, where she is featured in the article, “Poetry in Motion”.