Our Team.

DSC_0043 (1) copy.jpeg — Kim Newlin, Studio Owner

Ms. Kim began dancing at age nine at the Dance Gallery in Lawrence, Kansas. For four years she competed and performed with the Dance Gallery Troupe throughout the US and Europe. She has studied many styles including ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, modern, hip hop, ballroom, pom, and acrobatics. Her training expanded with classes from master teachers like Joe Tremaine, Ray Leeper, Mandy Moore, Gregg Russell, Paula Abdul, Debbie Allen, Doug Caldwell, and Savion Glover through numerous conventions and master classes. She has a B.A. in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she performed with the UNC Dance Team and continued her dance training at the Ballet School of Chapel Hill. While a member of the UNC Dance Team, Kim performed during many nationally televised football and men's basketball games, as well as other sporting events and charity fundraisers.
Kim has more than 20 years of teaching, choreography, and management experience in the dance studio business. Her students have gone on to dance on college dance teams, college club teams, obtain college degrees in dance, pursue professional careers as dancers, and become teachers themselves. She has also participated in many workshops, conventions, and continued learning classes in order to keep expanding her dance training. Kim has judged both dance and cheerleading competitions and her choreography has received numerous awards. She opened The Dance Spot in 2013 and loves every second of living her dream.

Chandler Maitland

Chandler started dancing at the age of 3 at the Conservatory of Dance in Syracuse, NY for 5 years and transferred to CMC Dance Company where she competed and performed with the company for 10 years. She has trained under Ballet instructor Danita Emma, as well as Marj Taylor of CMC Dance Company. While attending Oswego State in Upstate NY, she performed and choreographed for the Del Sarte Dance Club on campus. Chandler graduated from Oswego State with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Film and Photography.
She has trained in many styles of dance such as Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern and Hip Hop. While knowledgeable in most styles, Tap is her strong suit.
Chandler has five years of experience teaching a wide range of ages. She is very excited to get back in the studio and be a part of The Dance Spot!

Tammy Rae Pettinicchi Gaynor

Tammy is the founding artistic director of Nutmeg Performing Arts Centre in Bristol CT in which she owned and operated for 18 years. She has over 30 years experience in dance education, instruction and performance. Tammy has studied with various master teachers from New York to LA, and has served as a dance competition judge for National Dance Competitions. Her choreography has won several overall and high score awards on both the Regional and National level. Tammy has been the Choreographer for the Miss Connecticut Scholarship Pageant and was the Director/Choreographer of the Miss Connecticut Princess Program. Tammy was a member of the Connecticut USO and traveled overseas with The Liberty Misses to perform for our US Military. Above all, Tammy believes in providing professional dance instruction in a supportive, positive learning environment.

Kasey Petersen

Ms. Kasey began dancing at her local studio in Mt. Holly at 2 years old and she danced competitively for 8 years. She also danced and competed with her high school dance team. She met Ms. Kim when they were both on a dance team together at UNC Chapel Hill. Ms. Kasey was so excited to join The Dance Spot family as a teacher in 2017. Outside the studio Ms. Kasey is a dentist and is preparing to start her own practice. You can also find Ms. Kasey’s husband John at the studio bringing their daughters, Zoe and Lizzie to class!