Meet The Staff

Artistic Director

Torie’s passion for dance began at just two years old, and by the age of five, she had entered the competitive dance world. As she continued her training, her love for performing grew beyond the studio. Throughout her childhood and teenage years, Torie participated in numerous community theater productions with the Strand Youth Ensemble and Phoenix Productions.

While Torie always knew that dance and performance would be an important part of her life, it was when she began teaching at the age of 19 that she discovered her true passion. Working with young dancers, helping them build confidence, and watching them grow both inside and outside of the studio quickly became the most rewarding part of her career.

After teaching for three years, Torie became the co-owner of a dance studio, a role she held for six years before beginning her next chapter as the sole Owner and Creative Director of Core Dance Company. Today, she continues to bring her experience, creativity, and passion for dance education into every aspect of Core.

Throughout her teaching career, Torie has worked with dancers ranging from ages 2–18 and appreciates the unique energy, personality, and potential that each age group brings to the classroom. Her choreography has received numerous first-place overall awards, as well as special recognition for choreography and entertainment.

In addition to her extensive dance and teaching experience, Torie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Kean University and is certified in Level 1 Progressing Ballet Technique.

As the Owner and Creative Director of Core Dance Company, Torie is dedicated to creating an environment where dancers feel supported, challenged, and inspired. She looks forward to continuing to share her love of dance while helping the next generation of dancers grow in their technique, confidence, artistry, and passion for performing.

Director of Operations & Marketing

Mark plays an integral role behind the scenes at Core Dance Company, helping support the studio’s day-to-day operations, marketing, communications, and continued growth.

Working alongside his wife, Owner & Creative Director Torie, Mark helps bring Core’s vision to life beyond the classroom. From social media and family communications to enrollment initiatives, events, and studio operations, he is focused on creating an organized, welcoming, and positive experience for every dancer and family who walks through Core’s doors.

Mark earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Kean University and has a professional background in sales, business development, and relationship management. He brings his experience and business-minded approach to Core while remaining deeply connected to what makes the studio special; its dancers, families, faculty, and community.

As Core continues to grow, Mark is passionate about helping build a studio that provides an exceptional experience for its families while staying true to the values and culture that Core was founded on.

Company Tap Director

Growing up in Jackson, NJ, Caitlin Garry has over 20 years of dance experience, specializing in tap dance. At the age of fifteen, she began teaching tap alongside her lifelong mentor, Mary Nosuchinsky, and became a founding member of Nosuchinsky’s company Mary No & Co. In 2012, Caitlin became a member of Nick Dinicolangelo’s Hands Down Tap Project and has been performing with the company ever since, serving as the company’s rehearsal director for the last four years. Then in 2014, she joined Christopher Erk and the Tap Factor in collaboration with Best Buddies which resulted in performances at Carnegie Hall and Harvard University. Caitlin was blessed with the opportunity to be mentored by Dianne Walker in 2018, studying the famous work of Leon Collins. In 2019, Caitlin became a founding member of Kelly Kaleta’s company Counterpoint, performing throughout Connecticut and New York City. Most recently in 2020, Caitlin began her journey mentoring young students from around the country with Rhythmic Souls Tap Company. Caitlin continues to grow her craft by training with renowned tap dancers such as Nick Dinicolangelo, Jason Janas, Emily Shoemaker, and Lisa Latouche. In addition to living a life full of tap dancing, Caitlin received her BS in Physics and a minor in Social Science from Stevens Institute of Technology, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering while working as an engineer for Northrop Grumman.

Educational Program Director

Tiffany has been dancing since she was 2 years old and began competing at a young age.  She quickly realized her love for Ballet, auditioned and was accepted to a prestigious Ballet company at just 10 years old.  Tiffany has been a part of many ballets including The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Cinderella, Swan Lake, Firebird and the Gala Ballet Festival. 

Tiffany received a scholarship with the Joffrey Ballet School for their Summer Intensive where she spent most of her summers.  She also found a love for theatre arts and was a part of the Holman Theatre Company.  She landed a lead role in Gypsy as Baby Louise.  She continued her theatre arts journey throughout High School landing a role in Bye Bye Birdie as Deborah Sue.  That is when she found a passion for set design and was chosen to be the set designer for two musicals: 42nd Street and On the Town.

Tiffany continued her dance training at Montclair State University, majoring in Dance Education.  She began teaching dance in 2001 where many of her dancers have won numerous awards under her choreography.  Tiffany gave birth to twin girls in 2006 who also share her passion for dance.

Tiffany continues her dance education by attending a variety of dance conventions including Dance Educators of America, Jump, The Pulse and loves to take classes at Broadway Dance Center in NYC.   She is honored to be a part of the Core Dance Company staff.

Company Ballet Director

Andres was born in Cali, Colombia. He started his dance education at the Colombian Institute of Classical Ballet (Incolballet). Eight years of intense training provided him with the opportunity to work with teachers, choreographers and coaches of national and international notoriety. Classical ballet, repertoire, modern and contemporary styles, along with pedagogy of ballet and pedagogy of partnering were part of the main focus such training had to offer.

After graduating Mr. Neira joined the Ballet de Cali Company, where he became the youngest soloist in the company’s history to date, performing a wide variety of classical and contemporary roles worldwide.

Mr. Neira’s career in the U.S.A. begun when he recieved the first ever Lefkowitz Award for Outstanding Performance of a Solo at the New York International Ballet Competition (NYIBC), then he went on to participate as guest dancer and/or guest ballet master for numerous companies in the U.S. and abroad such as New Jersey Ballet, Connecticut Ballet center, Ballet Hispanico, Eglevsky Ballet, Granite State Ballet, Gainesville school of the arts, The Renval Project (Johan Renval director). As well as Danza Hoy (Caracas, Venezuela) Ballarte (Bogota, Colombia), to name a few.

Mr. Neira’s performance experience includes a wide range of rolls varying from Petipa’s classics such as Corsaire, Don Quixote, Raymonda and Sleeping Beauty, to contemporary works, some of which have been created for him, including Backthi by Maurice Bejart, Tango by Johan Renval, Rhapsody in Blue by Alex Proia, For Ella by Margo Sappington with music by Ella Fitzgerald, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Too Darn Hot and many more.

Currently Mr. Neira is a free-lance dancer/teacher, based out of the New York, New Jersey area.

Company Acro, Jazz & Lyrical Staff

Hayley Miller grew up in Middlesex County, New Jersey, and has been dancing since the age of two. She began competing at age five, which sparked a lifelong passion for dance. Throughout her training, Hayley studied ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, and acrobatics and had the opportunity to train and perform with organizations including Phoenix Productions, the NJ Tap Dance Ensemble, and Paper Mill Playhouse.

Hayley has been a dance educator since 2017 and has proudly been part of Core Dance Company since its inaugural season. She loves watching her students grow from year to year and being a part of their individual dance journeys. Her choreography has received Overall and Entertainment awards at competitions, and she especially enjoys creating pieces that encourage dancers to express themselves, connect with the music, and build confidence on stage.

Outside of the studio, Hayley is a Registered Nurse. Her career in nursing has strengthened the patience, compassion, and encouragement she brings into the classroom, allowing her to create an environment where dancers feel supported while being challenged to grow.

Teaching is one of Hayley’s favorite ways to share her passion for dance. She hopes to give her students the same excitement and love for dance that has shaped her own journey while helping them develop not only as dancers, but also as confident, hardworking, and well-rounded young people.

Company Jazz & Lyrical Staff

Lexi Valentin is a dedicated dancer, educator, and choreographer. Training competitively since the age of two, she has developed versatility across many dance styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary. Throughout her training, Lexi has had the opportunity to perform on various stages while continuing to develop her artistry as both a dancer and choreographer.

Lexi graduated from Howell High School in 2019, majoring in dance, where she received Outstanding Achievements for her choreography. She also graduated from The Ohio State University in 2023 with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Education.

Lexi was named a 2025 New Jersey Talent Finalist, where she performed and showcased her  own choreographic work. She actively continues to pursue performance and choreography opportunities throughout New Jersey. Her teaching experience spans multiple studios, schools, and communities across both New Jersey and Ohio. In 2026, she received her New Jersey Teacher of Dance Certification (K-12).

In addition to teaching and performing, Lexi has experience judging dance competitions and working backstage at competitions, giving her valuable insight into both the competitive and production sides of the dance industry. These experiences have allowed her to work closely with dancers, teachers, and choreographers.

Her choreography has been showcased in various competitions and showcases, highlighting her creativity, passion, and commitment to inspiring and educating. Lexi continues to pursue opportunities as a performer, teacher, choreographer, and dance professional, with a goal of creating meaningful work and inspiring the next generation of dancers.

Educational Program Staff

Kayla Fahey was born and raised in Jackson, New Jersey, where her passion for dance began at a young age under the instruction of Torie Supinski. With 18 years of dance experience, including 10 years as a competitive dancer, dance quickly became an important part of Kayla’s life and a meaningful outlet for creativity and self-expression.

After graduating, Kayla knew she wanted to continue sharing her passion for dance through teaching. She has been teaching for the past two years and hopes to make dance education a lifelong part of her career. In the classroom, Kayla strives to create a fun, positive, and safe environment where every dancer feels comfortable learning, growing, and challenging themselves.

Building meaningful relationships with her students is an important part of Kayla’s teaching philosophy. She makes an effort to connect with her dancers beyond the steps they are learning, often beginning class by asking about their day and what they are looking forward to. Kayla encourages her students to exceed their own expectations, build confidence, and continuously work toward becoming the best dancers they can be.

For Kayla, one of the most rewarding parts of teaching is watching her students develop the same love and passion for dance that she experienced growing up.

Outside of the studio, Kayla attends Kean University, where she is studying Education with the goal of becoming a high school English teacher. She has also had opportunities to bring together her passions for education and the performing arts by assisting with choreography for school musicals.

Having grown from a student of Torie’s into a teacher at Core Dance Company, Kayla is proud to continue her dance journey as part of the Core family and looks forward to inspiring the next generation of dancers for years to come.

Educational Program Staff

Alex Carnevale grew up in Howell, New Jersey, and began dancing at the age of three at Jackson Dance Center. The JDC motto of “Where every child is a star” is a firm belief Alex has carried throughout her journey as a dance educator. She is passionate about creating a positive classroom where students feel confident in themselves and their abilities. Alex encourages her students to focus not on being the best dancer in the room, but on becoming a better dancer than they were the week before. Most importantly, she wants her students to have fun and develop a lifelong appreciation of dance.

Alex is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, where she received a B.A. in Dance Education. In addition to studying with the university’s faculty, she had the opportunity to learn from guest artists such as Janis Brenner and participate in collaborations with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and Limón Dance Company. She performed in multiple university faculty-led showcases and with the professional company Unbound. Alex also choreographed several works in student-led showcases. Through her degree coursework, she gained extensive experience in public school settings across grades K-12 assisting with classes, choreographing, and ultimately teaching.

In addition to her studio and collegiate dance training, Alex continues to expand her education by taking classes at Broadway Dance Center, Gibney, and Peridance Center. She is trained in ballet, modern, contemporary, tap, jazz, lyrical, and other genres.

Alex is so excited to join the Core team and looks forward to sharing her love of dance, creativity, and joy of movement with her students!

Administrative Office

Lauren Franek is a graduate of Jackson Liberty High School and has had a love for dance from a young age. She danced recreationally from ages 2–12, and although she did not continue dancing as she got older, she always enjoyed being part of the dance environment. Today, she gets to experience that passion in a different way by watching young dancers learn, grow, and develop a love for dance of their own.

At Core Dance Company, Lauren is part of the studio administration team, where she assists dancers and families with registration, questions, and anything else they may need. She also brings her creative side to the studio through projects such as the monthly bulletin board, bedazzling costumes, and lending a hand wherever needed.

Outside of Core, Lauren enjoys exploring her many creative hobbies, including making treats like cake pops, photography, and photo editing. Working with children has always been something she has been passionate about, whether through teaching or simply being someone they can look up to, trust, and feel comfortable around as they grow.

Core has become a place Lauren is proud to call home. She is grateful to work alongside such a talented and inspiring team while having the opportunity to watch Core’s dancers grow, flourish, and pursue something they love.