EMpowered Dance
& Wellness Center
Setting the Barre
for Excellence
EMpowered Dance and Wellness Center Faculty
Faculty and Staff
Emily Norris
Founder and Artistic Director
Emily is the owner and artistic director of the EMpowered Dance Center. Emily has professional dance experience as well as education to create a strong, technically sound program. Professionally, Emily worked as a trainee with the elite Joffrey Ballet Company under the direction of Edith d'Addario and performed as a soloist with the Baltimore Ballet Company, under the direction of Cem Catbas. Contemporary professional experience, with Surge, under the direction of Ken Skrzesz. Beginning her dance education at Peabody Conservatory she was awarded a full scholarship to the Arts for Talented Youth Program. Emily performed with the Washington ballet as a student, under the direction of Rudolph Kharatian, and as a soloist in the Pas de Trois in Kharatian's original ballet, Into the Light. Receiving scholarships for summer programs including Virginia School for the Arts, Joffrey Ballet, and Hartford Ballet, Emily attended American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, Burklyn Ballet, and Virginia School of the Arts for summer intensives. Emily graduated from Carver Center for Arts and Technology and holds an AAS in both Massage Therapy and Physical Therapy Assistant. Completing her Bachelor of Science in Health Studies and ultimately her Masters of Science in Kinesiology and Wellness Management from SUNY Plattsburgh. Emily holds certifications as a Physical Therapist Assistant in Brain Injury, Neuromuscular Developmental Techniques, and is LSVT BIG certified for Parkinson's Disease. She is also certified in Pilates technique, Adaptive Dance, Progressive Ballet Technique, Massage Therapy, Pregnancy Massage, Yoga, and CPR. Emily always looks for ways to introduce dance to everyone and created a wheelchair dancing program at the University of Maryland Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Institute (formerly Kernan). Emily manages both Chapters of Dance Honor Society for the studio, through the National Dance Education Organization and is a member of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science.
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Proudly, Emily's students have attended Alvin Ailey School, Kirov Academy, Burklyn Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Washington Ballet, The Rock School, Ballet West, and Kaatsbaan Summer Intensive Programs. Professionally, students are working as trainees and corps de ballet members in Kansas City Ballet, Ballet Tucson, Rochester City Ballet, Ballet West, and Ballet Theatre of Maryland. Sharing a love of anatomy and kinesiology in the classroom many students are pursuing degrees in the medical field and often choose to work specifically in sports medicine.
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Emily's pedagogy is that every student in the classroom is the best student in the classroom. ALL are welcome here, dance is truly for EVERY BODY.
Caitlin Varipatis
Ballet, Modern, Yoga, Jazz, and Contemporary Instructor
Caitlin received her B.A. degree in Dance Education from Goucher College graduating Cum Laude. While there, she performed in numerous student, faculty, and guest artist pieces. As a senior, she produced and choreographed her own concert. She followed that with a Masters in Education degree (also from Goucher) and has work experience in the many aspects of the developing dancer/student. For seven years she worked as an Integrated Arts Specialist with Cecil County Public Schools where she also headed an after-school dance program to further dance experience and performance opportunities for students. She also was involved in dance curriculum writing and development for the school system. Ms. Varipatis has been involved with Goucher's Moving Classroom Project which educates students and teachers on techniques for incorporating movement and the arts within the classroom setting. She has also taught at the Baltimore Actor's Conservatory, The Park School, Carver Center for the Arts, Parkville High School, Cecil Dance Center, and the Moving Company Dance Center. She is thrilled to be joining EMpowered for her eighth season!
Mikayla Musco
Mikayla from Glen Burnie, MD, started her training at 2.5 years old and began competitively dancing with a studio in Annapolis, MD by the age of 7. She trained weekly for a decade in ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, modern, tap, conditioning, and a variety of musical theatre and hip hop. The combination of this training led her to succeed with her team in winning national titles traveling the east coast with her teachers, Emily Maritn and Tammy Musco (Mother). Throughout the years, Mikayla was trained by many artists who worked at the studio, but she also participated in dance conventions, workshops/classes, and intensives such as, but not limited to: Kathy VanDereedt, Calen Kurka, Chris Hale, Lance Guillermo, Bobby Newberry, Brian Friedman, Mandy Moore, Travis, and more. Mikayla would also audition and perform in the Ballet, the Nutcracker, for 3 years with Edna Lee Dance Studio under the direction of Ashley Canterna-Hardy and Mary Moran. The choreography bug caught Mikayla as early as 12 years old, when the opportunity was presented, she became a volunteer choreographer for elementary, middle, and high schools in Anne Arundel County from 2011-2020. Mikayala was a part of Glen Burnie High School's dance company, elite dance company, and dance for athletes program as the choreographer. Mikayla's choreography has been selected and performed for The Maryland State Dance Festival and many Anne Arundel County Festivals. She was awarded as an All-County Dancer from Freshman to Senior year, as well as earning the senior choreography award for her work. After High school through her time at Towson University, she kept dancing and choreographing until she ultimately became chronically ill and was unable to move the way she wanted. After years of taking time to put towards her health and acquiring two degrees, she is back in the studio ready to bring light, love, and creativity to the classroom. Mikayla teaches others how to accept, be free, and love themselves and how they move, in order to not just dance for recognition but for that feeling, that movement can give oneself or someone else just by being free enough to be authentic to themselves. The best outlet in the world is dance and there is nothing more I want than to see others love this craft the way I do.
Contemporary, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Tap, Leaps and Turns, and Creative Movement
Ava Correlli
Musical Theatre, Ballet, Tap, Jazz
Ava Correlli has been performing for nine years in both dance and theatre. Ava performed for Disney World as a character performer showcasing both her technique in dance and vocal performance. Ava is pursuing her B.S. in Dance Education from the renowned Goucher College. Ava performs professionally with Urban Pirates as your favorite pirate friend, Judy Doubloon and Falling Star Parties LLC. Ava has taught for the Jewish Community Center dance and theater programs and choreographed for local music videos. A firm believer in positive reinforcement and sharing experiences with her students, Ava has fallen in love with the core values of EMpowered and is thrilled to be a part of the team!
Assisting Teacher Artists
Sophia Azzaro
Sophia has been dancing at EMpowered for 10 years. Roles she has performed in past EMpowered productions include Clara in The Nutcracker (soloist) and Jumping Doll in The Nutcracker (Soloist). Sophia also had the honor of performing for the late Off. Amy Caprio in 5785
Catherine Green
Catherine has been dancing at EMpowered for 10 years. Catherine just began her dance training en pointe after passing her Pointe exam earlier in 2021. Catherine is a lover of all living things and will humanely rid the studio of spiders or critters without batting an eye. Catherine is also an avid bee keeper with the help of her parents. Try the Green's Local Honey!!
Business Staff
Sandi Thomas, CFO
Sandi is Emily's FAVORITE Aunt and is the EDWC CFO. Sandi is here to help with any acccount service questions and also is the backstage manager of all EMpowered Productions from front of the house to student facilitation.
Dr. Jenn Norris, M.S. PA-C, PhD
Dr. Jenn is Emily's FAVORITE sister, the office manager, organizer and resident medical staff for EDWC. Jenn is the assistant stage manager and professional 'quick change' guru helping students get on-stage, on time. Dr. Jenn can't wait for her new edition, Elliana to join the dance team!!
Patti Norris
Patti is the reason behind EDWC as Emily's FAVORITE mom and major supporter. Patti is ready to help with bumps and bruises as well as give an encouraging word to all the students. Patti is also an account services manager and looks forward to bringing her grandchildren to the studio.