About Us & Our Staff
“The Dancer’s Pointe is probably my favorite local business in Orlando. Ms. Susi and her team are fantastic at building confidence in young people through dance. My daughter has been involved with 3 different studios in Orlando and this has become her home away from home, building deeper and deeper relationships with her fellow dancers and learning how to light up on stage.” Lyndsay
The teachers and staff of The Dancer’s Pointe are proud of all of their dancers, including their alumni students ~ those who have continued to pursue dance through college and the professional world, as well as those who have chosen different paths. We believe that regardless of the path chosen, they are doing it better and with more style, because they are dancers!
Susi Martucci opened The Dancer’s Pointe in 1990 after graduating from college, dancing professionally for Walt Disney World, and choreographing and teaching in Tampa and Orlando. The dance studio has grown significantly since that time and recently moved to its new location in the Edgewood Isle Shopping Center on South Orange Ave. Ms. Susi is the former Dance Director for Bethea-Ebsen Center, has her B.A. Degree in Dance from St. Leo University and did her graduate work in Elementary Education at University of Central Florida. She is a certified and active member of Florida Dance Masters, Inc., and The Dancer’s Pointe is a certified member of Dance Educators of America. She is especially proud of her students, including alumni students ~ those who have continued to pursue dance through college and the professional world, as well as those who have chosen different paths. She strongly believes that regardless of the paths chosen, they are doing it better and with more style because they are dancers!
Kelly Salisbury, Artistic Director
Ms. Kelly is the Director of The Dancer’s Pointe. Kelly’s early training was with Southwest Dance Theatre and Bakersfield Ballet Academy. After graduating from the University of California Bakersfield, she moved to Los Angeles to study with Stanley Holden, Joe Tremaine, Donna McKechnie and Louis DaPron. She choreographed and taught for Civic Ballet Theatre, Santa Rosa College and Santa Maria Junior College. She relocated to NYC where she performed and choreographed musicals for numerous summer stock theatres. While in NYC, Kelly studied with American Dance Machine, Broadway Dance Center, and Harkness School of Ballet. Locally she has choreographed for the Civic Theatre, Orlando Theatre Project, the Jewish Community Center, Orlando International Fringe Festival, Seminole Community College and Theatre Downtown. She is currently an active member of Florida Dance Masters.
Ms. Lainey was born and raised in Orlando and began following her dream to dance at The Dancer’s Pointe at the age of 3. She danced with Howard Middle School as one of its inaugural performing arts school students; as such she trained with their highest level of dance and performed throughout the City of Orlando as a member of their Elite Dance Troupe. Ms. Lainey has trained extensively in ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, and her favorite style – hip hop! A graduate of Boone High School, Ms. Lainey danced and competed with the Bravettes for 3 years. serving as a team choreographer her senior year. When only 17 years old, she started teaching dance at Dover Shores Community Center, where she has led young dancers to perform and compete at the Dr. Phillips Center, guiding them to numerous honors. While sharing her love of dance with her students, Ms. Lainey is pursuing her own education at Valencia College and the University of Central Florida, working toward a masters degree in Exercise and Sport Physiology, with a minor in Nutrition and Dietetics. Her love for The Dancer’s Pointe grows each week as she continues to build relationships with her students, their families, and coworkers and is feeling so blessed to be a part of the DP family!
McClaine is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Contemporary Dance Choreography Festival (CDCFest), is a nationally and internationally awarded choreographer, Nationally Certified Pilates instructor and business owner (Pilates with McClaine), and dance educator of children through the collegiate level.
McClaine received her MFA in Dance from the University of California, Irvine and her BA in Dance from Columbia College Chicago. Prior to receiving her degrees, she trained with Orlando Ballet School/Company and North Carolina School of the Arts. Post graduate school she held the position of Assistant Director of Dance and Adjunct Faculty at Sacred Heart University for 3 years. Her choreography has been awarded “Best Choreography” in regional and national competitions, presented in the “New Grounds” Choreography Festival at University of South Florida, the “EAST meets WEST” International Dance Festival at University California Irvine, the ‘Dance-Forms’ 72nd International Choreographer’s Showcase in Scotland, and the WHITE WAVE Solo/Duo International Choreography Festival in NYC, adjudicated in the ACDA Baja Regional Conference in Torrence CA, and competed in the 19th Annual McCullum Theater Education Choreography Festival as a finalist in Palm Desert CA. She was also a guest choreographer for the US International Ballet Company.
Lauren Hawk, a former dancer at The Dancer’s Pointe is happy to be back! She began her training at the age of 4 and danced competitively from age 7 to 18 on the Pointe of Impact dance company. While she trained in many styles, contemporary and jazz were Lauren’s favorites, both to choreograph and perform. Lauren is a recent graduate of University of Florida where she received a Bachelor of Science in applied physiology and kinesiology and a minor in dance. During her time in college, Lauren was a member of DanZa dance company and choreographed many pieces for their shows. She plans to further her education with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy within the coming years and hopes to inspire her students to continue to dance, even if it is not their primary career path. Lauren is excited to teach alongside many of the dance teachers that she grew up with at The Dancer’s Pointe!
Catherine (Katy) Salisbury was born in Denver, Colorado and began dancing at age 3. Katy was a competitive dancer and studied under Elizabeth Tolerton in Cheyenne, WY. As a student, she danced in the Nutcracker with The David Taylor Ballet and Tulsa Ballet Companies. In high school, Katy auditioned and was selected to participate in the Ballet Aspen Summer Dance Intensive. For four summers, she was a dancer and performer in the Worthy Is the Lamb Passion play in North Carolina. In 1998, Katy was a character performer for the opening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Katy has been teaching dance for over 15 years at dance studios in Florida and Wyoming. Katy was a dance teacher and office manager for The Dancer’s Pointe 20 years ago. She was a founding member of the Allendale Civic Theater as a choreographer in Michigan. While teaching for Act Two Studios in Wyoming, she had the opportunity to help her students audition, prepare and perform in the Nutcracker with the San Diego Ballet and Moscow Ballet Companies. Katy is a graduate of the University of Central Florida (UCF) and currently works as a Human Resource Business Partner with PuzzleHR. Katy is excited to return home to The Dancer’s Pointe and share her passion for dance.
Noelle Carr was born and raised in Orlando, Florida and grew up at The Dancer’s Pointe, where she started dancing at age 4. She began dancing competitively at age 7 and continued as a member of the Pointe of Impact dance company through age 18. She is trained in many diverse styles; her favorites being tap and musical theatre. Noelle was an assistant teacher at The Dancer’s Pointe for many years and has served as a favorite substitute teacher for the last 3 years. Noelle, a Boone High School graduate, is currently studying marketing at the University of Central Florida. She is beyond excited to get back into dance and work with all of her favorite teachers who mentored her, while helping the next generation of dancers fall in love with dance the same way she did.