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!
Susan Schott Martucci, Owner
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.
Nikki Ickes
Nicole (Nikki) Ickes has been deeply passionate about dance, teaching and choreography since childhood. She began her dancing career at age five. Her favorite genres include contemporary, lyrical, jazz and hip hop. In high school, she was Captain of her Dance Team, choreographed for many local theatrical dance performances, was awarded the title of UDA All-Star and was selected to represent the UDA organization while dancing in Paris, France. She attended Florida State University, where she continued to pursue her love of dance through the FSU School of Dance and was lead choreographer for several dance team competitions. Nikki took a break from dance for a career in Speech-Language Pathology and to raise two beautiful children with her husband. She is incredibly grateful that her daughter’s love for dance opened up opportunities both at The Dancer’s Pointe and Cornerstone Charter Academy for Ms. Nikki to go back again to her first love of teaching and choreography! She gets excited about inspiring youth to develop their passion for dance and creative movement. You will always find Nikki dancing around the house, in the car or pretty much wherever she goes!
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.
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 over 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 (UCF) and currently works at PuzzleHR as a Regional HR Supervisor. Katy is excited to share her passion for dance with our dancers.
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.
Camille Piovanetti, originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico began her dance training at the age of three years old. Dance has since been a significant part of her life, having been an enduring source of inspiration to her. She participated in winter showcases for Puerto Rico’s School for the Performing Arts and had the opportunity to compete in many dance competitions. In addition to being a part of Disney’s Lion King crew, she has showcased her performance skills for the Orlando Magic and Solar Bears. Ms. Camille’s high energy allows her to juggle her pre-law studies at UCF, while also serving as a nanny to young children and teaching dance! She is a passionate dance teacher for all ages from young children through adult learners. She imparts a deep love for dance through well-planned lessons and hands-on activities, earning top marks from her students for fun, engaging and in-depth classes. Ms. Camille enjoyed getting to know many students from The Dancer’s Pointe through subbing last year and is excited to help them develop their abilities on a weekly basis this year!
Ms. Staci Matz, a Central Florida native, began her dance journey at The Dancer’s Pointe at the age of six and remained with the studio through her early high school years before joining the Boone High School Bravette’s dance team. As a competitor, she won multiple titles with the Pointe of Impact dance team and even performed on the iconic stages of Disney. After starting her family, Ms. Staci returned to the area and now enjoys sharing her passion for dance with her two daughters, who also train at The Dancer’s Pointe. As a school teacher, parent, and previous student, Ms. Staci is thrilled to be back at the studio where it all began, inspiring the next generation of dancers.
Mr. Zoey Cruz is a master-level hip hop teacher and couldn’t be more thrilled to continue working with the students at The Dancer’s Pointe!
Mr. Zoey began his dance career in 2004 in Los Angeles, and dance has given him the opportunity to travel nationally and internationally as a performer, teacher, and choreographer. He has worked with mainstream dance companies and industry-leading choreographers whose credits include Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Usher, Pink, and Janet Jackson.
He has taught workshops and judged events with dancers from So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Best Dance Crew, and NBC’s World of Dance. In addition, he has taught at the university level for Georgetown University, Wagner College, the University of Maryland, Brown University, and Shenandoah University. He also enjoys teaching younger dancers through conventions, dance magnet programs, and studio classes.
When he’s not dancing, you can find him leading youth at his church and spending time with his fiance at Disney!















