Meet Our Staff
Rachel Helwig
Owner & Director
Rachel Helwig has been dancing since the age of 2 and has excelled and studied extensively in many areas of dance including Tap, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop and Ballet. She studied under the direction of Sharon DiCrosta at The Dancer’s Studio for 5 years and Michelle Bonavena at Performing Art Studio BE in North Haven for 10 years.
Rachel began teaching when she was 16 years old choreographing and cleaning dances of all ages and genres. While she was teaching, she was also competitively dancing in a variety of dance competitions that she was awarded with many solo overalls and titles, duo/trio awards and multiple group awards. Alongside dancing, Rachel has also performed in a number of competitive musical theatre routines. In high school, Rachel attended both North Branford High School and the Educational Center for the Arts in New Haven for acting.
After graduating from North Branford High School in 2019, she attended Jacksonville University for three years graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. During her years at JU, she continued her involvement with dance by teaching and cleaning at Performing Art Studio BE during her breaks. Rachel’s choreography and teaching style reflects her love and passion for the art inspiring many dancers to create and build their self-motivation. It has always been a lifelong passion for Rachel to open a dance studio of her own and she could not be happier to be back in her hometown sharing her passion and love for dance at Prodigy Dance Company.
Denise Helwig
Office Manager
Denise Helwig has been an experienced office manager for over 12 years. She manages all of the administrative work at Prodigy Dance Company. When Denise is not at the office you could find her teaching pre-school as she also specializes in early childhood education. Denise loves being involved in the dance community supporting all of the dancers and watching them perform.
Samantha Helwig
Instructor
Samantha Helwig has danced for 14 years under the direction of Michelle Bonavena at Performing Art Studio BE. Her love for dance grew throughout the years becoming a substitute teacher at the age of 15 years old. Samantha has intensively trained in Tap, Modern, Hip Hop, and Contemporary. Samantha was also a competitive dancer and has been awarded with numerous awards for her solos and group numbers. Samantha continued to educate herself by attending conventions and master classes to further her education.
When Samantha is not dancing she also has been vocally trained for 13 years, performing in numerous vocal shows and competing in numerous musical theatre routines. Recently graduating from North Branford High School in 2022, Samantha will be attending Albertus Magnus College in the Fall majoring in Sports Management. Looking to keep dance within her life, Samantha is excited to share her love for the art by continuing to teach and inspire at Prodigy Dance Company.
Kaley Oliverio
Instructor
Kaley Oliverio has been in the cheer and dance world since the age of 4 years old. She trained heavily as a competitive cheerleader at East Celebrity Elite for 15 years and began teaching at the age of 17. Reaching the highest level that a competitive cheerleader could reach at the age of 14. Mastering skills such as double full, standing full, etc. After graduating from North Branford High School in 2019, Kaley has continued her training throughout college at the University of Rhode Island majoring in Kinesiology. Kaley’s passion and love for cheerleading and dance is something she wants to pass down to all the kids she teaches.
Makayla Perrilli
Instructor
Makayla began her dancing career at the age of 11 years old and has been in love with dance ever since. Makayla studied dance at Performing Art Studio BE in North Haven for 7 years. Makayla now attends goes to school at Quinnipiac University receiving a bachelors in Biology and masters in Molecular and Cell Biology. In the future, Makayla hopes to become a Pediatrician. Wanting to continue to keep dance in her life, Makayla loves to teach and wants to pass down her passion and knowledge to the next generation of dancers at Prodigy Dance Company.
Gillian Penna
Instructor
Gillian Penna danced for 17 years, studying in all areas under a variety of studios and companies, with a primary focus in ballet towards the later half of her career. Gillian started dancing at the age of 3 at the Gloria Jean Studio of Dance and was a member of the DanStarZ Dance Team until she was 13. At the age of 8 she also began training at the New Haven Ballet. By 13 she began exclusively training under scholarship at New Haven Ballet to begin focusing on ballet. Gillian has had opportunities to spend summers training at several professional ballet companies including the Boston Ballet, the Miami City Ballet and the Pennsylvania Ballet (now Philadelphia Ballet). Over the course of her career she has trained under various choreographers in all different styles of dance. Gillian has always had a passion for dance of all styles, with a special love for ballet. Gillian has loved being able to teach throughout the years while sharing her experience and do guest choreography for the new generations of aspiring dancers and helping them to become the strongest versions of themselves.
Madisyn Dinello
Instructor
Madisyn Dinello has been dancing since the age of 2 years old and began cheering at the age of 13. Madisyn has studied dance under the direction of Michelle Bonavena at Performing Art Studio BE. After graduating from Wilbur Cross High School in 2019, Madisyn continued her love and knowledge for cheer at the University of New Haven becoming captain by her senior year. When Madisyn is not cheering, you can find her at a law firm working as a paralegal. Madisyn is excited to join our Prodigy Dance Company family and being able to pass down her skills and knowledge to all of our students.
Sadie Ostad
Instructor
Sadie Ostad starting dancing at the age of 2 years old, under the direction of Studio 1 in Wolcott, CT. She began her competition career at 4 years old and trained in various genres of dance which include, ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, musical theatre, pointe, etc. When she was not dancing at the studio, you could find her on the sideline with the Branford Walsh Dance Team performing jazz, kickline, and hip hop!
In 2014, Sadie became an assistant at Shoreline Dance Academy, and helped lead the team to become World Champs in 2016, as well as numerous top scoring awards. In high school, Sadie was a featured dancers in plays, as well as helping to choreograph routines for the Shoreline Theatre Company!
In college, Sadie continued her dance career by being a member of Danceworks Productions. Graduating in 2023 from Hofstra University with a bachelor of arts in Public Relations and a minor in Fine Arts. Outside of the studio Sadie works full time as a Marketing Coordinator at UpSpring PR.
Sadie has a huge passion for dance and loves to watch her dancers grow and accomplish their goals. She believes that nothing is more rewarding and cannot wait to be apart of the Prodigy Dance Family.
Makayla James
Instructor
Makayla has been immersed into cheering for 18 years. She began coaching at cheer gyms when she was in high school. During her time in college
Makayla has also taught many tumbling and stunting classes and privates.
Makayla is hoping one day to pursue being a Dental Hygienist. When Makayla is not coaching or at school, you may find her traveling! She just recently went to Bali!
Makayla has a huge passion for tumbling and kids! She cannot wait to share her love and passion for tumbling with the students at Prodigy Dance Company!