Employment History:

Published Works:

Public Speaking Experience:

Why F is an Expert:
My expertise is in tap, Broadway jazz, lyrical, and ballet dance.

Best Advice:
I think a mistake that a lot of the teachers make is trying to start off too big. They see established teachers with a facility, a staff, etc...and they think they need all of that. Start small so that you don’t have a huge overhead. Build by getting your name out there. Don’t be afraid to do something for nothing – I used to do benefit shows and similar things gratis. Now when you ask a performer, “Can you do this?” they will ask, “Well, how much does it pay?” They don’t have any knowledge yet. Don’t be afraid to work for nothing, because it is experience no matter what it is.

Passionate about:
Dance! That’s it!

Biography Excerpt:
Alyce Carella-Signor is the owner and artistic director of the Alyce Carella Dance Centre, a dance school that in 2009 celebrated its 50th year in business. A veteran dancer, she has performed at the 500 Club in Atlantic City, and alongside Sammy Davis Jr., Nat King Cole and Liberace. In addition to these experiences, she trained as a Rockette, was asked to perform at the Copacabana and trained as a dancer with the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Refusing to be limited to her own teaching efforts, Ms. Carella-Signor also served as the dance director at Miss Porter’s School for 20 years. As she says, “I love all forms of dance.” Her dance center offers classes in tap, ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, Broadway jazz, lyrical and Zumba for children and adults of all levels. The teaching staff at the center enjoys a yield of positive results for their students. In the Hartford Magazine 2008 and 2009 Readers Poll, the Alyce Carella Dance Centre received top honors in "Best Dance Lessons."

     

Cambridge Who's Who: Has there been a highlight of your career?  
ALYCE CARELLA-SIGNOR :  My daughter threw me a huge surprise party five years ago, where [former] students…some of whom have opened their own studios…came in from Spain, California, Washington, New York and all over New England, among other places. It was such a thrill. My daughter choreographed a number to “On Broadway,” mailed a video of it to everybody and 50 dancers performed it for me. Some of the girls who attended were the original members of my jazz dance company, which I had for 12 years. We performed in lectures and concerts. Every day to me is a blessing, doing what I am doing. I am very fortunate to be working in a field that I’m passionate about.

What would you like to promote most about yourself or your business?
Through my business, I instill the love and joy of dance as well as the thrill of accomplishment into my students. Since I help to develop their overall confidence, they benefit in all areas – not just in the dance world. One of my former students now works as a strategic communications executive for the President in Washington, D.C. She was a wonderful dancer; she taught for my company as well. She has such poise and confidence in herself. When she actually went for this position, she used this confidence to get it. As she said in a poem she wrote for me, “What I took to school, along with a sense of cool, and to all of my later pursuits, was formed during those impressionable years learning to dance behind you…”

What is the most significant issue facing your profession today?
Discipline is key. Without discipline, there is no dance. I have parents all the time who say to their kids, “Have fun and have a good time.” I tell the parents, “Excuse me, please don’t say that. They will have fun; they will have a good time because they are learning. Please tell them to listen to their teacher and pay attention.”