Our Team

Owner & Artistic Director

Stephanie Kovac

Artistic Director, Instructor & Choreographer | Stephanie Kovac began her dance training at the age four. She trained, performed, and competed with various dance studios in Rochester, New York. In 2008, Stephanie came to study classical ballet and Pointe under the direction of the late Wayne Blatt at Flower City Ballet where she had the opportunity to perform many roles in the annual productions of The Nutcracker and more. Stephanie continued her studies in ballet and modern dance at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and advanced performing with Kim Jones Dance Company. In Rochester, she has performed in festivals such as The Fringe Fest and Vision of Sound. She enjoys taking all types of dance classes and workshops and finding new opportunities to explore, perform and spread joy in the dance world. At Rochester Dance Theatre’s inception, Stephanie joined our teaching staff in 2017 as an instructor, choreographer and Co- Director. As of 2020, Ms. Kovac is excited to lead as Owner and Artistic Director of Rochester Dance Theatre and extend her love for dance to dancers of all ages!

Amanda Turk

Instructor & Choreographer | Amanda Turk started her training at a local dance studio in 2003, studying Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Hip Hop. She competed regionally and nationally with solos and group dances, as well as performing in yearly recitals. Amanda began studying at Hochstein School of Music and Dance in 2009, where she discovered her love for classical ballet and pointe technique. In 2013, she won the Hochstein Dance Student Scholarship and became part of the Senior Performance Ensemble. Amanda has performed in shows with One Dance Company, including “The Spectral Carnival” in 2014 hosted by The Yards Art Collective. She directed the dance performance for “The Spectral Carnival” 2 years in a row. Amanda also performed in Flower City Ballet’s rendition of “The Nutcracker” and with Rochester Dance Theatre (formerly Flower City Ballet) in their adaptation of “Carnival of the Animals” and Erika Ruegemer’s modern production titled “The Shell”. Amanda also performed in Rochester Conservatory of Dance's modern ensemble show "Elements of Light". Amanda started teaching at Rochester Conservatory of Dance in the fall of 2015, specializing in Acro, Hip Hop, and Tap. Since then, she has branched out to teach other styles, including jazz, ballet, and contemporary. Amanda is very excited to continue her teaching career at Rochester Dance Theatre!

Joanna Rodriguez

Instructor & Choreographer |  Joanna Rodriguez was trained in Naperville, Illinois by Ricardo and Regina Moyano of DanceWest Ballet. She performed a variety of classical and contemporary roles with DanceWest Ballet Company, an Honor Company of Regional Dance America. She then attended Hope College in Holland, MI, where she received a BA in Dance Performance and Choreography and was awarded the Distinguished Artist Award and the Florence Cavanaugh award for exceptional achievement in dance. From 2006-2015, Joanna resided in West Michigan, where she taught ballet and contemporary dance, choreographed in collaboration with local artists, poets, and musicians, and served as the Advisor of the Sacred Dance Ministry at Hope College, and was involved in dance ministry at local churches. As a teacher and dancer, Joanna is passionate about proper alignment, core strength, attention to detail, and artistry!  Ms. Joanna has also been a part of Rochester Dance Theatre since its inception and is delighted to continue to support our students!

Samantha Bruno

Instructor & Choreographer | Samantha Bruno started her training at the age of three at a local, competitive dance studio, studying the styles of Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical and Modern. She competed regionally with solos and group dances, as well as taking classes at conventions with renowned artists and showcasing her craft in yearly recitals. In 2014 and years on, she claimed roles in Flower City Ballet’s rendition of “The Nutcracker”. Through this opportunity she was also able to perform in shows with One Dance Company, including “The Spectral Carnival” hosted by The Yards Art Collective. Samantha continued her studies beyond high school at SUNY Geneseo, where she furthered her love for classical ballet and dance's rich history. She has taught at local studios as well as master classes throughout her career, specializing in Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Ballet. Samantha is very excited to join the wonderful staff at Rochester Dance Theatre!