Our Faculty

Lynne Taylor-Kilgore

Studio Director - Company and Recreational Instructor - Private Technique Coach

Lynne is the owner and director of Synergy Dance Academy, as well as an Instructor for our recreational program and competitive company - Synergy Dance Company. Lynne has been dancing/teaching for over 30 years and prior to that was a competitive gymnast.

She is a registered teacher with The Cecchetti Council of America, a member of Dance Educators of America and a certified teacher of Dance Masters of America. Lynne also holds certifications in Progressive Ballet Training (PBT), Progressive Contemporary Training (PCT) and Acrobatics Arts.

Lynne is a former Dance Masters Miss Dance of Michigan and a finalist on Star Search. In addition to her dancing background, she has also worked for Elite Modeling Agency in Michigan and NYC.

Education is key to Lynne as she continues her training in various subjects, such as Cecchetti and other dance disciplines by taking master classes throughout the country.

Synergy has received received several regional and national choreography awards for Lynne's work with her competitive groups, her greatest joy is sharing her love of dance with her students and dance families.

Carrie Neal

Company and Recreational Tap Instructor - Private Technique Coach

Carrie Neal has been dancing for over 20 years and teaching for 12 years. She studied all styles of dance as a young student, but centered her focus on tap in her teens. As a teacher, she loves to see her students excel and grow in skill levels, but more so in self confidence and self expression. She pushes her students to continue challenging themselves and to never stop learning. Carrie has been a part of Synergy Dance Academy since we opened in 2009 and is honored to call Synergy home.

Kristen Hudecz

Company and Recreational Instructor - Private Technique Coach

Kristen “Kris” Hudecz is a passionate dance educator, performer, and choreographer who has been dancing for more than twenty years. Kris first trained recreationally and competitively at Gail Wildfong School of Dance in her hometown of Gladwin, Michigan before achieving her Bachelor’s Degrees in Social Work and Dance Performance from Eastern Michigan University in April 2020. She has danced in works choreographed by Levi Marsman (instructor at Ailey Extension, New York, NY) and William Crowley (student of Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in New York, NY and Graham Intensive instructor in Paris, France), and currently works as a company dancer for local jazz and contemporary dance company, ConteXture Dance Detroit. Kris’s choreography has been honored with selection for performance at several Southeast Michigan dance concerts, adjudication at the American College Dance Association East-Central Conference, and commissioned guest art at her alma mater. Kris is a highly active dance educator and has extensive experience with ballet, pointe, modern, lyrical, contemporary, musical theatre, tap, hip hop, jazz, jazz funk, improvisation, pre-ballet and creative movement. Her students and work are consistently highly commended at dance competitions and community dance events. She is thrilled to be a new part of the SDA Team!

Marissa Curtis

Recreational Instructor

Hello dancers and Synergy families, I’m excited to have the opportunity to teach at Synergy this year. I’ve been studying dance since I was four and competing since I was six. I am proficient in all styles of dance including tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, and more. I just graduated from Stevenson High School, during that time I also represented my school by competing on their dance team. Over the past six years I assisted many teachers, styles, and ages of dance. I've furthered my dance education by taking master classes through conventions with my Synergy team. I’m currently a freshman at Schoolcraft College with a science major focusing on radiation therapy. I am so excited to help your dancers grow!

Devon Campbell

Company Hip Hop Instructor

Devon Campbell known professionally as “Uri Mercury”, has been an active Michigan dancer/choreographer for the past 17 years. Some of his most notable work includes being a featured dancer on “Screamtour 2012” with Mindless Behavior, OMG Girls, and Diggy Simmons, opening for Lil Wayne, back up dancer/choreographer for The Shop Boys, R&B singers: LaBritney, Princeton, Loreal, Rocco, Ryan Allen, Nielle, Deleante Kareer, Cullen Emadrey, Remington Loyd, JaVon Lewis, Female Emcee B. Focus, Rodney Howard, Male Impersonator: Ric Key, as well as Drag Icons: Kourtney Breeze, and Melanie Von Kruz. Mr. Campbell also had the opportunity to choreograph 17 consecutive sets for Motor City Choreographers Collective, as well as a set choreography for the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade. Outside of studio work and commercial work, Uri’s true love comes from Dance Crews/Companies .

Tori Liptow

Company and Recreational Instructor - Private Technique Coach

Hello dancers and Synergy families, I’ve been dancing since I was two years old, and competing since I was 5. I've studied all styles of dance including tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, and more. I just graduated from Stevenson High School, during that time I also represented my school by competing on their dance team. On this dance team I held leadership roles such as captain. I continue to work with Stevenson’s team alongside my old coaches and teammates. I am continuing my studies at Wayne State University. I plan to major in Biology and go onto PA school. My goal is to continue dancing through WSU as well. I am beyond happy to teach these dancers technique as well as to instill confidence in them. My goal is to make sure every dancer feels excited to dance every class.

Amy Borkus

Company and Recreational Instructor - Private Technique Coach

Amy began dancing at the age of 3. She has trained and competed in all subjects, with jazz, lyrical and ballet being her favorites. In addition to being a competitive dancer all the way through high school, she was also a part of her high school program, CAPA (creative and performing arts). This allowed her to take dance classes during school hours, under her teacher Mary Murphy.

After high school, Amy attended Wayne State University, and Eastern Michigan University where she was a recipient of a talent scholarship from both schools. She majored in dance performance and dance studio management.

Along with taking countless classes from master teachers throughout her dance career. Amy has also danced and modeled professionally for Audi, with the North American International Auto Show, where she was a back up dancer for the recording artist Seal.

While performing is what sparked her love for dance, Amy knew at a very young age she loved teaching and educating others. She has been a dance teacher throughout many metro Detroit dance studios over the last 20+ years. She helped Lynne open Synergy back in 2009, taught recreational and competitive classes there until 2021, where she took a little time off to expand her family. She is excited to be back to teaching, especially at Synergy!

Makayla Riggs

Company and Recreational Instructor - Private Technique Coach

Makayla Riggs is a passionate and energetic dance teacher with a rich background in a variety of dance genres. Her dance journey began at age 7 and eventually led her to competitive dancing by age 9. She honed her skills at Synergy Dance Academy where she excelled in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Musical Theater, Heels Dancing, Cecchetti method and more. Throughout high school, she expanded her dance education through Churchill High School's Creative and Performing Arts program and explored choreography/dance at esteemed institutions like Marygrove College and the University of Michigan. Makayla graduated from Western Michigan University in 2023 with a Health Science degree and a minor in Dance, developing her knowledge in Jazz, Ballet, and Modern. She also obtained a certification in Dance Studio Management and taught dance to underserved communities through Movement Exchange.

With experience teaching students from ages 3 to 18 in ballet, jazz, contemporary/lyrical, and tap across various studios in Michigan, Makayla brings her expertise, enthusiasm, and innovative teaching methods to Synergy Dance Academy. She is passionate about mentoring young dancers and eager to contribute to both their personal and artistic growth, as well as continuing her own professional development as a dance teacher.

Gabriela Morones

Company and Recreational Instructor/Choreography Coach/Co-Director of Adaptive Dance

Hello I am Gabriela Morones, I am a Synergy Dance Company alumni. I danced with Lynne Taylor-Kilgore from the age of 3 until 18. I was on the competition team since the age 5. I have studied lyrical, ballet, cecchetti, contemporary, jazz, musical theater, hip-hop, pointe, heels, jazz-funk hip hop and have performed on sidelines. I was on both the JV and Varsity PCEP dance team's and the Saginaw Valley State University Dance Team (SVSU-DT). I have performed at college football, basketball, and soccer games. I have attended NDA dance camps and their Nationals. I have performed at Piston games with SVSU-DT and Ms. Lynne. I am an assistant coach for the Stevenson High School Dance Club. I received my Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Medicine December 2021 and my Master of Science in Occupational Therapy December 2022 from SVSU. I am a school based occupational therapist, a head coach for Miracle League of Plymouth Astros, and a supervisor at Camp ABLE through Canton Theraputic Recreation. I am Co-Director of the Dance 4 Everyone adaptive dance program here at Synergy, and we are teaming up with Canton TR and ACE.

Gabriela Morones, MSOT, OTRL

Crystal Kerr

Co-Director of Adaptive Dance

Hello, my name is Mrs Crystal. I am the co-director and co-instructor of Adaptive Dance at Synergy

Here are some facts about me:

*I am in my 26th year as a ParaEducator at Northville Public schools

* I have a background in Occupational Therapy

* I am currently going back to school at EMU to be a special education teacher

* I have worked with children with multiple levels of disabilities

* I know sign language and am always working on expanding my knowledge

* I work well with nonverbal individuals

* I am a certified nursing assistant

* I love dance

I am so excited to be getting our program up and running, expanding the love of dance for everyone.

Erin Liptow

Synergy Front Desk Administrator

Hello! My name is Erin Liptow and this will be my 3rd year as the front desk administrator at Synergy. I was a dance parent at Synergy from 2009-2024, when my daughter, Tori, graduated high school.

A little about me-

I have been an elementary teacher for 26 years in Redford

I Irish danced as a child

I love being around children and watching them get excited about learning new things

I love to garden and take my puppy for walks

I am excited for this year to get started and see everyone!

Our Faculty

Devon Campbell

Company Hip Hop Instructor

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