Meet your judges!

We are proud to have these talented individuals on our panel this season. Each regional event will have 3 judges. Event judges may not be listed below.

Julie

Julie Swartz

A native of Bel Air, MD, Julie is an honors graduate of Rutgers University, where she was a 4- year member of the Nationally-ranked Rutgers Dance team. She is trained in numerous styles of dance including ballet, jazz, tap, modern, hip hop, irish step, musical theater and more. She has performed in shows all across the US and Canada with Dublin Worldwide Productions which include Shake Rattle and Roll (Reno, NV), Dancing Queen (Niagara Falls, ON), and Spirit of the Dance (Myrtle Beach, SC). She was also featured on MTV’s “America’s Best Dance Crew” and has toured the world as a dancer for Stiletto Entertainment on Holland America Line Cruises. She was a featured dancer in the National Tour of Hooray for Hollywood, and appeared on America’s Got Talent performing with Broadway’s, “The Illusionists”. Most recently, she had the privilege of performing in Tokyo, Japan in the production of “Christmas Wonderland”. When Julie is not performing, she spends much of her time traveling and choreographing for prestigious organizations, some of which include the Cincinnati BenGALS Cheerleaders, Lachey Arts, and collegiate dance teams and dance studios across the country. Julie is also represented as a Dance Competition Judge with Impact Dance Adjudicators.

James A. Washington

James A. Washington

A native of Rochester, NY, James began his dance training at Dance 22. He graduated cum laude from the Conservatory at Point Park University, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in dance. James has worked with and performed pieces by Robert Battle, David Parsons, Christopher Huggins, Kyle Abraham, Francesca Harper, Camille A. Brown, Sidra Bell, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Peter Chu, Vernard Gilmore and many others. James was ranked Top Five at the 2012 International Choreography Competition at Giordano Jazz Dance World Congress. His choreography credits also include: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Slippery Rock University, Cleveland School of the Arts, Houston Met Too Youth Company, and Lifetime’s Hit “Dance Moms”. James was the 2013 male recipient of the “Brazzy Award,” given for outstanding achievement in the field of dance. James was a founding member of the August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble (“Top 25 to Watch” in 2012, Dance Magazine) under the direction of Greer Reed in Pittsburgh, PA. He has also performed as a guest artist with The Houston Metropolitan Dance Company in Houston, TX and Owen/Cox Dance Group in Kansas City, MO. Most recently, James was featured in Vanity Fair, France publication as a “Dancer of NY” photographed by James Jin. He is currently performing with Ballet Inc, Michael Susten and Company, and represented by MSA talent agency in New York City, as well as on the roster of dance competition judges with Impact Dance Adjudicators. (@Jawashi1)

Amy Maze

Amy Maze

For over 25 years dance has been the driving force in Amy Maze’s life and career. Her thriving year-round dance arts program based in Western North Carolina engages hundreds of youngsters ages 3-18. Amy has choreographed more than 15 theatrical productions for area schools and theatres. Her students have gone on to prestigious colleges and careers in dance of their own. She studied at NC School of the Arts and received a BFA with honors in choreography and performance from UNC Greensboro. She has performed for Walt Disney World Inc., a principal dancer in Soul Play modern dance company, and dance captain/assistant choreographer for the nation’s 3rd oldest outdoor drama Horn in the West.

Troy Haywood

Troy Haywood

Born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, Troy Haywood is a 28-year-old choreographer, creative director, dancer, and adjudicator represented by Impact Dance Adjudicators.

Troy discovered his passion for dancing at an early age, but didn’t begin formal training until 2004. Immediately being involved in a competitive company, Troy began training over 40 hours a week which led him to thrive at competitions across the country. Throughout his competitive years, he was seen and adjudicated by some of the worlds greatest teachers and choreographers and won many top honors at competitions and conventions across the country.

After graduating high-school Troy spent five years dancing and teaching professionally all across the east coast. Living primarily in Miami, Forida he worked as dancer with Royal Caribbean, choreographed and performed in music videos and company shows, taught at local conventions, met some of the greatest people in the world, and fell deeply in love with a different side of dance: creating.

In 2011, Troy dedicated his career solely to choreography and teaching. Since then his dynamic teaching style and choreography has become highly sought after after being seen on competitive stages, on screen, and at some of the hottest venues all over the United States.

Lucinda Morin

Lucinda Morin

A former Radio City Rockette, Lucinda has performed professionally across the US and beyond for the past 23 years. She was a featured dancer at Alabama Theatre in Myrtle Beach and at American Music Theatre in Lancaster, PA. She performed at Opryland USA, Bally’s Casino in Atlantic City, House of Blues in Los Angeles and Myrtle Beach, on Holland America and Celebrity Cruise Lines, and in numerous commercials, TV appearances, and voiceovers. Her choreography credits include twelve original revue shows and two musicals at the Savannah Theatre in Savannah, GA, as well as theUltimate Variety Show and Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry for Fee-Hedrick Entertainment in TN. Morin is a member of Dance Masters of America.

Ericka Ricks

Ericka Ricks

A graduate of the Virginia Governors School of the Arts, Ericka received a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance from Shenandoah Conservatory, in Winchester, Virginia. In the past, Ericka has had the opportunity to travel the world performing in numerous musical theatre productions. Her Broadway National/International Tour credits are: Legally Blonde the Musical, All Shook Up, and Dreamgirls. Regional Theatre credits include: Hairspray, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Ragtime, Schoolhouse Rock Live!, and Pinkalicious.

She is currently a dance instructor at Cape Henry Collegiate School, as well as an instructor/coach for the First Landing Dance Center in Virginia Beach.

Jamie Howes

Jamie Howes

As an alumnus of the George Mason University School of Dance, Jamie Howes was thrilled when offered the opportunity to return to her alma mater as Adjunct Professor of Dance. Jamie began her dance training at the age of 2 and a half and made the decision to pursue dance as a career as she entered high school. While at Mason, Jamie received numerous scholarships and awards and has had the privilege to perform the works of Elisa Monte, Mark Morris, Doug Varone, David Parsons, Robert Battle and Ohad Naharin as well as performing the solo role in Twyla Tharp’s Eight Jelly Roles. In 2011, Jamie graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance as well as her K-12 Teaching Certification. Professionally, Howes has worked with an International Touring Modern Company; Nicholas Andre Dance, Camille A. Brown and Dancers, contemporary theater group, Marinspired; The Storytellers, Marquette Productions on the rework of Jet Set from the hit Broadway show Catch Me If You Can, as well as numerous shows with Dublin Worldwide and Spirit Productions including an international tour of Jersey Nights and a National tour of Hooray for Hollywood, in which Howes was the lead dancer and Flashdance soloist. Other credits include The Spirit of Christmas, Rock Around the Clock, Le Grande Cirque Adrenaline and Christmas on Ice. Jamie has danced for international recording artist, Chris Brown, and has made TV appearances on many programs including NBC’s “The TODAY Show”, “Smash”, “The Jenny McCarthy Show” and TLC’s “The Cake Boss”. For the entirety of her career, Jamie was represented by New York City’s premier talent agency BlocNYC and she is now currently on the roster as a Dance Competition Judge with Impact Dance Adjudicators.

Nicole Campbell

Nicole Campbell

Nicole is a professional dancer, choreographer and instructor currently based in Atlanta. Hailing from metro Detroit, she received her B.S. in Dance from Wayne State University after her childhood training at Robert Lee School of Dance and Churchill High School’s Creative and Performing Arts program. Performance credits include Hannibal Buress, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, JTDance, Gotta Dance Contemporary, Melodic Nocturne Dance Tribe and halftime shows for the Detroit Lions and Detroit Pistons. Nicole’s choreographic works have been presented in concerts for artLabJ and MoreDances Contemporary Dance Company in addition to receiving frequent top honors in competitions. As a result of Nicole’s emphasis on energy and emotional commitment in her classes, many of her students have received scholarships, special awards, top scores and professional jobs. Nicole continues to perform, choreograph and teach around the country in addition to judging for multiple competitions. She is currently on the roster of dance competition judges with Impact Dance Adjudicators.

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Lianne Solina

Lianne Solina

Versatility is what Lianne Solina is known for in the commercial dance industry, as she seamlessly fuses the bonds of technique and artistry in all of her creative settings. Lianne trained on a full scholarship at both Ballet Hispanico & Broadway Dance Center from world renowned artists. Her vast studies and mastery of Jazz, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Modern, Flamenco, & Latin Jazz set her apart and launched herprofessional career at an early age. Escalating in the commercial world, Lianne performed with international Grammy award- winning artists such as Britney Spears, Outkast, Chris Brown, and LL Cool J. She has also worked with renowned organizations; Cartoon Network, Elizabeth Arden, ABC Television Network, Jazz @ Lincoln Center, and Disney to name a few.

Lianne continues to be in demand as she choreographs and guest teaches internationally, all while continuing her professional development. As a determined artist on and off the stage, Lianne’s passion is to pass on her knowledge, while transcending within her profession. Lianne Solina’s experience and abilities continue to elevate to new heights. She is Certified with Acrobatic Arts and is an Ambassador with Youth Protection Advocates In Dance. Her versatility, knowledge of technique, and passion for Jazz, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Acrobatics, and Ballet Conditioning is sought-after. Lianne travels all over the United States and Canada adjudicating, creating age-appropriate choreography, and instructing workshops. Extremely experienced in choreography for young dancers, she has recently returned from Disney for her second time, where she directed and choreographed a full production piece for over 70 dancers. She is also currently on the roster of Dance Competition Judges with Impact Dance Adjudicators.

Carrie Millikin Euker

Carrie Millikin Euker

Carrie began studying dance in Rockford, IL under former Radio City Rockette, Kathy Nelson. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Dance from Mercyhurst University and achieved her MBA degree at the University of Colorado, Denver. While attending Mercyhurst she danced various roles in Carmen, Coppelia, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, La Sylphide, and Raymonda, under the direction of Tauna Hunter. She danced with Milwaukee Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet II, performing in Michael Pink’s Swan Lake, Don Quixote, and Romeo and Juliet. Carrie performed in Denver with the David Taylor Dance Theater enjoying soloist and principal roles in works by James Wallace as well as Gregory Dawson’s “Eclipsing Venus.” She has also performed with 7 Dancers, notably in “ART” by Mandy Moore, of the hit television series “So You Think You Can Dance.” Carrie also danced the lead role in 101 Things to do in a Lifetime, featuring choreography by Chantal Robson. During her four year stay at Missouri Contemporary Ballet, Carrie performed numerous works by director Karen Mareck Grundy as well as works by Shannon Lee West, Thang Dao, Autumn Eckman, and Joshua Blake Carter. Carrie originated the role of Alice in Grundy’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

In 2011 Carrie became the founding director and lead instructor of the School of MCB. During this time she also coordinated DanceReach, offering dance to at-risk youth in the community, and in 2013 she co-founded DanceAbility, a program offering dance classes to students with special needs. In 2016 Carrie was appointed Executive & Artistic Director of the Susquehanna Youth Ballet and in her first year mounted a brand new full-length Nutcracker as well as choreographing new contemporary works for the company. In addition to directing the non-profit SYB, Carrie has also assumed the role of Ballet Director at EMC Performing Arts Studio. She also dedicates time to serving on the board of the Maryland Council for Dance which hosts the Maryland Dance Festival annually. Carrie’s original choreography has been performed by students as well as professionals and she has extensive experience instructing and coaching dancers of all ages in ballet, jazz, tap, and modern/contemporary styles. Carrie resides in the greater Baltimore area and appears nationally as a guest artist, teacher, and choreographer. She is currently on the roster of Dance Competition Judges with Impact Dance Adjudicators. For more information see her website.

Terrie Batson

Terrie Batson

Model, dancer and actress, Wilmington, NC native, Terrie Batson’s diverse artistic career includes being a former Runway and Print Model as well as being featured in several area & National TV Commercials & National Print Ads. She has acted in major feature films including Mary in “Cyborg” with Jean Claude VanDamme, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II, “29th Street” and in several Wilmington area Independent feature films. Her acting career also includes appearances in Television productions such as “Young Indiana Jones”, “In A Childs Name”, “Bitter Blood” and “One Tree Hill”, and lead & featured roles in Wilmington, NC film productions of “The Gritters”, “The Decision” , “Change”, “The Hermit”, “Two Eleven” & “Finding Home” and numerous Theatre productions. Terrie Batson began dance training at the age of 5 and began instructing at the age of 15 for the Baldwin-Copeland Studio of Dance in Wilmington, NC. Under her instruction many dancers have won numerous awards, scholarships and recognition in the dance arena and some have opened their own dance schools. Her routines and dancers have been awarded Regional & National honors for Choreography, Dance Spirit, Overall Placements, Grand Championships, etc. She is also a judge for local, regional & national dance competitions. Terrie is the owner of Techniques In Motion School of Dance in Wilmington, NC. celebrating her 25th anniversary this year in dance education!!