Kathleen Kairns-Scholz
Owner of American Ballet Studio/Artistic Director
Mrs. Kairns-Scholz is the owner of American Ballet Studio as well as the Artistic Director of ADTLI (American Dance Theatre of Long Island- the official company of ABS). She was formally a soloist with Richmond Ballet, Indianapolis Ballet Theatre, The Fort Worth Ballet and The Eglevsky Ballet. Kathy received her training from former New York City Ballet principals Andre Eglevsky, Leda Eglevsky and Melissa Hayden. She has also worked with many New York City Ballet principles who coached her in Balanchine’s Who Cares, Rubies, Donizetti Variations, Serenade, Allegro Brilliante and Tarantella. She has danced a variety of classical roles including the lead role in Coppelia (coached by Frederick Franklin) and the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. Kathy has also worked with such notable choregraphers as Vincente Nebrada, John Butler and Val Caniparoli. Her contemporary repertoire includes Aubade, Green Table, and Carmina Burana. One of Kathy’s fondest memories is that of dancing the role of Clara in Mr. Eglevsky’s production of The Nutcracker at the Nassau Coliseum. From 1994-1999 Kathy served as ballet mistress for Frank Ohman and The New York Dance Theater. She choreographed original pieces for NYDT’s summer performances at Heckscher Park in Huntington. In addition to her roles at ABS and ADTLI Kathy now holds the title of President for the Long Island Dance Consortium. Mrs. Kairns-Scholz is married to Michael and is the proud mother of Megan, Kevin and Kerri.
Megan Scholz
Teacher/Assistant School Administrator
Megan Scholz is a teacher and choreographer at American Ballet Studio where she also holds the title of Assistant School Administrator. Megan also serves as Assistant Artistic Director of American Dance Theatre of Long Island. Ms. Scholz received her training at American Ballet Studio under the guidance of her mother, Kathleen Kairns-Scholz. Megan performed many lead roles in ADTLI’s production of the Nutcracker including Snow Queen and Dew Drop Fairy. She also performed with ADTLI at the Long Island Dance Consortium’s Spring and Summer performances. Megan then went on to attend Virginia Commonwealth University where she studied Dance and Choreography. Here she was able to learn from many talented people including Doug Varone and Dancers, Urban Bush Women and Christian Von Howard. VCU is where Megan found her love for choreography and now teaches a Student Choreography class to the advanced students at ABS where they learn the components of creating their own work. Megan’s other passion is photography which she uses to take all promotional photos for ABS and ADTLI. She also had the opportunity to photograph Boston Ballet and Urban Bush Woman at Jacob’s Pillow in 2021 where she took class with renowned dance photographer Rose Eichenbaum. Megan lives in Patchogue with her fiance Allen.
Brianna Paul
Teacher
Brianna Paul, a former Principal Dancer and graduate of ADTLI, began studying under Kathleen Kairns-Scholz at the age of three. She currently teaches at the American Ballet Studio, where she has performed leading roles such as the Sugar Plum Fairy in ADTLI's "Clara's Dream, The Nutcracker."
A Wagner College alumnus, Brianna holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Art, cum laude, with a minor in Art History and a concentration in Dance. During her years at Wagner, Brianna attended the American College Dance Festival as a featured soloist in Danny Buraczeski's Ezekiel's Wheel. Along with ballet training at Point Park University's International Summer Dance Program, she has been fortunate enough to study a variety of modern dance styles and techniques, including her experience with the Dance New Amsterdam Intensive, the Amy Marshall Dance Company, and Cecilia Flores' Floorwork Dance Company.
With a passion for teaching that extends beyond dance, Ms. Paul received her Child Development Associate certification from the CUNY School of Professional Studies, leading to a career as a preschool teacher. Today, Brianna puts all her skills to work throwing the best kitchen dance parties in Sayville with her husband and two children Addison (4) and Brandon (1).
Karen Antos
Teacher
Karen Antos began her serious ballet training in NYC with Madame Swoboda at Ballet Russe. She attended New York City’s High School of Performing Arts. At the age of 13, she received a full scholarship to the Joffrey School of Ballet and began her intensive ballet training. She first began performing with the Joffrey Ballet Company as an apprentice at the age of 16. After attending SUNY Stonybrook, she soon began her teaching career in classical ballet and shortly thereafter rekindled her performing career. She has had vast performing experience with many of New York’s regional ballet companies. She has performed the leading roles in ballets such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Le Corsaire, Peter and the Wolf, Bolero, Snow White, Cinderella and many others. With Millennial Arts Productions in New York City, she performed in Stravinsky’s Pulcinella and Handel’s Esther. During her tenure with Millennial Arts, she also worked in the production of Handel’s Messiah. Karen performed with Opera of the Hamptons, as the Gypsy dancer in Bizet’s Carmen. She was managing director for Ruth Davidson Hahn & Company’s presentation at The Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival. She also worked in the same capacity for the Company’s engagement at The Lied Center for the Performing Arts with guest artist Mikhail Baryshnikov. She continues a teaching career in classical ballet spanning over 30 years.
Olivia Minogue
Teacher
Olivia Minogue is a dancer and educator from Sayville, NY. She began her classical ballet training under Kathleen Kairns-Scholz at American Ballet Studio. With ABS, Minogue danced with American Dance Theatre of Long Island in their annual performance of Clara’s Dream the Nutcracker. She is fortunate to have danced lead roles such as Dew Drop Fairy, Lead Spanish and The Soldier Doll. After her time at ABS, she attended Adelphi University to pursue a Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance Performance. At Adelphi she has worked with faculty Orion Duckstein, Adelheid B. Strelick; Jennifer Kreichman. One of her favorite roles at Adelphi was The Catcher in Christopher Flemings’ Playball!. Minogue has also trained professionally with world renowned dance companies such as American Ballet Theatre, Martha Graham Dance Company, Paul Taylor American Modern Dance, Mark Morris Dance Group, Rioult Dance NY and Joffrey Ballet School. Olivia is a past intern with Paul Taylor American Modern Dance and Alison Cook Beatty Dance Company. After graduating Cum Laude from Adelphi University, she went on to dance with Praevado Dance Collective. While dancing with Praevado, Minogue went back to Adelphi University to earn her Masters of Arts in Physical Education where she graduated in May of 2022. Minogue’s hope is to bring dance education to public schools on Long Island. This coming school year Minogue will be teaching Dance at Paul D. Schreiber High School in Port Washington, NY. Olivia is fortunate to have the opportunity to educate the next generation of dancers at the very same place she learned to dance.
Joanie Kerekes
Teacher
Joanie Kerekes, PT, DPT
Joanie began her dance training at a young age at Releve Dance Center, studying under Kathy Kairns-Scholz, who instilled in her the love of ballet. With ADTLI's inception in 2000, Joanie performed roles such as Lead Spanish and Dew Drop Fairy in the Nutcracker. Joanie had the opportunity to train and perform with Svetlana Caton’s Lumiere Ballet and attended summer programs at Joffrey Ballet School and Long Beach Ballet in California.
Joanie holds a BFA in Ballet Pedagogy from the Hartt School, University of Hartford. While at Hartt, Joanie trained in various modern techniques including Graham technique, under Peggy Lyman, and was instructed in Vaganova and Cecchetti ballet methods. Joanie was honored to have her Senior choreographic work, "Current Jealousy: An Underwater Love Story" chosen to be presented at the American College Dance Festival in 2005.
Upon graduation, Joanie returned to American Ballet Studio as a teacher prior to pursuing her career in physical therapy. In 2012, Joanie graduated from Long Island University, Brooklyn with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and continues to practice full-time, working with patients of all ages and backgrounds. Joanie rejoined the staff at ABS in 2021, and is thrilled to be able to share her love of ballet with her knowledge of anatomy and kinesiology with her students.
Cassie Crowley
Teacher