About New Heights Dance Theater
About Us
New Heights Dance Theater, a resident dance company of Clemens Center, is a non-profit organization that has members throughout the Twin Tiers region. It is our goal to bring performers ages six years and older together to show off their talents, produce high quality productions for this community, as well as demonstrate their love for dance and the arts.
Since 2000, we have had over 1000 men, women and children enjoy our winter production of The Nutcracker in Motion. We have offered several spring productions over the years, the longest running was Legends! A Tribute to ... which highlighted the music world's most popular artists such as Michael Jackson, Queen and Aerosmith. Starting in 2026, we have added a summer musical to our annual events.
Our alumni continue to return to our productions, both on stage and as part of our backstage team. Our NHDT family expands each year and continues to support our newest members as they pursue their stage dreams.
Meet Our Artistic Team
Leslie Updyke
Founder & Artistic Director
Miss Leslie is the owner, director, and dance instructor of Leslie School of Dance and Artistic Director/Choreographer of the New Heights Dance Theater.
Leslie studied with Madame Halina in Elmira beginning at the age of three. Leslie opened Leslie School of Dance in Elmira in September of 1991, and the Watkins Glen Studio in September of 2004. She attended Mercyhurst College and the State University of New York – Purchase, majoring in ballet with a concentration in teaching and has a business administration degree from Corning Community College.
Leslie has performed with the Elmira Corning Ballet Company, the Twin Tiers Ballet Theater and with the Mercyhurst and Purchase Dance Corps. She was involved with many professional productions performing multiple lead roles. She has choreographed the Nutcracker in Motion and Walking on the Horizon. Leslie prides herself on offering a very artistic approach to teaching ballet.
Leslie, and her husband, Greg, have three children and reside in Watkins Glen.
Leslie can be reached at either of the Leslie School of Dance locations in Elmira Heights and Watkins Glen
Tina Ranck
Assistant Artistic Director
Miss Tina was born and raised in Elmira. She is proud to continue to live here with her husband and three sons. She is a hair stylist in Painted Post for Shear Illusions, as well continuing her dream in instructing dance.
Tina studied classical ballet with Rafael Grigorian for twelve years where she performed in The Nutcracker, Baba Yaga, Chipillino, and Romeo and Juliet. While studying for eight years at Leslie School of Dance, she performed in the Nutcracker in Motion, Fairytales, and Stepping into the Season. Tina has been teaching at Leslie School of Dance since 2000, and has been a choreographer for New Heights Dance Theater for 20 years.
Bryce Hedges
Artistic Choreographer
Miss Bryce has been teaching dance at Leslie’s school of dance for 10 years. She has taught everything from ballet, jazz, and tap to acro! Currently she teaches tap and pointe. She has also been a part of NHDT for 8 years and the LSoD competition team for 5 years! She loves to share her love for dance at the same place she found her love and passion for the sport! Outside of the studio she teaches in the Elmira city school district and loves spending time with her husband, two cats, and all of her friends and family!