Meet UDA Staff Member and Rockette, Stacy!
Meet UDA Staff Member and Rockette, Stacy!
Meet the UDA Staff Member and Rockette, Stacy Paydo!
By: Brea Thompson
With a mom who was a swimmer, Stacy Paydo was enrolled in swim classes at a young age. It was when her grandmother noticed she was doing more dancing around the pool deck than swimming she was enrolled in dance lessons. And just like that, at age three her lifelong dance career began.
Paydo's career took off at a young age with a multitude of opportunities. She joined a group called "Personality Plus" that won the hit TV show "Star Search" when she was only 7 years old. Soon after, she began working with an agent in Los Angeles and performed on Disney shows and specials, Paul Abdul music videos, TV shows in Italy and much more. Paydo's parents were very passionate about her education so after attending and graduating from Arizona State University with a Bachelor's of Science in Business, she continued her dancing career aboard Princess Cruise Lines.
In the summer of 1999, Paydo joined Universal Dance Association as an instructor. She traveled the country, as well as outside the country teaching dance for the company and considers herself a "lifer" with UDA. Paydo says she has met some of her best friends from working with the company and it has also given her the ability to travel. She has been able to teach in Chile, speak in Paris, judge in Mexico and choreograph in Ecuador.
In 2005, Paydo was hired as a Rockette for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and has been "kicking up her heels as a Rockette" for the last 12 years. As a Rockette, she has danced at the Grand Ole Opry, Radio City Music Hall, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, on the "Today Show", "Michael Buble's Christmas Spectacular", "Wendy Williams", "The Chew", and "The Meredith Vieira Show" with the troupe. The Rockettes being an iconic dance troupe, Paydo knew they were known for their precision and kick lines. She contributes UDA with helping her prepare for the job.
Paydo continues to work with UDA as a Master Instructor at numerous UDA Elite, Convention, and College camps where she has the opportunity to teach one or two Master Classes during camp. During these two hour classes, she teaches a snazzy combo, has fun with the campers and is able to inspire them to continue their dance career professionally.
Dancing gives Paydo a chance to express herself and forget about everything else. She loves inspiring other young dancers through teaching and performing with the Rockettes. Stacy Paydo knew from a young age dancing was always going to be a part of her life and she continues to work each day to further her career.
With a mom who was a swimmer, Stacy Paydo was enrolled in swim classes at a young age. It was when her grandmother noticed she was doing more dancing around the pool deck than swimming she was enrolled in dance lessons. And just like that, at age three her lifelong dance career began.
Paydo's career took off at a young age with a multitude of opportunities. She joined a group called "Personality Plus" that won the hit TV show "Star Search" when she was only 7 years old. Soon after, she began working with an agent in Los Angeles and performed on Disney shows and specials, Paul Abdul music videos, TV shows in Italy and much more. Paydo's parents were very passionate about her education so after attending and graduating from Arizona State University with a Bachelor's of Science in Business, she continued her dancing career aboard Princess Cruise Lines.
In the summer of 1999, Paydo joined Universal Dance Association as an instructor. She traveled the country, as well as outside the country teaching dance for the company and considers herself a "lifer" with UDA. Paydo says she has met some of her best friends from working with the company and it has also given her the ability to travel. She has been able to teach in Chile, speak in Paris, judge in Mexico and choreograph in Ecuador.
In 2005, Paydo was hired as a Rockette for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and has been "kicking up her heels as a Rockette" for the last 12 years. As a Rockette, she has danced at the Grand Ole Opry, Radio City Music Hall, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, on the "Today Show", "Michael Buble's Christmas Spectacular", "Wendy Williams", "The Chew", and "The Meredith Vieira Show" with the troupe. The Rockettes being an iconic dance troupe, Paydo knew they were known for their precision and kick lines. She contributes UDA with helping her prepare for the job.
Growing up as a studio dancer, we didn't have the same type of discipline and attention to detail that being on a dance team requires. I truly learned how to dance in a group from being on staff. -- Stacy PaydoThe Rockettes can do up to 4 shows a day and as many as 16 shows a week during the Christmas season. Each show has 200 kicks which gives Paydo plenty of exercise and activity. Recently, she has been dancing in their summer production, the NY Spectacular choreographed by Mia Michaels that runs through August 7th.
Paydo continues to work with UDA as a Master Instructor at numerous UDA Elite, Convention, and College camps where she has the opportunity to teach one or two Master Classes during camp. During these two hour classes, she teaches a snazzy combo, has fun with the campers and is able to inspire them to continue their dance career professionally.
Dancing gives Paydo a chance to express herself and forget about everything else. She loves inspiring other young dancers through teaching and performing with the Rockettes. Stacy Paydo knew from a young age dancing was always going to be a part of her life and she continues to work each day to further her career.
