KéKAY METHOD
Montessori Preschool
Kids Club
KéKAY Method Holistic Move & Learn Program
TEAM
ALéTIA FERREIRA
Creator/Owner
Alétia Ferreira was born in South Africa and became a young dancer while attending school and university. When she moved to Los Angeles in her early twenties, she shared her love for dance, movement, and music with children aged 2-12 while teaching over 8000 classes. She subsequently started a recital costume business that she built and ran for 20 years. The brand was sold but she continued designing costumes for companies in Chicago and New York. Alétia loves living in Raleigh but enjoys traveling, talking to people from different backgrounds and cultures. She speaks two languages and is mindful about integrating her African heritage into her daily life. She loves interacting with children and is excited about the opportunity to bring her knowledge of movement and culture to young children in this program.
KELLYN MYLECHREEST
Co-creator/Contributor
Originally from North Carolina, Kellyn Mylechreest is a dancer, choreographer, and educator living in New York City.Â
She earned her BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts,
and has since worked with choreographers such as Twyla Tharp, Linked Dance Theatre, Elizabeth Coker and more. Her choreography has been featured in festivals and residencies across New York City, and most notably New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she earned her M.F.A. in Dance Choreography in 2020. Kellyn’s biggest passion is dance education and sharing all that she has learned with students of all ages, levels, and abilities. She is thrilled to be working alongside the KeKAY method to make movement and learning, fun and accessible.
GARY KIKAYA
Sports Contributor and the face of KéKAY
Gary Kikaya was born in the Congo and moved to South Africa when he was 10 yrs old. He moved to the US when he was 19yrs old and became a track star for the University of Tenessee and subsequently ran in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. Gary's positive attitude towards everything he embraces in his life has helped him soar to the world stage in athletics, and was sponsored by Nike for his achievements. Awards/Achievements:
•Olympic Semi-Finalist, Beijing China 2008
•Ranked top 10 in the world in 400m by International Athletic Amateur Federation
•Ranked 2nd in the world in 400m by IAAF, 2006
•African Champion, Mauritius 2006
•African Record Holder 400m, 2006
•Olympic Semi-Finalist 400m, Athens, Greece 2004
•Bronze Medalist 2004 World Indoor Champs, 2004
•World Cup Silver Medalist, 2004
•NCAA Champion 2003 Indoor Champion, 2003
•NCAA Champion 2002 Outdoor Champion, 2002
During all of Gary's travels around the world, he has met people from a multitude of countries and cultures. He is passionate about learning and living his best and healthy life. He speaks 5 languages and loves learning. He worked as head sprint coach at the Durham Academy in North Carolina and now is so excited to be sharing his wealth of knowledge about sports and mindfulness with the youth of the world.
CAROLINE ALTMAN
Mindfulness Contributor
Caroline Altman grew up in Los Angeles and emigrated to Canada as a young mother. Because of Caroline's abusive childhood, she began to immerse herself in studying the history and practice of mindfulness to create a stable environment for her children. In 2015, she completed training through Dr. Kabat-Zinn's Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts. Since launching her own practice in 2017, she now offers 4-week online Beginner's Mindfulness Courses, instructs regularly at Saint Andrews College International Boarding School for boys, and runs programs for Kerry's Place Autism Services. She has committed her energies to support global mindfulness-awareness in order to help others reduce their own stress while cultivating a more joyful life experience. Caroline is excited to share her knowledge of self and help children from such a young age to recognize mindful behaviours.
BETH SPRANSY DICKINSON
Early Childhood Education Contributor
Beth Spransy Dickinson has served as a Preschool Director since 2003 where she shares her passion for children and early childhood education. She has a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education and taught elementary school, mostly 3rd grade, in Orlando, Florida before having children and relocating back to North Carolina. Beth believes strongly in the benefits of music and movement in developing the whole child.
MACHIKO SAEGUSA COLE
Music Education Contributor
Machiko Saegusa Cole began playing the piano at the age of three with her mother while living in Kobe, Japan. Continuing her studies after she moved to the United States in 1989, she received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2000; she furthered her education at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, receiving her Masters of Music in 2002. As a young pianist, Machiko won numerous awards and concerto competitions, which lead to her performances with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra as a guest performer. She has studied and performed all around the world including the Sion Music Festival and Cours International de Musique in Switzerland, the Amalfi Coast Music Festival in Italy, and concerts in Japan and the US. Machiko enjoys teaching in her private studio using her own out-of-the-box method, which includes applied theory, ear training, sight-reading, and technique along with a fun and challenging repertoire. Machiko speaks two languages and is excited about the exposure of young children to the world of music through movement and storytelling in this program.
ERICA BORESH
Sports Movement Contributor
Erica Boresh was born in Ohia and after obtaining her Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from the University of Akron, she spent 3 years in a physical therapy clinic working with all ages. Currently, she holds a position as a fitness coach, where she is relishing the opportunity to help others be the best version of themselves! Erica is excited to be sharing her knowledge of the science behind exercise and the importance of physical activity in our daily lives.
