Instructors & Choreographers

Guest Instructor/Choreographer

Nicolette Alberti was born and raised in New York. She graduated summa cum laude from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University with a BFA. After graduating, Nicolette went on to dance professionally with various contemporary and modern dance companies in NY and abroad, including Company Stefanie Batten Bland and Von Howard Projects. Since moving to Los Angeles 3 years ago, Nicolette most recently performed at SUPERBOWL LIV Halftime Show with Jennifer Lopez.  She has also had the opportunity to work with Cardi B, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Camila Cabello, Normani, Tyga, Major Lazer, J Balvin, Liam Payne, Kelly Clarkson, Hailee Steinfeld, Iggy Azalea, Luke Bryan, Tory Lane’s, and more. She has appeared on television for the 61st Grammys, MTV VMA’s, BET Awards, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and The Voice. Nicolette has also done commercials and print modeling for companies such as Reckon and Adidas. Her teaching credits include Alvin Ailey/Fordham BFA Program, the New York City Department of Education, and various dance studios coast to coast. Working professionally in both the concert dance industry as well as the commercial dance industry has allowed Nicolette to showcase her extreme versatility as well as provided her with much industry knowledge that which she is excited to pass on to passionate dancers and students.

Guest Instructor/Choreographer

Aaron Bantum is an actor, singer, and dancer from Stamford, CT. Aaron graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelors in Fine Arts. Aaron also graduated from LPAC in 2015. Broadway credits include: Finian’s Rainbow, Kinky Boots (pre-Broadway). Film credits include: Last Vegas (Jon Turtletaub, dir.), Carry Me Home (Peter Cousens, dir.), Demolition (Jean-Marc Valee, dir.) TV credits include: Law and Order SVU, A Gifted Man, Are We There Yet. Readings include: The Countess of Storyville (Donna Trincoff), Motown (Charles Randolph - writer, director), and Eve’s Turn (Johanna McKeon). Connecticut Repertory Theatre credits include: Grapes of Wrath (Gary English, Dir). Newsies (Christopher d’Ambroise, dir.) Aaron’s dance training is from Locust Performing Arts Center in Stamford, CT, under Jimmy Locust. Learn more about Aaron on Instagram.

Guest Instructor/Choreographer

Sidra Bell is the founder of Sidra Bell Dance New York and a dancer, choreographer, and educator. She has been an artist in residence at the University of Oklahoma (Brackett Distinguished Visiting Artist Chair), a Visiting Lecturer and Artist in Residence at Harvard University, and an Adjunct Professor at Barnard College. Bell received a BA in History from Yale and an MFA in Choreography from Purchase College. She is the founder of the award-winning MODULE Laboratory. Bell has won awards for her work, notably a First Prize for Choreography at the Solo Tanz Theater Festival in Stuttgart, Germany, a National Dance Project Production Award from NEFA and a Creative Capital Wild Futures Award. In 2017 Mayor Thomas Roach named February 3 “Sidra Bell Day” in White Plains, NY. Her work has been seen throughout the United States and in Denmark, France, Austria, Bulgaria, Turkey, Slovenia, Sweden, Germany, China, Canada, Aruba, Korea, Brazil, and Greece. Bell has created over 100 works notably for Nevada Ballet Theater, Nashville Ballet, BODYTRAFFIC, Ailey II, The Juilliard School, Whim W'Him, Boston Conservatory at Berklee College, River North Dance Chicago, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Sacramento Ballet, Boulder Ballet, Motto Dans Kolectif Turkey among many others. Solo mainstage presentations and commissions of her dance company include The Met Museum, The Met Breuer, Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans, The Aronoff Center Cincinnati, Emens Auditorium Indiana, Kungsbacka Teater Sweden, Vara Konserthus Sweden, One Dance Week Bulgaria, Chutzpah! Festival/The Dance Centre Vancouver, Gibney, The Wilson Center North Carolina, Manship Theatre Baton Rouge, Dance Theater Workshop, Baruch Performing Arts Center, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, SteelStacks Pennsylvania, SummerStage Jackie Robinson Park NYC, Kelly-Strayhorn Theatre Pittsburgh, 92Y, Tanz Farm at The Goat Farm Arts Center, Bryant Park NYC, and The Egg Performing Arts Center. The company was lauded in the press as No. 1 in Contemporary Dance by the Pittsburgh Examiner in 2014 for The 2023-2024 Gibney Presents Season was curated by Gibney Center Artistic Director Nigel Campbell. ABOUT THE ARTISTS company has been in residence at Alloy Studios Pittsburgh, Kelly Strayhorn Theater Pittsburgh, Point Park University Pittsburgh, LevyDance San Francisco, LINES Ballet School San Francisco, Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans, Dance Theater Workshop Studio Series, Stella Adler Acting Studios, Gibney, Arts Umbrella Vancouver, Ball State University, CUNY Dance Initiative at Hostos College and Lehman College, Vara Konserthus Sweden, SITE Stockholm, New Jersey Dance Theatre, Tisch Summer Dance Festival, Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University, University of the Arts Philadelphia, Derida Dance Center Bulgaria, and PearlArts Pittsburgh. Bell was commissioned as the choreographer for the feature film "Test" set in San Francisco during the height of the AIDS crisis in 1985. Written and directed by Chris Mason Johnson (Frankfurt Ballet/White Oak Project), "Test" was awarded two grand jury prizes from Outfest. The film had many screenings at festivals worldwide, including The Seattle Film Festival, Frameline37 (San Francisco), Outfest (L.A.), Berlinale, and New York City Lincoln Center's NewFest. The movie enjoyed a theatrical release and was a New York Times Critics Pick. It is currently available on VOD, iTunes, and Netflix. Bell was the first Black female commissioned to create work for the New York City Ballet where she created works for film and the Lincoln Center stage (Fall Fashion Gala 2021). Her work was performed at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC for New York City Ballet’s engagement in May 2022. She was nominated for a Bessie New York Dance & Performance Dance (Outstanding Choreographer) for SUSPENDED ANIMATION for New York City Ballet. She was Bessie nominated once again as Outstanding Choreographer for the Gibney presented show IN | REP: Introspection. Recent features of her historical work at New York City Ballet include Essence Magazine, NY1, News12, Playbill, and Amsterdam News. She has also been featured in press outlets Town & Country, Cero Magazine, Meet the Dance Company Theater Development Fund, Good Company Cleveland WKYC, Dance Magazine, DancePulp, Home4Dance, BiT TV Bulgaria, Turkish TV, and CityLights Vancouver. As a solo artist she has held residencies at Yaddo (The Patricia Highsmith-Plangman Residency) & Djerassi Resident Artist Program with funding support from Yaddo Access Grants and University of the Arts Faculty and Academic Development Fund. Recently she performed in experimental durational events with acclaimed violinist Sita Chay at Joe’s Pub, Washington, D.C. 's Union Stage, and at the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival. Upcoming projects include continued installments of her living archive and book project INSIDE | FORM, an action installation of ephemera, performance objects, documentary film, collaged media, and writings. She has been a featured guest speaker on numerous podcasts and at institutions for dance and theater. She was highlighted in an aired television feature on TODAY (NBC) “How choreographer Sidra Bell is blazing a trail for next generation" in June 2023.

Guest Instructor/Choreographer

Kenny Bermudez is a hip-hop dancer born a raised in the Bronx, New York. Starting as a street performer, he was recruited by a crew; shortly after, competed on America's Best Dance Crew S.4 (Top4). From this moment on, Kenny has been performing on TV shows, Award shows, Movies, and tours with artists of multiple genre's of music. Till this day, Kenny is still an established working dancer based in New York out of Connecticut.

Guest Instructor/Choreographer

Grace has become a sought-after dancer/choreographer/teacher across the USA. Grace is on faculty with New York City Dance Alliance and Steps on Broadway in New York. She has toured the world as Ballet Mistress & performer for Rasta Thomas' "ROMEO & JULIET” and “ROCK the BALLET”, choreographed by Adrienne Canterna. Grace can most recently be seen dancing in season 2 of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and her choreography most recently featured on season 3 of NBC’s World of Dance. She is excited to announce her upcoming role as Associate Choreographer for the non-union tour of Cats, choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler.

Guest Instructor/Choreographer

Bailey Callahan is a celebrated nine-year veteran of the Radio City Rockettes. She has starred in both the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and the New York Spectacular, working with directors Linda Haberman, Dennis Callahan, Julie Branam, and Mia Michaels. As a Rockette she has had the honor of performing in seven Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades, the 71st Annual Tony Awards, MTV’s Video Music Awards, The Rockefeller Tree Lighting, NBC’s Michael Bublé Christmas Special, the New York Knicks Half Time Shows, and much more. She is involved in the Rockettes’ dance education program, having taught numerous master classes, audition prep workshops and for the prestigious Rockette Summer Intensive. In addition to her time at Radio City Music Hall, Bailey has also debuted in Singin’ in the Rain at the John W. Engeman Theater directed by Drew Humphrey and the Broadway by the Year concert series at Time Square’s Town Hall choreographed by Danny Gardner.

When she is not performing, Bailey is most passionate about teaching, hoping to inspire the next generation of broadway bound stars. She has certifications in the Progressing Ballet Technique, Exhale Barre Fitness, and Cirqfit Lyra Arts. In her free time, she loves to crochet, bake cupcakes and cuddle with her dog Sir Rockefeller.

Guest Choreographer: Contemporary Dance

Following a successful performing career, including dancing in the films Across the Universe and Jaaneman, commercials, videos, and performances with pop artists Aaliyah, The Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, and Usher, Eric and Lynne Mariani created a dance based curriculum for 2 prestigious universities in China: Hebei Art Institute and Shandong Art University. As a choreographer, Eric toured all over the U.S. and Germany, works with Carnival Entertainment, and most recently worked on The Thundermans for the Nickelodeon network. He is on faculty at Broadway Dance Center in NYC, holds a B.A. in Marketing, and is the Youth Artistic Director for the Brooklyn Dance Festival. Eric strongly believes the most interesting thing about every dancer is what they hold inside; their heartbreak, their triumph, and everything in between. It is his mission to see that developing young artists realize their worth, their voice, and their possibility!

Degrees & Certifications

• BA in Marketing

Contemporary/Jazz Instructor, Choreographer

Tiffanie Carson is an educator, mentor, advisor, and performance artist. She earned her MFA in Dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and completed her BFA in Dance
Performance at Chapman University. Tiffanie is Adjunct Assistant Professor of Dance at the Conservatory at Shenandoah University and is a specialist in the area contemporary & commercial jazz dance. She is instrumental in teaching jazz technique classes, as well as guiding senior seminar coursework. Tiffanie also dances and acts as Assistant Director for Christopher K. Morgan & Artists (CKM&A, directed by Christopher K. Morgan), resident company of Dance Place in Washington DC, with whom she has performed at the Millennium Stage at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Sidney Harman Hall, as well as The Alden Theatre in McLean, VA. Tiffanie has conducted CKM&A's annual winter and summer intensives as well as numerous residencies at universities and colleges, with Mr. Morgan, and has traveled with the company to France to conduct an intensive at the Ècole Superieure de Danse de Cannes Rosella Hightower. This is her 8th season with the company.

Tiffanie's choreography has garnered praise from Carmel Morgan of isitmodern.org, who described Tiffanie as having achieved "a choreographic home run” for her 2014 work, Deprivation. Ms. Morgan also stated of Carson's 2018 work, “B.U.G. [Backlight. Uplight. Glare.] is another certified hit for Carson, and it would be a smart move for companies to commission her choreography."

In addition to her teaching in the Virginia/DC area she is also a member of BARE Dance Company with Mike Esperanza in New York City and a teacher at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. Tiffanie has been fortunate to be a dance educator of 18 years traveling nationally and internationally as a guest artist and choreographer. 

Degrees & Certifications

• MFA in Dance, New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts
• BFA in Dance Performance, Chapman University

Guest Instructor/Choreographer

Keenan Cooks was born and raised in Boston, MA and began dancing at the age of 14. Just two years later, he became a member of Boston based Nia Dance Troupe where he first began his professional training. In 2008, Keenan moved to New York City to pursue dance professionally. Since coming to New York City, he has had the honor of working with amazing choreographers such as Rhapsody James, Laurie Ann Gibson, Luam, Kyle Hanagami, Rich & Tone, and Danielle Flora. He has had the privilege of working with artist such as Big Sean, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Ne-Yo, Flo-Rida, Kendrick Lamar, Prince Royce, Hailee Steinfeld, Halsey, and Dua Lipa. You may have seen him dancing on Saturday Night Live, America’s Got Talent, Today Show, Good Morning America, MTV Music Video Awards.

As an up-and-coming choreographer, Keenan has had the privilege to choreograph a BET commercial, A Gap commercial, and he was the on-site choreographer/movement coach for an episode of “Blindspot” (Season 2). Keenan has also choreographed for Cardi B, David Guetta, Meek Mill, and Yo Gotti. He’s also been the assistant choreographer on projects for Kelly Rowland and Lizzo. Keenan has also had the opportunity to teach internationally in Japan, South Korea, China, Germany, Paris, Argentina, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Switzerland, and Italy. He is currently on faculty at Broadway Dance Center in NYC, and guest faculty at Movement Lifestyle and Millennium Dance Complex in Los Angeles.

Hip Hop Instructor

Brandon is a New England-based choreographer, instructor and producer. His love and talent for Breaking, the first style of hip-hop dance, drew him to Tony Award-Winning Hartford Stage Company and the Breakdancing Shakespeare Program. After performing in several productions, he would go on to become the Program Choreographer. Brandon’s love and skill for teaching have led him to instruct classes in numerous universities, studios and workshops around the country. Students at Trinity College, Choate Rosemary Hall and his alma mater, Central Connecticut State University, have experienced and grown from his teachings. He continues to grow and share his knowledge of hip-hop through his instruction and choreography.

Company Guest Choreographer

Dance Program Staff

Born in California, Leyna Doran began her ballet training at the age of twelve at a local studio on scholarship. At fourteen, she was selected to be privately coached by Christina (Gibbs) Lyon, former dancer of American Ballet Theatre. Under Lyon’s tutelage, Doran attended American Ballet Theatre’s Detriot Summer Intensive (2006) and Kirov Academy of Ballet’s Summer Intensive (2008). A generous sponsorship to attend these intensives was provided by David Howard. In 2009, Doran was hired by the Crystal Cathedral to perform as a dancer in the Glory of Christmas productions. From 2010-2014, Doran received further training and dance education at Belhaven University. At Belhaven, she studied under the instruction of Laura Morton, Caleb Mitchell, and Ravenna Tucker. She represented the university at two American College Dance Associations (ACDA) and was awarded the Bezalel Award (2010) and Daniel Award (2014). In 2012, she accompanied a group of Belhaven students and faculty to perform throughout South Korea. Upon graduating summa cum laude with her Bachelor of Fine Arts (2014), Doran worked as a company artist with Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet. She began teaching at several ballet studios in the area alongside instructing ballet classes for different dance organizations at Yale University. In 2016, she began dancing for Vivid Ballet (Ballet Hartford) gaining opportunity to perform around the country. She performed choreography from Elizabeth McMillan, Silas Farley (New York City Ballet), Stephen Pier, Vincent Hardy (Complexions Contemporary Ballet), Steve Rooks (Martha Graham Dance Company), Michelle Thompson Ulrich (Ballet Austin), Caleb Mitchell (Houston Ballet), Miro Magliore, Victor Lozano (Julliard), and others. Most notably, Doran performed at the White House for an event held by the First Lady. In 2017, she was promoted to Principal Dancer and Ballet Mistress. Doran has been invited to teach at studios and summer intensives in PA, AL, CA, CT. She has attended Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s (CPYB) Teachers Workshop and studied Marcia Dale Weary’s syllabus under Darla Hoover, Alecia Good-Borgrove and Rose Taylor. She continues to instruct and choreograph on a regular basis for dance schools in the Connecticut area. In 2019, Doran became Artistic Director of Ballet Hartford and has been grateful to carry the company forward with excellence and joy. Under her leadership, the company carried on through the pandemic, performing both virtually and in-person, and has enjoyed vibrant, full seasons with deep community ties.

Dance Instructor/Choreographer

Celine “BOOM” Edmondson began her professional dance career while attending the University of the Arts where she earned her BFA in Dance. Shortly after signing to Clear Talent Group New York, Celine became a part of the Brooklynettes dance team. As a Brooklynette, Celine has been able to travel and perform all over the world and has also choreographed for the team. She is now Co-Captain and has had the opportunity to present her choreography at the 2019 Global Games in China as well as performing at the 2020 NBA All Star Weekend.

Aside from her work with the Brooklynettes, Celine has also performed with artists such as Bebe Rexha, Meghan Trainor, DJ Khaled, and more. She has also recently become a brand ambassador for Black Pyramid and performed at the 2020 VMAs with Maluma. Celine owes her versatility and knowledge of dance to her training that started at the age of 12. She has studied at Earl Mosley’s Institute for the Arts, the Ailey School, and joined Team Leggoo/Double Up Dance Company when she was 14. She began choreographing while studying at The University of the Arts and found that she had a love for teaching and inspiring as well. After graduating, she went on to train under Rhapsody James in the Motivating Excellence Program. Boom has aspirations to work with and choreograph for major artists such as Chris Brown. Her journey is not over yet; she is just getting started.

Guest Instructor/Choreographer

Shane Farrell is a choreographer, dancer and educator from Providence, Rhode Island. His diverse dance training started at a family-owned dance school in North Providence, RI and continued at the Brae Crest School of Ballet – the official school of the State Ballet of Rhode Island – where he performed with the company from 2004-2008.

In 2009, Shane joined the Island Moving Company (IMC), a classically trained contemporary ballet company in Newport, RI. During his ten years at IMC, he performed in several national tours and two international tours to Kazakhstan. Shane danced in many amazing venues with IMC’s site-specific repertoire: Newport Nutcracker at Rosecliff Mansion, Dracula at Belcourt Castle, and Second Star To The Right: A Tale of Hook and Pan aboard the Oliver Hazard Perry tall ship. He has performed works by José Limón, Colin Connor, Maurice Causey, Kevin Jenkins, Rodney Rivera, Stephanie Martinez, Spencer Gavin Hering, Miki Ohlsen, Danielle Genest, Staycee Pearl, Scott Putman, Simona De Tullio and Mark Harootian. Shane has also performed in collaboration with Pasadena Dance Theatre (CA), Missouri Contemporary Ballet (MO), Owen/Cox Dance (MO), Surfscape Contemporary Dance Theatre (FL), Staycee Pearl Dance Project (PA), Houston MET (TX), and Samruk Dance (Almaty, Kazakhstan) and danced as a guest artist with companies throughout the northeast. Outside of the concert dance world, Shane has appeared on MTV’s Made, Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance, and the 2010 film Hachi starring Richard Gere.

As a choreographer, Shane’s work has been presented nationally and internationally, most notably at the Abay Opera House in Almaty, Kazakhstan. He has choreographed six world premieres for Island Moving Company (RI) and two original works for their 2018 and 2019 Newport Dance Festival summer intensive program to critical review. Writing for Motif Magazine, Mark Morin described Luminous (2013) as “raw...and passionately graceful...The suggestiveness and the musicality of Farrell’s choreography...make this piece a guilty sensual delight.” He has additionally choreographed original works commissioned by Wheaton College (MA) and Salve Regina University (RI).

Shane is a master teacher with educational experience at universities, ballet schools and elementary schools. Using a variety of pedagogical approaches, he has helped dancers of diverse backgrounds understand movement education. Please visit Shane's website for additional information and up-to-date news.

Dance Program Staff

Aidan Gibney is a New York City-based producer and director known for his dance-centric films, pushing the envelope of movement art. Along with media arts production, Gibney is a professional choreographer with credits including K-Pop’s BTS, Emawk, Ian Eastwood’s Young Lions, SHINSA The Collective, and much more. As one of NYC’s premier visual artists, Aidan is a lead photographer and filmmaker at the award-winning off-broadway show ‘Beyond Babel’. Aidan has worked in partnership with some of the entertainment industries best, including Casey Neistat’s 368, David Dobrik, Art Basel, B&H, Adobe, EA, and more. His works have been published throughout a wide range of articles ranging from ARTnews magazine to Dance Magazine and Dance Spirit magazine. Recent films include ‘do you wanna party with me?’, Emawk’s ‘ACOUSCOUS’ music video, Beyond Babel’s documentary series, and Rob Bynes ‘Rooted Kings’ to name a few.

Contemporary Dance Instructor

Caitlyn was born and raised in Connecticut where her passion for dancing would grow and flourish through all of the styles of dance she studied. Her first loves were jazz and tap which would eventually be accompanied by ballet, contemporary and hip hop. She went on to study at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro where she earned her Bachelors of Fine Arts in dance and performance and was the captain of her dance team. During this time she expanded her repertoire with more styles such as breakin’, popping, and locking. Her love for performance and creating movement continued as she took classes in New York, North Carolina, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Connecticut. She began teaching and choreographing award winning hip hop routines for various studios and dance teams while also presenting her work on the stages of New York and Connecticut. She has danced for artists such as Kat Deluna, Flo Rida and Def Jam productions and has appeared on networks such as MTV2. She has been dancing and teaching for Double up Dance Company and their non profit, Gift of dance for the last eight years. She has been coaching and choreographing for the Fairfield University Dance Team while teaching and choreographing contemporary dance for the Sacred Heart University dance program. She has also been the head choreographer for ERA theater productions for the last two years. Creating movement for productions from In the Heights to The Wizard of OZ. She has been dancing for twenty nine years now with Thirteen years of experience in choreography and loving every minute of it. 

Degrees & Certifications

• Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance and Performance, University of North Carolina, Greensboro

Dance Program Staff

Born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, Daisy Infantas is a strong, passionate individual that shares her love for the arts to others. Dancing at the age of 8, she learned how to dance primarily through Peruvian culture, which then became the bridge to learning all styles of Hip Hop/ Commercial Dance through various of well known dancers/choreographers such as Luz Frias, Bo Park, Rhapsody James, Luam, Ian Mckenzie, and more. She worked in many Hartford Stage productions such as Breakdancing Shakespeare, and Comedy of Errors (which was directed by a tony award winning director, Darko Tresnjak). She has appeared as a dancer in the upcoming film "In The Heights" (2020) directed by Jon M. Chu, and will appear in the upcoming movie "Hocus Pocus 2" as a primary dancer directed by Anne Fletcher!

Daisy has a bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Hartford,and is currently a Registered Behavioral Technician: dedicated to improving the lives of people with developmental disabilities or other educational needs.

She is motivated to continue her passion with dancing and acting while being a teacher/mentor for younger generations.

Through her growth and accomplishments, she aspires to share and inspire the younger generation to pursue their goals and love for the arts. 

Tap Dance Instructor

Guest Instructor/Choreographer

Kenichi Kasamatsu is a working dancer, teacher and choreographer in New York City. As a dancer, Kenichi has worked with some of the most renowned choreographers from the nation like Keone and Mari, Nappytabs, and Kyle Hanagami just to name a few. As a result, he has been on stage and in video shoots with artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, Ne-Yo, Daddy Yankee, BANKS, and Mark Ronson. His most recent work includes his first two full length shows with akompany, “one, two, three.” and “kazoku”, featuring original choreography and sounds. Over the years, he has also choreographed for numerous music videos and live performances internationally. Kenichi teaches regularly at Peridance Capezio Center and Broadway Dance Center but also travels the nation to teach at various conventions and workshops and has taught in other countries including Mexico, Colombia, China, Peru, Japan, and Thailand. Prioritizing the longevity of everyone’s love and passion for dance, Kenichi hopes to cultivate spaces with a sense of community where all can come together to learn, laugh and love through movement.

Guest Instructor/Choreographer

Sarah-Katarina (SKooJ CorE-O) brings her knowledge and talents to the Performing Arts with experience in performance, choreography, instruction, and adjudication. SKooJ’s organic approach toward movement created the Boston Community Dance Project (BCDP), a professional collective expressing their passion of story telling through contemporary and fusion movements. BCDP’s work can be seen at NYC Dance Week, Boston Contemporary Dance Festival, and our annual benefit show every August at Boston University! Her choreography and direction has also been featured on the HGTV series "Spontaneous Construction", NESN, The Dr. Oz Show, WayFair.com Commercials MTV. Her talents have also paired up with TedEX Boston/Philadelphia, New Balance, Broadway in Boston, LA’s own Club Jete, and Carnival Choreographer’s Ball Anniversary Show! Most recently SKooJ worked for artist Shoshana Bean as she choreographed the Closing Number of Brian Friedman’s The Main Event in New York City. SKooJ CorE-O entered the Music Video scene with choreographing for International Pop Artist Tamara Rodriguez, Pop/R&B Artist Erene, and Lucia Marie's House of Blues Tour! Other credits include “Digital Love” by Makio, “Dance With You” by Bad Rabbits ft. Clinton Sparks, "Stay With Me" Cover by Keith London “Medicine” by Jack Newsome and her own dance concept videos with McCarthy Visuals, Moonculture Films, 4ward Productions, and TOONTV. Most recently catch SKooJ choreographing for Ari B and featured in Pineapple Citi’s newest video “Rose Colored”. Lastly, SKooJ partnered up with Salty Bovine Films with setting artistry for their past three short films ADONIS, MOSDEN, and TRENT while most recently showcasing her acting talent in movies Basic Math starring Cameron Diaz, TED2 with Mark Wahlberg, and Patriots Day!

Sarah-Katarina (SKooJ CorE-O) has gathered all her adventures, journeys, and experiences to inspire thousands of movers around the world. Her heart will continue to mentor the next generation, build the industry, and spread movement to all. Make sure to check out her work and #FollowTheArtistry.

Guest Instructor/Choreographer

Vivake Khamsingsavath (Vive) is a Laotian American dancer, teacher and choreographer from Brooklyn, New York. He studied dance at Binghamton University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Vive has toured across the globe teaching and performing. In 2012, Vive decided to focus his work in New York City where he has performed at notable venues including The Shed, Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall, Broadway at Bryant Park and Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Vive has appeared on the Today Show, The View and Good Morning America. He was listed as one of the “Hottest Men in Dance” by The Huffington Post, featured in campaigns for The W Hotels, VISA, Nintendo and Sears. Vive served as choreographer for Hermes, The US Open, Bravo TV, Bloomingdales, PUMAxMaybelline, NARS Cosmetics, Lululemon and TNT’s “I Am The Night”. Vive is director at Dance United, an arts organization which provides cultural dance workshops to underserved public school across NYC. Vive is currently an artist at Battery Dance Company, an international touring company whose mission is to empower communities through dance. He is passionate about sharing the power of dance with others.

Dance Program Staff

Ali Koinoglou is an award-winning choreographer based out of NYC. Her professional choreography debut was at the Symphony Space theater as a student in the Broadway Dance Center's Professional Semester, and since then has taken off! Ali’s most notable choreography credits include Disney+ movie premiere for the release of Sneakerella, MTV’s 50th Birthday Celebration for Madonna, TLC’s The Long Island Medium, SNL, & ABC’s Good Morning America. Outside of her TV credits, Ali has an extensive choreography roster of performances such as Sybarite, Carnival, Broadway Dance Center's Professional Semester, Peridance Youth Arts Showcase, DUMBO Dance Festival, Brooklyn Dance Festival, Young Choreographers Festival, The New York Jazz Festival, HATCH: the series, Dixon Place Pop-Up Artist Spotlight, Dance Astoria, MishMash 201, Jazz Choreography Enterprise (JCE), White Wave Dance Festival, Unique Movers, KoDaFe Dance Festival, “TRANSLATE” JChen Project, Jared Grimes' Run the Night, Harlem Dance Festival, & many more. Ali's work has been publicly recognized by the Pulse on Tour, Radix Dance Convention, Dance Mogul Magazine, & Dance Magazine.

Ali has been fortunate to be an associate choreographer on many projects including the Brooklynettes, Nike, Clarins, Colgate, & Tag Hueler, along with other smaller industrial events such as the New York Presbyterian Employee Appreciation event. As a performer, some of Ali's most notable credits are the Capezio A.C.E. Awards, Carnival, Good Morning America, Dancers of New York & more!

In addition to choreography, Ali has a vast background in arts administration. She worked under director Bonnie Erickson at Broadway Dance Center as the programs Coordinator - where her love for mentoring students started! Following this, Ali became media manager & personal assistant to five-time Emmy award winning Mia Michaels & went on to accept the role of the Director of Group Services bringing her back home to Broadway Dance Center!

Ali’s administration skills, combined with her love for creating & educating dancers led her to found her own company, Koin & Co Dancers. Currently, Ali runs Koin & Co & directs the Group Services department at BDC, is on faculty at Sacred Heart University & is guest faculty at both Broadway Dance Center & Peridance Capezio Center. Ali’s most fervent goal is to educate dancers to reach their full potential as talented dancers & all-around kind humans!

Company Guest Choreographer

Jesse Obremski, a native New Yorker, graduated from LaGuardia High School (2012) and The Juilliard School (2016), under the direction of Lawrence Rhodes, and has additionally trained at The Ailey School, Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts, Jacob’s Pillow’s Contemporary Program, and Springboard Danse Montréal. Obremski, an Eagle Scout Rank recipient, Jadin Wong Dance Awardee (2016), Interview En L’air’s “Dancer to Watch” (2017), and Dance Magazine's March 2019 Dancer "On The Rise" has performed with Diversity of Dance, Brian Brooks Moving Company, Peter Stathas Dance, Wilder Project, Kate Weare Company, and a company member with Lar Lubovitch Dance Company (2014-2016 - while at The Juilliard School), Buglisi Dance Theatre (2016-present), WHITE WAVE (2017-present), has performed ensemble, soloist, and
principal roles with The Limón Dance Company (2016-2019), and is currently in his second year with Gibney Dance Company as an Artistic Associate (2018-present). Obremski has had the honor to perform for the Obama family at The White House as well as for the Olympic recognized FINA World Tournament in South Korea (2019).

Obremski has taught at Montclair State University, The University of Hawaii at Manoa, The University of Wyoming, Brigham Young University, Gibney Dance, LaGuardia High
School, MOVE(NYC) and is on faculty for The Limón Foundation and Diversity of Dance. Obremski has assisted in the staging of Limón’s Missa Brevis at The Juilliard School from 2015-2018 as well as staged José Limón’s Chaconne on MOVE(NYC) in 2018 and The University of Wyoming in 2019.

Obremski's choreography has been presented nationally and internationally including The New Prague Dance Festival, Battery Dance Festival, DUMBO Dance Festival, Dixon Place, The Juilliard School’s Choreographic Honors Showcase, Gibney Dance, The Ailey Citigroup Theater, and he has been commissioned for new creations by Diversity of Dance (NY), The University of Wyoming (WY), Fort Hamilton Joffrey Academy (NY), Sacred Heart University (CT), and Brigham Young University (UT). Obremski founded his company, Obremski/Works, in 2018 as an outlet for his choreographic work including his dance films. In 2019, his dance film No Words was selected and presented by HBO and Dance Film Associations at Lincoln Center, NY.

Company Guest Choreographer

Irish Dance Ensemble Instructor

Pioneer/Oakwood Commons Res Hall Director

Allison O'Riordan was a competitive Irish dancer for sixteen years in the New England Region. She has been ranked regionally and competed at the Irish Dance World Championships several times in both solo and ceili dances.

For the past eleven years, Allison has been involved in the world of collegiate Irish dance. Starting at the Irish Dance Club at The Catholic University of America in 2011, she held the position of captain for four years and grew the club to twenty-five dancers. In addition to this, she oversaw the team’s choreography by creating fun dances and teaching ceili dances. These efforts helped propel the team at Catholic University to compete and place at several intercollegiate competitions at both Villanova and Dayton University.

Allison now has the pleasure of running the Irish Dance Team at Sacred Heart University. Under her direction starting in 2015, the team has won several awards at the college competitions including winning the Fun Number competition twice, winning first in every category in ceili dancing and as well as having several dancers win the Treble reel competition. She looks forward to the continued success of the Sacred Heart Claddagh dancers.

Degrees & Certifications

• Master's in Digital Media Production, Sacred Heart University
• Bachelor's in Media Studies, The Catholic University of America

Company Guest Choreographer

Phil Orsano was born in Queens, NY and received his BFA at Southern Methodist University. Orsano has danced for Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Hubbard Street 2, Radio City, Mia Michaels, Madonna, Jimmy Fallon, Law & Order SVU, and many more. His Company, The Orsano Project, premiered their first full length show in November 2017. The Orsano Project has also performed at The Brooklyn Museum, The Grier School Gala, Broadway Dance Center’s “Premier,” Brad Walsh’s album premiere ANTIGLOT produced by Christian Siriano and more. Orsano’s piece “One” was featured in Dance Teacher Magazine as Video of the Month. Phil also choreographs events for the Horatio Alger Association. His company performed for the association at the Kennedy Center, DAR, The Portrait Gallery and will be working with them for future events. Phil recently choreographed the Opening Ceremony of World Pride in NYC at the Barclays for the RuPauls Drag Race Queens. Orsano is represented by CESD as a choreographer and currently teaches at Broadway Dance Center, The Joffrey Ballet School and Quest Intensive. Orsano is also company manager at Dance Lab NY. He has entitled his work as “tendugroove,” incorporating contemporary ballet with a natural humanistic, musical groove.

Hip Hop/Commercial Dance Instructor

Jessica Robles is the Hip Hop/Commercial Dance teacher as well as the dance ensemble advisor here at Sacred Heart University. She was raised in Connecticut and has been dancing since the age of three. From the age of three to sixteen she trained in tap, jazz, ballet, and pointe. She then attended Sacred Heart University and became a member of the dance ensemble for all four years. Through Sacred Heart and the Connecticut dance community she developed a love for Hip Hop. Her junior and senior year she was elected onto the executive board for dance ensemble as the Vice President. Through her years at Sacred Heart University she choreographed multiple pieces that were performed in both the fall and spring ensemble showcases.

After graduating from Sacred Heart University in 2014 with a BS in psychology, Jessica went on to work at a psychiatric hospital in Westport. While working at the hospital she danced with a Hip Hop company entitled Megahurtz. During this time she also continued her training at Broadway Dance Center in New York City as well as local studios in Connecticut. In 2015 she competed at World of Dance with Megahurtz Dance Company in Boston, Massachusetts. She also appeared in local artist G. Brunot’s music video “Goosebumps”. She furthered her training by participating in multiple Hip Hop intensives with Ashley Anderson and David Beatz here in Connecticut. She also has numerous appearances in local choreographers dance production/concept videos on YouTube.

Jessica currently still works at the psychiatric hospital as a mental health worker, as well as at Sacred Heart University. She continues to train by taking classes in Connecticut, and at Broadway Dance Center, EXPG, and Ripley Grier studios in NYC. She teaches workshops here in Connecticut at local studios and choreographs for the both the dance ensemble and company here at Sacred Heart University. She is currently attending graduate school at Fairfield University to receive her masters in Mental Health Counseling. She plans to keep growing in the professional dance world as well as make sure she receives her education to become a Licensed Professional Counselor. No matter where or how, Jessica states that she will dance for the rest of her life because she simply can’t live without it.

Degrees & Certifications

• BS in Psychology, Sacred Heart University, 2014

Dance Program Staff

Elizabeth Rodbell, also known as Beth, is originally from Sandy Hook, CT. She asked her parents at the age of four years old to sign her up for ballet classes and left home at the age of thirteen to pursue her dream of becoming a professional ballerina. She trained at the Draper Center for Dance Education in Rochester, NY during her high school years and began dancing with the Rochester City Ballet as a trainee at the age of Thirteen. She spent summers training at The Chautauqua Institution, The Harid Conservatory, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, State Street Ballet, and Miami City Ballet.

She attended Indiana Univeristy’s Jacobs School of Music where she studied under Violette Verdy and Michael Vernon. She graduated from IU in three years with a Bachelors of Science in Ballet and Political Science. From here she joined the Rochester City Ballet as a company dancer and danced Soloist roles for seven seasons with the company. She trained at the ART of Ballet Berlin and has performed at international dance festivals such as Jacob's Pillow and The International Dance Council in Athens, Greece.

While performing she received her comprehensive Pilates training through Balanced Body. She has taught group and private pilates sessions at Midtown Athletic Club, New York Pilates, and The Well at The Mayflower Hotel. In 2021 she started her own company called Pilates by Beth that offers instudio, inhome, and virtual pilates training in NYC & The Hamptons. She has the innate ability to teach movement and has acquired a high profile clientele list.

In 2020 she founded Pilates for a Purpose, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization that offers donation based virtual pilates mat classes, where all proceeds are donated to a designated charity or organization of the month. She has donated over 20K in the past two years.

She currently is an Artist in Residence at 25 North Dance in Pittsford, NY and on faculty at the Ballet School of Stamford, in Stamford, CT. She has taught ballet and Pilates as an adjunct professor at The University of Rochester, Nazareth College, and Rochester Institute of  
Technology.

Dance Program Staff

Emma Rosa, Cuban New Jersey native, is a professional dancer, choreographer, and teacher in various styles ranging from heels and hip hop to contemporary and tap. Emma is currently a backup dancer for popular Reggaeton artist Guaynaa and  has also performed live and in music video with other Latin artists including El Alfa, Sech, and Chimbala. Emma's live stage experience expands to performances with American music artists like Trey Songz, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Todrick Hall, and VH1 Love & Hip Hop’s Mariah Lynn as well as Tayla Parx's international We Need To Talk tour.

Emma was also a featured tap dancer and actress in Variety Life Production's off-Broadway show Midsummer: A Shakespeareance and the Public Hotel’s sold out Carmen: To Havana and Back. She was recently a dance athlete for Nike's Own The Floor campaign and has been a member of Maurice Cheatnut's tap company Dance Therapy, Theresa Stone’s contemporary fusion company AbstraKT BEINGS, and Shirlene Quigley’s heels crew Queendom.

Emma just completed her International Heels Expression Teaching Tour, traveling to 15 different cities including Paris, France and Milan, Italy. Right now, Emma teaches weekly sold-out classes at well-known NYC studios Brickhouse and SassClass and guest teaches at Peridance Center and Ailey Extension. She has also been a movement coach to emerging music artists including Mia Gladstone, Remi Lewis, Imani Rey, and more. Her main focus is to inspire movement expression for people of all levels and abilities through a focus on intuition, community-building, and unapologetic self-acceptance.

Company Guest Choreographer

Guest Instructor/Choreographer

Lexie Sahagian is originally from Long Island, where she grew up training in various styles of dance. After competing for many years, Lexie moved to NYC to continue her training. She completed the Professional Semester at Broadway Dance Center, where she trained from and/or assisted many well known choreographers such as Bo Park, Theresa Stone, Luam, Neil Schwartz, Keenan Cooks, etc. She is a member of AbstraKT Beings the Company directed by Theresa Stone, as well as Shinsa directed by Bo Park. Credits include Adidas, Amazon, Macy's, Heineken, America's Got Talent, Good Morning America, etc. Lexie has taught dance for over 10 years to all different ages and levels. Teaching and choreography credits include, Immersive shows “Limbo” and “B_tterland” directed by Bo Park, BDC Professional semester showcase, Brickhouse NYC, etc. Lexie looks forward to continuing to grow and learn while sharing everything she has learned along the way!

Dance Program Staff

Yoshito Sakuraba is the founding artistic director of Abarukas and an award-winning choreographer. Originally from Japan, Yoshito began his career in New York City and has expanded to presenting work in Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, Israel, Mexico, and nationally across the U.S. including Joyce Theater, BAM Fisher, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Jacob's Pillow, Kaatsbaan, and McCallum Theater (Palm Desert Choreography Festival). He has received the Best Choreography Award at FINI Dance Festival in Italy, the Audience Award at Masdanza International Contemporary Dance Festival in Spain, and he's a winner of NW Dance Project's Pretty Creatives and Whim W'Him's Shindig. In addition to his company repertory, he’s been commissioned by numerous companies including Bayerisches Staatsballett (Munich), DAF (Rome), Lamondance (Vancouver), Louisville Ballet, Ballet Arkansas, Ballet Des Moines II, Litvak Dance, Levy Dance, Pony Box Dance Theater, Modas Dance, Kit Modus, Nimbus Dance, Peridance Contemporary Dance Company, and Graham II. He seeks to inspire young artists in their artistic expression and has been invited to create works and teach at institutions such as Joffrey Ballet School, Alvin Ailey/Fordham University, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Peabody at Johns Hopkins University, Marymount Manhattan College, Barnard College, DLNY, MOVE l NYC and Steps on Broadway Conservatory. Most recently he was commissioned by the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts in Michigan.

Guest Instructor/Choreographer

Neil Schwartz had been dancing competitively since the age of seven. He has had the privilege and honor of working with actor Channing Tatum for Magic Mike, Girl Generation, Icona Pop for America’s Got Talent, and has been a lead in commercials for The Lottery, Simply Safe, and Mastercard which premiered at the 2020 Grammys. He has choreographed for artists such as ASTR, Kontravoid, Nuovo Testamento, Patriarchy, Wingtips and more. He is an international instructor who has taught in over 18 countries, an artistic director and currently teaches at the world-renowned Broadway Dance Center in New York. He is also a guest instructor at Brickhouse NYC, Movement Lifestyle and Millennium in LA. He has also had the honor to become part of the judging panel for World of Dance and Hit the Floor.

Company Choreographer

Tommy is a Florida native, where he trained at New Tampa Dance Theatre. Tommy graduated from Ohio State University with a BFA in dance performance in 2005. While training, he has had the opportunity to work with many world-renowned choreographers and dancers. He has performed with Columbus Dance Theater contemporary ballet company, in the United Kingdom tour of Tap Fusion, as a guest artist with BalletMet, Columbus, Collide, and Parsons Dance. He is also currently dancing with dre.dance, Nicholas Andre Dance, marInspired, and Kristin Sudekis Dance. In addition to company work Tommy has been featured in several movies, musicals and TV shows. Recent highlights are The Big Gay Musical movie, City Center Encores' production of "Where's Charley ?" and "Fiorello" and the premier of Rosie O'Donnell's return to prime time TV on Rosie Show, featured on the OWN network. He has had the honor of working with Verdon/Fosse Estate on archiving the legendary work of Bob Fosse and a principal member of American Dance Machine for the 21st Century. Most recently he performed in the pre-Broadway run of the new musical Roman Holiday in San Francisco and appeared in an FX show Fosse/Verdon starring Michelle Williams and Sam Rockwell.

As a teacher he has taught master class all over the world including Brazil, China, and Russia. Teaching students that are mentally and physically handicapped, autistic and blind. In the United states he has been privileged to teach at Peridance, Broadway Dance Center, The Ohio State University, Adelphi University, Manhattanville College, Marymount Manhattan and many dance studios across the nation. While keeping up a diverse performance career he is currently on staff as a adjunct professor for Marymount Manhattan, teaching classes in studios in New Jersey and Upstate New York and judging competitions all over the nation. 

Degrees & Certifications

• BFA in Dance Performance, Ohio State University

Guest Instructor/Choreographer

Natalie Stys is a New York City based dancer, teacher, and choreographer. Natalie holds an MA in Performing Arts Administration from New York University and a BFA in Dance from Shenandoah Conservatory, studying abroad at Balettakademien Goteborg in Sweden. She has further trained with Broadway Dance Center’s Independent program, Springboard Danse Montreal, Peridance Contemporary Dance Company/Hubbard Street Chicago, Broadway's Best Dance at the Growing Studio, and Dana Foglia Dance. Natalie has spent the past three years performing in National Tours with the physical theatre company, Catapult Entertainment (America’s Got Talent S8). Some other performance credits include: BalletNext, Vertical Shadows, Neville Dance Theatre, New York Jazz Choreography Project, “Trapus 11” at New York Live Arts, and “A Christmas Carol” (Crossroads Theatre Company). When not performing, she works as a guest teacher and choreographer throughout New York and New Jersey across all genres. Natalie focuses on developing technique, artistry, and style, working in both commercial and concert dance mediums.

Dance Company, Modern Dance and Dance Improvisation Instructor and Choreographer

Matthew Westerby is a New York-based choreographer originally from the UK. After his education at Laban (London), Westerby worked extensively with choreographer Thomas Small/Smallpetitklein before re-locating to the United States in 2005. He has since performed with choreographers including Nai-Ni Chen, Risa Jaroslow, Dusan Tynek, Jessica Gaynor, Peter Kyle, Sue Hogan, Tze Chun & Bronwen MacArthur. He established Matthew Westerby Company in 2009, now a non-profit organization. Westerby has also created original work for other companies - Covenant Ballet Theatre, Evolve Dance, the Hudson Guild Theatre Company, the Dancewave Companies and others. connection to music. He works as a dance educator throughout the New York City area, and has also taught at Laban (UK), Silesian Dance Theatre’s Summer Festival (Poland), the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance (Scotland), Naugatuck Valley Community College (Waterbury, CT), Artifact Dance Company (Tucson, AZ) and at Pima Community College (Tucson, AZ).

Dance Program Staff

Garet Wierdsma is a multidisciplinary artist from a small town in CT, and is the creator and director of Garet & Company. She graduated from NYU Tisch with a BFA in Dance in May 2021. Garet was selected as the Choreography Fellowship Recipient for Sacred Heart University in January 2022, and was selected for Young Choreographers Festival 2022 in NYC. Garet's work with Garet & Co. has been showcased in Dixon Place’s “8 in Show,” Emerging Artist Theatre's "New Work Series," and iKada Dance Company’s “Ko Da Fe." Garet believes that art changes the world and is passionately and actively working to be a generator of light.