Staff & Teaching Artists

Most recently she was the Education Director for Dancing Classrooms where she was responsible for programmatic and teaching performance quality for 200+ residencies throughout New York City. She is doing her life’s work -- a mission to ensure that young people, community and educators have access to, and a meaningful connection with, arts experiences that transform their lives through the incredible work of exquisite artists and their craft. She’s earned degrees in Secondary Education and Literature from Hunter College, an MFA in Acting from Brooklyn College and is currently a doctoral student in Urban Education at the CUNY Graduate Center.

She earned a B.A. from the World Arts and Cultures Department at the University of California, Los Angeles. Upon graduation, she moved to Europe for three years to train in a conservatory of Spanish Dance. In the States, she has worked as a teaching artist in both private and public schools, exposing children of all ages to dance education. Since moving to New York, Ms. Cabrera has interned in several Education & Outreach departments, including Pentacle Dance Arts and Ballet Hispanico. Franchesca is a performing artist for the Brooklyn based dance theater company, COMPANYXIV and also teaches in the Ballet Hispanico School of Dance.

Her performance credits include: the National Black Theater, Dance Theater Workshop, Dixon Place, The Ailey Extensions “Ladies Get Down,” Buffalo State University‘ s “Fall Fest,” South Carolina’s 97.9 “The Wiz” showcase, BET 106. As a member of the Hunter College Dance company Siomara performed works by Camille Brown, Monica Bill Barnes, and David Capps. Siomara teaches Hip-Hop at the BH School and continues to create her own work as well as perform with the Katie Balton Dance Company.

Complexions Contemporary Ballet’s Choreography Summer Workshop, Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Traditions Program on Scholarship, Dance Theatre of Harlem’s School on Scholarship, The Ailey School’s Professional Division, and earned a Bachelors of Arts with double majors of Dance and Studio Art from City University of New York, Hunter College. Ms. Álvarez has performed at premier venues such as the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Jacob’s Pillow, the Tribeca Performing Arts Center as well as appeared on numerous nationally-televised programs. As a dance instructor, Ms. Álvarez has taught Creative Movement, Pre-Ballet, Flamenco, Salsa, Ballroom and Modern dance to children and adults for Mukonoso`s Yochien in Amagasaki Japan, CUNY’s Borough of Manhattan Community College, Perry Studios in Harlem, and throughout New York City schools.

She participated in intensive music and dance workshops in Brazil, Haiti, and Senegal and also with the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow. She has toured throughout the Americas, Europe and Africa performing with artists such as Miriam Makeba, C&C Music Factory, Alyson Williams, Tribal House, Urban Soul, Angelique Kido, and Cameo. In addition to her work with Ballet Hispanico, Ms. Santiago teaches workshops around New York City, exposing her students to a wide variety of dance forms such as modern, jazz, ballet, and hip-hop. Her workshops also incorporate elements of African, Caribbean, and European cultural traditions. She teaches Yoga in schools as well, and most notably teaches yoga to students who have special needs.