School Faculty

Marged Bernstein (Ballet) began her dance career in the 1960s with regional companies in the United States and performed with the National ballet companies in Johannesburg and Cape Town in the mid-1970s and 1980s. She has since taught ballet in South Africa, Cape Town and Johannesburg, at the Chicago City Ballet School, and Salt Creek Ballet in Chicago. She has choreographed for Chicago City Ballet, Salt Creek Ballet and Lexington Ballet. Most recently, her Suite Waltz and Ballad of the Beer Café were performed at New York City Center by the Eidolon Ballet. She currently teaches privately and coaches in the New York City area. Beginning with the 2008/2009 season, she will be working with young dancers in the first season of the Manhattan Youth Ballet.

Elizabeth Coker Girón (Ballet) trained at the Washington School of Ballet in Washington, DC under the direction of Mary Day. She joined The Washington Ballet for three seasons, performing repertory from the neoclassical canon as well as a variety of new choreography. Elizabeth has toured nationally with the Kennedy Center Imagination Celebration, and internationally with Dana Tai Soon Burgess and Company. She has been honored to study under Lydia Diaz at the Ballet Nacional de Cuba as part of a guest artist exchange program. In 2006, Elizabeth graduated summa cum laude from Columbia University with a degree in psychology and dance. She is also a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor’s society. Elizabeth has taught and set choreography at the Washington School of Ballet, Harvard University Ballet Company and New York University. She is currently performing with the Seán Curran Company and Diana Crum and Dancers, and is a guest faculty member of the George Washington University.

Maya de Silva (Spanish Dance) received her BFA in Theatre & Dance from UNM, Albuquerque. Since 1987, Maya has performed flamenco with groups such as Maria Benitez, Carlota Santana, Andrea Del Conte, and Flamenco Latino. She has completed the 4 Month Professional Certificate Course at the Cristina Heeren Foundation of Flamenco in Sevilla, Spain with El Farruquito, Javier Latorre, Carmen Ledesma, Isreal Galvan, Isabel Bayon and Milagros Mengibar. In addition, Maya has choreographed and produced her own shows at the Kraine Theatre and PS 122, Third Street Music School and California’s CenterStage. Currently, Maya has her own pre-professional company in New York, Las Chavalas del Barrio. She also dances at the Metropolitan Opera in “La Traviata” and teaches at the Mason Gross School of the Arts in the Dance Department at Rutger’s University, at Fazil’s Dance Studios and at the Rod Rogers Dance Studios.
 

Anne Easterling (Adventures in Dance and Ballet) has been dancing professionally since 1986, and has performed a wide range of both classical and modern work in the United States and in Europe. Ms. Easterling has performed with the Cleveland San Jose Ballet, The Minnesota Dance Theatre, Ballet Minnesota, Imago Dance Theater, Ballet Mink Colbert, and in works by choreographers Mark Morris, , Bonnie Mathis, Erica Murkofsky, Jennifer Tsukayama, Amy Kail, and Demetrius Klein. Ms. Easterling received her Master of Fine Arts Degree in Dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. A teacher of ballet and creative dance since 1997, Ms. Easterling has been a member of the faculty at Ballet Hispanico, The Spence School, the 92nd Street Y/Harkness Dance Center, the Hoboken Charter School, Zenon Dance Company, and other schools and studios in the New York area.

Caron Eule (Adventures in Dance) is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher. She received her BFA in dance from SUNY Purchase. As the Director of C. Eule Dance, she has presented modern dance and contemporary ballet at venues all over New York and California. She has also choreographed for theater, film, and opera. Caron has taught dance at Ballet Hispanico School of Dance, the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute, Eliot Feld's Ballet Tech, and Chelsea Day School in New York City, and Peak Performance and the Tenafly JCC in New Jersey. She also teaches ballroom dance in the public schools for American Ballroom Theater.

Elizabeth Ferell, (Adventures in Dance and Ballet) was a member of American Ballet Theatre from 1985 to 1998 performing leading roles in ballets by Agnes DeMille, Paul Taylor, Merce Cunningham, Twyla Tharp, Sir Anthony Tudor, Lar Lubovich, and Sir Keneth MacMillan. She also appeared in Herbert Ross' film "Dancers" and Frederick Weisman's documentary "Ballet" as well as several PBS Dance in America productions. Ms. Ferell teaching credits include: creative movement and pre-ballet at the Manhattan Treehouse, master classes at the Alexandra Ballet, and staging Agnes DeMille's "Rodeo" for the St. Louis Symphony's "Ballet Pops" series.

Michael Fielder (Latin Jazz and Latin Social Dance) is a performer, dancer, and choreographer. Originally form Las Cruces NM. Michael spent years learning and studying many forms of dance and movement including break dancing, ballet, modern, jazz, Latin dances and rhythms, acrobatics, aerobics and dance fitness. Michael's most recent performances credits include everything from Broadway to television. Stage: “Mambo Kings the musical”, Off Broadway, “Carnival” at the PaperMill Playhouse. Film; “El Cantante” with Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez. Walt Disney’s “ Enchanted” released 2007. Many television and live performances have help him with creating his amazing dance style and Being able to Teach has been a great joy for him not only is it a great way to share what he has learned to our future talent but its helped him as a performer to enjoy the art of dance so much more. www.michaelfielder.com

Karen Gayle (Horton) is originally from Toronto and began her training at the Claude Watson School for the Arts. While continuing her training at the Toronto Dance Theatre and the Randolph Dance Theatre, she received her degree from Ryerson University. She studied with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and has worked with Earl Mosley's Diversity in Dance, the Mantis Dance Project, Camboulay Dance, and choreographers such as Ronald K. Brown, Earl Mosley and Tony winner Hinton Battle. Currently she is a dance faculty member at Steps on Broadway, The New Dance Group, Ballet Hispanico, The School at Columbia University and Horace Mann. She has had the opportunity to guest teach and choreograph in several countries abroad including Mexico, Bolivia, Canada and Italy. On screen, she has also had the opportunity to work in films with such actors as Academy award winner Louis Gossett Jr. and Tony award winner Betty Buckley. She has choreographed various projects for both the stage and screen and continues to showcase her work through a variety of venues. Karen is also the choreographer and host of Deante Dance, a series of modern dance based fitness videos.

Ronald J. Hoffman (Boys Workshop) was raised in Bismarck, North Dakota and received his BA in Theatre Arts/Dance from North Dakota State University in Fargo.  He moved to New York and performed with The Humphrey Dance Ensemble, The Harbor Island Dance Company, and many local theatre companies before attending and graduating from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College.  He toured as Clown/Acrobat for 2 ˝ years with the Red Unit of Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which included appearances on several CBS television specials. He can be seen on Reading Rainbow in the “Nosey Mrs. Rat” Episode.  Ronald also performs with The Big Apple Circus Clown Care, a program bringing laughter and merriment to children in a hospital environment.  He co-founded and performs with “Two Left Feet Dancing Duo” which conducts residencies, workshops, and arts educational dance performances within the public school district.  Ronald has taught and continues to teach at Buck’s County Playhouse Children’s Theatre, Lev Leytzan: The Compassionate Clown Alley, Inc., Nassau BOCES Cultural Arts Center and in many Master Classes at Colleges across the United States.

Rinat Imaev (Ballet) was born in Oufa, Russia. He studied at the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg, danced professionally at the Kirov Teatre for two years, and became a Principal Dancer at the Sofia National Ballet, Bulgaria in 1981. In 1991, he joined the Royal Ballet of Flandes as a First Soloist, performing leading roles in Don Quixote, The Four Temperaments, Cinderella, Giselle, and many others, before becoming a Company Principal. Rinat has worked as a guest artist in Europe, Asia, and America and has worked with artists such as R. Nureyev, M. Liepa, Y. Grigorovitch, and P. Lacatte, as well as many others.

Zakk Manzella (Boys Workshop) has danced and performed professionally in musicals and dance productions such as Gypsy at the Paper Mill Playhouse, Rhythm is our Business at New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Fame and Rocky Horror Picture Show with Allegro Productions and Evita and Bye Bye Birdie with Phoenix Productions. Zakk has also worked in film and television as both a dancer and assistant choreographer. In addition, he has danced and performed in several music videos, concerts, and commercials, such as Coca-Cola, Reebok, and McDonalds.

Mariko Kumanomido (Adventures in Dance) Mariko Kumanomido is from St. Louis, MO, where she started her training at the Alexandra School of Ballet under the direction of Alexandra Zaharias. She received her BFA in Dance from the University of Missouri – Kansas City, studying under Michael Simms, Paula Webber, and Jennifer Medina. She moved to New York after receiving a fellowship at the Ailey School. She is currently a member of Jessica Danser/Dansefolk.

Melinda Marquez (Spanish Dance) has been a member of the Ballet Hispanico faculty since 1985, working with both the Ballet Hispanico School of Dance and Primeros Pasos arts education program.  A co-founder of Flamenco Vivo with Roberto Lorca and Carlota Santana, her primary career focus is on teaching and choreography. Her work has been recognized with a NY Foundation for the Arts choreography fellowship, faculty positions at the Alvin Ailey School, Jacques d’Amboise’ National Dance Institute, Eglevsky Ballet, and Dance CT. She has led master classes at Brooklyn College, Mannes College of Music, The Hartt School and the City Center Fall for Dance Festival.  Ms. Marquez is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Women’s Studies at SCSU and recently wrote and co-hosted “Flamenco: A Living Art Form” which aired on WPKN, Bridgeport, CT.

Pilar Pascual (Spanish Dance) was born and raised in Segovia, Spain.  A graduate from the Royal Conservatory of Professional Dance, she is a versatile instructor equally gifted in Spanish Dance, Ballroom and Creative Movement.  She brings a wealth of expertise to Ballet Hispanico, including Spanish Folklore, Bolero School and Classical Spanish.  Ms. Pascual has taught at Barnard College of Columbia University, Penn State University (Choreographer for the International Dance Ensemble), Karen Taft, as well as other notable Universities and Schools in the U.S. and Spain.

Julie Pasqual (Boys Workshop) is a student of renowned ballet teacher Dick Andros, and a graduate of New York City’s High School of Performing Arts. Julie has appeared with ballet and modern dance companies, and her work in musical theatre has taken her to 48 of the 50 states. As an actress she has performed in everything from Shakespeare to the work of inner-city teenage playwrights. As a clown she is part of the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit. Her storytelling work encompasses all of her performance skills, along with her knowledge of American Sign Language, and she has told at venues such as the Kennedy Center, the New Jersey Storytelling Festival, The Connecticut Storytelling Festival, and at numerous schools, libraries, museums, festivals, and even weddings! Julie was chosen to record three stories for the Cotsen Children’s Library in Princeton University, and she is the voice for several children’s and young adult audio books at the Andrew Heiskill Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in New York City. She is also a rostered artist for Hospital Audiences Incorporated, where she has performed in homeless shelters, senior citizen centers, and drug rehabilitation facilities. www.juliepasqual.com

Marcia Rotondo (Adventures in Dance) is a dancer and teacher. Her training and performance career includes ballet, modern, tap, jazz, tango, swing and folk dance. She has performed with the Albany-Berkshire Ballet, Ballet Theatre of Boston, Harriet Kinter's Ballet for Young Audiences, as well as with modern dance companies such as Anna Myer and Dancers. She has won both first and second place in National Tap Dance competition team performances. She has been teaching ballet to all ages for the past 5 years. Her previous teaching experience includes the Brookline Academy of Dance, the Joy of Movement, the Alliance for Inclusion and Prevention, the School at Steps, Ballet Academy East, and Ballet Hispanico. 
 

Todd Shanks (Boys Workshop) is an energetic teacher and choreographer who brings challenging style and excitement to the classroom. Todd has performed in industrials and commercials for Volvo, Ford Motors, Paramount Pictures, Pilsen Beer, the United Way, the Lyme Disease Foundation and Race for the Cure. He has been a guest performer with Synthesis Dance Project and the Westchester Philharmonic, as well as performing in SDCF Dance Break, Steps on Broadway Faculty Performances, the 2006 Miss Florida Pageant and Off-Broadway workshops of Halftime and On the Edge. He currently performs with Jette Performance Company, under the direction of Jay T. Jenkins. Todd recently choreographed the music video, “Unstoppable” for performing group “City Kids”. Todd has taught for the University of Florida, Dance Masters of America, Florida Dance Masters and many studios throughout the United States. He currently teaches at Steps on Broadway, Taps n Toes, Princeton Dance and Theater Studio and on tour with Manhattan Dance Project.

Kathy Sullivan (Ballet) has performed with the Boston Ballet, Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, Les Ballet de Nancy and taught at Broadway Dance Center, Ballet Hispanico, La Guardia High School of Performing Arts, and New Jersey Ballet. Her choreography has been presented at Joyce Soho, Cunningham Studio, New Choreographers on Pointe commissioned by Barnard College and seen in numerous STEPS BEYOND showcases.  For eight years she worked for the New York City Ballet’s Education Department, designing and presenting ballet workshops in public schools. She currently teaches ballet and pointe at STEPS on Broadway, and is on the ballet faculty at Barnard College. Ms. Sullivan has collaborated on CD’s for ballet class, and has made a video of ballet routines, “Ballet with Style,” released by Bob Rizzio (RIZ BIZ), and has written articles for Dance Teacher, Pointe, Dancer, and Dance Spirit magazines. Recently, she directed and edited “Downtown Dance-NYC,” an educational DVD produced by Insight Media.

Amen Ra "Bam Bam" Valentine (Hip Hop) started dancing professionally at the age of 17 with the dance crew Hellrazors and began training himself in hip-hop dance and on poppin’, lockin’, and breakin’. His first professional gig was performing with the R&B recording group 702 in their music video "No Doubt". Since then, Bam has danced artists such as Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, and Missy Elliot. In 1999, he started a casting agency for young up-and-coming dancers, singers, actors, and models, Amen Ra Entertainment. He has since done artistic development and choreography with artists at Tommy Boy Records, Arista Records and J Records, as well as choreographed for Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child and industrial shows for Nike and Coca-Cola. Recently, Bam started Nexx Level Elite Entertainment, which has a strong dance division/company that has performed for MTV and BET and at showcases at the 42nd Street Duke Theater and the Tribeca Performing Arts Center. He also has taught guest dance workshops in the US and internationally, including Germany and Canada. Bam hopes with his new-found company to continue and further his success in the entertainment industry.

Jane Vorburger (Ballet) completed her dance training at the Academy of the Maryland Youth Ballet.  She joined American Ballet Theater at age 16 and spent 5 years with this company performing principal, soloist and corps de ballet roles in the U.S.A. and abroad.  She then studied Contact Improvisation and choreography at Oberlin College and completed her Master of Fine Arts degree in dance from New York University's Tisch School for the Arts.  She teaches at colleges, private studios and festivals around the USA including Marymount Manhattan College, American Ballet Theater, Alvin Ailey Dance Center, New York University's Tisch School for the Arts and the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival in Alaska and choreographs for advanced level students at intensives and private academies. 

Guest Faculty Members include Ballet Hispanico Company members Irene Hogarth, and Rodney Hamilton.