JODE ROMANO

Flamenco

JoDe Romano "La Chispa" was a guest teaching artist & graduate of the High School for the Performing Arts in Houston, Texas where she was featured in the Houston Grand Opera's Carmen. She also performed in the Franco Zeffirelli original production of Carmen, starring Placido Domingo and Maria Benitez at the Metropolitan Opera, which was broadcast for PBS's Live From Lincoln Center and then toured Japan. For over 20 years, Ms. Romano lived, studied, and performed Spanish dance in Spain and Japan, was soloist and choreographer for the José Greco Dance Company at The Joyce Theater, the Town Hall New York City, and toured the US and Spain. She was also a dancer in The Charo Show, and choreographed the Broadway Workshop production of Rita Hayworth-Hollywood Goddess, numerous Zarzuelas, and the mixed media dramatic presentation, Picasso's Guernica, at The Thalia Theater in New York.

Currently, Ms. Romano conducts Spanish dance and castanet classes at the 92Y Harkness Dance Center, has been a guest teacher at Hunter College and co-developed and taught a Dance Education Laboratory workshop at the 92Y. She has also taught master classes and workshops at NYU for NYSDEA and at Fall for Dance at NY City Center, and regularly teaches at Steps on Broadway, Ballet Hispánico, the Joffrey Ballet trainees and summer intensive NYC, Alvin Ailey, along with other locations and public schools throughout the NY metropolitan area. Ms. Romano holds a teaching license from the Bureau of Provisionary School Supervision (BPSS) under the NY Department of Education. She has completed a series of instructional DVDs on castanet and flamenco movement techniques and produced and played castanets on her "Spanish Classical Piano and Castanets" CD.

SHANI TALMOR

Salsa

Shani Talmor professional actor, performer and teacher, has traveled worldwide presenting her sensual and sexy Salsa style. Trained in a variety of dance styles, including Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Samba and Afro-Cuban, Shani is an energetic and explosive dancer. Shani is worldwide known for her unique sensuous styling and body movement on and off the dance floor. She has powerful stage presence and a passionate love for teaching. Shani made her Broadway debut and became an ensemble dancer on the musical "ON YOUR FEET" the life story of Gloria and Emilio Estefan. Right after that, Shani opened the 1st national tour of "On Your Feet" until closing.Shani was recently seen in the Warner brothers movie "In The Heights" by Lin Manuel Miranda, directed by Jon Chu. She was the associate choreographer at "The Muny's" theatre production of "ON YOUR FEET" and "LEGALLY BLODN" And was also the associate choreographer on the 2nd national tour of "ON YOUR FEET" that is currently still touring. A few of her credits include performances with artists: Pitbull, Marc Anthony, T-Pain, Ne-Yo and Kat Deluna. She performed at Jennifer Lopez's 40th Birthday Party event, The "NY Knicks" Noche Latina at Madison Square Garden and Madonna's "Smirnoff lifestyle Exchange Project" showcase. Her TV Credits include "The Wendy Williams Show", "Kennedy Center Honors", “Mira Quien Baila” , "The View" , "America's Got Talent", Penny Dreadful City Of Angles", "Let The Right One In" and "The Godfather Of Harlem."

MARCOS PEREIRA & FLORENCIA BORGINA

Tango

Marcos Pereira and Florencia Borgnia are Argentine Tango dancers, performers and instructors from Argentina and currently based in New York City. They started their career together in 2013, performing at many Tango Shows in Buenos Aires, such as "Cafe Tortoni", "La Ventana", "El Querandi", among others. Since then, they haven’t stopped doing what they like the most, dancing Tango. They have been dedicated to tango since their early age, having the opportunity to learn and being inspired by most of the well known tango masters in Buenos Aires. Together they have achieved a unique style, among other tango couples, because of their outstanding elegance and their technical and interpretative quality. In 2015, they got the Second Place in the Buenos Aires City Tango Championship; they have been finalists in the World Tango Championship in 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2023 they got 9th Place in the World Tango Championship. During the latest years, they have been traveling all around the USA, Asia and Latin America, teaching and performing at most of the biggest Tango Festivals; they were also part of the main cast of several Shows throughout the USA, such as "Tango Argentina" and "Ella es Tango", among others. Tango is their passion, and they would like to invite you to join them in this wonderful and captivating “one-way trip” to the Tango world.

AUBREY CHEEK
Tap

Aubrey Cheek is originally from Florida, attended Oklahoma City University as a dance performance major, and graduated summa cum laude from Pace University with a degree in Arts and Entertainment Management. Aubrey has performed in numerous professional theatre productions including “42nd Street” (Fulton, Fireside) and “Cats” (Interlakes). She choreographed “Sister Act” (Interlakes). In NYC, she was part of Pre-Production for “Funny Girl” Broadway (with tap choreographer Ayodele Casel), and performed in “In The Groove” (choreographed by Dormeshia), and in “Gypsy of the Year” (choreographed by Chaz Wolcott). Aubrey is an alumna of the Tap Program at the prestigious School at Jacob’s Pillow (directed by Michelle Dorrance and Dormeshia). She was a student in the Dance Lab NY Broadway Choreography Intensive (directed by Josh Prince and Valerie Salgado). Aubrey was a scholarship student in the Gus Giordano Dance School College/Pro Intensive. Aubrey continues to train at Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center, where she has also assisted. She has presented work in several NYC choreography showcases. Aubrey travels to teach and set choreography on young dancers around the United States. Aubrey deeply believes that dance can change lives. She is passionate about sharing what she loves and connecting with others through dance!

VANESSA MARTÍNEZ DE BAÑOS

Mat Pilates & Contemporary

Internationally recognized dancer, teacher, choreographer and co-artistic director of DoubleTake Dance. Vanessa has been trained in Contemporary, Ballet, Lyrical, Musical Theater, Hip Hop, Tap, Modern, Areal Silks and Acting. She can be seen dancing in Daniel Gwirtzman Company (now celebrating 10 years as a soloist. Some of her favorite shows include Lincoln Center Outdoors, Battery Dance, Rochester Fringe Festival...), Christy Walsh Company and DoubleTake Dance. Recently seen as “The Queen” in the Contemporary Ballet production of “The Queen of Nöri” by Stoneworks Productions (performed in Oahu, Hawaii) and in the Fashion Magazine BAZAAR Indonesia, dancing/modeling for Fashion Designer Yinglun Zhang. And the show “Planets” as a dancer/ choreographer produced by KDA (Oahu, Hawaii) Honored with a professional development scholarship from the Spanish Ministry of Culture Vanessa moved to NYC to pursue her dance career. Credits in Spain include choreographing “Tick Tick...BOOM!” and “I Love You, You're Perfect ...Now Change” produced by Tela-Katola as well as performing with the European show "Compradores de Sueños”. Vanessa has produced, choreographed and directed several full length shows with her dance company DoubleTake Dance along co-director Ashley Carter. Featured in Dance Informa Magazine; with shows in festivals & events such as SummerStage; Battery Dance, NY Half Marathon, Ailey Theater; Carnival, NYC Fashion Week, Higher Ground Festival, the ACLU's 100th birthday celebration, United Palace, Webster Hall; Gerald Lynch Theater, Dixon Place, Teatro la Tea, JCE (NY),Teatro Madrid & SalaTriángulo (Spain). DTD is a proud recipient of commissions such as NY City Arts Grant, Rock that Rolls for Dancing Wheels (Cleveland, OH), HTChen New Steps (NYC); Next Step (JPAC NYC); Other companies and choreographers include: LLMoves, BalaSole, Noir Tribe Media, Burnt Sugar, Ikada, Germaul Barnes/Viewsic Expressions, Ryan Beck, Derek Mitchell, Guillém Alonso, Gabrielle Lasner, Alan Onickel, Lynn Schwab (Tap City -Symphony Space) and Tony Waag (Career Transition for Dancers Gala at City Center) Featured in “Steel City Rhythm" workshop by RSW & associates; “DIY Nutcracker” (NY), “Rabi Thakur: A ballet on the Life of Rabindranath Tagore” (NJPAC); “The jazz Hip Hop Nutcracker” by Momentum Dance Theater: (Washington D.C ). Other shows include “Mitridate” by The Little Opera Theater in NY; “The Golden Cockerel” & “Aurora’s Wedding” with ABT at the MET, “Arrival” (Theater 80), “LOVEartJAPAN” (Raising funds for Japan and “3 for 1” by DTD with AJR Brothers. Vanessa is a versatile performer who has worked as an actress, model and dancer for international brands and commercials like: L ́OREAL, Heineken, Ameriprise, Athleta, NYRoadRunners, Tag Heuer, Netflix “Umbrella Academy”, Yahoo, Ursus Vodka, KDDance, Lush Cosmetics/Gorilla Perfumes, El País newspaper, channel Tele5, Fuse TV, X-Box/Kinect (Times Square with NeYo and Lady Sovereign) Fashion Center Arts Festival, One Truth, Dru Cutler, Guerilla Toss, The Rachel Ray Show, Dropps, Smartphone Users Guide to Etiquette by Mary John Frank with Ariana deBose. Film credits include “The Ryde of Tom & Valkyrie”, & "Friends With Benefits" with Justin Timberlake (IMDB 2011). As a dance video director, editor and dancer her latest work “Piel” has successfully premiered in the Festival “Encuentros” (Ciapas, México.) Currently on faculty at BAE and BeFit other teaching credits include: Peridance, Joffrey, PMT, Steps, Bridge for dance in NY; Alonzo Lines in San Francisco; LeHigh Valley Alliance in Pennsylvania; HawaiiUniv, Punahou, Mid-Pac, Kailua Dance, in Hawaii; Round Rock Rep, and Tarrytown Dance in Austin; V. Ullate, Arte de Bailar, Luthier, Latelier, Ross in Spain; PAO Dance in Belgium, T- Stage in México...). Vanessa loves traveling as a teacher, judge and choreographer and is also a Pilates Mat Certified Trainer, with choreography featured in the YAGP finals.

ARIANNA TSIVKIN

Ballet

Arianna Tsivkin is a performing artist from New York City. She received her early dance training at the School of American Ballet where she performed with New York City Ballet in productions of "The Nutcracker" and "Firebird". She then studied at the JKO School of American Ballet Theatre where she performed in Alexei Ratmansky’s "The Nutcracker". Arianna has also trained at French Académie of Ballet, received scholarships to dance at Belvoir Terrace Performing Arts Camp, and has studied under Mignon Furman, Merle Sepel, and her mother Rebecca Tsivkin. She graduated from Laguardia High School of Performing Arts as a dance major, and has studied Fosse technique and theatre jazz with the Verdon Fosse Legacy. Arianna was honored to be part of the inaugural class of Pa’lante Scholars in the Professional Studies Program at Ballet Hispánico (BH) under the direction of Rodney Hamilton. While there she helped originate roles in works by Norbert De La Cruz III, Tsai Hsi Hung, and Juan Rodriguez, performed in works by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Michelle Manzanales, Pedro Ruiz, Gerald Arpino, Gustavo Ramirez, Alberto Alonzo, and more, and was a representative student for BH in Canada's National Ballet School's Assemblée Internationale '23.

ANDREA BAQUERO
Yoga

Andrea is a certified YRS 300 instructor in Hatha, Vinyasa, and Nada Yoga, as well as Yin Yoga and a certified breath coach. She is also a professional musician with extensive experience in somatic therapies, including certifications as a vibroacoustic and focalizing therapist, Andrea is also a Reiki and Ayurveda practitioner. Andrea’s unique approach weaves together her rich background in music and somatic healing, influenced by global traditions and academic studies.

Her journey has taken her from touring the world as a pianist and singer to immersing in yogic teachings in Northern India as well as shamanic and Quechua practices in South America. Andrea’s continuous curiosity and dedication to learning and sharing these practices in Brooklyn and Manhattan, offer a holistic and practical foundation for spiritual growth, body awareness and somatic healing, creating a transformative experience for her students at Ballet Hispánico.