The Ailey School

New York native Alisa de los Reyes began her dance career as a member of the Hunter College Dance Company and later as a principal dancer in the Harlem-based company Keep Rising to the Top (KR3T’s), performing as well as honing her skills as a choreographer. She then began studying Pilates with Master instructor Linda Farrell at Broadway Dance Center, and went on to become Pilates Mat and Reformer certified. Ms.

For the past few years, Mr. Byrd has lived and worked in New York City as an actor, dancer, singer and teacher.  He has worked regionally in theaters with Terrence Mann and Ann Reinking, among others, as well as for Carnival Cruise Lines.  Mr. Byrd has worked on film and television projects in New York and Florida, and he has also worked as a Stage Manager for events including Broadway Dance Center's Showcases, Mike Minery’s Tapaholics, and The International Dance Festival.  Recently, Mr.

“Trainer extraordinaire, he teaches ballet dancers why they do what they do."  -The New York Times

A dancer since the age of three, Germaine Goodson is a celebrated tap dancer and was a featured dancer in the Broadway production of Black and Blue and an Off-Broadway production of Back in the Big Time, starring Harold Nicholas.  Last seen in Duke Ellington’s Broadway musical Play On, Ms.

Mr. Shaheed, a native of Philadelphia, was introduced to dance at the age of 13 upon acceptance to the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts.  He furthered his dance studies with Philadelphia Dance Company’s (PHILADANCO) and later became a senior member of DANCO II.  Mr.

Jinny McGivern, a native of Brooklyn, NY, received her B.F.A. Magna Cum Laude from the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College. Ms. McGivern discovered yoga after a recurring knee injury caused her to seek alternative forms of therapy. She found that she was as attracted to the practical applications of yogic philosophy to everyday life, as much as to the physical practice of asana. She completed her 200-hour Teacher Training at YogaWorks in New York City in March 2007, studying asana, anatomy, pranayama, philosophy, and meditation.

Jonathan Lee has worked with various recording artists including Grammy Award winners Madonna, Gloria Estefan, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Tracy Chapman and Joe as a backup singer, dancer and choreographer.  His Film/TV credits include Fish, Chapelle’s Show, The WB Morning Show, ABC News Now, The View and Guiding Light.  Theatre credits include Once On This Island, The Wiz, West Side Story, The King & I, and Miss Saigon.  He has choreographed and performed with netwo

Born in Cordoba, Argentina, Karina Romero trained in ballet, jazz, and modern dance before studying tango with masters such as Mingo Pugliese, Mariela Franganillo, and Pablo Veron. Since relocating to NYC in 2001, Ms. Romero has been a featured dancer with the Thalia Spanish Theatre and appeared in numerous commercials as well as the film A Night in New York. Currently affiliated with cable TV Channel 4, she is a member of Connections Dance Theater and teaches at Sandra Cameron Dance Center.

Kay Wylie-Jacob is an artist/educator with a Ph.D. in Performance Studies and an MFA in Dance from New York University. Her background in performance includes work with Twyla Tharp and ten years as Artistic Director of the Big Apple Dance Theatre. During her concert dance career, Dr. Wylie-Jacob performed in twenty-five US cities and traveled to ten countries. Her choreography credits include commissioned work for Middlebury College, the University of Louisville, Halifax Dance Company in Nova Scotia, The New School, The New York Feminist Art Institute and Off-Broadway shows.

Danys “La Mora” Pérez is an international Afro-Cuban Folklore dancer, choreographer, teacher and ethnologist.  She is renowned as one of the foremost interpreters of Afro-Cuban dance forms derived from the cultures of West Africa present in Cuba.  Her specialty is the unique styles of her native region, “Oriente Province”, in Eastern Cuba.  Oriente offers a particularly rich cultural heritage due to the introduction of Afro-Haitian influences to the already vibrant Afro-Cuban traditions.  For 18 years, La Mora danced and toured internationa

World-renowned Kirov-trained teacher Madame Gabriela Darvash was Artistic Director and resident choreographer for the State Opera Ballet in Cluj, Roumania for 14 years.  Since 1972 she has resided in New York, running her own school from 1976 to 1988.  The New York Times’ Anna Kisselgoff and Jennifer Dunning have praised her ability to create beautiful, strong, artistically expressive dancers.  The New York Times also quotes Mikhail Baryshnikov calling Madame Darvash "one of the distinguished and fine ballet pedegogues in America."  One of her students, a

Mamady Sano is a dynamic performing artist from Guinea, West Africa.  Born into an artistic family, he is the son of world-renowned choreographer Mohamed Kemoko Sano of Les Ballets Africains.  Mr. Sano often performed with his brothers and friends, and quickly became known as the top dancer in his region.  He began performing with Les Merveilles D'Afrique African Dance Troupe, a highly acclaimed, internationally-recognized performance ensemble under the artistic direction of his father.  Mr.

Milton Myers performed with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and was Director of the Trisler Danscompany for six years.  He has taught for the Ballet Hispanico, New Danish Dance Theatre, Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal, Batsheva, Matthew Bourne's Male Swan Lake Company on Broadway and Ballet Stagium in Brazil.  He is a professional instructor for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and is an instructor and resident choreographer for Philadanco.  Mr. Myers is currently on faculty at the Juilliard School and the Ailey/Fordham B.F.A.

A native of Munich, Germany, Patricia Weiss trained at the Iwanson School of Contemporary Dance. While still a student, she made her debut at the Munich State Opera in a production of Verdi’s Falstaff. Upon graduation, Ms. Weiss moved to New York City, where she continued her studies at The Ailey School. In 2004, she returned for an apprenticeship under Philip Taylor with the Ballet Theater Munich. Ms. Weiss has performed with and choreographed for various companies in Europe and the United States. In 2008, she became artistic director and choreographer of VQ Dance Productions, Inc.

Mr. Haymon began his professional career in San Francisco, where he taught Salsa at the Metronome Ballroom. His love of teaching Salsa took him from San Francisco to Los Angeles, Detroit, Miami, Maui, Puerto Rico, and now New York City. Mr. Haymon’s performance experience includes several World Salsa Congresses as a member of Ava Apple and Luis Rosa's Latin Symbolics.

A native of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Quenia Ribeiro has danced and taught for over 25 years, including 18 years of formal ballet training and extensive exposure to various forms of Brazilian folkloric dance.  She has performed at universities, festivals, and theatres in Greece, Brazil, and all over the United States.  Since moving to New York more than a decade ago, Ms.

Ms. Harte was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. Her film/TV credits include "The WB Morning Show," "Direct FX," "Rescue Me," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "WannaBe Kylie Minogue," Chris Rock’s “Hey Ya” and Fifty Cent’s “Outta Control” music video. She has worked with networks such as HBO, MTV, FX, and the WB. Ms. Harte has also been a featured dancer in several casinos and venues including the Taj Mahal, Harrah’s casino, Guastavino’s, Nyla, Mirage, and Blu. Ms.

Born and raised in Venezuela, Samuel Salazar participated in several dance competitions while in high school.  He fell in love with Zumba when he attended his first Zumba Workshop in Dayton, Ohio.  Mr. Salazar became a certified Zumba instructor after he realized how great it made him feel, stating, “Zumba has changed my life, and I want to pass it on to rest of the world.”

Ms. Allen is a world-renowned professional dancer whose career has spanned across four decades. She was a company member of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater from the 1970s through the 90s, and at present is an Artist In Residence with Complexions. She has been mentored by Kathy Grant, one of the two grande dames of The Pilates technique, and was taught and certified by Joseph H. Pilates himself. Ms. Allen has also trained directly with Julio Horvath, the inventor of the Gyrotonic Expansion System.

Deena ‘SnapShot’ Clemente and Wanda ‘WandeePop’ Candelario are dance collaborators, business partners and best friends since childhood. Hailing from the South Bronx, SnapShot and WandeePop developed their skills under the guidance of SnapShot’s brother Steve ‘Mr. Wiggles’ Clemente and ‘honorary brother’ Jorge ‘Popmaster Fabel’ Pabon, both members of the famed Rock Steady Crew.

Teacher, choreographer and performer Sue Samuels has established herself as a staple of the modern performing arts community. Ms. Samuels’ expertise from 35 years of experience keeps her in demand as a mentor and coach by professional and amateur artists from around the world. Her students have included stars from the stage and screen including Melba Moore, Irene Cara and Brooke Shields. Ms. Samuels began her dance training with Broward Civic Ballet in Florida, where she performed with the Company for six years.

Theresa Ruth Howard began her professional career with the Philadelphia Civic Ballet Company at the age of twelve. In 1989 joined Dance Theater of Harlem, where she had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Africa. She has worked with choreographer Donald Byrd as a soloist in his staging of New York City Opera's Carmina Burana, his critically acclaimed Harlem Nutcracker, as well as the controversial domestic violence work The Beast. In 2004 she joined Armitage Gone Dance!

Hip-Hop dancer, choreographer and teacher Tweetie studied at the LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts before beginning her professional career as a featured dancer for R&B singer Miss Jones.  She has been featured on MTV’s "Dances From Tha Hood" and “Run's House,” as well as “So You Think You Can Dance Canada,” and has performed as a dancer in commercials for Stride gum, Nike and the iPod campaign alongside Wynton Marsalis.  She has worked with celebrities including Jay-Z, Destiny's Child, Fergie, LL Cool J, Mya and Angie Martin

Vic DiMonda is currently the Associate Artistic Director for the John W. Engeman Theater at Northport, Long Island's only year-round Equity Theater, where he directed and choreographed their inaugural production of Smokey Joe's Café. He is a faculty member of The Ailey School and The Ailey Extension. He founded and served as artistic director for the Harkness Dance Center's Tap Team. He has also been a faculty member of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and an artist-in-residence for the Metropolitan Opera Guild where he taught their Creating Original Opera program.