The Ballet Tech Foundation
Board of Directors
Philip E. Aarons
Warren Adams
Patricia Crown
Laurel Durst
Jenny Gersten
Treasurer
Jilian Cahan Gersten
Chair
Suk Han
Bill Heinzen
Carol Zerbe Hurford
Vice Chair
Karen Levinson
Secretary
Mimi Lien
Rachel Moreno
Patricia Tuthill Pazner
Edgar Peterson
Trustees Emeriti
Cora Cahan
Gregory Hines
(in memoriam)
Howard Klein
(in memoriam)
LuEsther T. Mertz
(in memoriam)
Artistic Staff
Dionne Figgins
Artistic Director
212-777-7710
dfiggins@ballettech.org
Dionne D. Figgins began her career as a member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, under the direction of Arthur Mitchell, dancing lead roles in Serenade, Four Temperaments, Agon, and Concerto Barocco, all by George Balanchine. She has also appeared as a guest artist with Complexions Contemporary Ballet.
Her Broadway credits include Hot Feet, Memphis, Leap of Faith (Assistant Choreographer) and Motown The Musical. Her regional theatre credits include Sophisticated Ladies,The Wiz, Ray Charles Live, Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Ovation Nominee, Chita Rivera Award nominee), Trip of Love, Chicago, and A Wonderful World. Film/TV credits include: Across the Universe, Walk Hard, The Princess and the Frog, Bolden, She’s Gotta Have It (Netflix), Starz dramas Flesh and Bone (Yasmine) and Power, Glee, House, and The Academy Awards, to name a few.
Ms. Figgins is the co-founder and Creative Director of Broadway Serves, a non-profit organization whose mission is to engage theater professionals in com-munity service opportunities locally, nationally, and abroad. During the pandemic, she turned her focus to teaching full time for her home studio of Jones-Haywood Dance School in Washington, DC. She also galvanized the theatre community in a series of conversations on Instagram called Pass the Mic Broadway, an initiative that sparked dialogue about social justice issues between Black and White female theatre makers. She is a proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA.
Ashley Tuttle
Director of Faculty
212-777-7710, ext. 310
atuttle@ballettech.org
Ms. Tuttle was invited by Mikhail Baryshnikov to join American Ballet Theatre at the age of 16. Her career spanned 17 years with Ballet Theater reaching the rank of Principal dancer. Ms. Tuttle is known for her pure classicism and vivid characterizations. While maintaining her career with A.B.T., Ms. Tuttle joined the acclaimed Twyla Tharp Dance Company in 2000. During her time with T.T.D., Ms. Tharp created the hit Broadway show Movin’ Out and the role of Judy on Ms. Tuttle. Her interpretation of this role earned her both TONY Award and Fred Astaire Dance Award nominations. As well as continuing her performing career, Ms. Tuttle teaches ballet at the Mark Morris Dance Group, Steps on Broadway, The School at Steps, Gibney Dance, and Barnard College. Ms. Tuttle was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Wofford College in the spring of 2011. She joined Ballet Tech’s faculty in 2016.
Cathy Rhodes
Director of Body Conditioning
Ms. Rhodes began her professional career with American Ballet Theatre at the age of 15. The company toured the United States and Europe under the direction of Lucia Chase and later Mikhail Baryshnikov. Later she was offered a contract under John Neumeier with The Hamburg Staats Opera in Germany. She holds her teaching certification from American Ballet Theatre and also holds certifications in fitness and yoga. Ms. Rhodes joined Ballet Tech’s faculty in 1995 and taught full-time for 10 years. She has since returned to teaching at BT and continues to audition children throughout New York City.
Janelle Barry
BTANY Manager
212-777-7710, ext. 326
jbarry@ballettech.org
Janelle Barry is a caffeinated ball of energy from Southern California. She earned her BFA in Dance from Chapman University before moving to Brooklyn to perform with The Metropolitan Opera, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Mark Morris Dance Group. She has experience puppeteering and acting, but her greatest passion is teaching dance. For over a decade she has taught ballet, modern, swing, tap, and creative movement in New York City public, private, and charter schools, and was the Student Company Director for the Mark Morris Dance Group. She is currently a Lead Teacher and Teacher Trainer with Dance for PD®.
Administrative Staff
Maggie Christ
Executive Director
212-777-7710, ext. 314
mchrist@ballettech.org
Maggie Christ has worked at Ballet Tech since July 1996, in progressively responsible roles. As Executive Director, she oversees the financial and administrative operations of the organization. She also sits on the condominium’s Board of Managers. Prior to coming to Ballet Tech, she served as Director of Finance for the National Academy of Design (a small artist-run museum in NYC), as General Manager for the St. Ann Center for Restoration and the Arts (a presenting organization also involved in historic preservation, in Brooklyn), and as Associate General Manager at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. She received an MA from Columbia University (in Ethnomusicology) and a BA from Wellesley College (in Music).
Rashel Orellana
Program Assistant
212-777-7710, ext. 312
rorellana@ballettech.org
Israel Geronimo
Custodian
Alicia Rivas
Custodian
Marie Lascu
Archivist
Jennifer Marck Moran
Archivist
Faculty
Max Azaro
Allegro
Max Azaro began dancing under Risa Kaplowitz, Director of Princeton Dance and Theater Studio, in Princeton, N.J. In 2014, Max began studying at American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School after winning a full scholarship through Youth American Grand Prix. He trained at the JKO School from 2014-2017, first under Franco De Vita and then Cynthia Harvey. In 2016, Max was awarded the prestigious Northern Trust Scholarship. In 2017, he joined Ballet Austin as an apprentice and the following year was promoted to the Company. His performance credits include Snow King and Cavalier in The Nutcracker, Peasant Pas de Deux in Giselle, the lead roles in Rubies and Symbiotic Twin, and featured roles in works by choreographers such as Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Christopher Wheeldon, George Balanchine, and Stephen Mills.
With the beginning of his professional performing career, Max began teaching as well. His teaching credits include Princeton Dance and Theater, Ballet Austin Academy, and many other guest teaching engagements in Central Texas, New Jersey, and New York.
Janelle Barry
Introduction to Ballet
Janelle Barry is a caffeinated ball of energy from Southern California. She earned her BFA in Dance from Chapman University before moving to Brooklyn to perform with The Metropolitan Opera, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Mark Morris Dance Group. She has experience puppeteering and acting, but her greatest passion is teaching dance. For over a decade she has taught ballet, modern, swing, tap, and creative movement in New York City public, private, and charter schools, and was the Student Company Director for the Mark Morris Dance Group. She is currently a Lead Teacher and Teacher Trainer with Dance for PD®.
Lanette Costas
Ballet, Conditioning
Lanette Costas is a graduate of New York’s LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts and received both a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from SUNY Purchase and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Hollins University/American Dance Festival. Ms. Costas was a 2018-2019 School of American Ballet National Visiting Fellow. As a Dance Educator, she has been successfully teaching Ballet and Horton technique for over a decade to students in grades 2-12. Her students have been accepted into and received scholarships to attend some of the best university dance programs and summer intensive programs around the country. She was on faculty for the University of the Arts Pre-College Summer Institute for 8 years and was recently a Resident Artist at Lawrence University.
Her professional concert dance credits include Ailey II, Donald Byrd/The Group, Elisa Monte Dance, Fred Benjamin Dance Company, and Earl Mosley’s Diversity of Dance. She was a featured dancer in Disney’s The Lion King. Additional theater credits include The Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Five Guys Named Moe (Choreographer), Maltz Jupiter Theatre’s Tin Pan Alley Rag (Dance Captain), and If This Hat Could Talk. Ms. Costas performed for the television broadcast of CBS’ Kennedy Center Honors where she performed for President Clinton in honor of Judith Jamison. She also toured internationally as a soloist with the Spiritual Singers of Harlem and danced for the NBA team, New Jersey Nets. In collaboration with Margaret Paek, she has performed at the Danspace Project and in the installation BLEED at the Whitney Museum of American Art. During her career, she performed throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and South America.
Megan Eng
Feld Repertory
Megan Eng is a Ballet Tech alumna who began her dance training at Ballet Tech in 2009 and graduated from the high school program in 2019. Throughout her years at Ballet Tech, Megan performed in the premiere casts of Eliot Feld’s KYDZNY, Pointing 1, Pointing 2, and Pointing 3, and performed as a soloist in Feld’s A Yankee Doodle and The Jig is Up. Megan returned to Ballet Tech in the 2022-23 school year to set A Yankee Doodle on students for the 2023 Kids Dance season. She graduated from Baruch College in 2019 and is currently pursuing a pilates certification. She holds a marketing position in the health and wellness company WTHN.
Dionne Figgins
Audition Prep, Ballet, Study Hall
212-777-7710
dfiggins@ballettech.org
Dionne D. Figgins began her career as a member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, under the direction of Arthur Mitchell, dancing lead roles in Serenade, Four Temperaments, Agon, and Concerto Barocco, all by George Balanchine. She has also appeared as a guest artist with Complexions Contemporary Ballet.
Her Broadway credits include Hot Feet, Memphis, Leap of Faith (Assistant Choreographer) and Motown The Musical. Her regional theatre credits include Sophisticated Ladies, The Wiz, Ray Charles Live, Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Ovation Nominee, Chita Rivera Award nominee), Trip of Love, Chicago, and A Wonderful World. Film/TV credits include: Across the Universe, Walk Hard, The Princess and the Frog, Bolden, She’s Gotta Have It (Netflix), Starz dramas Flesh and Bone (Yasmine) and Power, Glee, House, and The Academy Awards, to name a few.
Ms. Figgins is the co-founder and Creative Director of Broadway Serves, a non-profit organization whose mission is to engage theater professionals in com-munity service opportunities locally, nationally, and abroad. During the pandemic, she turned her focus to teaching full time for her home studio of Jones-Haywood Dance School in Washington, DC. She also galvanized the theatre community in a series of conversations on Instagram called Pass the Mic Broadway, an initiative that sparked dialogue about social justice issues between Black and White female theatre makers. She is a proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA.
Mary Lyn Graves
Creative Movement, Introduction to Ballet
Mary Lyn Graves is a dancer and teacher based in Brooklyn, NY. Her recent performance credits include the Mark Morris Dance Group, Joanna Kotze, Megan Williams, and collaborations with composer Caroline Davis. From 2012-2018, Mary Lyn was a member of Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company in Salt Lake City, UT, where she originated roles in over 25 new works and toured across the United States, France, South Korea, and Mongolia. She has also performed extensively with Molly Heller, Cheyla Chandler, and the Nikolais/Louis Foundation. As a teacher, Mary Lyn has led classes at numerous universities, festivals, and studios, including Ballet San Angelo, Wichita State University, Chosun University in South Korea, Mongolian State University of the Arts & Sciences, and the University of Oklahoma. Additionally, Mary Lyn has facilitated creative movement classes in schools, community centers, and youth shelters across the United States and internationally, specializing in working with elementary age children.
A sixth-generation Oklahoman, Mary Lyn was born and raised in Tulsa, OK. She began her training at the Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education where she was also a member of Tulsa Ballet II. Mary Lyn holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Oklahoma.
Curtis Holland
Tap
Curtis Holland was born in Miami, Florida, to parents Edwin and Gaile Holland. The youngest of three siblings, Curtis and his sisters grew up dancing in their parents’ dance studio, the Edwin Holland School of Dance. Under the tutelage of Edwin and Gaile, Curtis learned the core fundamentals of ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and acrobatics from the time he was three years old all the way up to his eighteenth year. After high school, Curtis auditioned for Season 10 of So You Think You Can Dance, advancing to the live show and ending up as one of the Top Fourteen dancers of the season. After the show, Curtis came to New York to pursue his dance career, and has since worked with many great minds of the art form, including performing in four Broadway shows: Shuffle Along, choreographed by Savion Glover and directed by George C. Wolfe; Mean Girls, directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw; The Music Man starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, choreographed by Warren Carlyle and directed by Jerry Zaks; and Funny Girl, choreographed by Ellenore Scott and Ayodele Casel, with direction by Michael Mayer. Curtis’s passion for teaching dance dates back to when his father taught him how to instruct students at the age of thirteen. “I have always loved the thrill of seeing a concept finally click for a student,” Curtis often states when speaking of his joy for sharing information with the next generation of talent.
Curtis is currently in Paper Mill Playhouse’s world premiere production of The Great Gatsby, starring Jeremy Jordan and Eva Noblezada, with choreography by Dominique Kelley and direction by Marc Bruni.
Men Ca
Horton
The bio-kemet-cal essence of Men Ca is in his name: mata is energy from the nucleus of the ca’nscious atam. A practitioner of defining that which he does through that which he is (i.e. Men Ca), his absolute Art and Science is to be conscious at all times in all times. Thus, deepen the life force energy of love and understanding.
A third generation Lester Horton educator (educated by the unrivaled Dr. Elana Denise Anderson, who studied from James Truite), Men Ca resourcefully uses the technique as a medium for learners to actualize their Art & Science — Art, the Science of expressing; Science, the Art of knowing — aid their body to further activate the heart and mind. The Artist & Scientist.
Zuzu Park-Stettner
Feld Repertory, Jazz
Zuzu (She/Her) was born and raised in NYC and began dancing at the age of three. She started her dance training at The School at Steps and, at the age of ten, enrolled at Ballet Tech. She trained at Ballet Tech for nine years and performed both new works and classics during the annual Kids Dance season led by Eliot Feld. After graduating from the Professional Performing Arts School, she performed as Anybodys in a summer stock production of West Side Story at New Bedford Festival Theater. She is a graduate of Point Park University in Pittsburgh, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance with a minor in Musical Theater. She has worked with choreographers Eliot Feld, Laura Careless, Brian Brooks, Crystal Frazier, Jae Man Joo, and Shana Simmons. Her teachers include Christine Sarry, Daniel Levans, Michael Snipe, Rocker Verastique, Kiki Lucas, Keisha Lalama, Tim Marquette, Jason McDole, Susan Stowe and Daniel Karasik. She is a proud Ballet Tech alumna and is so excited to teach and carry on the foundation’s mission.
Akua Parker
Ballet, Conditioning, Pointe
Dancer, teacher, model, and chef, Akua Parker knew she wanted to pursue a career in the artistic field at an early age. After graduating high school, Akua would be invited to join Dance Theatre of Harlem, where she would embark upon what would become a lifelong career in dance.
She has performed as a leading company member with prestigious dance companies such as: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT), Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH), Cincinnati Ballet, and Ballet San Jose. During her illustrious career, Akua also took on the role of teaching professional company classes for Jessica Lang Dance, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She holds the American Ballet Theater National Teaching Curriculum Pre-primary – Level 5 certification and subsequently teaches and coaches young, aspiring dancers.
Brian Reeder
Ballet, Conditioning, Partnering, Pointe
Brian Reeder is the current year-round choreographer-in-residence for Manhattan Youth Ballet at Manhattan Movement Arts Center. As a choreographer, he has created or re-staged his work at ABT Studio Company, American Ballet Theatre, BalletNext, Colorado Ballet, Company C Contemporary Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, and The Washington Ballet. Reeder’s work has also been produced several times for Works & Process at the Guggenheim.
His professional career as a dancer was largely spent with American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and William Forsythe’s Ballet Frankfurt. He has been the recipient of several grants and fellowships including The Boomerang Foundation, The New York Choreographic Fellowship, and The Jerome Robbins Foundation for New Works. Reeder has been a guest teacher at Goucher College, Emory University, and The Juilliard School.
Cathy Rhodes
Ballet, Conditioning, Pointe
Ms. Rhodes began her professional career with American Ballet Theatre at the age of 15. The company toured the United States and Europe under the direction of Lucia Chase and later Mikhail Baryshnikov. Later she was offered a contract under John Neumeier with The Hamburg Staats Opera in Germany. She holds her teaching certification from American Ballet Theatre and also holds certifications in fitness and yoga. Ms. Rhodes joined Ballet Tech’s faculty in 1995.
Danielle Thomas
Ballet, Conditioning
Born and raised in New York, New York, Ms. Thomas began her extensive dance training at the Dance Theatre of Harlem at the age of four, studying various genres of dance including ballet, tap, and jazz. Upon graduating high school, Ms. Thomas was invited by Mr. Arthur Mitchell to dance professionally with the Dance Theatre of Harlem Company. During her tenure with the company, Ms. Thomas traveled the world, appearing and performing on various platforms including Sesame Street and the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, NY.
Ms. Thomas has trained and performed with some of the most prominent dance artists over her fifteen-year tenure as a professionally trained dancer, including her mentor, the late legendary Mr. Arthur Mitchell.
In more recent years, Ms. Thomas has taught dance at Radio City Music Hall for the New York City Rockettes Conservatory Program, New York City Public and Charter Schools, Harlem School of the Arts, and her alma mater, Dance Theatre of Harlem. She is also an American Ballet Theatre Certified Teacher. Ms. Thomas is thrilled to be able to share her passion for the arts and knowledge of dance with the Ballet Tech community.
Ashley Tuttle
Ballet, Conditioning, Pointe, Variations
Ms. Tuttle was invited by Mikhail Baryshnikov to join American Ballet Theatre at the age of 16. Her career spanned 17 years with Ballet Theater reaching the rank of Principal dancer. Ms. Tuttle is known for her pure classicism and vivid characterizations. While maintaining her career with A.B.T., Ms. Tuttle joined the acclaimed Twyla Tharp Dance Company in 2000. During her time with T.T.D., Ms. Tharp created the hit Broadway show Movin’ Out and the role of Judy on Ms. Tuttle. Her interpretation of this role earned her both TONY Award and Fred Astaire Dance Award nominations. As well as continuing her performing career, Ms. Tuttle teaches ballet at the Mark Morris Dance Group, Steps on Broadway, The School at Steps, Gibney Dance, and Barnard College. Ms. Tuttle was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Wofford College in the spring of 2011. She joined Ballet Tech’s faculty in 2016.
Asia Yiu
Feld Repertory
Asia Yiu is a Ballet Tech alumna who began her training in Ballet Tech’s Introduction to Ballet Program in 2009. She learned and danced at Ballet Tech up until she graduated from the high school program in 2019. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication with a minor in Psychology from Baruch College. Since returning to Ballet Tech, Asia has assisted in ballet class for the elementary students, appeared as a guest performer in Ballet Tech’s 2022 Kids Dance season, and set Eliot Feld’s A Yankee Doodle on students for the 2023 Kids Dance season. She is beyond delighted to have joined the Ballet Tech community in this new way.
Dance Class Assistants
Mailynn Arias
Ballet Tech Alumna
Max Azaro
Jaya Collins
Ballet Tech Alumna
Basia Lamy
Michael Miles
Rashel Orellana
Ballet Tech Alumna
Jaheem Wilson
Ballet Tech Alumnus
Taliya Winecoff
Ballet Tech Alumna
Asia Yiu
Ballet Tech Alumna
Musicians
Nezih Antakli
Percussion
John Epperson
Piano
Allan Greene
Piano
Ai Isshiki
Piano
George Lykogiannis
Percussion
Ben Pawlak
Piano
Dmitry Polischuk
Piano
Mihoko Suzuki
Piano
The New York City Public School for Dance
Academic Faculty & Staff
Roy O’Neill
Principal
212-254-1803
roneill2@schools.nyc.gov
Mr. O’Neill was appointed Principal to Ballet Tech in 2009 after having served as the school’s fifth grade teacher for 8 years. He received his B.A. in English Literature from UCLA and completed his teaching certification program at California State University, Dominguez Hills. He began his teaching career in the Los Angeles Unified School District as an elementary school teacher before moving to New York in 2001
Natalie Phillips
School Safety Officer
Academic Faculty
Ezra Benson
Health & Physical Education
212-254-1803
ebenson@schools.nyc.gov
Mariana Fernandez
Spanish
212-254-1803
mfernan17@schools.nyc.gov
Ms. Fernandez joined Ballet Tech in 2003. She has thirteen years of teaching experience. Prior to Ballet Tech she taught at FDR High School and Gregorio Luperon High School. Ms. Fernandez has a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Spanish Education from Saint Thomas Aquinas College. She earned her masters in Learning Technology from Mercy College. Teaching is her passion!
Jeannie Herlihy
Middle School Science
212-254-1803
jherlih3@schools.nyc.gov
Ms. Herlihy joined the Ballet Tech staff in 2001 as the Middle School Math and ELA teacher and continued on in 2002 with Math and Science. She currently teaches Science and Health and holds a Permanent Certificate in Earth Science & General Science 7-12 Extension. Ms. Herlihy has enjoyed serving the Ballet Tech community as a School Leadership Team member, Inquiry Team member, Class Adviser and Community Spirit Committee Chair. After graduating from the University of Vermont in 1987 with a B.S. in Secondary Education – Earth Science major, Ms. Herlihy committed to working in and educating herself about every facet of New York City theatre for the next 15 years. She has worked on stage, tech and crew, box office and as a house, stage and company manager on, off and off-off-Broadway. She has been a member of ATPAM (Association of Theatrical Press Agents & Managers) since 1999 and has also studied voice, acting, poetry and playwriting. She earned her Master of Science in Urban and Multicultural Education at the College of Mount Saint Vincent in 2009. Ms Herlihy loves being a life-long learner. She continues to embrace and infuse in her teaching a love for science, the arts and athletics (especially being on a team!) through ongoing involvement with a variety of New York City based organizations including the Wildlife Conservation Society, AMNH, Central Park Conservancy, Gotham Writer’s Workshop, BCEFA, New York Road Runners, Big City and Gotham Volleyball.
Michelle Lum
5th Grade (501)
212-254-1803
mlum3@schools.nyc.gov
Ms. Lum joined Ballet Tech in 2009. She brings experience teaching a broad range of students from around the world. She holds a Bachelor degree in Education and English Literature, and a Masters in Literacy Education from Fordham University. Ms. Lum strives to develop a love of both literature and writing in all her students!
Tamara Rubakha
4th Grade (401)
212-254-1803
trubakha@schools.nyc.gov
Ms. Rubakha joined Ballet Tech’s faculty in 2014. She has taught grades 2-12, and finds fourth grade to be her favorite. Ms. Rubakha holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Psychology from Skidmore College and a Master’s in Mathematics Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Ms. Rubakha comes from the beautiful city of St. Petersburg. She has two school-age children of her own, and loves being a parent and a teacher at the same time.
Cari Sobolewski
5th Grade (502)
212-254-1803
csobolewski@schools.nyc.gov
Ms. Sobolewski joined Ballet Tech in 2007 as interim fourth grade teacher, after graduating from SUNY New Paltz. She spent the 2008-09 school year teaching fourth grade at PS 154 in Harlem, and is happy to be back at Ballet Tech teaching the fifth grade. Ms. Sobolewski received her B.S. in Nutrition from Lehman College.