KRISTINA BERGER
returns as our Master
Class I teacher and choreographer for the second year. She continues
to tour internationally as a performer and teacher. She is a principal
dancer with Erick Hawkins Dance Company, a founding member of SWATT and
a new member of Molissa Fenley & Dancers. She has been a Faculty
member at Marymount Manhattan College for eight years. Other ongoing
teaching credits include Steps on Broadway, the Performing Arts Center
of Conn. and guest artist positions at La Guardia High School of Performing
Arts, Taiwan National University of the Arts, and University of Las Vegas.
LEILAH JOY BOWSER
Leilah Joy Bowser, who goes by her nick name Lei-Joy, has very recently
received a bachelors degree in Dance Education from Montclair State
University. Throughout her years spent at MSU working towards a career
teaching dance, she also studied and trained in dance techniques such
as Jose Limon modern technique, contemporary modern, jazz, and ballet
beyond hip hop. Versatility at its best is what she aspires to achieve
as a performer. She is very pleased to be a second year teacher at
SNSD, because it has helped her open other doors to teaching opportunities
in her native New Jersey area. She currently dances with a small developing
company in Piscataway, NJ, the "Work of Art Dance Theatre",
and is working to pursue other professional dance opportunities before
she establishes a career in teaching.
GIULIA CAROTENUTO
originally from Rome, Italy, joins us for her first
year on the faculty as a Core Curriculum teacher. In 2008 she received
her BFA in Dance Performance, Magna Cum Laude, from Chapman University
in Orange, CA where she was the recipient of awards for Outstanding
Performance, Outstanding Choreographer and Outstanding Graduating Senior.
She has toured throughout Europe with Gallimaufry and Greene Contemporary
Dance Company and has worked with Faye Driscoll, Rodger Belman, Mark
Dendy and Sean Greene, among others and has presented choreography
in New York City and surrounding areas. This summer she received a
scholarship to participate in the American Dance Festival
CHRISTIAN CLAESSENS
studied on
full scholarship at S.A.B., the ABT School, Rosella Hightower’s Centre
de Dance and the Conservatoire de la Monnaie in Belgium. He performed
with Kansas City Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and the Dutch National
Ballet. He has been a teacher and choreographer in Westchester for over
a decade.
JESSICA DIMAURO,
a Steffi Nossen alumna, holds a BFA in Dance
from Marymount Manhattan College. Jessica and her Company, DiMauro Dance,
have performed works throughout the tri-state area funded by the Westchester
Arts council Arts Alive Grant 2007. DiMauro Dance was selected to perform
at the Cool New York dance festival in 2009. She is adjunct Faculty
at Montclair State U. and Duchess Community College.
ANNIE DOSS
received her BFA in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College
and also studied at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. A Steffi Nossen
alumna with many performing credits, she has also presented her own
choreography at the Theresa Lang and Red Room Theaters, DTW, SUNY Purchase
and Peridance Center. She is a founding member of DiMauro Dance and
a Certified Pilates Instructor. Annie returns to Steffi Nossen for
her fifth year as a Faculty member, her fourth year as Junior Master
Class Teacher and choreographer and her third year as Master Class
II Teacher and Choreographer. In addition she is a member of the Faculty
at The Masters School.
KATHLEEN FITZGERALD
was a principal dancer with Frankfurt Ballet as well
as Company Ballet Mistress. She was a soloist with Netherlands Dance
Theater I and Assistant Director of Netherlands Dance Theater II. She
toured & performed internationally with both companies. A BFA graduate
in Dance from the North Carolina School of the Arts, she has taught
for major European dance companies. She begins her tenth year on our
Faculty and her sixth year as School Director.
ELIZABETH FRANKEL
earned her undergraduate degree at Vassar College and
her M.F.A. at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She performed with Laura
Dean, Joyce Trisler and others. She has taught ballet and modern dance
at Vassar and Barat Colleges and Oxford University. She has been a
dance Faculty member of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts for over 12
years.
JEANIE GAYESKI
served as Head of the Arts Department and Movement Teacher
at the Gillen Brewer School, educating children with special needs, in
New York City. She earned a BA in Art History and German from the University
of Rochester, an MS in Elementary Education from Hunter College and has
completed a Certificate Program in Dance Education for Children at the
92nd Street Y. She has also trained in Creative Arts Therapy at Pratt
Institute, Yoga and Creative Movement for children with special needs
and recently completed her Vinyaasa Yoga training.
MAUREEN GLENNON
holds a BFA in Dance from Montclair University. She was
an original co-founder and has danced professionally with Freespace
Dance. She has also performed with Beyondance, Umoja Dance Co., and
Nicholas Rodriguez & Dance Compass. Maureen currently holds a full-time
position at Somerset Vo-Tech High School, where she is the Dance Education
Coordinator and teaches choreography at County College of Morris. She
is the founder and artistic director of moe-tion dance theater, based
in New Jersey.
SHELLEY GRANTHAM
returns for her sixth year at Steffi Nossen. She received
a BA in dance and graduated with honors from the Conservatory of Dance
at Barat College, DePaul University. She choreographed for the musical
theatre department at Loyola Academy and performed with the Barat Repertory
Dance Company, working with Rory Foster, Eileen Cropley, Emily Stein,
Julie Cartier, Wilfredo Rivera and others. In New York she has danced
with Danielle DesPersis and dancers and Deborah Damast and Dancers.
She directs the PeriChild Program at Peridance Center in Manhattan
and directs their outreach, pre-professional dance company, the PeriChild
Ensemble.
JILLIAN HALL-WRIGHT
is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, has
a BA in Dance Education and her NY State teaching certification in
Dance. She has trained in ballet, modern, and jazz and has taught in
all genres as well as teaching Creative Movement in Manhattan public
and private schools and the 92nd St. Y. She is the Office Manager and
Tour Coordinator for the Stephen Petronio Company in NYC and the bookkeeper
for the Center for Kinesthetic Education. She returns for her sixth
year at Steffi Nossen.
LAUREN JAEGER
has a B.F.A. in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College
and also studied at the Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance, Boston Ballet
and Kaatsbaan International. She tours and performs with Buglisi Dance
Theater
and returns to us for her second year.
NANCY LUSHINGTON
holds a BA in dance from Adelphi U. She has danced with
May O’Donnell, Joyce Trisler, Theatre Dance Collection, and in Leonard
Bernstein’s “Mass” at Kennedy Center. A member of the faculties of
Marymount College and Montclair State U., she has taught master classes
internationally. After 18 years as teacher, choreographer, and Artistic
Director at Steffi Nossen, Nancy continues as our Artistic Advisor.
TAMI MELE
holds a BA in Dance from Adelphi University and studied at
NYC H.S. of Performing Arts. Her performance credits include Collective
Dance Company, guest artist with DJ McDonald at Lincoln Center Summer
Arts Festival and the AIDS Benefit sponsored by Elle Magazine. She
choreographs for the Joyful Noise Children’s Choir in Malverne, NY.
She begins her 17th year teaching and choreographing at Steffi Nossen.
CAREN VALENTE
holds a BA in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College and
also trained at Steps on Broadway and Alvin Ailey American Dance Center.
Caren was appointed the Artistic Director of the Steffi Nossen School
of Dance in Spring 2009 and continues on faculty for her tenth year.
Caren is a Purchase College adjunct faculty member, teaching dance
fitness through the Purchase College Athletic
|