Our Dance Studio Faculty

Nancilyn Bellini - Instructor in Tiny Tots; Pre-Ballet 1 and 2; Hip Hop Intro, Hip Hop 1, 2 and 3; Tap 1B, Tap 2 and 3; Broadway 1.

Born in Santiago, Chile, Nancilyn was raised in Sea Girt, New Jersey. In 2002, she graduated from Point Park University, a renowned performing arts college in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After just three and a half years of study, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance, with a concentra-tion in jazz. While attending college, Nanci performed professionally for The Pittsburgh Playhouse and the Pittsburgh Musical Theater in productions of “Fandango,” “Boogie Wonderland,” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” During her summers, she performed profession-ally as a dancer in “Odyssey” at Six Flags.

Nanci’s teaching experience includes most recently, Kinderdance, New York City, where she spe-cialized in ballet, tap, and gymnastics for ages two to five; Ms. Elaine’s Dance Studio, Pittsburgh, specializing in hip hop; and Standing Ovation Dance Studio, Brick, NJ for ages three to 16, teaching competitive levels in all genres of dance specializing in hip hop and tap.

Nanci has had a true love of dance since the age of three and she has always had the devotion and dedication required to share that love of the art with her students.

Sophie Alpern - Instructor in Pre-Ballet 3; Ballet 1A and 1B; Ballet 5; Intermediate Ballet; Beginner Pointe; Advanced Technique; Variations; Open Level Ballet 1. Certified in the ABT® National Training Curriculum for Ballet Levels Primary-Seven and Partnering

Sophie Alpern, a native New Yorker, has been dancing for eighteen years. She trained at the School of American Ballet, Steps on Broadway, North Carolina School of the Arts, Houston Ballet Academy, and the Royal Ballet School. While at SAB, she performed with New York City Ballet in The Nutcracker, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, and Circus Polka.

Sophie is a graduate of The Brearley School in New York City, and holds a B.A from Vassar College with honors in Sociology. She danced leading roles with the Vassar Repertory Dance Theater for four years, culminating in the principal role in Balanchine’s Valse Fantaisie. She has worked in the Education Department at American Ballet Theater, taught open ballet classes for faculty and students at Vassar, and helped bring dance to underprivileged children through Ballet Tech and Ballet Ambassadors.

Sophie has successfully combined her dance career with ongoing academic pursuits. She is the author of an acclaimed sociological study entitled The Perception and Role of Dance and Classical Ballet in the Liberal Arts Academy and has published an article in Dance Spirit Magazine entitled “Best of Both Worlds: Balancing Dance and Academics.”

Sophie is currently completing her Masters degree in Dance Education with a concentration in ABT Ballet Pedagogy at New York University. She is an ABT certified teacher, and will have completed Primary through Level 7 and Partnering of the ABT National Training Curriculum by December 2012. She is the daughter of the world-renowned ballet teacher Nancy Bielski, who remains her model and greatest influence.

Catherine Baggs - Instructor in Tap/Jazz Intro and Tap 1A

Catherine is a dancer/singer/choreographer and is a native New Yorker. She graduated from American University with a dual degree in Music Theatre and Mathematics in 2006. She has performed with Disney Cruise Lines, The Smithsonian Institute, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and various regional/community theatres throughout the East Coast.

Catherine has had the opportunity to choreograph multiple shows, her favorite being the Washington, D.C. premiere of Wish Eye Knew. She has taught and Company Managed for US Performing Arts Camps, and has taught at various private studios throughout NY, Washington, D.C. and Virginia. She is currently a pursuing her MA in Dance Education for Higher Education and the Professions at NYU.

Kevin Glasford - Instructor in Hip Hop Intro, Hip Hop 1 and 2, Boys’ Hip Hop

Born and raised in the South Bronx, Kevin Glasford was heavily entertained by the artistry of dance. He grew up watching many icons such as Usher, Omarion, Wade Robson, Ne-yo, Chris Brown, and the greatest of them all, Janet and Michael Jackson.

During his senior year at Cardinal Hayes High School, Kevin lost his mother and was in need of a positive outlet. After meeting a friend who was also a dancer, Kevin found his new inspiration that would send his entire focus into the world of dance.

Broadway Dance Center has been the main studio where Kevin received most of his training. However, other sources such as Hip-Hop Dance Conservatory, Steps On Broadway, Lehman College, and Downtown Dance Factory have been great contributors to his dance education.

Outside of performing, lighting and theater work have taken Kevin's interest. He also has a strong love for becoming a DJ. He's always had a love for sketching, poetry, singing, playing the drums at his church, and his newfound love for fitness training.

Rhapsody James, Lyle Beniga, Neil Schwartz, Ryan Davis, Luam, Valentine Norton, Candance Brown are just a few pf the choreographers/dancers who have inspired Kevin's dance career. Others include Alonzo Williams, Aurelia Michael, Ronald Coleman, La Jon Dantzler, Ryan Miller, Brian Puspos, Bam Martin and Maurice Dean.

"Passion Over Ego"... "Live Free Dance Hard"…

Samuel Turner - Instructor in Advanced Ballet, Intermediate Pointe, Broadway Bound

A Florida native, began his training in music and dance at the Alexander W. Dreyfoos Jr. School of the Arts, the Academy of Ballet Florida, and summer intensives at Boston Ballet. Before entering the professional dance world, Samuel decided to further his academic and dance education by attending Indiana University. While at IU, he was mentored by Violette Verdy and performed principal roles in The Nutcracker, Spring Waters, Cinderella, Who Cares? and Viva Vivaldi. In May 2006, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Ballet Performance with an outside field in Kinesiology.

Samuel moved back to the east coast in 2007, where he has had the pleasure of working with Mark Morris and dancing in his revival of "Orfeo ed Euridice" at the Metropolitan Opera, which has also been featured on PBS and in select movie theaters nationwide. He went on to begin performing with reputable dance companies such as the American Repertory Ballet and Elisa Monte Dance Company. While with these companies, he performed in works by Graham Lustig, Twyla Tharp, Lisa de Ribere, and Elisa Monte, with whom he has had the opportunity to tour throughout Europe.

Samuel was one of the featured artists at the 2012 International Association of Blacks in Dance festival in Toronto, Canada. There, he performed the duet "You Hear Me See We Feel" by Karen Gayle of Xodus Dance Collective.

Dolores Sanchez - Instructor in Hip Hop 3 and 4; Intermediate Tap, Advanced Tap

Dolores affectionately known as "Dolo", is a strong and vibrant addition to the dance world. She made her way to NYC to train as a professional tap dancer under the mentorship of Derick K. Grant, Lynn Schwab, Chloe Arnold, and Jared Grimes, just to name a few. She has performed as a member of TAHDAH and Sub/hitters, an artists' movement of street performance. She has also had the pleasure of training with the incredibly talented and powerful Ladies of Hip Hop. Dolores has performed in venues such as New York’s prestigious City Center, The Public, The Duke, Lambs Theater, Symphony Space and Thalia Theater. Dolores holds a B.A. in Dance Performance/Choreography from Hope College. This is just the beginning...

Josiane Moise - Instructor in Hip Hop 3 and 4; Intermediate Tap, Advanced Tap

Josiane Moise began dancing at the age of six in a local studio in her hometown of Brooklyn, NY. At the recommendation of her dance instructor, she auditioned for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre where she would continue to train for four years. Her experience at Ailey included intensive dance training, primarily in Ballet and Horton techniques, as well as professional opportunities, most notably a performance of Cry at the 1999 Kennedy Center Honors. She was later awarded the Alvin Ailey Fellowship award as well as an assistant teacher position.

While at Ailey, Josiane continued her training as a dance major at LaGuardia High School for Music & Art and Performing Arts. Subsequently, she danced with and choreographed for the hip-hop dance crew Outta K’ontrol while attending Temple University. She went on to complete her bachelor’s degree in psychology, while simultaneously teaching dance in multiple after-school programs geared toward underprivileged children. She plans to continue combining her two passions--dance and psychology--in order facilitate meaningful and creative lessons in the classroom.

Pat Peters - Studio Administrator

Pat ‘s administrative, management and marketing skills have been honed over a 30-year career in the public and private sectors. She began her professional life in the administration of Governor Hugh Carey, eventually rising to manager of his New York City office. Subsequent positions included Assistant Public Information Officer for the New York State Insurance Fund; Senior Direc-tor of Communications in the Office of Communications and Marketing, and Senior Speechwriter for the President of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation; and Director of Branch Services and Communications for the English-Speaking Un-ion of the United States, where she also served briefly as Director of Development.

A New York City native, Pat holds a B.A. in French from Mercy College and an M.A. from Fordham University. In her spare time, Pat returns to her first love, writing, and is currently at work on a murder mystery series that takes place –where else?—at a dance school.

Monique Massiah - Class and Performance Coordinator

Monique Massiah graduated magna cum laude in 2008 from Arizona State University with a B.F.A in dance and minor in business. While in school Monique received numerous academic and dance scholarships.

Monique was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and started her dance training at the age of four. She went on to study at the renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for 10 years. Monique was awarded a fellowship at the Alvin Ailey School and became a teacher assistant. In addition to her training at Alvin Ailey, she trained at LaGuardia High School for Music, Art & Performing Arts.

Her professional accomplishments include: a 1998 performance at the Goodwill Games, Opening and Closing Ceremony; in 2000 she performed Cry at the Kennedy Center Awards for honoree Judith Jamison; performed Memoria at City Center in 2003; in 2004 was a National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts Winner for modern dance; in 2005 was a member of Dance Arizona Repertory Theater; in 2008, performed and choreographed Ophelia at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival.