Faculty
Samarth Ramaswamy
Samarth is currently a senior in high school and loves dancing and becoming better as an artist everyday. He is constantly training and loves going to conventions and competitions to learn more about the craft. He is the founder/creator of Star Critiques.
Phillip Solomon
Born in Brooklyn, NY, Phillip Solomon has had dancing and performing ingrained in him from a very young age. The son of two musicians, Phillip has utilized his natural talent and ability to devote himself to his craft and the art of performance. Dedicated to helping young performers reach their full potential, he has been recognized on both the regional and national level for his choreography in the genres of hip hop, street jazz, and musical theater.
Peyton Brewster
Payton Brewster is an 18 year old dancer who will be pursuing a BFA in Dance at New York University. She has been dancing since she was three years old. She has trained in multiple styles including ballet, modern, jazz, ballroom, contemporary, hip hop etc. She was also able to have conservative style of training at her high school Dreyfoos School of the Arts. She loves talking to fellow dancers and sharing her love of this art form!
Luke Romanzi
Luke Romanzi is an alumni dance major of LaGuardia High-school for the Performing Arts and attended Pace University as a commercial dance major from 2018 - 2019. In the fall of 2019 he took part of the Fall Dance Lab Cycle in New York City. Shortly after he joined his first professional dance company of “Rock The Ballet” as the youngest member. He toured Europe on two separate tours in this dance company. In 2018, Luke was recognized as a Young Arts Finalist in Choreography, and was accepted into the Young Choreographers festival in 2018. Luke was also awarded Mr. World Dance in 2017 and featured in Dance Spirit Magazine multiple times, once as a Future Star recipient in 2016. Luke has performed in the Dizzy Feet Foundation Gala, founded by Nigel Lythgoe and Adam Shankman in 2016 and 2017. Luke has also performed on numerous shows like “Random Act of Flyness” on HBO and most recently featured on “So You Think You Can Dance” Season 16. Luke is excited to pursue a professional dance and choreography career.
Olivia Alboher
Olivia Alboher is a proud graduate from her home town studio, For Dancer’s Only and is honored to share her talents, knowledge and passion for dance as a faculty member. By the age of ten Olivia secured her first Broadway credit in Billy Eliot the Musical. Soon after that she was seen in Al Blackstone’s show “Happy We’ll Be” at the Roseland Ballroom and appeared on Oxygen Network for a season of "The Next Big Thing". You can find her on season 16 of SYTYCD (top 12 females). Olivia has appeared in various TV shows, commercials, and industrials and is also a featured model for Jo+Jax, and Capezio dancewear. One of the original Protege's at Stacey Tookey's exclusive mentorship program, Olivia loves to travel and is always learning, growing and pushing boundaries when it comes to dance and performing. She has been awarded scholarships at many conventions nationwide such as JUMP, NUVO, 24 Seven, NYCDA and RADIX, an honored Beat Squad member since 2014 and is a consistent nationally ranked soloist. She has performed at Joe Lanteri's “Destiny Rising” at the Joyce Theater and Senior Gala 2018/2019. Most notably, Olivia is the only four time national champion title holder at the prestigious American Dance Awards.
Andrew Burleson
Andrew Burleson, a North Carolina native, is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College in New York City, with a BFA in dance with a concentration in choreography and a minor in Business Administration. He has been dancing since the age of 3 training in various forms including ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, tap, modern and dance composition. In 2012 Andrew was chosen to tour with NRG Dance Project, where he was given the opportunity to travel nationally and assist top choreographers from So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Best Dance Crew, Disney’s Shake It Up, Step Up 2 and Britney Spears. During his dance competition career, Andrew was awarded numerous scholarships from highly recognized dance conventions such as JUMP, NUVO, and New York City Dance Alliance. In 2016 Andrew was awarded a college scholarship from New York City Dance Alliance Foundation to attend his dream school. He continues to learn and grow through other dancers and enjoys being challenged. Andrew works as a guest teacher and choreographer for over fifteen dance studios across the United States, and tours with Star Dance Alliance as the Regional Director for DreamMaker National Talent Competition. He has worked for several dance competitions and enjoys being able to empower the future generation of dancers. His choreography has won many awards, including top choreography at multiple competitions such as Starpower, StarQuest, and NUVO, as well as critics choice awards at New York City Dance Alliance and Onstage New York. He loves teaching and sharing dance but also has an innate ability to be encouraging and bring out the best in his students. Most recently, he began and is the Creative Director of Coalition Dance Project, LLC, a traveling teaching and choreographic company that focuses on providing a positive and empowering environment to teach and choreograph in. Andrew is continually encouraged by those he teaches when he sees their passion for dance.
James Alonzo
James Alonzo White is a North Carolina native, who received his M.A. of Dance Education at New York University. James has had the opportunity to train in New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta in Modern, Contemporary, Street Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Commercial Dance. He has trained with choreographers such as Luam, Neil Schwartz, Zach Lattimore, and Candace Brown. James' professional credits include Travis Scott, Cardi B, Rotimi, and Urban Outfitters. He currently is a teacher in New York City at Broadway Dance Center and Peridance Capezio Center
Aydin Boone-Long
Aydin Boone-Long is a pre-professional dancer from Greensburg, Pennsylvania. He is going into his senior year of high school at Westinghouse Arts Academy Charter School in Wilmerding, Pennsylvania where he majors in Dance. Aydin is currently training at Elite Dance By Damian in Warrendale, Pennsylvania owned by Damian Kush. He has been a competitive dancer for over 10 years and has won numerous scholarships, titles, and overalls. Aydin was a dancer in J Grace and Frankie J’s music video “Love Me” which was filmed at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, California. Not only is he a well rounded dancer, but he has choreographed award winning routines as well. Over the course of his dance career so far, he has worked with some of the best world renowned choreographers such as Rudy Abreu, Chad Mccall, Victor Smalley, Cat Cogliandro, and many more. Aydin plans to continue his dance career after high school in Los Angeles, California, as a working commercial dancer and choreographer.
Ruby Pappan
Ruby Pappan, lives in Los Angeles, CA working as a choreographer and dancer. She began her journey in LA ten years ago. Born and raised in Albuquerque NM. Ruby started dancing at age 2 and hasn’t stopped sense. She loves to teach and inspire younger dancers. She is currently on Tour with Iggy Azalea. Her credits include, J Balvin, Daddy Yankee, and Selena Gomez. She can be seen dancing in Kopiko Candy commercial, Latin AMAs, and the Grammys. She is looking forward to see your skills!!
Kira Shababb
Kira Joann Shababb grew up in Fairfield, New Jersey just outside of New York City. Kira began dancing at the age of four at For Dancers Only, a competitive dance studio under the direction of Kelly Allen. She spent many years gaining knowledge and experiences through conventions and the performance opportunities they offered. She was awarded a scholarship from the New York City Dance Alliance College Scholarship Foundation which has helped support her current education at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, as well as given the opportunity to perform at The Joyce Theater NYC in honor of her achievement. She was also awarded a half scholarship from the dance division at The Boston Conservatory to contribute to her attendance. Kira’s hard work has given her the honor of being on the dean’s list for several semesters. Her training and education will lead her to graduate in the Spring of 2021 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an Emphasis in Choreography. Kira has created one work for the mainstage at the Conservatory and is in the process of creating her second. She has performed works by Loni Landon, Otis Sallid, Catherine Coury, Joe Chvala, Junichi Fukuda, and student-led productions. She has attended several intensives such as Gallim Dance Company, Springboard X, Batsheva, BodyTraffic, Complexions, and Parsons Dance. Kira has also trained in singing and acting from a young age and is committed to pursuing artistic excellence. Her goals are to dance and perform professionally, choreograph, work in the fashion industry, and travel the world.
Heather Easley
Heather Easley is a dancer and choreographer originally from Columbus, Ohio. She grew up taking part in dance competitions and benefit shows for her community. Heather holds a BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Her training includes ballet, contemporary, musical theatre, tap, jazz, as well as more theoretical practices such as anatomy and composition. Heather has had the pleasure of performing works by Loni Landon, Jessica Castro, and Joseph Toonga as well as training with Holfesh Shechter Company, Batsheva, BODYTRAFFIC, and many more. She has performed in pieces from Hamilton and The Greatest Showman and for artists Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliot, John Legend, and Sheila E. Heather is also the founder of BPMI Dance - a program that gives dancers and choreographers the opportunity to present work and perform at national and international music festivals. The program aims to gives students an avenue into the professional dance world post college. Currently, Heather dances for Hybridmotion, a Boston-based company, and is hoping to present her own work in the area soon. She loves choreographing for competitions and companies alike, and is very excited to be a part of this team!
Celeste Maneiro
Future bio here!