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Nancy Zindell: Director, Ballet, Jazz
Nancy has been dancing since age three, and studied at the Academy of Dance from age eight. By the time she was 17, Nancy was teaching several classes of her own at the Academy. A graduate of Skidmore College with a Bachelor of Science in Dance, she studied and performed ballet and jazz in New York for several years before returning to the Academy as a teacher in 2002. In June of 2007, Nancy took the reins as director/owner of the Academy.

Tollie Barrato: Ballet, Modern
Tollie Barrato was born and raised in Westport, CT. She began her dance training at the Academy of Dance and received her BFA in dance from S.U.N.Y. Purchase, where she studied ballet and modern with Gayle Young, Kevin Wynne, Bettijane Sills, and Kazuko Hirabarashi. While at S.U.N.Y. she performed works by Balanchine, Jose Limon, Mark Morris, and Kevin Wynn. She has danced professionally in both New York and Connecticut with the Kevin Wynn Collection, Cindy Bernier Company, and Ballet Etudes Company. (Photo Coming Soon!)

Catalina Bohiltea: Ballet
Born in Bucharest, Romania, Catalina Bohiltea began her ballet training at the age of nine at the Bucharest Ballet School. She performed with the Bucharest States Opera since she was 15 in Coppelia, Giselle, Paquita, Le Corsaire, La Sylphides and The Nutcracker. In 1990 it was a full scholarship at Joffrey Ballet School that brought her to the United States. At 18 she was offered a company contract with Vienna States Opera. Her repertoire with the company included Don Quixote, La fille Malgarde, Romeo and Juliet and Balanchine’s Serenade and Four Temperaments. In 1993 she joined Hartford Ballet, where she performed in Raymonda, Serenade and The Nutcracker. She has been teaching at the Academy since 1994. (Photo Coming Soon!)

David Fernandez: Ballet, Partnering
David Fernandez began his teaching career at a young age, helping out at the Centro de Arte y Ballet in his native Mexico City, where he was studying classical ballet. When he won a scholarship to study at Giordano Jazz Dance in Chicago, David continued to build on his teaching experience while enjoying a successful dance career. Since moving to New York in 1998, David has taught classes for numerous schools and companies in the Tri-State area.  He is proud to be a Teaching Artist with the American Ballet Theatre’s award-winning Make a Ballet program, an education and outreach initiative targeting underserved schools and communities. During his dance career, David has performed with Chicago’s Boitsov Classical Ballet company; Lyric Opera of Chicago; Ballet Theatre of Chicago; and numerous small companies in the U.S.  One recent highlight of his later career was performing alongside Mikhail Baryshnikov in the play “The Doctor and The Patient” at the Lincoln Center Festival. David is also an accomplished choreographer; he has been commissioned by numerous companies including Ballet for Young Audiences, Staten Island Ballet, and the Westchester Ballet Theatre.  His work has been featured at the prestigious Jackson Competition and at The Bryant Park Culture Fest in New York City.  He is currently resident choreographer at City Center Ballet in New Hampshire.

Natalie Lambelet Palacios: Ballet, Jazz
Originally from New Mexico, Natalie began her ballet training under Karen Alwin and Luis Fuente.  At age 14, she received a full merit scholarship to Marin Dance Theatre, where she studied with Margret Swarthout, John Meehan, Kevin Mckenzie and Alonzo King.  Natalie has been accepted to various workshops, including Ballet West, American Ballet Theatre, Ballet Chicago and Martha Graham conservatory.  Natalie had the fortune of training privately with Shelia Rozann before being awarded the Marsha and Phillip Dowd scholarship, where she studied with Daniel Duell and Patricia Blair at Ballet Chicago.  In 2003, Natalie was given an academic and artistic scholarship at the University of New Mexico where she was mentored by Mary Anne Santos Newhall.  Natalie has had the privilege to learn and perform Balanchine ballets such as Serenade, Theme and Variations, Stars and Stripes, Agon, Tchaikovsky “Pas De Deux” and Who Cares.  Natalie has performed with Ballet Chicago Studio Company, and as a guest artist for New Mexico Ballet Company. She was also a faculty member at the School of Ballet Chicago, and an adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico.

Courtney Poulos: Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern
Born and raised in Smithsburg, Maryland, Courtney later moved to New York City to pursue her professional career.  She has been dancing since the age of five and went on to East Carolina University, where she received her BFA in dance with a concentration in Modern.  Courtney was a company member with the National Tap Ensemble and Tappers With Attitude in Washington, D.C.  She is currently a member of Tap Fusion, a professional tap/modern company based in NYC.  She has had the opportunity to perform at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Lincoln Center, Duke Theater and Symphony Space in NYC, and spent five months performing on the Mariner for Radisson of the Seven Seas Cruise Line.   She has taught dance throughout Maryland, North Carolina, and the Tri-State area including New York University.

Caitlin Roberts: Ballet, Jazz, Tap
A recent graduate from Mercyhurst College has been studying dance for several years. Attending many well known  programs including American Ballet Theatre's Collegiate Summer Dance and interning with Broadway Dance Center, she now also holds a degree in Dance with a concentration in choreography. Roberts has trained and performed in various styles including Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Tap, Hip-hop and Musical Theater. She is incredibly versed in the arts and enjoys sharing her knowledge when she teaches.