FACULTY
Nancy Hyland-Zindell
Director, Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, Musical Theater
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, Jazz
Tollie 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.
Grace Bergonzi
Guest Artist
Grace trained at Westport’s Academy of Dance from age three to eighteen. She participated in countless performances, highlighted by the role of Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker partnered by New York City Ballet Principal, Ask La Cour, as her Cavalier. She has attended summer intensives at The Ailey School, Boston Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, and The School at Jacob’s Pillow where she performed works by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Thang Dao, and Robert Moses. She performed in Alvin Ailey’s Memoria during Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s 2016 New York City Center season. Ms. Bergonzi has also performed works by Robert Battle, Matthew Rushing, Ray Mercer, Jae Man Joo, Bradley Shelver, Stefanie Batten Bland, Christopher Huggins, and Darrell Grand Moultrie, to name a few. She has been featured in Dance Spirit magazine’s May/June 2017 issue and on CONAN, hosted by Conan O’Brien, as part of a feature on The Ailey School. Grace graduated summa cum laude from the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program in 2017 with a major in Dance and a minor in Business Administration. She was the recipient of the Jogues Scholarship and Alvin Ailey Artistic Merit Scholarship. She was an apprentice with Ailey II before becoming a company member from 2018-2020, traveling domestically and worldwide. She is overjoyed to come back home to WAD as a member of the teaching staff.
Catalina Bohiltea
Ballet
Born in Bucharest, Romania, Catalina 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.
Dajuan Booker
Partnering
Dajuan is originally from St. Petersburg, Florida. He began dancing at the age of 14 at Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School. In 2003 he was awarded a scholarship from the Youth America Grand Prix ballet competition to move to New York City. He joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem ensemble and danced there for the next eight years touring the world. He also danced with MOMIX Dance Company for five years. In 2015 he became a certified teacher in (ABT) American Ballet Theatre curriculum pre-primary - level 3. He is currently on the faculty at Harlem School of the Arts. He also teaches with the (NYCDOE) New York City Department of Education.
Kelsey Emmett Buffer
Mommy & Me, Creative Movement, Ballet, Jazz
A native of Stamford, CT Kelsey has trained in various styles of dance throughout the tristate area. She attended SUNY Buffalo and graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in Dance. While there, she performed with HT Chen, Zodiaque Studio Dance Ensemble, Music is Art Live and more. After moving to NYC, she spent a year performing and traveling the world on Regent Seven Seas, followed by various performances in NYC including Couture Fashion Week, Young Choreographers Festival, Project Dance, The Wild Project, Brooklyn Bowl, Little B's Big Holiday Wish and several Aerial performances. Kelsey has worked with ALMA NYC, a community driven dance company in which she climbed Kilimanjaro to support education in Burkina Faso. Kelsey also recently performed with Mixt Co in Greenwich, CT and taught for their Contemporary Master Class Series for young dancers. Kelsey has been teaching dance in the tristate area for over 8 years in studios, schools and other programs as well as infant and toddler developmental classes in NYC. Kelsey recently moved back to CT with her family and is excited to give back to the communities that created some of her first experiences in Dance. She loves working with students to help them achieve their individual goals and nurture their love for the arts.
Carl Ponce Cubero
Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop
Carl began his dance training at the age of nine. He attended the University of California, Irvine where he was a part of his mentor Donald McKayle’s performance group, Étude Ensemble and received his BFA in Dance Performance with a minor in Anthropology. Mr. Cubero also trained at The Ailey School Summer Intensive and later as a scholarship student. He has worked with choreographers Donald McKayle, Lar Lubovitch, Jennifer Archibald, and Bradley Shelver.
Abby Evans
Studio Manager,
Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Musical Theater
Abby grew up in Westport and developed a lifelong love for dance studying at Westport’s Academy of Dance. She continued her dance training at Mercyhurst University and Central Connecticut State University where she earned her BA in Psychology with a minor in Dance. Abby has performed in Connecticut with Albano Ballet Company in Hartford and Clark Dance Theater in New Haven. She is thrilled to be part of the Academy family working with the teachers who inspired her for so many years.
David Fernandez
Ballet
David 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.
Luckenia Guerrier
Guest Artist
Luckenia Guerrier was born in the Caribbean island of Haiti, then moved to America at the age of four with her family. She has always had a love for movement and was really inspired from shows like “So You Think You Can Dance” and “America’s Best Dance Crew.” She started her technical dance training at The Regional Center for the Arts in Trumbull, Connecticut. Through RCA, she had the opportunity to train at the Earl Mosley Institute for the Arts in the summer of 2012. Luckenia briefly took a break from dance training throughout college and after. In that time she has earned her bachelor’s degree in Health Science with a minor in sports science and has gotten into painting and drawing as another creative outlet. Luckenia got back into dancing shortly after and has since been training with dance Company Team Leggoo, under the guidance of Paul and Brian Herman and various other choreographers. She has had the opportunity to perform in various shows and work with local artists. Luckenia aspires to expand and grow through dance and to inspire those around her to embrace and nurture their art expression.
Megan Lott
Office Administrator
Megan moved to Westport from New Zealand with her family in the Summer of 2016. She has two sons, both attending college in Boston. Her daughter Annabelle practiced ballet for 10 years. Her interests include cooking, gardening (current VP of the Westport Garden Club) and volunteering through the National Charity League. She has experience working in childcare, long haul travel and as an Office Manager for a dance school in New Zealand. In that role Megan oversaw all administrative functions associated with the school including sourcing and mending all performance costumes. She particularly enjoys interacting with dancers, parents and the community.
Carol Malak
Guest Artist
Carol has always had an interest in hip hop and started her training in high school with Jimmy Locust and Alison Amicone Oks at Stamford Performing Arts Center (now Locust Performing Arts Center). Carol decided to continue her dance training in New York City after graduating from college. She went on tour in China with the US basketball team in association with the Knicks City Dancers and was featured in a NY Knicks commercial. She also recently was the feature dancer in the music video “Beach Break” by Julietta, a remix of the original song by Sofi Tukker. Carol has always wanted to share her passion for dance with others in the hopes of inspiring them to pursue their dreams. She has held workshops and master classes at her Alma Mater, Ithaca College, in order to share the knowledge she has gained from the industry and act as a resource to young aspiring artists. Carol holds a B.S. in Business Administration, Marketing and Management, and a minor in Dance from Ithaca College.
Theodore Pollen III
Guest Artist
As a dancer, Ted has performed with The Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, Marlies Yearby’s “Mov’in Spirits Dance Company”, “Footprints” and Tyrone Aiken’s “Ethos” dance company. He retired from a full time performing career in 1980, but has always kept dance an integral part of his life. Mr. Pollen served as Artistic Director of the Westport Academy of Dance and its former official performing company, The Children’s Ballet Theater of Westport, from September 1980 until June 2006. He was invited to this position by the founder of The Academy of Dance and CBT, Paula Fichtenkort. During this time Mr. Pollen had the opportunity to work with many talented young dancers from Westport and surrounding communities, staging and choreographing performances at local venues which include, The Levitt Pavilion, The Italian Festival, and The Apple Festival. Working with his long time friend and mentor, Paula, Mr. Pollen co-choreographed productions of “The Nutcracker”, “The Tales of Beatrix Potter”, “Mary Poppins”, and “Beauty and the Beast”. Mr. Pollen continued to work at the Academy with Mary-Ellen Marpe who became the new director of Academy in September 1996, During this time he had the opportunity to witness first-hand how “The Academy” flourished and expanded under Ms. Marpe’s guidance and vision to include a dance competition program and its current beautiful home on the Post Road in Westport. As an educator, Mr. Pollen has been an elementary school teacher at Midtown West Elementary School, P.S. 212, for the last 23 years. He currently teaches the fourth grade. He has completed three graduate degree programs at Bank Street College of Education which include: Teacher Education, The Literacy Program, and the Principal’s Institute.
Courtney Poulos
Guest Artist
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, Modern,
Hip Hop, Musical Theater
A local from Fairfield County, Connecticut, Caitlin started dancing at the age of 3, studying at a number of dance schools locally and in New York City. Caitlin continued her education and received a degree in Dance and Choreography from Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania. She has also participated in many well-known programs including the American Ballet Theatre's Collegiate Summer Dance as well as interning with the Broadway Dance Center and working for the Ailey Extension. Her performance credits include dancing in several music videos, films, flash mobs, and productions of 42nd Street, Brigadoon, Spamalot, Sweet Charity, and Seussical The Musical. She is currently dancing with Velocity Dance Company and has previously danced with Connecticut Ballet, New England Dance Theatre, Dancebyfire, and The Mercyhurst Dancers. Choreographing is one of her greatest passions. Her pieces have been performed at venues throughout the east coast and have been well received. Caitlin is currently choreographing for several local musical productions, creating new works, performing, teaching, and still loving dance.
Stevi Van Meter
Tap, Musical Theater
Stevi is originally from Michigan where she began her studies in dance at the age of 9. Her extensive career spans over 35 years in the entertainment business throughout the United States and Europe. Some of her favorite credits include: “Kid of The Kingdom” at Walt Disney World in Florida. Broadway: “Timon of Athens” with the late Tony Randall’s National Actors’ Theater and “Sinatra” (His Voice, His Words, His Way) at Radio City Music Hall. Regional credits include: “Damn Yankees” starring Tony Randall, “Bubbling Brown Sugar” with Diahann Carroll, “42nd Street” in the role of “Annie Time Annie”, “My One And Only”, “Mame” and “Will Rogers Follies” to name a few…all of which she served as Dance Captain. Stevi appeared in over 10 National commercials, including “Diet Coke” with Elton John and Paula Abdul as well as L’Oreal, Jockey, Cadillac, the “Broadway Stamp” for the U.S. Post Office and “Coke” with C&C Music Factory. She has also worked with Liza Minnelli, Bette Midler and many more. Stevi and her Dance Group, “Anonymous”, won 5 shows on “Star Search” and went to the semi-finals hosted by the late Ed McMahon. Stevi has appeared in over 20 MTV videos as well as Independent films and was the Assistant Choreographer for “Showtime’s” “The Red Shoe Diaries”. Stevi choreographed “The Fantasticks” for Gateway Playhouse in Long Island and was the Assistant Choreographer for “Damn Yankees” at The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. She Choreographed the 2004/2005 Season for the “Queen Elizabeth 2”. Stevi was a Swing and Dance Captain for the Radio City Rockettes for 15 years.
Marcel Wilson
Guest Artist
Marcel began his dance training at the age of 15 years old, while a student at Talent Unlimited High School. He then furthered his studies at the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program on scholarship and was invited to join Ailey II, where he performed domestically and internationally for 2 years. Marcel has had the opportunity to perform works by choreographers such as William Forsyth, Mats Ek, George Balanchine, Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, and Robert Battle.
He’s currently an artist with The Metropolitan Opera as well as on the contemporary faculty at Manhattan Youth Ballet, directed by New York City Ballet’s Daniel Ulbricht.
Gabriella Wolson
Tap
Gabriella has been dancing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she studied all dance styles at Boston Ballet School and Impulse Dance Center in Massachusetts. She then continued her training at Goucher College, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a concentration in Arts Administration and was selected for the Artist-in-Residency program with Paul Taylor Dance Company. She has performed professionally with Monkeyhouse and completed a work-study program at Steps on Broadway in New York City, studying with Plu Sayampol, Matt Lopez, Germaine Goodson, and Derick Grant. Outside of her dance life, Gabriella is an accomplished Career Coach and Human Resources Consultant through her company Re-ellignment Coaching.