Meet Our Staff
Eve Wolff (she/her)
Eve has spent over 20 years in the NYC performing arts and arts education sectors, working in fundraising, programs, and administration and serving on the Board of Directors of the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable.
Ellen Claycomb (she/her)
As the Director of Development at Dancing Classrooms, Ellen Claycomb’s passion for the arts blends with her extensive experience in nonprofit fundraising.
Mary McCatty (she/her)
A lifelong dancer, Mary has spent her career teaching, choreographing and performing all over the world, and first joined Dancing Classrooms as a Teaching Artist in 2005.
Yvonne Winborne (she/her)
Yvonne is a passionate educator, dancer, choreographer, teaching artist, and mental health advocate.
Eva Carrozza (she/her)
Eva studied and taught Argentine Tango, Lindy Hop, and Ballroom dancing before joining Dancing Classrooms in 2004.
Ivelisse Garcia (she/her/ella)
With a long career as a dancer, fitness instructor and dance educator, Ivelisse joined Dancing Classrooms in 2008 as a Teaching Artist before becoming a full time staff member.
Cassie Morales (she/her)
Cassie is a proud New Jersey native who brings her passion for dance, writing, and community impact to her role at Dancing Classrooms.
Annamaria Diamant (she/her)
Annamaria is an experienced dancer and educator with over 10 years of experience working in dance studios, NYC public schools, after-school programs and early childhood movement classes.
Victoria Malvagno (she/her)
A veteran of Dancing Classrooms for over 20 years, Victoria has supported students’ dance journeys as a Teaching Artist, Senior Educational Liaison, and Program Manager.
Fara Faidzan (she/her/they/them)
Fara Faidzan (She/Her/They/Them) was born in Malaysia and moved to New York to pursue a degree in acting. With over a decade of experience in acting and drumming, and a strong passion for community engagement, she is now exploring the field of arts administration.
Ieshia Henry (she/her)
Ieshia gaduated from CUNY Hunter College with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. Fun fact about me is that I did tap, jazz, and ballet from 4 years old through high school!
Meet Our Senior Teaching Artists!
Akemi Kinukawa (she/her)
Akemi has been a Dancing Classrooms Teaching Artist since 2011 and is a Lindy Hop choreographer and instructor.
Aviva Bumgardner (she/her)
Aviva Bumgardner is a Brooklyn-born creative who started her first residency with Dancing Classrooms in 2009 and trained in the Dulaine Method with Pierre Dulaine himself!
Carmen Mendoza (she/her)
Carmen has been a Teaching Artist with Dancing Classrooms since 2014. She’s well-versed in many dance styles with an emphasis on the Latin dances.
Enrico Mayuga (he/him)
Enrico Mayuga has been with Dancing Classrooms since 2007. The extensive training he received from Pierre and Yvonne went beyond mere steps; he learned about the boundless possibilities that arise when one establishes a connection with a child.
Felix Pitre (he/him)
Felix has been a Dancing Classrooms Teaching Artist since 2009 and specializes in Lindy Hop and Swing dance.
Joy Grad (she/her)
Joy Grad has been teaching for Dancing Classrooms since 2013. Along with her classical training she has studied Belly dance, Japanese dance, Hip Hop dance, and many social dances.
Silvia Guerrero (she/her)
Silvia, a Brazilian native, has been teaching with Dancing Classrooms since 2005 and was trained by Pierre Dulaine.
Teaching Artists
Alexandra Kulmaviita
Beata Terrasi
Caitlin Parrish
Carolyn Cryer
Clara Samuels
Emma DeCaprio
Erica Itzkowitz
Fiona Smith
Gabrielle Kogut
Grace Cotter
Haley Haupt
Ilene Echavarria
Irene Koloseus
Isabelle Goodman
Jacob Licona
Jennifer Murmylo
Julieta Valero
Joe DeGennaro
Kate Budney
Lauren Belcher
Lisa Leonard
Manuel Rojas
Marina Vianello
Marlon Mills
Nadia Khayralla
Prisca Abosse
Ray Davis
Roberta Kastelic
Salomé Egas Charland
Vimal Pradeep Panneer Selvam
Xin Tan
Buddy Teaching Artists
Diego Ajuz
Dwayne Beach
Linda Camardo
Rachael Davidson
Kelly King
Cynthia Reitman
Board of Directors
Dr. Jephtha Tausig, Chair
Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Non-Profit Volunteer
Patrice Tanaka, Vice Chair
Founder & Chief Joy Officer, Joyful Planet LLC
Adeola Adele
Attorney and Social Impact Advocate
Ron Aizen
Counsel at Paul Weiss
Biana Arbit
Head of Client Analytics Technology, RBC Capital Markets
Yang Chen
Executive Director, Asian American Bar Association of New York
Emma Goodman
Director, Third Sector
Yash Gupta, Treasurer
Partner, Morgan Stanley Secondaries
Regina Hardatt, Secretary
Assistant Lower School Director for Inclusive Teaching and Learning at the Pingry School
Carla Matero
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Honor Bound LLC
Adam Plotkin
Counsel, Hearst
Jeff M. Poulin
Managing Director, Creative Generation
Mary Prevosti Shelton
Sr. Program Manager, Publishing Editorial Operations, WebMD
Directors Emeriti
Pierre Dulaine
Founder of American Ballroom Theater and Dancing Classrooms
Otto Cappel
Co-founder of American Ballroom Theater and Dancing Classrooms
Yvonne Marceau
Co-founder of American Ballroom Theater and Dancing Classrooms
Sheila A. Hoerle
John J. Entwistle (In Memoriam)