Faculty

Logrea Dance Academy Faculty

Beth Fritz-Logrea

(Director) Beth Fritz-Logrea was a protege of Dame Alicia Markova. While receiving her early training in Memphis, Tennessee, with Charles Kirby and Manola Agullo, she was seen by Markova and offered a scholarship to the Metropolitan Opera. She joined the Metropolitan Opera ballet company at the age of sixteen and continued her training in New York with Markova's teacher, Vincenzo Celli. She has performed as principal dancer with Ballet Etudes Repertory Company, St. Gallen Stadt Theatre (Switzerland), and the Graz Opera House (Austria), and she has toured Europe extensively, dancing leading roles in Giselle, Swan Lake, Copp©lia, Romeo and Juliet, and Pas de Quatre. Although trained as a classical ballet dancer, she has also been featured in such shows as Man of La Mancha, West Side Story, My Fair Lady, and Oklahoma!. She is co-director of the Academy and Co-Artistic Director of Westchester Ballet Company.

Jean Logrea

(Director) Jean Logrea came to the United States from Austria, where for seven years he was a principal with the Graz Opera House ballet company. Trained at the Scoala Speciala in Cluj (Romania) in Classical Ballet, Character, and Folk Dance, he was a principal at the Opera House Cluj, as well as a teacher at the affiliated school for nine years. There he was entrusted with a class of especially talented students, all of whom are now dancing internationally with major companies. As principal dancer, he toured extensively throughout Europe and the USSR in such major roles as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, the Jester in Swan Lake, the pas de deux from Le Corsaire, and the Rocker in The Miraculous Mandarin. In addition to co-directing the Academy he is the Co-Artistic Director of Westchester Ballet Company, and he is a judge at the World Ballet Competition in Orlando, FL since it began in 2007.

Nick Logrea

(Jazz) Nick trained at the Logrea Dance Academy and has performed in WBC’s Nutcracker for 27 years. He has also performed as a soloist in WBC productions of Les Patineurs (Man in Grey), La Bayadere (Solor), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck), Peter and the Wolf (Peter; the Wolf), La Boutique Fantasque, Tales of Vienna and A Glenn Miller Nutcracker. Logrea is a ZESTM (Zumba® Education Specialist), training people to become licensed Zumba® instructors. During the past 7 years, Logrea has travelled the US and Internationally teaching Master Classes and had the privilege of dancing with Beto Perez, the creator of the Zumba Fitness program, appearing in fitness concerts in London, Australia and Prague. Logrea appeared on ABC TV’s The View as a backup dancer to Vanilla Ice in a Zumba remix to his smash hit “Ice Ice Baby", as well as appearing on The Today Show as a dancer for Lil Jon, promoting his new song "Work”. He was featured in two Zumba Fitness video games, Zumba Fitness Core and Zumba Fitness World Party.

Billy Blanken

(Ballet) Billy started his professional career as a principal with the Amy Marshall Dance Company before joining Les Ballets Grandiva. His credits include; principal guest artist with Mobile Ballet, CoDa 21 of San Juan, Catherine Gallant Dance, Atlantic City Ballet, Northwest Florida Ballet, Ajkun Ballet Theatre, the East Village Dance Project, Northeastern Ballet Theatre, isadoraNOW, Ballet Mink Colbert, and many others. He is a frequent collaborator with Project In Motion and has been commissioned to stage several of his works on their company.
Billy is original creator, writer, producer, choreographer and performer of "the intimacies project" with dancer Jordan Marinov, filmmaker Bill Hayward and late Musician/ Playwright Anna Elman. ‘the intimacies project’ was featured at Port Authority by Times Square Alliance. In 2016 he founded Sheep Meadow Dance Theatre for which he is Artistic Director.
Billy has taught at Peridance, the Jakarta Intercultural School, the National School in Tirana, Albania, Logrea Dance Academy, Ball State University, Wright State University, Gibney Dance, Northwest Florida Ballet, the School at Steps on Broadway, and others.

Bieje Chapman

(PreBallet, Ballet, Jazz) Bieje's arts journey began at the age of 7 in Louisville, KY when she tagged along with her mother to join the SouthEast Players Theatre. After doing featured dance, vocal and dramatic works with the theatre, SEP's directors suggested that Bieje audition for the Youth Performing Arts High School and thus began her official training. While at YPAS studying Classical Ballet, Modern and Theatre Jazz, Bieje continued with SEP and upon her junior and senior years starred as Anne in The Diary of Anne Frank and Cinderella in Roger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella. Upon graduation Bieje studied at the Colorado Ballet School, CT Dance Theatre, The Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory, The Singers Forum NYC and went on to perform with The Ogunquit Playhouse, Colorado Shakespeare Festival Theatre, The Singers Forum Lifetime Achievement Awards, Manhattan Opera Rep and the Woodbury Ballet Company as well as getting involved in Independent films, commercials and documentaries. Bieje has taught at CT Dance Theatre, Ballet Arts at NY City Centre, DanceSport Manhattan, Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre, The Woodbury Ballet Academy, and has participated in teacher trainings in the Vaganova methodology of ballet for levels 0-I (lower school) with Shamill Yagudin Bolshoi Ballet RF, Donna Bonasera CT Dance Theatre and the Brighton Ballet Theatre School of Russian American Ballet. Bieje holds a national certification with the NADTA for Ballroom and Latin dance and was just accepted into the ABT Teacher Training program- so stayed tuned:). Bieje is very happy to bring her love of theatre and dance to Logrea Dance Academy and hopes to inspire Logrea's young artists as her teachers have inspired her.

Warren Curtis

(Tap) Warren’s career as a performer has included the Broadway 1st National Tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, numerous companies of West Side Story, 42nd Street, and A Chorus Line. Regional credits include North Shore Music Theatre, The Berkshire Theatre Festival, The Maltz-Jupiter Theatre, Maine State Music Theatre, Opera North, The Fulton Theatre, Westchester Broadway Theatre, and The Cape Playhouse. Off-Broadway, he originated roles in Hazel Flagg at Theatre Row, The Reluctant Royal at the National Opera Company, and The Poisons for the International Fringe Festival. He has also performed in numerous concerts and industrials for ABC Daytime and Mac. He received his dance training as a scholarship student at Steps in New York City, studying under Peff Modelski, Michael Vernon, Tony Stevens, Charles Goddertz, and Derick Grant, among others.Warren teaches throughout the Tri-State area and adjudicates for national competitions. His teaching philosophy is to impart a solid technical foundation in order to give students the capability of full artistic expression. Emphasis is placed on correct alignment, proper use of turn-out, principle of forward motion, movement efficiency, musicality, and oppositional energy. Warren is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association.

Amanda DeOliviera

(Ballet) Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, Amanda began her training at Ballet Paula Castro and later Escola Municipal de São Paulo. At only ten years old, she moved on her own to NY upon being accepted into the School of American Ballet in Lincoln Center. Two years later, after attending ABT summer intensive in NY she was invited on a full scholarship to join the JKO school at American Ballet Theatre under Franco De Vita and Raymond Lukens. There Amanda culminated her training and bridged the gap to professional. At 15, Amanda received a full scholarship invitation from academy director Marina Leonova to train at the highest level at the Bolshoi Ballet academy in Moscow. Due to a pending offer to join ABT II, Amanda decided to stay in NY. She toured with ABT to several places including England, Swizterland, Italy and Spain. While at ABT, Amanda was awarded the Marjorie Isaacs Dancer award. In 2016, Amanda moved to London for a year, upon receiving an invitation to join a British Arts Council commission tour featuring Royal Ballet choreographer Ludovic Ondiviela. She was one of two women featured in his work and the piece premiered at the Royal Opera House and later toured to Scotland and Lebanon. De Oliveira has also been invited as a principal guest artists in productions and galas all over the US and internationally. Her repertoire includes the Sugarplum fairy in The Nutcracker, Medora in Le Corsair, a shade in La Bayadere, Lilac fairy in Sleeping Beauty, Allegro Brilliante, Interplay, Paquita and several roles in other classical and contemporary ballets. Amanda is an ABT curriculum certified teacher.

Vivian Frerking

(Director of Early Childhood Training) Vivian was a student of Iris Merrick, performed with Westchester Ballet Company for twelve years, attaining the rank of soloist, and studied in New York at the American Ballet Theatre School. She received her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Quinnipiac College in Connecticut, and now resides in Ossining with her husband. She is presently the Director of Rehabilitation Medicine at Putnam Ridge in Brewster, NY.

Dannys Gonzales

(Ballet) Dannys, a native of Cuba, trained and graduated from the Cuban National Ballet School in Havana, and began his professional career in the Cuban National Ballet directed by the famed ballerina, Alicia Alonso. In 2009, Dannys became a soloist in the Ballet de Cuba Company. His classical repertoire includes major roles in Swan Lake, Coppelia, Don Quixote, La Bayadére, La Sylphide, La Fille Mal Gardée, Paquita and The Nutcracker. Dannys has toured internationally with “Ballet Revolucion” and other dance companies. After moving to New York City, Dannys joined the Alvin Ailey School and thereafter performed with various ballet and contemporary companies throughout the United States. Dannys is an exuberant, passionate, and committed teaching artist and choreographer who celebrates each student’s individuality, artistry, and creativity. Dannys is on the ballet faculty of the well-known School at Steps on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. He also maintains an active dance teaching career for both adults and children at several studios in Connecticut.

David Guggino

(Jazz) At eighteen David moved to New York City and attended Marymount Manhattan University. He attended the Joffrey/New School. Performance credits, Ward 9, West Side Story at TUTS, Damn Yankees at NSMT and Grease! at KC Starlight, “Regis and Kelly!”. Company credits, Momix, Joffrey Ensemble, The Chase Brock Experience, Rebecca Kelly Ballet, Eglevsky Ballet. David has choreographed his own off-Broadway show entitled What Guys Do! His choreography credits include West Side Story, Rocky Horror, Sid in the City. His commissioned works are We were always coming back, Virus, Walking with the Gods, and A Beautiful Sadness. His choreographic movie credits include, Fly the Light, and Them. Other commissioned works include Idol Giselle, How Strong, Conversations, What Guys Do Excerpts, Opposing Forces and Cosmic. He has choreographed and taught at the Joffrey Jazz & Contemporary program and has premiered the second installment of his event SlamBamDance! at the Knitting Factory Brooklyn and is a faculty member at Steps on Broadway. Most recently he has Directed and choreographed Lucian Smith” music video “Burn That Paper” and Assistant Directed and choreographed artist “Traces” music video “Hypnotized”.

Dillon Honiker

(Jazz) Dillon was born and raised in Oklahoma where he started his formal training in classical ballet. He attended summer intensives with Boston Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, and the American Dance Festival. Dillon graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a BFA in dance performance, where he trained in ballet, modern, and jazz. Within the next few years he became a member of R.A.C.E Dance, Oklahoma City Ballet, Eryc Taylor Dance, and Naganuma Dance. Dillon recently moved to New York to seek out new opportunities and to pursue his passion for dance.

Mary Jane Houdina

(Tap) Mary Jane was associate choreographer for the movie "The Great Gatsby" and tap consultant for Peter Allen at Radio City. On Broadway she was associate choreographer for the original "Annie" and choreographer for "Into the Light". Regional theaters have seen her choreography in a myriad of musicals including " Oklahoma!", "Follies", and "Showboat" with such stars as Juliet Prowse, Jean Stapleton, and Gavin McLeod. She has appeared in ten Broadway shows, as well as in Peter Gennaro's nightclub act. Ms. Houdina is the 1998 Barrymore Award recipient for her choreography for "Crazy for You", a 2001 nominee for her choreography for "Singin' in the Rain", and a 2007 nominee for "42nd Street" at Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre. She has also directed/choreographed a long list of industrial shows. She has taught for all the major dance organizations, as well as giving master classes to students around the country, was an adjunct professor of dance at Pace University in Briarcliff and is a member of Dance Masters of America. Always extending her skills as an instructor, she recently received her certification to teach Pilates Mat.

Cynthia Izoldi

(Ballet) Cynthia Izoldi is a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil where she graduated from the Municipal Ballet School of Sao Paulo and danced professionally before moving to the United States. She received a scholarship from the Joffrey Ballet School in New York Cityand studied under the tutelage of Meredith Baylis. She performed in various companies including the New York City Opera Ballet where she danced for 15 years works by well-known choreographers, such as Agnes de Mille, Donald Byrd and Jerome Robbins. She has been in "Live from Lincoln Center" productions and as a choreographer, has had works performed locally, as well as at the News-Journal Center- Florida. Ms. Izoldi has participated in many teacher training programs such as: Cuban Ballet training methodology, National Dance Institute, American Academy of Ballet, the ³Vaganova Teaching Methodology² with the Classical Dance Alliance and The Paris Opera Ballet School. Ms. Izoldi holds a BS in Biology from PUCC University, Campinas Sao Paulo
(Brazil). She has been teaching classical ballet for over 20 yrs.

Kristina Lindbergh

(Ballet) Kristina received her early training in Washington state with Margheret Sundsten on Bainbridge Island and Jan Collum in Tacoma, and later at Cornish School of the Arts and Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle. She worked with Christine Temin at Middlebury College, and with Nancy Bielski and David Howard after moving to New York City. While there she performed with two experimental dance companies, Spoke the Hub and Boyce Dancers, before relocating in northern Westchester county to raise her family. Kristina has been a teacher at Logrea Dance Academy since 1987, and she and her two daughters performed with the Westchester Ballet company for many years. She served on the company’s board of directors for fourteen years, seven of them as President.

Tracey Munn

(Modern) Tracey graduated from the University of Arizona with a BFA in dance performance, and received teaching certifications in both Yoga and Pilates. Tracey has over seventeen years of training in ballet, modern, jazz, and tap, and has experience with many other dance genres including hip hop, musical theater, and African. She studied and performed with dance intensives such as Rimini en Danza and the American Dance Festival, and has trained as a scholarship recipient, assistant, and invitational week student for the Radio City Rockette Summer Intensive. For over three years, Tracey was a featured member of Naganuma Dance Company, and currently participates in outreach performances and charity work as a member of ALMA Dance, a New York based non-for profit company. She performs at special interactive private and corporate events with Total Entertainment, and enjoys working with independent choreographers, actors, and musicians on dance-based projects around New York City.

Marisa Paull Gorst

(Ballet) Marisa trained at the School of American Ballet in New York and the Kirov Academy in Washington DC. She has danced professionally in The Phantom Of The Opera, and with New York City Ballet, Miami City Ballet, New Orleans Ballet Theatre, Dances Patrelle, and other companies in and around New York and Europe. In addition to her onstage career Ms. Gorst enjoys teaching and choreographing both ballet and Broadway-style shows. She has served as full-time faculty at the School of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, as the Artistic Director and Head Instructor at the International Ballet School of Bled, Slovenia, and as the Director of Youth Dance at the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. She has taught at Broadway Dance Center, Peridance, and Studio Maestro in New York City, The Rock School in Las Vegas, NV, as well as many local dance and theater schools in New York, Las Vegas, and the Roaring Fork Valley in Colorado. In addition to her pursuits in dance she has received a BA from Smith College, graduating summa cum laude with Highest Honors in English Language and Literature. Marisa is a proud member of Actor's Equity.

Jayne Santoro

(Ballet) Jayne received her classical training at the American Ballet Theatre School in NYC with Maria Swoboda. She also studied with Leon Fokine, Maria Jones, Nenette Charise, and Finis Jhung. Jayne is a former member of Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and also performed with the Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company.
In addition to teaching advanced technique at LDA, she also teaches beginner through advanced levels of ballet at the JCC of Mid Westchester Dance School.
Jayne recently retired as the JCC Dance School Director and the Director of Westchester Theatre of Dance, where she choreographed, produced and directed over 30+ ballets for the school.