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 22 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 ZES (Zumba® Education Specialist), training Zumba® instructors in their newest program, Zumba® Step. He has spent much of the past 2 years travelling in the U.S. and Europe 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 the Zumba Fitness' last two video games, Zumba FItness Core and Zumba Fitness World Party.

Billy Blanken

Billy grew up performing in Dayton, Ohio with the Muse Machine and dancing at the Gary Geiss School of Dance. He graduated with honors from Ball State University with majors in Acting and Dance Performance. While at Ball State, Billy danced with Anderson Young Ballet Theatre and Project in Motion. After graduation, he trained at Joffrey Ballet School under the late John Magnus, Francesca Corkle, Ellie Lazar and Eleanor D’Antuono.
He started his professional career with the Amy Marshall Dance Company before he joined Les Ballets Grandiva. Some of his freelance credits include; principal guest artist with Brooklyn Ballet, Dances Patrelle, Catherine Gallant Dance, Atlantic City Ballet, Mobile Ballet, Northwest Florida Ballet, East Village Dance Project, Northeastern Ballet Theatre, Columbus Ballet, Neville Dance Theatre, isadoraNOW, Ballet Mink Colbert, CoDa21 in San Juan, and others. In 2016, he formed the collective Sheep Meadow Dance Theatre where he is choreographer and Artistic Director.
Billy has taught at Peridance Capezio Center, the Jakarta Intercultural School, the School at Steps on Broadway, the East Village Dance Project, Joffrey Ballet School. Ball State University, Broadway Dance Center, Wright State University, D’Valda & Sirico Dance and Music Centre, Gibney Dance, Northwest Florida Ballet, New York Dance Experience, and others.

Michelle Bruckner

(Theater Dance) Michelle trained with Ballet Long Island, BOCES Cultural Arts Center LI, NY, and graduated Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance from Adelphi University. Michelle's first professional job in the theatre was at the Carousel Music Theater in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, under the direction of Dominic Garvey. Michelle has performed as a dancer/singer/actress in many National Tours, Regionally in major cities across the United States and Internationally in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Paris, Belgium, Hong Kong, Singapore. She also enjoyed reaching a life goal of dancing in a Bob Fosse show on Broadway (Chicago, The Musical.) Favorites of Michelle's performing career include "A Chorus Line," "Anything Goes," "The Full Monty" among others. Michelle also has taught ballet, tap, jazz, and musical theatre for over twenty years. She's choreographed The Drowsy Chaperone and Damn Yankees for The Golden Stage Society in North Salem, NY. Michelle recently choreographed The Secret Garden, West Side Story, and Into The Woods for The Heartwood Theatre Company in Damariscotta, Maine. This fall she will be the Choreographer for Princeton University’s annual Triangle Club production. www.michellebruckner.com

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.

Elisa Toro Franky

(Ballet) Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Elisa began her ballet training at the Myriam Guerrero School of Ballet at the age of eight. There she trained with ballet instructors hailing from the prestigious Cuban National Ballet School. From 2004 to 2007, she trained at the Miami City Ballet School. In 2007, she joined the Washington Ballet Studio Company, and one year later the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble, touring nationally for the 40th anniversary of this legendary organization. In 2010, Elisa competed at the USA International Ballet Competition, Jackson, Mississippi, where only 100 dancers were selected as competitors worldwide. From 2010 to 2014, Elisa joined the New Jersey Ballet Company, performing principal and soloist roles. Since 2011, she has performed with Dardo Galletto Dance, Christopher Caines Dance, and FJK Dance. In 2014 and 2015, Elisa performed at the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival with Dardo Galletto Dance. In 2017, Elisa embarked upon a 31-city international tour to China with FJK Dance, performing at the Poly Theatre Chains."

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 and two children. She is presently the director of rehabilitation medicine for Elant at Brandywine in Briarcliff Manor.

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”.

Amanda Heckman

(Mommy & Me) Amanda recieved her B.F.A degree in dance at Point Park University under the direction of Susan Stowe. She has performed for many choreographers such as: Kiesha Lalama, Peter Merz,Gina Patterson, Francesca Harper and also performed Balanchine's version of the Raymonda Variations. Amanda performed at City Center as a YAGP NYC Finalist in 2009. She has performed all over NYC including Carnegie Hall for choreographer Bill Hastings, and at Central Park for choreographer Ofelia De Mola and Yellow House Productions, and has been dancing with Community Dance project NYC since 2011. She has also performed at Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theatre, Manhattan Movement and Arts Center, Mark Morris Dance Center, 92nd St. Y, Peridance, Steps on Broadway, Dance Teachers Summit, DNA, Dixon Place, Jennifer Muller/The Works,Bridge for Dance, and more. Amanda is the Co-Founder of the AGile dance collective and is very excited to be creating work and showcasing it throughout Manhattan. Amanda has been teaching dance for over 8 years in Manhattan and at several studios in Westchester. She’s very excited to be teaching at Logrea this year!

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.

Sharyn Korey

(Ballet, Jazz) Sharyn trained at Logrea Dance Academy and the Rock School. She performed with Richmond Ballet before earning a degree in International Studies from Middlebury College. Since moving to Brooklyn, she has performed with Murray Spalding Mandalas, Sydnie Mosley Dances, and Tango 5 Sentidos. She has also appeared in the work of choreographers Karesia Batan, Jenny Pommiss, and Nicole Sabella. She is the co-founder and director of NACHMO, an annual choreography festival, and enjoys teaching dance at Logrea Dance Academy and the Mark Morris Dance Center.

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.

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.

Yana Volkova

(Ballet) Yana was born in Russia. She began her Professional Intensive study of the Vaganova Ballet Method at the Academy School of Ballet in Voronezh, Russia. She graduated with honors from the State Ballet Academy and was invited to work in one of Moscow's leading companies, where she was given the opportunity to perform as a soloist. She attended the University of Theatrical Arts-Moscow (GITIS), where she earned a B.A. in Choreography and Character Dance, studying with Lev Golovanov.
In 1996, Yana was a principal dancer with Moscow Ballet and in ‘'Riverdance’’ on tour and on Broadway. In 2005 Yana joined the Metropolitan Opera. In 2007 Yana began teaching ballet, pointe, stretching and character for various schools in the United States. Her class format emphasizes correct development of both the technical and artistic elements of classical ballet and is a clear reflection of her pure traditional training.
Yana works as Artistic Program Director of Bolshoi Academy Summer Intensive in NYC, and she also is a founder - director of the "Art of the Dance World"-Public School Educational Program, which brings education in dance to public schools in the New York area.

Inna Yureneva

(Ballet) Inna is a Russian-born graduate (2002), of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. While a student in Moscow, Inna performed in numerous productions for the Bolshoi Theater. After completing her studies, she moved with her family to the United States in 2002. Since then, she has performed with numerous national ballet companies, including the Metropolitan Opera, Connecticut Ballet, Ballet New York and Lynn Barr Dance Theater among others. Inna is a Certified Teacher in the American Ballet Theater (ABT) National Training Curriculum, and has extensive experience teaching ballet to students of different ages and skill levels, in national and international contexts. Inna maintains her relationship with the Bolshoi Ballet Academy as Director of the Academy’s annual Summer Intensive program in Connecticut and Teacher Certification Program in New York.