Logrea Dance Academy Faculty
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Michelle Bruckner(Musical Theater) 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 is currently Choreographing West Side Story for Heartwood Regional Theatre and recently choreographed Into The Woods (Heartwood) and Legally Blonde (Rider University.) Michelle is currently Choreographing West Side Story for Heartwood Regional Theatre and recently choreographed Into The Woods (Heartwood) and Legally Blonde (Rider University.) |
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Edgar Cortes(Ballet) Edgar was born in Portugal, and he graduated from the School of Dance of the National Conservatory in Lisbon. In 1995 he was awarded a scholarship to the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in New York City, and he worked with the Martha Graham Dance Ensemble where he performed leading and solo roles. In addition he was a scholarship student at the Joffrey Ballet School. In New York City he has worked with Pearl Lang Dance Theater, Sophie Maslow, Jeanette Hemstad, Analysis Dance Company, Chen & Dancers, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, Ralf Jaroesenski, Sensedance, Mark Dendy among other independent choreographers. He has taught at the Martha Dance School of Contemporary Dance and workshops for Teatro do Mar in Portugal as well as various classes in Ballet in New York City. Edgar was member of the world renowned Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo and toured extensively for six years (U.S.A., Japan, Australia, Europe, Canada, South America, Central America). In January of 2009 he founded the Edgar Cortes Dance Theater. He was awarded a grant from Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance and created "UNICORNIUS", a piece inspired by the Hunt of the Unicorn Tapestries currently at the Cloisters Museum ; “Water Poodles,” (2010) inspired by Esther Williams and synchronized swimming, “DALI AQUI” (2011) inspired by Salvador Dali. He also created “Quatro” (2012) inspired by the 4 seasons and his the latest work “SOL-I-DÓ”, inspired by Portugal and its traditions premiered at Riverside Theatre. He is currently working on the new piece "CIRCOPIA" to premiere in 2017.
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Amanda Lynn Fannon(Tap) Amanda Lynn Fannon was born and raised in Kenton, Ohio. She started dancing at the age of three, and quickly fell in love with tap. Amanda received her BFA in Musical Theatre and Dance minor from Ohio Northern University in 2011. It was the perfect way to continue tapping, as well as jazz, ballet, and modern. She worked with several guest artists and companies at ONU. While there, she was the Sissy Girl in the Yellow Dress in Donald McKayle's Games, where she had the opportunity to learn directly from Mr. McKayle. Amanda spent several seasons at the Weathervane Playhouse in Newark, OH where she had her first professional chance to choreograph, and later Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven, NJ. Her favorite dance centered musical theatre performances have been in 42nd Street, A Chorus Line, Cabaret, Sweet Charity, The Boyfriend, George M!, The Producers, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Hairspray.
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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.
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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”.
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Noriko Hara(Ballet) Noriko Hara was born in Hiroshima and in addition to her early training in Japan she has studied with David Howard (NY) and Roger Roger Tully(London). She has performed as a soloist with the Matsuyama Ballet Company (Tokyo), Chicago Civic Ballet, and she appeared in the feature film Ballet Russes where she was coached by Frederic Franklin. Ms. Hara is also the Director of Noriko Hara Ballet School in Hiroshima which has run successfully for over 25 years—training young people in classical as well as other dance forms. She has taught and coached dancers at ABT Summer Intensive (1997-2003), and Studio Maestro (NY) and several of her students have won prizes in competitions such as Youth America Grand Prix.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Alex Martin(Musical Theater) Alex graduated from Wayne State University in 2010 with a B.F.A. in Dance. Her college performing credits include, works by Melissa Allen, Twyla Tharp, Jeff Rebudal, Meg Paul, Ray Robinson, Penny Godboldo, Ben Munisteri, and Nicholas Leichter. Her work, “Area of Stability”, was selected to be featured at the ACDFA East Central Gala in 2009. Invited as a guest performer in 2009, she performed with Nicholas Leichter Dance at the Joyce Theatre for the premiere of “Killa”. After moving to NYC in 2010, she joined Evolve Dance Inc. under the direction of Julie B. Johnson, and Zullo Dance/Raw Movement under the direction of John J. Zullo. Since 2008, she has been involved with the American Tap Dance Foundation as both a performer and Program Manager. In addition to actively pursuing her career as a professional dancer, she teaches and choreographs throughout the NYC Metropolitan area.
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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.
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Jayne Santoro(Ballet) Jayne received her classical training at the American Ballet Theatre School with Maria Swoboda. She also studied with Leon Fokine, Maria Jones, Nanette Charise, and Finis Jhung. Jayne is a former member of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and performed with the Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company. In addition to teaching advanced technique at the Academy, she is currently the director of dance at the JCC of Mid-Westchester, teaching beginner through advanced levels, and the director of the Westchester Theatre of Dance at JCC.
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Carol Slomka(Jazz) Carol Slomka studied with Luigi, Peter Gennaro, Leon Danielian, Madam Anderson, and Edward Caton. Her performing credits include: Anybodys in the original Broadway company of West Side Story, Wish You Were Here, Destry Rides Again, South Pacific (Nellie Forbush) and Oklahoma! (Ado Annie). She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Brandeis University, is currently teaching in New York City as well as at the Academy, and lives in Pleasantville.
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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. |
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Therese Wendler(Ballet) Ms. Wendler was born in Honolulu Hawaii. Therese received her ballet training from Nina Marlow in Phoenix, AZ. The Joffrey Ballet Program brought her to New York City. Since then she has worked with Ballet Metropolitan of Caracas in Venezuela, Ballet International, Ballet Concierto of Puerto Rico, Ballet Jorgen Canada in Toronto, Thomas/Ortiz in NYC and as Principal with Connecticut Ballet and Rebecca Kelly
Ballet. She has been intensely coached by Elena Kunikova, Diana Cartier, and Irina Koplakova. She is a Principal dancer with Dances Patrelle and Covenant Ballet Theater of Brooklyn in NYC. This summer Therese has taught at the summer intensives for Joffrey Ballet School of New York in the Character and International Dance program for the 2nd year, the Alvin Ailey Junior Division summer intensive and RDA in Tarrytown. She recently had the opportunity to teach at Queen Emma Ballet in Honolulu. She is currently on staff at Logrea Dance Academey, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater in the Ballet Junior Division Department for the 5th year and has also been the Department Chair of Ballet at the Rivertown Dance Academy in Tarrytown, NY for the past 5yrs. |
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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.
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Yelena Zerkovska(Ballet) Yelena began her training in ballet and character in Ukraine at the age of 5. After her move to the USA, Yelena continued her ballet training in Los Angeles, CA with great teachers such as Marat Daukhaev, Hasmik Amirian, Stefan Wenta, Olga Tozyiakova, Laurence Blake, Anthony Johnson and Vera Ninkovic. Recognized for her talents and zealous work ethics Yelena was accepted into North Carolina School of the Arts where she had the opportunity to study with the influential teachers Nina Danilova, Fanchon Cordell, Christine Spizzo, Han Kee Juan and more. In her professional career, Yelena performed as a soloist with the Pasadena Dance Theatre, Raiford Rogers/LA Chamber Ballet, California Riverisde Ballet and Nouvea Chamber Ballet.
She has performed solo roles in Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Le Corsaire, Firebird, Paquita, Raymonda, La Bayadere and the Nutcracker. Yelena recently moved to NYC and has performed with New Jersey Ballet, Staten Island Ballet, BYA, Viktoria Theatre Ballet and New Haven School. She performed as a soloist with the Metropolitan Ballet, Minneapolis, Minnesota Yelena is not only passionate about dancing but also loves teaching, and she is pleased to be on the faculty of the Logrea Dance Academy. |
