Justin Sherwood • Ballet Intensive
International dancer and choreographer, Justin Sherwood, trained at the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance in London England, which encourages individuality and innovation in its curriculum, shaping Justin’s extremely versatile and eclectic career. He is a recipient of the Choreographic Award of Prominence by the Central St. Marten’s School of Art and Design and Cochrane Theatre in London and has choreographed critically acclaimed productions across the U.S., Hong Kong, and Albania.
As a performer, he is in his 16th season with the Metropolitan Opera, having appeared in numerous productions on their stage, including working with some of today’s best Film and Broadway directors like Julie Taymor, Robert LePage, Anthony Minghella, and Mary Zimmerman. In addition to his ballet and contemporary experience, Mr. Sherwood is also a gifted gymnast, having performed with crossover companies, incorporating elements of acrobatics and dance.
As an educator, Justin is an ABT® Certified Teacher, completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 7 and Partnering of the ABT® National Training Curriculum, and teaches at many recognized dance schools and resident companies.
Marisa Paull Gorst • Ballet Intensive
Marisa Paull Gorst trained at the School of American Ballet in NYC and the Kirov Academy in Washington DC. Recently seen onstage in the National Tour of CATS the Musical, she has also danced professionally in the Las Vegas production of The Phantom Of The Opera and with New York City Ballet (children's roles), Miami City Ballet, Albany Berkshire Ballet, New Orleans Ballet Theatre, Dances Patrelle, and other regional companies in and around NYC. Other credits: Billy Elliot (Theatre On Main Street), Little Mermaid (Yorktown Stage). In addition to her onstage career Ms. Gorst enjoys teaching and is currently on faculty as an adjunct professor at Vassar College, at Ballet Rockland in Garnerville, NY, and at Ballet Arts and Passion the Adult Dance Studio, both in Beacon, NY. She has also served at the School of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet in Colorado, the International Ballet School of Bled, Slovenia, and at many other schools including Broadway Dance Center and Peridance in NYC, and The Rock School in Las Vegas, NV. Ms. Gorst holds a BA from Smith College, graduating summa cum laude with Highest Honors.
Jessica Jaber Director • Ballet, PBT, FLX
As a dancer who began seriously studying ballet as an adult, Jessica aspired to create a studio for other adults to begin to dance, or continue to have dance be a part of their health and fitness routines. Jessica wanted to create a space similar to the large studios in NYC where adults with hectic and sometimes uncertain schedules could drop in and take a class when their schedules would allow. A true believer in both the joy of self expression and the proven health benefits of dance for physical and emotional well-being, she enjoys bringing her love of this fitness and art form to adults of all ages.​
Jessica has trained in classical ballet for 20 years under master teachers from both the English and Russian disciplines of ballet. She has studied the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus and passed many of her graded and vocational examinations. She studied under the mentorship of Paul Lau, co-founder of the Hong Kong Ballet Company and school for her Certificate of Ballet Studies with the Royal Academy of Dance. She is a licensed Silver Swans and Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) teacher, and previously performed with Kozlov Dance International in NY, NJ and Aruba. Jessica was the Director of a Royal Academy of Dance youth ballet program in White Plains prior to opening the adult only studio in her hometown of Cornwall, NY. Her arts training spans over three decades of dance in modern, jazz, tap, musical theatre, Ballroom, and ballet. She holds an Associate in Arts in Performing Arts and a Bachelor's of Business in Accounting from Pace University. Jessica is a member of Actor's Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA.
Mara Davi Gaines • Musical Theatre, Tap
Mara is an actor/singer/dancer who has worked in New York and regionally since 2004. Her Broadway credits include A Chorus Line, The Drowsy Chaperone, White Christmas, Dames at Sea, and The Play that Goes Wrong. Mara has taught master classes in Broadway repertoire and tap dance across the country while touring with various shows. She has always been drawn to the song and dance of classic musical comedies and golden age movie musicals and she aims to bring style, storytelling, sweat, and smiles to each dance class.
Montana Nogrady • Asst Mgr, Beg.Tap
Montana graduated from The University of the Arts, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in May 2018 with a BFA with Honors in Dance. She performed in works by Douglas Becker, Meredith Rainey, Tania Isaacs, Thaddeus and Tanya Davis, Milton Myers, Nora Gibson, Sidra Bell, Jesse Zaritt and Anne White, and Robert Burden. She was trained locally at Step by Step, in Cornwall, and the Darlene Wilson Institute of Dance, in Newburgh. She was a part of Orange County Ballet Theatre and performed annually in The Nutcracker and their spring performances, with repertoire including Swan Lake, Pas De Quatre, Le Corsaire and La Bayadére. With Step by Step, Montana has performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and several international festivals in England, Scotland, Spain and Italy. She has been a choreographer for Step It Up’s Summer Stage, for productions of Hairspray, Shrek The Musical, School of Rock, The Addams Family, Guys and Dolls, and Chicago- High School Edition, in which she performed as Kitty and a featured dancer.
Veronica Nogrady • Adv Beg/Int Ballet
Veronica is a Cornwall on Hudson native & began her dance training at Powers Dance Arts Centre. She has performed with numerous companies in the Hudson Valley area, including The Orange County Ballet, The Pougkeepsie Ballet Theatre, The Ulster County Ballet Theatre, & Ballet Arts Company. She is a graduate of The Hartford Ballet Teacher's Certification Program, has danced with Hartford Ballet's Studio Company, was a Guest Artist at The Simsbury Light Opera Company, a Principal Dancer & Faculty member of the Atlantic Contemporary Ballet Theatre, & performed with Capital City Opera & Ballet Orlando. She currently teaches at Step by Step, Hudson Valley Conservatory & Seven Star School of the Perf. Arts. She has choreographed the Goshen High School musicals since 2007, and her choreography has appeared at The American Alliance of Performing Arts Educators, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and abroad in London, Scotland, Barcelona, Italy and Greece.
Jenn Haltman • Acting, Auditioning, Scenes
Jenn is a director, casting director, producer, and recent Hudson Valley transplant. With her company, Between Two Boroughs, she has directed multiple shows including the critically acclaimed Trich which will be touring this summer on the East Coast. She has also directed at Mile Square Theatre, Joe’s Pub, and Axial Theatre. Jenn is the Casting Director for Portland Stage in Maine where she has most recently cast The Play That Goes Wrong, Clyde’s and The Cake . Film projects include "Boy Meets Girl" (dir. Eric Schaeffer), and the award-winning shorts "Behind the Wall" (dir. Bat-Sheva Guez) and “Someone Will Assist You Shortly” (dir. Jon Levenson). Previously, she was the Casting Associate at New York Theatre Workshop (shows include Peter and the Starcatcher, Little Foxes, Aftermath, The Seven) and has also worked with Page 73 Productions, Pig Iron Theatre Company, and Soho Rep. Jenn is a proud graduate of Muhlenberg College. www.jennhaltman.com
Michael Boyle • Asst Director, Scene Study
Michael graduated from S.U.N.Y. Albany with an undergraduate major in History, and minor in Theatre, and holds a Master of Arts and Teaching from Fordham University. Michael is on the Board of Directors, and has been Axial Theatre Company Ensemble Member in Pleasantville, New York. Michael has trained with both Rachel Jones and Howard Meyers, including Howard Meyer’s Master Acting Class since 2010, and the 2009 Summer Performance Workshop. As an ensemble member, he made his Axial debut as Shamrayev in The Seagull by Anton Chekhov in November, 2014. In other notable performances, he played the role of Gordon in Dead Man’s Cell Phone by Sara Ruhl and played Dr. Rank in A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, Doc in Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley, and Bill in August Osage County by Tracy Letts. Michael recently debuted in Theatre on Main Street's inaugural production of "Orpheus Descending" as Val Xavier, as 'Billy' in Main Street's premiere musical, 'Godspell", Jackie Elliot in Main Street's Fall 2023 production of "Billy Elliot", and Alan Raleigh in the 2024 Spring production of "God of Carnage"
Christina Hegdal • Modern/Contemporary
Christina Hegdal has her B.A. degree in dance from Dean College. She studied at Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and danced professionally with modern company Libertina Dance from 2007-2018. She is influenced by Horton technique , Martha Graham and Katherine Dunham but over the years has found resonance with release technique and finding harmony with the natural state of the body moving through space . She enjoys incorporating lighting that evokes relaxation and mental benefit in her class and encourages her students to find the natural state in which their bodies enjoy moving .
