Faculty
Victoria Amato, originally from South Florida, comes from a diverse family with Cuban roots. She began dancing at the age of 4 and trained with Ballet Palm Beach's Pre-professional Trainee Program as a Student Ensemble Member from 2014-2016. She continued her training as a Trainee with the professional company from 2016-2017. As a Student Ensemble Member, she performed multiple corps roles alongside the professional company in Ballet Palm Beach’s productions of Giselle, Alice in Wonderland, Swan Lake Act II, Cinderella, The Nutcracker (Snow, Flowers), and Simple Symphony (an original work). During her time as a Trainee, she took class with the professional company as well as performed multiple corps roles in Ballet Palm Beach’s productions of Snow White, The Nutcracker (Snow, Flowers, Spanish), Romeo and Juliet, and Sleeping Beauty Act III, and also participated in numerous outreach performances with the professional company.
From August 2017 to December 2017, Victoria trained with Ballet 5:8's Conservatory Program and was a Studio Company Member. She performed in Dance Slam Chicago featuring original repertoire from Ballet 5:8’s professional company, and in the Ballet 5:8 School of the Arts production of "Beyond the Nutcracker," where she performed in Snow, Spanish, & Mirliton Corps and as a Demi-Soloist in Flowers.
Victoria has roughly seven years of teaching experience, most recently teaching for Brooklyn Ballet’s Elevate Program. She is also a new teaching artist for Covenant Ballet Theater of Brooklyn’s Dance Exposure Program. Victoria is excited to be on faculty at Brooklyn Ballet, continuing her commitment to creating a nurturing environment for young children and helping their love for the arts grow.
Bianca Delli Priscoli is from Salerno, Italy. She is a Dancer, Choreographer and Artistic Director. Bianca moved to New York 9 years ago. Two years later she was recognized as an artist of extraordinary ability by the United States of America. She graduated in 2012 with Loredana Mutalipassi and then perfected her knowledge at the National Academy of Rome, the only recognized dance university in Italy. In New York, Bianca successfully completed the Independent Study Program at the Ailey School. She received scholarships from Dance Theatre of Harlem in New York, Dance Haus Susanna Belerami in Milan and M.A.C. in Rome. She has danced for Artestudio Dance Company, Forza Malizia dance Company, Bianca Falco/Labilab Company, Saya Spring Dance Theatre and Incanto Production. She also performed works by Adriana Borriello, Robert Garland, Dionne Figgins, Darryl Quinton, Jacqulyn Buglisi and Judinne Somerville, performing at multiple venues across New York City and Europe. Her repertoire includes Giselle, Apollon Musagète, Don Quixote, Nutcracker, Les Sylphides, Swan Lake, Anna Karenina, Sleeping Beauty, Dracula. Bianca is a Senior Artist at the Ajkun Ballet Theatre, a Special Guest and Teacher for Fini Dance New York and a Special Guest and Co- Artistic Director for Long Island Ballet Theatre. She currently teaches Ballet at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, for Professional division and Teens, and Huntington Ballet Academy. Bianca recently joined the Ailey school faculty for the Junior Division and the Brooklyn Ballet faculty.
Bianca has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Curriculum from Pre-Primary through Level 7 and Partnering of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.
Yinet Fernández was born in Havana, Cuba where she studied ballet at Alejo Carpentier National School of Ballet, training under and receiving mentorship from Marta Iris Fernandez, Romona de Saa, Caridad Martinez, and many other great teachers. After graduating in 2008, she danced with National Ballet of Cuba for six years, performing both in Cuba and on tour at the Royal Opera House in London, Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York City, and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. In 2015, she immigrated to the United States, performing with Connecticut Ballet in The Nutcracker, Cinderella, and Summer Dance Caravan for two seasons. In 2017, she joined Dance Theatre of Harlem where she has appeared in such ballets as Le Corsaire Pas de Deux (Petipa), Allegro Brillante (Balanchine), This Bitter Earth (Wheeldon), and Blake Works IV (McGregor).
Valentina Fory Olaya is originally from Colombia, South America, born in Cali and raised in Jamundí Valle del Cauca. She began her ballet training at the age of 9 at Incolballet in Colombia and at the age of 13 she participated in intensive workshops with Frederick Earl Mosley at Incolballet, where she received a scholarship to Earl Mosley's Institute of the Arts (EMIA) Dance Summer Intensive. Valentina has danced with Brooklyn Ballet, Visions Contemporary Ballet, Albano Ballet and Danza Experimental de Bogotá. She has choreographed for Latin Grammy nominated Colombian singer Esteman, whose music video “On Top” has over 2 million views on YouTube. She has worked as a dancer for the British rapper Lancey Foux for the release of his album; for the beer brand, Corona, at their sunset festival in Santa Marta, Colombia; and in commercials for brands such as Huawei, Subway Colombia, and Bon Bon Bum.
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Tristan Grannum is originally from Brooklyn, New York. He began training in classical ballet at the age of 14 at Fiorello H. Laguardia High School for Performing Arts and Manhattan Youth Ballet. Over the years he has trained year-round at the School of Pennsylvania Ballet, and Dance Theater of Harlem where he was selected to dance in several outreach performances.
He has also attended many notable ballet summer programs on full scholarship which include the Harid Conservatory, San Francisco Ballet, Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, and Charlotte Ballet. In June 2017 he was invited to and participated in an international dance competition (Royal Dance Grand Prix) held in Beijing, China, under the direction of Nadege Hottier (Premiere Division). There he won first place in the Contemporary ballet category.
His professional performance credits include dancing with Brooklyn Ballet, Ballet Austin, Dayton Ballet, and the Black Iris Project. He has performed works by George Balanchine, Gerald Arpino, Septime Webre, Stephen Mills, Marianna Oliviera, and Tan Dao. Tristan has taught at several ballet/dance institutions across the country. He is a certified dance teacher through the Mark Morris Teacher Artist Training Program and the American Ballet Theater National Training Curriculum (Primary-Level 3) . He is on faculty at Brooklyn Ballet and Mark Morris Dance Group. In 2021, Tristan was chosen as an emerging dance leader for the Dance/USA DILT program under Peter Boal’s mentorship (PNB). He also was chosen as a School of American Ballet National Visiting Fellow for the 2021-2022 Cohort. Formerly, Tristan was the Associate Artistic Director for the Brooklyn Center for the Arts, an arts organization which specializes in providing access to classical art forms for underprivileged individuals across New York City. There Tristan established over 15 dance programs throughout the Department of Education. Currently Tristan Grannum is Director Of Community Engagement and Rehearsal Director for Brooklyn Ballet.
Maxwell Louis Green-Waterman (he/his/him) is an ever-evolving visionary, dreamer, and doer. As a dance educator, choreographer, arts administrator, and motivational speaker, Mr. Green-Waterman uses his core values – spirituality, humanity, and scholarship – to sustain dance education as a cornerstone within general education.
During his younger years, Mr. Green-Waterman set himself on a path to become a Supreme Court Justice, until his Higher Power revealed he bears the flame of a powerful dance ancestry – Dr. Pearl Primus, Dr. Sherrill Berryman Johnson, and Sheron Trotman. Ms. Trotman (Artistic Director, Dance Strides Barbados), his godmother, was Dr. Primus’ rehearsal mistress, and in later years, her confidante and caregiver. Ms. Trotman also assisted Dr. Berryman Johnson in the establishment of Howard University’s BFA Dance program (Washington D.C.), the first dance program in a historically black university. Mr. Green-Waterman honors his dance ancestry as the driving force behind his work to use dance as a modality for holistic development, and currently works with Ms. Trotman to archive the work of their beloved “Ma Primus.”
After completing his formal training at the Ailey and Joffrey Ballet Schools, Mr. Green-Waterman received his BS in Dance from Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus. Thereafter, he graduated Summa Cum Laude with his MA in Dance Education from the Arnhold Graduate Dance Education Program at CUNY-Hunter College. While furthering his doctoral studies in dance education at Teachers College, Columbia University, Mr. Green-Waterman fulfilled his appointments as Adjunct Professor of Modern Dance (SUNY Purchase) and Program Director for Teens@Graham, the Martha Graham School’s leading educational outreach program. In his roles, he edified the pedagogical and cultural practices within both institutions and jumpstarted his career in Diversity Management and Organizational Leadership.
Mr. Green-Waterman now sets himself on a path to become a director within a performing arts institution. He is on a mission to enrich the visibility and validity of the performing arts, and currently disseminates culturally responsive pedagogy and dance pedagogy to national and international audiences, via his formal training in Modern Dance (Lester Horton Technique), Classical Ballet (ABT® National Training Curriculum), and professional development workshops.
Kristina Hay is a Norwegian dance artist, educator, and community organizer based in Brooklyn, NY. Kristina creates, performs, and facilitates art in education and performance by drawing on her MA in Dance and International Relations from Queen Mary’s University in London and expensive dance experience. In short, Kristina believes in the power of art to heal and transform communities. Further, she believes in collaboration between education, art, and diplomacy, to foster connections and change.
Kristina is and has performed with ballet and modern dance companies across Norway, the UK, France, New Zealand, and the US. She is currently a member of The Isadora Duncan Dance Company. Trained at the Norwegian Opera and Ballet where she performed in multiple productions, she then went on to do her BA at London Studio Centre, where she was awarded a double distinction. Later she was chosen to do a UK national tour with a triple bill including work by then Akram Khan’s Jose Agudo, Henri Oguike, and John Ross. In recent years she has starred in Robert Kenney’s multi-media installation “ORIGINS”, and toured and performed with Sikora + Dance, toured and performed lead roles with Same As Sister (S.A.S). Shehas also performed with Jesse Salaman, Hilary Brown, Feeling Blue Collective, Meredith Bruno Company, Diana Scarborough, Chutzpah Dance Company, and more. She has choreographed for Kayla Arend’s award-winning film, “Lost Beyond the Stars”, and starred in multiple films and music videos. Kristina has performed and choreographed many productions, which have been performed at Judson Church, Socrates Sculpture Park, Castle Rockaway, Central St Martins, Artsdepot, Arts On Site, “Common Place Studio Inc.”, and in multiple parks and theatres. She will share a new work in 2024 called “FILTER”.
As a teacher, Kristina has co-created the non-profit “Common Place Studio Inc”, where she teaches, dances, performs, and facilitates other artists. She loves teaching and is a faculty member of Brooklyn Ballet, Long Island City School of Ballet, where she co-choreographed their 2024 Coppelia, and Nutcracker, and Brooklyn Youth Ballet, as well as leading masterclasses on tours and domestically with dance companies. She was a previous lead teacher at Ascend Public Charter School in Brownsville and Commonpoint Queens.
Originally from Connecticut, Joseph Heitman is a graduate of the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts and the University of Hartford, Hartt Dance Division, BFA. At the Hartt School, Joseph worked with renowned choreographers Gregory Dolbashian, Norbert de la Cruz III, Doug Varone, and Stephen Pier. Joseph Heitman performed in modern dance classics, which were re-staged for the Dance Division, including Martha Graham's Diversion of Angels and José Limón's There is a Time, Psalm, and A Choreographic Offering. He has performed at The Joyce Theater, Dixon Place, The Mark O’Donnell Theater, Lincoln Jazz, Salvatore Capezio Theater, McCallum Theatre, The Smith Center, and the Mohegan Sun Arena among countless others. Joseph is currently a company member with Catapult Entertainment and has worked with companies such as Yu.S.Artistry, Hanna Q Dance Company, Peter and Co., FJK Dance, and Abarukas. With Catapult Entertainment, Joseph has been featured in two national tours. Critics described his movement as "Animalistic yet graceful," with the ability to highlight "intricate choreography with precision and abandon" (The Dance Enthusiast). Joseph has also been a dance educator since 2019, sharing his love of movement and film with students K-Undergrad in various institutions throughout the tri-state area.
In 2018 Joseph founded One Day Dance, a dance company and dance media production group, with a two-fold purpose: to create dance films within a twenty-four-hour period and provide affordable, high-quality design services for dancers and dance companies. Since its inception, One Day Dance has produced the work of over 30 unique choreographers, created logos for companies such as The Dash Ensemble and Jon Lehrer Dance Company, and assisted dozens of artists in capturing their events on film. One Day Dance films have been showcased at the 5x5 Dance Festival at The University of Saint Joseph, the Dance Film Lab presented by Dance Film Association, Spoke the Hub, and the Los Angeles Dance Festival.
Eric Holzworth began his training at age six with the Pacific Northwest Ballet School. He spent all of his summers at the School of American Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet School, as well as Suzanne Farrell's summer workshop. He has performed with Miami City Ballet and Sacramento Ballet, as well as choreographed for them. He has danced leading roles in Balanchine's "Serenade," "Western Symphony," "Who Cares" and "Rubies."
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Niki Kapanka is a dedicated dance instructor and Teaching Artist with over 7 years teaching experience in New York City. Her classes emphasize both technical skill and artistic expression, fostering a safe and supportive environment where students thrive. She brings a blend of traditional ballet training and innovative teaching methods—celebrating each students creativity and voice within dance. Niki is an ABT Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT National Training Curriculum. Niki is committed to inspiring the next generation of dancers and patrons of the arts!
Mimi Liu is a full-time Middle School dance teacher with the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE), as well as a proud faculty member at Brooklyn Ballet.
She is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory where she obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts (B. F. A.) degree in Dance. Her classical and modern repertoire includes Don Quixote, Swan Lake, La Bayadere, Graduation Ball, Paquita, Coppelia, Le Corsaire, Sleeping Beauty, Tchaikovsky Pas De Deux (George Balanchine), Continuo (Antony Tudor), Psalm (José Limón), Index (Murray Louis), and many others. She received her early dance training from The American Ballet Theatre summer intensives in New York City, The Boston Ballet School, and The Orange County High School of the Arts (OCHSA). She had the pleasure to study and work under notable dance professionals such as Seán Curran, Alaine Haubert, Steven B. Hyde, James C. Martin, Nancy Raffa, Yasuko Tokunaga, Donna Silva, Jessica Lang, Adriana Suárez, Donald Mahler, Ted Kivitt and Phyllis Lamhut to name a few. During her career as a dancer, Mimi has graced many stages and venues across America, including the Detroit Opera House, New York Live Arts, Segerstrom Concert Hall, JCC Manhattan, Boston Children's Hospital, The New York Public Library, Laguardia Arts at Lincoln Square and countless more.
As a Southern California native, she has taught and choreographed original works for Saddleback College, Orange Coast College and The Orange County High School of the Arts. Since moving to New York City, Mimi has taught at multiple dance organizations, including American Liberty Ballet, The Ballet Club, Fitness Meets Dance, Hope for New York, Everyday Ballet, American Youth Dance Theatre, Success Academy Charter Schools, Girls Prep Bronx Elementary School and The NY Kids Club. Mimi is also the creator and producer of Plié For The People, a free online ballet training program on YouTube that is gradually gaining international appeal.
Mimi holds a Master of Fine Arts (M. F. A.) degree in Dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and is certified in levels Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Additionally, Mimi obtained a Masters of Arts (M. A.) degree in Dance Education from Hunter College on full-tuition scholarship.
Apart from being an active agent in dance practice, Mimi also teamed up with Ballet Herald, an international online dance publication reporting on the latest ballet news. She enjoys writing dance reviews and is proud to be on the New-York-based team.
A quote that guides her pedagogy is: “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others” — Pericles
Aoi Ohno from Kanagawa, Japan. She started dancing when she was 3 years old. She graduated from Tokyo Visual Arts vocational school and joined dance company RAKUDO. She then moved to NYC and trained in modern dance at The Ailey school as a scholarship student. During her time there, she worked with Ray Mercer and Darrel Moultrie. Since graduating from the Ailey School she has worked with Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, Arch Ballet, Jon Lehrer Dance Company, Ballet Nepantla and Brooklyn Ballet. She currently teaches ballet at Brooklyn Ballet for their Adult ballet classes and conservatory program for students age 10 and older. Additionally she has worked as a Gyrotonic teacher at BodyEvolution in Manhattan and has choreographic experience for YAGP finalists in 2022.
Solange Rodrigues is a graduate of SUNY Purchase College, Class of 2020, with a BFA in dance, and a Concentration in Composition. She is currently based in Brooklyn, NY dancing with Brooklyn based dance company, The Pocket Fuel Groovers, and Harlem based company Kr3t’s. Born and raised in Rochester, NY, she trained extensively in ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, tap, and musical theater at Little Red Dance Studio, under the direction of Lisa Allain. Solange was a recipient of the Baryshnikov Artist Residency for the Spring 24’ season. Solange was also a recipient of the 2022 NYS Choreographers Initiative by the NYS Dance Force, in partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts. She often returns to her hometown of Rochester, NY where she spent several years teaching hip hop, contemporary and ballet at various schools and studios throughout the city. During this time she was also choreographing and dancing for Frazee Feet Dance under the direction of Zachary Frazee, and BioDance under the direction of Missy Pfohl Smith. Solange has grown a passion for theater through choreographing Byron-Bergen High School's production of Hairspray (2023), and Beauty and The Beast (2024). Solange is often traveling, teaching, and choreographing for studios across the state, and is always looking for opportunities to engage with the community and collaborate with other artists.
Christine F. Scheibl came to New York from Vienna, Austria in 1993 to study Ballet with Dance Theatre of Harlem. After completing the Professional Training Program, she worked as a professional dancer performing throughout the USA and participating in outreach programs to bring dance to the community. After the birth of her daughter in 2000, she enrolled in the Swedish Institute for Massage Therapy and received her Associate in Occupational Studies in 2002. She works as a massage therapist and has been a dedicated and experienced dance teacher.
Graduating from The National Ballet School of Cuba and the University of Arts of Cuba, Patricia Gonzalez Vega had the opportunity to dance professionally with renowned companies such as The National Ballet of Cuba, the Contemporary Dance Company of Cuba, and AcostaDanza, among others. She has also developed a pedagogical role in imparting the Cuban Ballet Method at the Cuban National Ballet School Fernando Alonso, where she worked for over four years, training future generations of ballet professionals.
Yana Volkova
Ballet II & Pre-Pointe
Ballet III & Pointe
Ballet IV & Variations
Adult Ballet Fundamental
Adult Ballet
Yana Volkova began her studies at the Academy School of Ballet in Voronezh, Russia learning the Vaganova Ballet Method. She graduated with honors from the State Ballet Academy and was invited to work in one of Moscow's leading companies performing as a soloist. While dancing professionally, Mrs. Volkova studied at Moscow University of Art (GITIS) and got B. A. in Ballet/Character Choreography. As a principal dancer, Yana has worked with Moscow Ballet , world-known legendary- "Riverdance the show", the Metropolitan Opera, also she choreographed and performed with New York City Opera, touring Europe, Canada, and the United States. Yana has been instructing classes in ballet, pointe, stretching and character emphasizing correct development of both the technical and artistic elements of classical ballet. Yana also worked as a Artistic and Program Director of the Bolshoi Academy Summer Intensive Program in NYC and was established as the co-director and co-founder the “Art of the Dance World” Public School Educational Program.
Brandon Woods, from Winston Salem, NC, is a BFA graduate of UNC School of the Arts (UNCSA) where he was featured in restaged works such as “Unsung” and “Choreographic Offering” by Jose Limon. He also performed original works choreographed by Sean Sullivan and Ursula Johnson, Juel Lane, and Zane Booker, and more. While finishing school, his photo was featured in the October 2012 issue of U.S. Airways magazine in an article about UNCSA. He began a professional career dancing original works created by Duane Cyrus and Helen Simoneau. His theatrical credits include “Jelly’s Last Jam,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Broadway According to Gospel” and more. He soon performed and toured with the West Virginia Dance Company that featured works choreographed by Doug Varone, Donald Laney and Director Toneta Akers-Toler. While in West Virginia he also danced principal roles for the Shenandoah Ballet. He is a recipient of the William R. Kenan Fellowship, which commissioned an original work he co-created along with Mason Hensley, entitled “Skin-Deep,” at the Lincoln Center. He later aboard The Norwegian Escape, dancing a principal role in the Broadway show “After Midnight,'' featuring Melba Moore. His TV/commercial credits include HBO’s “The Deuce“ and a NY Knicks 75th Anniversary special. Most recent collaborations include dances with StubbornMVMT, Olga Rabetskaya, and Variety Pack Collective where he is also Vice President. His current performances include a European tour of “Touch Isolation” by Swiss creators Chris Leuenberger and Marcel Schwald and now a company debut with the Limon Dance Company.