Josie is Artistic Director and Founder (2004) of Josie's International School of Dance. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Boston University and an Avocational Degree in Archaology from Norwalk Community College. After college she pursued dance with Diane DuPre of NYC's Joffrey Ballet and became an instructor. She studied Spanish Dance in NYC with Mariquita Flores, Mariano & Mariana Parra and Jose Molina. She currently performs in the Westchester and New York area. She is well versed in many styles of dance, hosts presentations of Flamenco, Argentine Tango & Salsa for public schools and communities either privately or funded through BOCES/Arts Westchester (Artist Roster). She is certified in Pilates, teaches ballet and fitness at the Tarrytown's JCC, is licensed in Kindermusik which she teaches at The Hackley School in Tarrytown where she also runs and directs her summer Creative Arts Camp.
Eddie Q started dancing in 1995 at Sandra Cameron's Dance Studio in NYC and for six years taught all levels of Salsa on 1 and 2, as well as club cha-cha. Eddie brought incredible energy and insight to the dance and music. Eddie then taught for two years at Dance Mosaic (now IFA) in White Plains, Salsa International on 47th Street in NYC, Forest Park Center in Glendale, Queens, and the Student Center at SUNY Downstate, Brooklyn. Eddie is uniquely versed in all styles of Salsa. He brings to Westchester 12 years of his vast classroom experience and his willingness to pass on his mastery of timing and technique. Eddie is of Puerto Rican descent and speaks fluent Spanish. He is also an accomplished jazz guitarist, formed and directed the group Progression with the fusion of elements of be-bop, funk, Latin jazz and R&B. He is the publisher of Salsa and More magazine and has his own website at www.findyourgroove.net.
Nahara has studied dance since childhood. Her Middle Eastern dance careers spans 14 years of training with notable instructors including Yousry Sharif (Egypt / NYC), Dr. Mohammed Geddawi (Egypt), Raqia Hassan (Egypt), Faten Salema (Egypt), Henet (Egypt), Aida Nour (Egypt), Mina Mazid (Morocco), Sahra Saeeda (Los Angeles) and Aisha Ali (Los Angeles). In 2001 she lived in Cairo for one month studying middle eastern dance as well as its roots and cultural basis, and gave eight performances on a Cairo five-star stage. Her repertoire of dances include Egyptian raqs sharqi (oriental), Egyptian raqs baladi (folkloric for weddings, haflas and restaurants), Tunisian raqs shaabi and Moroccan Shikhat for stage presentation. To read more about Nahara visit her personal website at www.naharadance.com.
Michael has trained with some of the best ballet schools and teachers in Pennsylvania and has danced in numerous ballet companies: Ohio Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Dayton Ballet. He also guest starred with the Pennsylvania Ballet, Maryland Ballet, Eglevsky Ballet and other prestigious ballet companies in the US. His sheer will and passion for dance enabled him to achieve good technical proficiency and an understanding of the development of the body in order to achieve the best results for a lifetime of dancing. This is what he encourages in the next generation of dance artists.
Jon trained extensively with some of the most prominent and respected tango masters such as Carlos Duarte de Chey, the great masters Carlos Gavito and Nito Garcia, and for the follower`s technique, maestra Elba Garcia. He also studied the milonga (leader and follower`s technique) extensively with the great maestro and maestros of milonga, Facundo and Kely Posadas. As a teenager, Jon started by building a strong foundation in the marital arts. His four years of training taught him about the separation of body, movement and balance. During his later teen years he studied various dance styles such as Latin, Swing, Salsa (Cuban style), Modern Dance, Flamenco and Merengue. With this background he embraced Argentine Tango in all of it`s three major forms: Tango, Milonga and Vals. At a young age he began teaching and performing in the United States and internationally in Japan, Korea and Europe. He has taught and performed in virtually every New York Milonga, as well as the Lincoln Center Open House, 92nd Street Y, Starlight Roof Ballroom at The Waldorf Astoria, and at various other milongas in the United States. Jon made television appearances on Fox 5`s Good Day New York, Channel 13 and NYC`s Channel 17. His elegant teaching style is a combination of the classic close embrace and traditional Argentine Tango. His training with the most popular teachers who performed both socially and competitively has taught him that: "Technique is the grammar that holds the language of dance together. What I learned from my teachers I will transfer to you. Learning is a never ending process." With this Jon embraces passionately the Argentine Tango, Milonga and Vals. Visit his personal website at: www.tangowithjon.com.
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Deborah trained in the Russian and French tradition with the Glens Falls Ballet, Briansky Saratoga Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Dennis Wayne Dancers, and the Gabrielle Darvash School. She performed professionally with New York City Ballet at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Dennis Wayne Dancers, Bridgeport Ballet, Garden State Ballet and Dance Theatre of Westchester. She has an equally wide range of teaching experience. She has over 20 years teaching experience with Ballet Theatre of Westchester in Tarrytown and Westchester Ballet Center in Yorktown. With a patience and caring for children, Deborah brings expert leadership and quality to the introductory ballet program.
Rosemarie Mitchell is a lover of fitness and movement and holds professional certifications in personal training, yoga and pilates. Her passion for dance and theatre inspired her to train for 10 years in jazz dance in New York City with Broadway performer and mentor, Frank Pietr. Rosemarie later went on to become a master teacher of pole dance at Sheila Kelley's S Factor in New York City where she trained and taught for several years. Her acting career included performances in Off-Broadway theatre, independent films and television. Rosemarie is also a Certified Life Coach and founder of Conscious Coaching for Women. Her coaching practice specializes in personal transformation in the areas of weight management and lifestyle fitness. As the artistic director of E-Sensual Dance, Rosemarie offers another opportunity for women to transform and find joy in exploring their sensual side while staying in shape. Rosemarie uses her dance and theatre training to create choreographed pole dance and chair dance routines with themes and costumes. E-Sensual Dance currently offers small group classes, private lessons, sensual workshops and private parties. To discover more about E-Sensual Dance visit Rosemarie's personal website at www.e-sensualdance.com.
Laxmi was introduced to the fascinating world of Argentine Tango in the autumn of 1998 and fell in love with this sensuous, expressive dance and hasn't looked back since. She trained with Mariella Franganillo and other Tango. She has traveled to different corners of the world, Melbourne to Montreal, Shanghai to Mumbai, experiencing the richness of life through tango. She founded Westchester Tango (www.westchestertango.com). "Tango makes the head, the heart and the soul work in harmony" says Parida. Her dance partner Rob Clark, who recently moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, still teaches and takes part in Westchester Tango activities throughout the year. Rob started studying in NYC in 1995. Before that he had played in swing bands for 20 years which gave him a keen sense of rhythm ... vital when dancing tango. In 1999 Rob cofounded Hudson Valley Tango, and in 2003 he cofounded Tango Place. Both of these groups continue to bring Tango to the Hudson Valley area. To read more about Laxmi and visit her extensive tango photo gallery visit: www.westchestertango.com
