FOUNDER & TEACHER

Dance Education: BFA Dance, (Minor Leadership Development), Montclair State University. Continues studies at Alvin Ailey & Step on Broadway and more.

Acting Education: Meisner Technique (The Acting Studio), Adler Technique (Stella Adler Studio), Voiceover (various), Improv (UCB) and more.

Writing Education: Trained in Screen and TV writing (Gotham), Sketch and character (UCB) and more.

Professional Dance Experience: Lisah spent most of her dance career teaching with with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ballet Hispanico, Mark Morris Dance Group, Ballet School of Stamford, Astoria Dance Centre, Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts and Dancewave among many others. She has worked in Production and Administrative positions for Gallim, Amalgamate Dance Company, Jennifer Muller, White Wave, Baryshnikov Arts Center and others. She also of course teaches here at our school<3

Professional Acting & Writing Experience: Lisah’s career is currently focused around performing and writing for various film and tv productions. Lisah Graziano IMDb

Leadership: In addition to owning a business and being a teacher, Lisah is also a former Americorps member having traveled the country rebuilding homes and developing educational and public programing for communities in need.

ADMINISTRATOR & TEACHER

Education: BA Musical Theatre, James Madison University; Broadway Dance Center's Professional Semester Program

Professional Experience: Samantha Gardner is a professional dancer and choreographer based in New York City. As a performer, Samantha has been seen in numerous regional and Off-Broadway productions such as "42nd Street," "Mary Poppins," and "Addam's Family." Samantha currently teaches throughout the tri-state area, sharing her love of dance with students of all ages. Her classes focus on building solid foundations of technique, while also providing a fun-filled atmosphere where students can feel confident being themselves and sharing their love of dance. In addition to teaching and performing, Samantha also tours as both a Director and Judge for Beyond the Stars and Breakout Dance competitions.

TEACHER

Education: Performed and studied with the Joffrey Ballet, Scottish American Ballet, Salzburg Ballet, Ballet de Printemps, at the EdinburghFestival Fringe and at the International Vaganova Festival. She has been trained by master teachers of the Russian Kirov Ballet and listed as a “talented dancer” by the Los Angeles Times. Shannon is a fully ABT Certified teacher and has extensive teaching experience. Additionally, Shannon is a graduate of Columbia University with degrees in business and American Studies Her influential teachers include Marat Daukayev, Hasmik Amirian and David Howard. The LA Downtown News said she, "impressively performs,” and "performs with athletic gusto,” wrote The Los Angeles Weekly.

Professional Experience: Shannon has danced professionally with City Ballet of San Diego, Ballet New England, Media City Ballet, BalaSole, Ballet Magique, David Taylor Dance Theatre, and more.

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TEACHER

Education: Originally from the Netherlands, received her Bachelor of Dance from Fontys School of Fine and Performing Arts in the Netherlands. She received her teacher training certificate in Graham technique at the Martha Graham School. She was a recipient of the Armgard Von Bardeleben Award in 2022 for her excellence in Graham Studies and nominee for the Next Step Award from the VandenEnde Foundation in the Netherlands.

Professional Experience: During her studies she performed in a variety of works by contemporary choreographers such as Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Navala Niku Chaudhari, Blenard Azizaj, and Katja Heitmann, among others.

Ghislaine danced with Graham 2 for three years.

Sophie Wilfong began her dance training in her hometown of North Carolina after 8 years of competitive figure skating. She trained heavily in ballet and modern technique and spent her summers in NYC at Joffrey Ballet School’s summer intensives. At 18, she moved to New York City to attend the Joffrey Ballet School’s Jazz & Contemporary Trainee Program where she expanded her repertoire and quickly fell in love with both contemporary and jazz. Sophie began training at Broadway Dance Center and graduated BDC's Professional Semester Program in 2016. Since then, Sophie has continued her training and performed at venues including Symphony Space and Dixon Place, as well as teaching and assisting at BDC’s Children and Teens Program where she has worked with kids ages 3-18. Sophie is excited to be joining Lisah Dance Co faculty this year!

VISITING TEACHER

Education: BFA Dance, Minor Communications, Marymount Manhattan College (Magna Cum Laude)

Professional Experience: Jenna Ho is a professional dancer and performer based in New York City. Most recently, Jenna made her debut as part of the national touring company of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE KING AND I as an onstage swing/ensemble. She has worked with choreographers such as Tyce Diorio, Sonya Tayeh, Al Blackstone, Brian Friedman, Ian Eastwood, Tessandra Chavez, Brooke Lipton, Theresa Stone, Cris Judd, Cherice Barton, and Lorna Ventura. Other Credits include: Royal Family's Off Broadway production of "Anne of Green Gables", TV show/Glee, Marian Hill's "I Want You" music video, Ian Eastwood's "The Space Program" video, and Shoshana Bean's performance at “The Lucille Lortel Awards”. Jenna is a company member of ”AbstraKT Beings”and also a member of “The Young Lions.” She enjoys teaching at Broadway Dance Center Children and Teens, as well as guest teaching and choreographing for various studios and dance intensives.

VISITING TEACHER

Education: BFA Dance, Montclair State University & Burlington County College Graphic Design Major, Theater Minor

Professional Experience: Justin spent two years performing at sea with Disney Cruise Line before heading back to land to perform in many theaters around the country. He’s performed works including Peter Pan, Sister Act, Aida, RENT, Beauty and the Beast, Chicago, 9 to 5, Cinderella and All Shook Up. He also worked on the premiere of the hybrid opera We Shall Not Be Moved directed by Bill T. Jones , the reimagined performance Carmen and Semele with Opera Philadelphia. Justin has taught in dance studios in NJ, NYC and worked at Broadway Dance Center’s Children and Teen Summer and Winter Camps. He is also an after school program developer and teacher. Presently a part Justin of Alma NYC, a dance company based in New York, Justin continues to use his art, whether illustration, dance, acting or music to help change perspectives and hearts. Justin truly feels that his gift is in the art of learning and his passion is to leave the world in a better state than he found it.