The Look Sharp Guest Faculty
Derek Mitchell
Derek Mitchell created, directed and choreographed the Off-Broadway dance drama Thin Line at Dance Theatre Workshop. He starred in the Off-Broadway productions of The Karaoke Show (also Choreographer) and The Donkey Show (Dance Captain), both produced by Jordan Roth. He also choreographed Automatic Superstar-a rock opera and for R&B and House artists Sylvia Tosun, Didi Wong and Charles King. He recently performed with Lindsay Lohan on "Saturday Night Live," in Carnival, (the choreographers ball), choreographed a piece for the Steps Ensemble and choreographed and performed in an industrial for Pepsi.
Derek has collaborated with Joe Zee in styling Justin Timberlake and his dancers for Nickelodeon, Cameron Diaz, Hilary Swank, Britney Spears, JC Chasez, Kelis, Mary J. Blige and dancers for Gap and most notably Madonna and Missy Elliot's dancers in their 2004 Gap commercial.
Derek has taught all around the world for various dance conventions including Dance Olympus, Dance Masters, Thunderstruck, TamJams, Summerclick and Pick The Stars. At Crunch Fitness, he served for 5 years as a fitness Director and On-Air media talent. His classes and choreography have been featured on CBS, VH1, NY1 News, W Magazine, CNN, Good Day NY, The Today Show, TV Guide, Elle, Time Out, U.S. News and World Report, Women's Wear Daily and Crunch magazine.
In the theater world, Derek Mitchell choreographed and directed "Thin Line" a dance drama at Dance Theatre Workshop which featured lyrical, hiphop, ballet, contemporary and theatre dance. He choreographed and was the musical sequence director for "The Karaoke Show" directed by "Hair" director Diane Paulus. He has also served as dance captain for "The Donkey Show" and has choreographed for many upcoming singers including Sylvia Tosun and Dana Noble. Derek has studied and been in the musical theatre world his whole life and is thrilled to be sharing his love of theatre dance with his students!
Derek also just released his first Street Jazz instructional DVD and was Dance Teacher's Instructional Teacher of the Month.
Ginger Cox
Described as innovative and inspiring, Ginger Cox's career as a teacher, choreographer, and dancer has taken her all over the world. She holds a BFA in Dance from Temple University and is on faculty at Broadway Dance Center in New York City and The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She's taught internationally in Luxembourg, Paris, Switzerland, Germany, Mexico, and Japan. Ginger has choreographed for NIKE, the NJ Nets Dancers, and was one of 10 chosen to present work in the Elan Awards, honoring Mr. Lar Lubavich. She's also presented work in DRA Remember Projects, Artists For Peace, 60X60, a collaboration with musicians, and choreographed for the Independent film Reflections. She is currently working in collaboration with Recording Artist Lijie.
Ginger is the Artistic Director of LiNK! the Movement, a multidimensional company that presents an electrifying repertoire without borders. Her choreography in LiNK has been quoted as "Absorbing," and "inventive," with "Amusing Creativity," by Jazz Dance eNews. LiNK has performed to sold out audiences at The Hudson Guild Theater, the NuDance Festival, SoNo Arts Festival, Monterey Dance Festival in California, Built On Stilts in Martha's Vineyard, Rebound Dance Festival, International Dance Festival, WAXworks, The Choreographers Canvas, Spoke the Hub, Jennifer Muller's HATCH, In the Fryin' Pan, the Gowanus Wildlife Preserve, Uptown Performance Series, Igal Perry's Peridance, PMT House of Dance, Field Artist Residency, and consistently performs and travels throughout the States.
Featured in Australia's Dance Train Magazine for her commitment to dance education, dynamic teaching style, and diverse range of choreography, Ginger inspires students of all levels. She's taught with the Alvin Ailey Arts/Education Program, Dance Masters of America, and conventions throughout the USA. In addition to teaching dance for over a decade, Ginger has contributed articles to Dance Teacher Magazine, Dance Spirit, and has adjudicated many competitions.
As a performer, Ginger appeared several times on Saturday Night Live with Molly Shannon and Jimmy Falon, at Radio City Music Hall with Lou Bega, with recording artist Hannah Jones, and in Industrials for Sony and Smith Klein Beechum. While living in Japan, Ginger performed in the Hanayashiki show, for Shiseido, Joico, RedKen, Hiroko, and choreographed several Japanese productions.
Currently, Ginger is producing a show for LiNK with collaborative Artists, and the company's first Dance Intensive that will take place this summer.
Tracie Stanfield
Tracie Stanfield's work ranges from commercial work for Sony Pictures and NY Fashion Week to theatrical productions for Verismo Opera Company and Vital Theatre Company, to full-length ballet concerts for the New York Performers Project and commissions from Movement Exchange in Tokyo and Mesa State College. Recent projects include Joffrey Ballet School's Contemporary Dance intensive, The International Dance Festival NYC, The NYC Choreographers' Ball/Carnival, The Elan Awards, Save The Music Relief Benefit, Club Avalon, Jazz Choreography Enterprises and Capezio's Night at The Oscars.. Her work as a commissioned guest artist, teacher, collaborator and consultant insures her position as an authority on the cutting edge of dance and education.
Her company, Synthesis Dance Project's performance highlights include NUDance Now Festival, Los Angeles Dance Invitational, Towson University, The Grier School, Garden State Dance Festival, The Next Stage Project, SoNo Arts Festival, Promenade Relief Jubiliee, Hollywood Performing Arts Center and as featured guests of The Kennedy Dancers. Tracie is the recipient of the 2005 Spirit of Elan Choreography Award for her work with Synthesis Dance Project.
On faculty at Broadway Dance Center and Manhattan Movement and Arts Center, Tracie Stanfield has served as guest teacher for numerous dance organizations, companies and academies. Recent teaching engagements include Joffrey Ballet School's Conetemporary Dance Intensive, BDC Tokyo, Marymount Manhattan College, University of South Carolina, The Rock School, Southeast Regional Ballet Association, University of Michigan, Mesa State College, Broadway Dance Center's The Pulse, Summer DanceFest and Susan Chambers Dance Company, among others.
Felicia Banks
Felicia is currently the director of the Continental Dance Club and eight time recipient of the Top Female Teacher Award at the American Star Ball. She has performed and taught at many schools, colleges, and universities, including NJIT, Seton Hall University, Rutgers and UMDNJ to name a few. She has appeared on television for numerous documentaries and newscasts as well as benefits and performances for charitable organizations. She has performed and taught for large organizations including Sony, Prudential and Bell Atlantic. Felicia has taught for the DEA, Dance Educators of America and the Continental Dance Club is a member of the National Dance Council of America. We welcome her and her ballroom dancing expertise to our studio.
Dana Foglia
Dana Foglia has taught dance all over the United States and internationally. She trained extensively in ballet and modern with the Seiskaya Ballet Academy and later on a full scholarship to the Ailey School. At the same time, she also studied hip hop, pointe, jazz, tap and African.
Dana was honored when only a select few were chosen to perform with the Ailey Company in Memoria. She has toured and performed with top artists including Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Rihanna, Kelis, New Kids on the Block, Fantasia and the Latin sensation Thalia and others. Most recently Dana worked with Beyonce for her "I Am..2009 Tour" as Assistant Choreographer, personally training and preparing Beyonce for this tour. Dana has worked with top choreographers including Frank Gaston, Brian Friedman, Gil Duldalao, Tony Michaels, Rosaro and others.
She has performed in numerous TV and Award shows including So You Think You Can Dance, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, MTV VMA Awards, Teen Choice Awards, AMA Awards, World Music Awards, Billboard Awards, All My Children, Regis and Kelly, Dick Clark's Rockin New Year's Eve, the Today Show, Good Morning America, BET 106 & Park, Noble Peace Prize Concert, Jimmy Kimmel, Carson Daly and Jay Leno Shows. You may have spotted her dancing side by side with Beyonce in "Single Ladies" at the World Music Awards. Dana has appeared in numerous commercials including Haagen Daaz as a principal dancer and Acura. Dana is also featured in a hip hop instructional video produced in part by Broadway Dance Center.
Dana always brings her knowledge, experience and passion for dance to her students. Keep current on all of Dana's news by checking her website at www.danafoglia.com
Allison Scerbo
Allison Scerbo became certified through Romana's Pilates also known as True Pilates New York, www.truepilatesny.com, home to the authentic classical method as of December 2008. Unlike other weekend pilates certification programs, she had performed over 1000 hours of observation and practiced with some of the best instructors internationally and within New York at True Pilates and is certified to teach beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Allison has studied and worked with instructors such as Mari Winsor, of the famous Winsor Pilates DVD series as well as the Winsor Pilates studios in California, and of course Romana Kryzanowska, the ballerina who made Joseph Pilates famous through the dance community and the sole successor to his work and discipline as well as with Sari, Romana's daughter, and Daria, Romana's granddaughter - three generations of Pilates instructors under Romana. Allison auditioned and was accepted into Romana's program in 2005. While a student , Allison taught pilates at such locations as True Pilates New York in Midtown, Sportsclub LA in Rockefeller Plaza, Uptown Pilates on Madison Avenue and now brings her experience ,knowledge, and style from New York to her New Jersey students where she lives. Allison is certified in all of the Pilates apparatus beginning with the reformer (first in the system) to the most advanced Wunda Chair. Allison teaches apparatus at designated Pilates studios as well as mat classes. Before becoming certified in pilates, Allison had been a personal trainer, and takes dance classes regularly due to her passion for movement and dance background. Allison has taught pilates in various environments ranging from dance studios to gyms. She brings a wealth of knowledge to her students so that they understand their bodies and learn how to effectively utilize them to achieve their personal goals. Even though Allison graduated from Seton Hall University in Business Administration in 1997 , her love and passion for dance combined with her desire to help and educate people to strengthen their bodies lead her to specialize in Pilates and become a successful Pilates instructor.