Blossom Dance - Meet Our Teachers

Blossom Dance - HACKENSACK, NJ (201) 923-5498

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Meet Our Teachers

Miss Maria- Ballet, Lyrical,& Ponite

Instructor

Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Maria Teresa Castillo began her dance training at the age of 9 in her home, with Yadira Feliz

(mother) as her instructor. In the United States, Maria Teresa enrolled in Yolanda's Academy of Music of Music in Dance in West New York, NJ, NJ, where she studied Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Flamenco.

At the age of 12, Maria Teresa joined the Jeffrey Ballet School in New York City and began a career of intense and rigorous ballet training. She also continued to dance at Yolanda's Academy, where she competed and won various platinum medals and scholarships at numerous competitions. At the same time, she became a teacher assistant in ballet and jazz techniques. Upon graduating from the school, she was given the opportunity to teach creative movement classes, pre-ballet, and ballet one and two, as well as choreographs many dance pieces for recitals and competitions. Maria Teresa was also admitted into renowned ballet schools such as: Nutmeg Conservatory of the Arts, Central Youth Pennsylvania Ballet, and The Kriov Ballet School, among others. At the age of 15, she was a finalist at the Youth American Grand Prix Competition.

Maria Teresa has danced principal and soloist roles in Sleeping Beauty, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Don Quixote, La Bayadere, Swan Lake, Diana and Acteon and other original works by Tomiko Magario, Yadira Feliz, Cecilia Cardones and herself.

Currently, Maria Teresa Castillo is studying to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from Fordham University-Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. There she studies dance techniques such as: Ballet,Horton, Modern, Jazz, Ballet Partnering, and Pointe, as well as Anatomy and Kiniesiology and dance history. She also choreographs and teaches at Yolanda's Academy of Music and Dance of Music and Dance and joined Blossom Dance in 2008.

She enjoys working with toddlers and school-age children and introducing them to the wonderful world of ballet!

Marie Kim

Ballet/Lyrical Assistant

Born in Seoul,South Korea, Marie Kim was a member of school's gymnastics, which was one of the nation's best teams in South Korea. She went on to several local and national competitions and won numerous prizes for the next four years. At the age, 11, Marie took an interest in Ballet and attended Ballet House Academy, an intensive ballet school, well known for its high-level teachers and competitive students that prepare you for the stage. Marie has assisted and choreographed performances such as Swan Lake, La Sylphide (as corps de ballet), Dance of the Roses, and Taming the Shrew.

Marie Kim, quotes, “The extraordinary teachers I have met throughout my dancing experience have instilled in me a great love for dance. I would love to return the gift I have received from those great teachers to young students and help them appreciate the great world of dancing”.

We are pleased to welcome Ms. Kim to the Blossom Team!

Miss Shama- Kinderballet, Ballet Instructor

Shama is the co-owner of Blossom Dance since its inception in 2006. Born in Harlem, New York, Shama has been dancing since the age of five. She was part of her high school cheer leading and dance team from 1988-90 and has performed at several shows. She has managed and choreographed several ballet pieces for our 1st and 2nd annual recitals, 2007 & 2008.She previously had a dance studio and aspires to open another commercial space that will accommodate the community of Hackensack and continue to inspire the beauty of dance.Shama teaches our Kinder-Ballet and Ballet classes and enjoys working with children and introducing them to the world of dance. She is looking forward to another exciting dance year with Blossom!

Miss Tanya-Ballet, Jazz,Drama, &

Musical Theater Instructor

Tanya is the Owner of

Blossom Dance since its opened its doors in 2006.. Born in Harlem New York. She has been dancing since age 5 years old. She began her training in Elementary thru High School. Through her school years she was on many Dance Teams and Performed in many talents shows. With dance always in her heart, She and her sister started there own Dance school. Blossom provides children in the inner city a place to go and express themselves. She has help choreographed and created the 2006-2010 dance recitals. She as well as her sister will continue to encourage our girls to keep dance in their hearts!

Miss Alani- Kinderballet, Lyrical, Tap

Assistant Teacher

Miss Alani has been dancing and cheering since the age of 6. She has been dancing with Blossom since, 2006 and has assisted our Ballet, Tap and Hip Hop classes. She has also choreographed several dance pieces for our 2006-2010 annual recitals.Alani is now a member of an All-star Competitive Cheer leading & Dance Team where she competes all over the state of NJ and an annual National competition in Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida.Alani will be assisting our Ballet and Tap classes this dance year. She especially loves working with the children and will continue to encourage our girls to keep dance in their hearts!

SoLO Ant Harris

Hip Hop/ Choreography Instructor

Anthony is a bright, ambitious, hardworking, committed, and goal oriented young man. One of his most praised accomplishments is his commitment to spreading the importance of Arts and education and its benefits to young children and his peers since he graduated high school. While expanding on his Arts out- reach program he joined forces with four other young men that would form the popular five member dance group out of New Jersey . This dance group, better known as Envy Dance Group specializes but is not limited to the pop-lock style of dance.. Anthony and the other group members incorporate contemporary jazz, hip-hop, club, along with "dance tricks" and drama into each of their performances. Anthony has been dancing for over 10 years. Envy has been in existence for over 8 years. He has recently performed at Newark ’s Prudential Arena for their grand opening. , He's won numerous awards with his dance group such as BET's Spring Bling '06', Showtime at

the Apollo Dance Competition and also was featured on the 2006 Against All Odds Clothingstore East Coast tour . Anthony and his group are not limited to just performing dance. They have also incorporated motivational speaking and acting into their program to help reach grade school kids with their message. . Among all these accomplishments, Anthony in his spare time instructs dance classes with his talented co-workers at the

boys n girls club of union NJ. Anthony is committed to providing a positive alternative for urban youth and has accumulated over 15,000 hours in community services

He is So Pleased to Join The Blossom Team!