Hani Abaza
Guest Choreographer
Hani Abaza grew up in Ontario, Canada where his love of dance and movement began. He has performed in Toronto for Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, Canadian Idol, Eva Avila, Helix Dance Project and Jully Black. Since moving to Los Angeles to pursue his dance career, Abaza has had the opportunity to work with some amazing talents including Travis Wall, Wade Robson, Mia Michaels, Mandy Moore, Sonya Tayeh, Tyce Diorio, Noemie Lafrance and Marguerite Derricks, and on projects including Criss Angel Believe / Cirque du Soleil, SYTYCD, MTV VMA's and Lincoln Heights ABC Family. Hani's passion for dance is undeniable, and his unique outlook on choreography adds a fresh feeling to his movement.
Jerusha Aman
Kids Fitness
Jerusha Aman is a recent graduate of Boston University with a BS in communication/public relations, and a minor in dance. She began her training at JG Dance Arts Center in Hyde Park, NY where she studied ballet, tap, jazz and musical theater. She spent eight years competing throughout the northeast while receiving scholarships to take classes at Steps NYC. In 2007, Jerusha won the New York City Dance Alliance Triple Threat Award and an invitation to NYCDA's summer intensive. Since moving to Boston, she has performed and choreographed with BU’s Dance Theatre Group, served as the Assistant Choreographer for Speakeasy’s production of “The Drowsy Chaperone,” and worked with REACH, BU’s summer dance outreach program. In addition to teaching at Urbanity Dance, Jerusha teaches dance and creative movement classes for the Cambridge Performance Project and the School for the Arts @ Reunion.
KK Apple
Guest Contemporary
KK Apple is originally from the Twin Cities of Minnesota where she studied contemporary dance and choreography at Spotlight Productions Dance School. A graduate of Boston College with a major in international relations, Apple currently resides in New York City where she works as a writer, dancer, choreographer and sketch comedian. For Urbanity Dance, Apple choreographed "Undefined" (June, 2008), “Bones and Skin” (May, 2009) and “High Wiring” (May, 2009). Her contemporary choreography has been featured at the Elan Dance Festival in Provincetown, the Summer Solstice Festival at the Boston Center for the Arts and First Night Boston at the Hynes Convention Center. Apple debuted Big White Moon, her longest work to date, on February 20, 2010 in Big Red Door & Other Stories.
Apple's marvelous solo evokes basic expressions of gentleness, stridency, frustration,
that we all feel; a woman's mystery, yes, but also a human one.”
– Tom Kaplan-Maxfield, Writer & Arts Critic
Moises Baez
Salsa
Info coming soon!
Sharon Barry
Pilates
Sharon Barry began her Pilates training as a dancer in college 17 years ago. In 1996, she received her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography from Arizona State University and has been a certified Pilates trainer since 1997 through the PhysicalMind Institute. Additionally, Sharon was a professional choreographer and dancer, trainer and performer with the San Francisco School of Circus Arts where she taught Pilates, flying and static trapeze, teeterboard, trampolining, and acrobatics. In 2002, she received her First Degree Reiki certification and in 2008 she completed her Thai Yoga Massage certification.
In addition to teaching Pilates classes and private sessions, Sharon combines her training in Reiki and Thai Yoga massage with her clients. Over the past 12 years, Sharon has trained professional dancers, circus performers, gymnasts, golf professionals, marathon runners, and triathletes. She has coaxed bodies through injury rehabilitation as well as helping clients improve athletic performance. Throughout her career as a Pilates instructor, Sharon has enjoyed working in conjunction with physicians, chiropractors, orthopedic surgeons, acupuncturists, and physical therapists.
Martin Case
Music, Kids Fitness
Martin Case is a composer, producer, and performing musician. With his company, MartinCaseMusic, Martin creates music for dance, film and other multi-media experiences, both live and in the studio. In creating music for dance, Martin’s client list includes the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Urbanity Dance, the Mark Morris Dance Group, Boston Ballet, and the Paul Taylor Dance Company. His expertise with music technologies has gained him international consulting work with McGraw-Hill, and his multi-media/film works have partnered him with Patriot Entertainment, Bija Bennett Productions and Tse Tse Fly Productions. Martin’s production work has created numerous albums with artists such as Zieti and Dwight Graves. The nature of this work has taken Martin to the Middle East, West Africa, South America, Europe, and Asia. In Boston, Martin presently creates music for Harvard University, Urbanity Dance and the Boston Conservatory.
Michelle Chassé
Contemporary
Michelle Chassé was principal dancer with Portland Ballet, Ballet New England, and other local companies. Ms. Chassé trained at the Boston Ballet School, studied privately with Maestro Vincenzo Celli, and was on scholarship at the School of American Ballet in New York City. She graduate cum laude with a B.F.A. in Dance Performance from the Boston Conservatory, where she was the first recipient of the prestigious Ruth Sandholm Ambrose Award. Since then she has studied and performed with ballet, concert dance and Broadway legends from around the world. Ms. Chassé has performed as a guest artist with Franklin Performing Arts, Granite State Ballet, and was a featured ballet dancer in a VH1 video starring Michael Crawford, and has been a featured jazz dancer and model for numerous television commercials and industrials. She has performed openings for Gregory Hines and Harry Connick Jr., among others. Her choreography was seen in the Boston Conservatory Musical theater productions Where's Charley?, Side Show (New England Premiere), Anyone Can Whistle, Street Scene, Crazy For You, and Wild Party. She served as Associate Choreographer for the Boston Conservatory's production of Chicago, and as Principal Choreographer for the world premieres of Andrei Petrov's The Captain's Daughter and Joe Jackson's Heaven and Hell, as well as the Conservatory's critically acclaimed 2003 production of Leonard Bernstein's Candide. Ms. Chassé is the 2004 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from the Boston Conservatory. She has also performed and choreographed for the nationally recognized Boston Gay Men's Chorus, and is a highly sought after guest artist performer and master teacher. Ms. Chassé is on the dance faculty at the Boston Conservatory, where she serves as Dance Instructor, Resident Choreographer, and Musical Theater Dance Coordinator, and on the faculty of the Jeannette Neill Dance Studio.
Lisa Cole
Pilates
Lisa Cole began her dance training in Georgia, with Good Moves Dance Consort, under the direction of Annette Lewis. As a member of The Consort, she performed in the Modern Atlanta Dance Festival, Inman Park Dance Festival, Decatur Arts Festival and with Full-Radius Dance. She has attended summer programs with the José Limón and Paul Taylor dance companies, the Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts Camp and Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Traditions, where she had the pleasure of working with esteemed choreographers Aszure Barton, Helen Pickett and Tero Saarinen. In 2006, Lisa performed as a guest artist with the Limón Dance Company in College Park, Maryland, and participated in The Missa Brevis Project in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2011 Lisa graduated cum laude from The Boston Conservatory with a BFA in dance. During her time at The Conservatory she had the privilege of performing José Limón’s Missa Brevis and Psalm, in which she performed the role of “The Expiatory Figure.” She also performed featured roles in Von choreographed by Jim Viera, Muñecos choreographed by Gianni Di Marco and Mechanical Organ choreographed by Alwin Nikolais. In 2010 Lisa was selected to participate in The Boston Conservatory’s Opening Note Gala, where she performed Alwin Nikolais’s celebrated work, Tensile Involvement, restaged by Alberto del Saz. During her senior year at The Conservatory, Lisa worked closely with Jennifer Scanlon as an assistant and rehearsal director for the reconstruction of José Limón’s masterwork Psalm.
Kate Cook
Contemporary
Kate Patten Cook originally hails from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where she first studied at Ballet Florida and Joan Miller's Palm Beach Ballet Center. She furthered her training in classical ballet, working closely under the direction of Colleen Smith at the Esther Center and the Florida Classical Ballet Theatre. During this time, she performed leading roles in various ballets. Kate headed to Boston College to pursue her education and deepen her artistry with the Boston College Dance Ensemble. While working towards her BA in English, she expanded her training by studying and performing modern, contemporary, jazz and hip hop. She also began choreographing, eventually creating seven pieces for the Ensemble. Since graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2006, Kate has been working for an executive search firm in downtown Boston and teaching ballet for the Boston College Dance Ensemble. As a founding member of the Company, she feels blessed to have the opportunity to extend her dance career with the talented and passionate members of Urbanity Dance.
Griff Gall
Music, Kids Fitness
Griff Gall is an elementary music and movement specialist in the town of Danvers, Mass. Since completing his undergraduate degree at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, NJ, Griff has taught elementary and early childhood music education classes that engage students through singing, movement and a sense of play. He completed his Level III Orff Schulwerk training through Boston University while attaining his Masters of Music Education. He continues to study dance with the Boston Ballet School and Urbanity Dance.
In addition to his work with young children in the classroom, Griff is also the founding artistic director of the Back Bay Ringers, an advanced community handbell ensemble in Boston, Mass. Griff has presented workshops in handbell pedagogy, conducting, and Orff Schulwerk at local and national handbell and music education conferences.
Betsi Graves
Contemporary, Modern/Improv
Betsi Graves, founder and director of Urbanity Dance, is originally from Orlando, Florida and holds a BA from Boston College. Her dance training includes studies in ballet, jazz, and modern dance at Studio 5d under the direction of Gaymarie Tomlinson and Orlando Ballet. At the age of 17, she was selected by Mia Michaels to tour across the U.S. on full scholarship with LA Undergound. She has taught ballet and jazz at Harvard University, Boston College, and several Boston-area dance schools; and is currently on faculty at Boston Ballet, Regis College, and Urbanity Dance. As a choreographer, Ms. Graves has won national choreography awards and judged for dance competitions throughout New England. Her choreography has recently garnered grant support from Massachusetts Cultural Council, the City of Boston and Boston Dance Alliance. She is an alumna of Jacob’s Pillow Choreographer’s Lab (2006) and Green Street Studios Emerging Artists Program (2008). She currently dances for Karen Murphy-Fitch’s Falling Flight Project and in fall 2008 danced as a street performer for Theatre Mama and Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza. Her choreography has been reviewed as “soulful and inspiring,” “unique and full of energy,” and “gutsy and culturally poignant.” Recent projects included Urbanity Dance’s The Story of Stuff (November, 2010), Contemporary Theatre of Boston’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (June, 2010) and Urbanity’s Between the Lines (November, 2011) an interactive dance journey and collaboration with artists in Boston’s SOWA district. In 2011, Graves’ choreography was featured at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Women in Dance at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theatre (December, 2011), Endicott College, Plymouth State University, Boston College, EarthDance and Mass MOCA. Commissions in 2011-2012 include an African Opera, “Missa Luba” for UMASS (December, 2011), Women in Dance (Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater, New York City, January 2012), and the Dance Gallery Festival (Houston, TX and Alvin Ailey Citigroup, NYC, December 2011). Get more dirt on Betsi.
Chris Grimley
Yoga
Chris Grimley came to yoga one cold January morning on a dare. His first class ever was a Forrest Yoga, two-hour, ab-fest. After a few years of practice, more complex poses turned him on to the possibilities and joy that yoga could bring. His practice deepened through several intense workshops with Ana Forrest and other teachers, and through watching his fellow yogis evolve, introducing new styles, techniques and poses through their own teaching. It was a move from a very strict forrest practice to one of open flow and constant change led him to pursue many different teachers and styles, and finally a 200-hour training at Back Bay Yoga. He enjoys his practice as an extension and support for his other life as an architect and designer, and loves teaching both the ways of past traditions, and exploring what new and emerging asana practices have to offer, especially ones with great music and good rhythm.
His professional training as an architect lends an air of structure and proper alignment to his instruction, often relying on innate laws of physics and dynamics to challenge himself and his students. Chris is also a practitioner of hands on assisting for alignment and support, as he has struggled with the injuries and realities of his own body. In addition to his vinyasa training, he has completed a Continuing Education for Teachers with Ana Forrest, and continues to be inspired by teachers including Lynne Begier, Nicole Clark, Ame Wren and Peter Crowley.
Kathy Hartsell
Yoga
With a history steeped in professional ballet, yoga, and physical therapy, Kathy Hartsell has deeply studied the body, the mind, and the quiet strength that unfolds from connecting the two. This mind-body connection is used to build the framework for all of her classes, where custom-tailored and breath-guided movement is encouraged and supported. Kathy earned her 200 hr certification in Elemental Yoga with Bo Forbes in 2007, and she has continued to develop her knowledge of anatomy, physical injury and rehabilitation with continued yoga and physical therapy education. Ongoing experiences as a yoga instructor, physical therapist assistant, dancer, and most importantly, as a yoga student, inform, enrich, and inspire her teaching.
Heather Hughes
Yoga
Heather Hughes is a lover of words, yoga, and travel. In her other life, she's a poet and publishing professional. She completed her 200-hour teacher training at O2 Yoga and her own practice incorporates a variety of styles, including Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and Forrest. Her philosophy for yoga and life is "meet yourself where you are" - a challenge to cultivate awareness and understanding of change. Her all levels yoga class provides a welcoming environment to build a strong foundation, to fine-tune, and to sustain a healthy yoga practice. Expect a mindful Vinyasa flow class with attention to alignment. You can find her schedule and blog a: www.ramblingyogini.com.
Carrie Kerstein
Contemporary
Carrie Kerstein is from Holliston, MA, where she trained in modern techniques and classical ballet at the Dancing Arts Center. She graduated summa cum laude from The George Washington University, where she was a Presidential Arts Scholar in Dance, with a BA in Dance and Psychology. There, she studied with Dana Tai Soon Burgess, Maida Withers, and Tiffany Haughn, and was a founding member of Balance: the GW Ballet Group. She trained additionally at Middlesex University in London, and has attended summer programs at the Kirov Academy of Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Boston Conservatory, and the Ailey School. She currently works in the Psychology Department of Harvard University. In addition to Urbanity Dance, Carrie also performs with Rebecca Rice Dance.
Tabitha Liversidge
Yoga
Hailing from Andover MA, Tabitha Liversidge began her training at the Andover School of Ballet. After realizing that dancing was her lifelong dream, she continued her training in the Jeannette Neill Dance Studio’s Boston Youth Moves and the Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Program. Tabitha recently received her BFA in Modern Dance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. There she had the pleasure of performing works by great artists including Bob Fosse (Steam Heat), Louis Johnson (Forces of Rhythm), and Merrian Soto (Historias), as well as being one of the first college groups to perform Martha Graham’s “Panorama” within a Graham Company program. She was a part of the University’s Choreography Emphasis Program and received the Dance Faculty Recognition Award for Excellence in Dance. Tabitha has been a member of the Windhover Dance Company in Rockport MA performing works by Doris Humphrey. She currently dances with Judith Wombwell in Andover and 40 Steps Dance Company in Nahant. This is Tabitha’s third season with Urbanity.
Theo Martinez
Ballroom, Hip Hop
Theo Martinez has been dancing for over 25 years. Originally from Nashua NH, he is a self taught Hip Hop dancer who turned his passion of dance into a full time career as an instructor, choreographer and performer of multiple dance forms. Theo Martinez is a certified dance professional, and a registered member of the National Dance Council of America. He teaches students in Latin, Rhythm, Ballroom, Hip Hop and is an accomplished choreographer. In 2008, his choreography for 'Smokey Joe's Cafe' was nominated for best choreography at the New Hampshire Theatre Awards, and in 2009 choreographed 'Swing' for the ActorSingers Teen Production. He has also choreographed routines for students who have won top awards in DanceSport and Hip Hop competitions. Theo has also worked extensively in the community, teaching dance at elementary, middle and high schools. He enjoys working with engaged couples on their wedding dances and also teaches the importance of communication through dance at engaged couples seminars. Theo continues his dance training in all styles and loves to share his passion of dance. Theo is also a member of B-Side, a Hip Hop company also based out of Boston. His past performances include Urbanity: First Night at the Hynes Convention Center -Big Red Door and Versus shows, B-Side: Audacity, 2010 MLK Breakfast, opening performance for Donnie Klang, Actorsingers production of Ragtime and 42nd St., St. Jude Hospital, Miss NH pageant, and Triple Threat Dance Co.
Claire McGregor
Ballet
Claire McGregor is from the Philadelphia area and trained at the school of the First State Ballet Theatre under the direction of Pasha and Kristina Kambalov. She received additional training in the summers from American Ballet Theatre and Boston Ballet, In 2002, Claire competed at the New York City Finals of the Youth America Grand Prix ballet competition. At Boston University, she performed with Dance Theatre Group and The Edge Dance Co., as well as was Co-Founder and Director of the Variations Project. Claire graduated from BU in May 2008 with a degree in History and currently works in the Development Office at the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation.
Jennifer Menzer
Yoga
Jennifer Menzer first came to yoga as a way to recover from cycling, kettlebells and weightlifting. She soon fell in love with not only the physically demanding aspects of asana practice but the mind body connection this moving meditation provides. After two years of practice, Jennifer enrolled in a 200 hour teacher training under the profound tutelage of Kate Greer and Nicole Clark at Back Bay Yoga. Jennifer, also a personal trainer and pilates instructor enjoys incorporating core work and functional strength moves to her yoga classes to provide a practice that is challenging but successful, mindful without being too serious and meaningful while still keeping is lighthearted and fun. She is so excited to join the Urbanity community and looks forward to supporting her students as they find their personal bliss!
Lindsey O’Neill
Yoga
Lindsey O’Neill is a Boston-based creative non-fiction writer and yoga teacher who completed her 200HR certification in Integrative Vinyasa and Restorative Yoga under the guidance of Bo Forbes. This particular style of yoga, and its multi-layered approach to mind, body, and spiritual wellness, is one that deepens each time we step onto our yoga mat, as we continue to develop our relationship with self through mindful, meditative movement. As we grow our physical, mental, and spiritual practice, we begin to fully understand and experience what is meant by “whole-being unity.” In addition to teaching yoga classes around the city, Lindsey teaches Yoga & Writing workshops at Boston’s Grub Street, the second largest independent center for creative writing in the U.S. She has led seminars at the college level as well, and recently taught Yoga & Writing at Wentworth Institute of Technology. Lindsey is hugely passionate about inviting others to tap into their own creative self-expression and “Write their Minds Alive” by way of connecting deeply with their own physical bodies and illuminated minds.
Kathleen Pantos
Contemporary, Modern/Improv
Kathleen Pantos is a highly-sought contemporary dance educator and performer, well-known for inspiring youth to advance both technically and creatively. Pantos began her training in dance at a young age at a local studio; she then furthered her artistry in college at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. She was honored to work with both Battleworks and Koresh Dance. She graduated in 2008, with an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance, under Director of Dance Amanda Whitworth. While at Plymouth State University, Pantos was awarded the prestigious Senior Dance Achievement Award. Pantos currently dances professionally with Tributary Dance in New Hampshire (2011) and Urbanity Dance in Boston (2008-2011). In 2011, she was promoted to Associate Director of Urbanity Dance, Boston's leading contemporary dance company. Highlights from her career as a professional dancer include touring as far as Houston, Texas, performing at Jacob's Pillow, photographing with Lois Greenfield, and choreographing for Urbanity Dance's VERSUS (May 2010) and MIXTAPE (April 2011). Upcoming endeavors include directing Urbanity's Apprentice Program (an audition-only program for conservatory students), assisting choreography for UMASS' Missa Lubba, and performing at the Ailey Citigroup Theatre in New York City (October-December, 2011). Kathleen is thrilled to share her passion for dance with her students and creating with such dedicated dancers. She is grateful to be back for Urbanity’s fourth season.
Lara Park
Kids Fitness
Lara Park is originally from Calgary, Alberta, Canada and she has been training in dance since a young age. While in Calgary she studied ballet, jazz, tap and modern and gained her first experience choreographing. Lara trained in prestigious summer programs at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Goh Ballet in Vancouver and at Alberta Ballet in Calgary. She has been an Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance since 2002 after successfully completing her Advanced II ballet examination. While studying for her Bachelors of Science in Physiology at McGill University in Montreal, Lara performed, choreographed and directed Mosaica, McGill’s dance ensemble. During the past two years she has performed with Sarabande, Tufts Repertory Dance Ensemble during her MS in Nutrition. Lara is currently pursuing her PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry at Tufts.
Nicole Pavone
Contemporary
Nicole Pavone is a Rochester, New York native who graduated from the University at Buffalo with a B.A. in Dance and minor in Technical Theatre Design. Nicole studied under the teachings of Thomas Ralabate, William E. Thomas, and Jeanne Fornarola with a concentration in Jazz Dance. She performed with University at Buffalo’s Zodiaque Dance Company and was a set and design assistant to Lynne Koscielniak on Neglia Ballet's Performance of the 2009 Nutcracker. Relocating to Boston in 2009, Nicole began performing with Urbanity Dance, as well as making appearances with Prometheus Dance Company, Dancers Inc., Boston Contemporary Theatre (Dancer and Assistant to Elizabeth Graves in A Midsummer Night's Dream), and Production Value for DebMed. Nicole has been privileged to perform with Urbanity Dance for three seasons, including a soloist role in the Urbanity Production of The Story of Stuff (Factobot) and performing at Jacob's Pillow's Summer Dance Festival 2011.
Giulia Pline
Yoga
A B.F.A dance major at The Boston Conservatory, Giulia Pline began practicing yoga to supplement her dance training. The immediate calm yoga induced kept her coming back to the mat, intrigued by everything the practice had to offer. Overtime, it was yoga’s emotional and physical healing powers that had the biggest impact on Giulia’s well-being.
In early 2012, Giulia completed her 200-hr yoga teaching certification at Back Bay Yoga with Lynne Beiger and Ame Wren in Boston, MA. Through her training, Giulia has tapped into yoga’s magical ability to nourish the organs, replenish the muscles, and restore light to the spirit. Giulia is currently exploring the profound Power of Touch in a 20hr mentorship with Nicole Clark.
As a teacher, Giulia chooses to create a safe haven for students to brighten their practice, connecting the postures and movement to the inner spirit. Infusing her dance background into her classes, Giulia emphasizes full and even breathing and smooth transitions between postures, which allows for greater openness and strength in the heart, body, and mind. Giulia encourages students to explore yoga as a moving meditation, challenging the body and mind to stay in the present moment.
Amanda Rey
Jazz
Amanda Rey is originally from Miami, FL where she began dancing at the age of nine at South Miami Performing Arts Magnet School. She remained in this program until she graduated high school, and also trained with Patricia Penenori and Edmundo Ronquillo who refined her technique and artistic drive. She concentrated on ballet, pointe, and modern from the start, and has also been exposed to jazz, Afro-Cuban, lyrical, Broadway, hip-hop, improv, and contemporary. She graduated from Boston University in 2009 with a BA in Psychology, and danced and choreographed with the school’s Dance Theater Group all four years. Amanda has always had a passion for teaching and choreographing, and her college experience allowed her to grow and develop as an artist. During that time she also danced with a local contemporary company BoSoma for three seasons and worked with choreographers Adrienne Hawkins of Impulse Dance and Eddy Ocampo with Bento Box Productions in Chicago. Amanda is currently in Graduate School at Simmons College, pursuing an MA in Behavior Analysis. She is so excited to be a part of Urbanity, and looks forward to dancing with such inspiring people.
Tamara Rodriguez
Zumba
Tamara Rodriguez is a singer/songwriter/dancer, graduating this May (2012) from Berklee College of Music. She has been dancing since the age of 3 in all styles including jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop and Latin. Tamara was cast as a participant of two reality shows at the age of 15 and 16 called Quinceanera (Telemundo) and Buscando La Nueva Banda Timbiriche (Televisa/Univision) for singing and dancing. She has been teaching Zumba since the age of 16. She loves to mix styles, keeping it fresh and fun! Tamara encourages everyone to sing while they are dancing, bringing out the sexy in you!
Lee Skunes
Yoga
Lee Skunes is an energetic human being who has a background in theatre and dance and a love of books, life, and possibility. A student of Bonnie Argo and Chanel Luck, Lee was drawn to the practice when he suffered a major illness and has stayed with the practice because it provided him more than just a cure. In addition to health, it brought a new enthusiasm and drive to his life which has stayed with him. In Lee's class he creates an experience from the mindful practice while incorporating a fun and playful aspect to ensure each student feels connected while not taking themselves too seriously. He is passionate about the practice and shares this wholly with his students. Lee is open and excited about where the path is taking him.
Nghi Tran
Zumba
Nghi Tran has taken groups exercise classes like Yoga and Zumba for years. She has an understanding of the type of experience students come to expect, and is able to provide aspects she feels were lacking from her own experience. Currently working as a ballroom instructor has enhanced her ability to recognize the needs of students, and she is fully capable of designing programs that specifically cater to those needs. Nghi is able to teach students at various levels of physical development, from beginners, to advanced students. Her training in choreography enables her to add a creative aspect to classes that she hopes her students will find constructive and stimulating. She has an extensive background in rowing, yoga, dance, running, and general athletics. Physical fitness is central to her everyday life. She knows the value of physical accomplishment and the importance of knowing one’s limitations. Nghi is excited to join the Urbanity Dance Studio, and for the opportunity to help others toward a healthier, happier version of themselves.
James Whiteside
Jazz
James Whiteside began his training at age nine at the D’Valda & Sirico Dance and Music Centre, under the direction of Angela D’Valda and Steve Sirico. Guest faculty at the Dance Centre includes Franco DeVita, Raymond Lukens, and Charles Kelley. James enrolled at the Virginia School of the Arts for one year under the direction of Petrus Bosman. In 2002, he joined Boston Ballet II. James has also taught ballet and jazz at competitions and conventions internationally as well as at Boston Ballet School and Boston Ballet Summer Dance Program. He was promoted to the corps de ballet in 2003, second soloist in 2006, first soloist in 2008 and to principal dancer in 2009.
TESTIMONIALS
“Urbanity Dance offers well-developed classes that allow students of all levels the opportunity to dance in an inspiring and creative space. You can't find an opportunity for contemporary dance anywhere else in Boston...” -Carolyn
“The energy Urbanity embodies is positively infectious. I can't think of a group of dancers more capable of doing what they’re doing for dance in Boston. When I get the Where did you take class in Boston question, I respond with BoCo and Urbanity.”
-Andrew
“Urbanity creates an incredibly welcoming and open environment for people of all levels to explore dance. Beginner dancers with find the classes engaging, teaching the basics while also working on individual style. For the experienced dancer, they offer classes in contemporary styles that just aren't offered anywhere else in the city. I've thoroughly enjoyed the variety of styles that are presented and I always feel like I am improving both technically and artistically.” -Lara
“Urbanity Dance contemporary classes focus in on honing one's musicality both in the languid and percussive sense, and the floor and center work really builds core strength, definitely the (contemporary) choice for dancers of all levels, as there is always something you'll take away from the class at the end!” -Wayne
“The choreography was beautiful and I felt that for the first time in a long time I was dancing for my own enjoyment.” -Shayna
Urbanity Dance Faculty
