Instruction

July 7 - 18 , 2007

Monday - Friday, 9 am to 2 pm

We will spend the first two weeks of the program learning skills and preparing for the “tour.” Daily activities will include:

1. technique classes in ballet, modern, jazz and hip hop,
2. creating a 45 minute performance from both repertory and original work developed by company members,
3. special classes in teaching dance and dance composition.

There will be a lunch break, however lunch is not included.

"I learned more technique and I was taught different styles of dances that I had never tried before, and I also learned how it feels to be accepted by my peers for who I am."

- Frankie Domond, teen apprentice 2006

Instructor Bios

Christina Piscitelli (Director) received her B.F.A in dance from Emerson College. She performed and taught for Dance Collective’s educational programs from 1998 – 2006 and continues to teach residencies for Mass Movement, Inc.  She began as co-director of the summer outreach program in 1999. In 2005, she became director of the program. Chris was on the faculty of the Ipswich Middle School where she taught drama and dance. For many years she taught for the Topf Center for Dance Education in their programs for the public schools. Other teaching credits include Emerson College Youtheatre, Lexington School of Ballet and the Ipswich Moving Company. For seven seasons she was choreographer for a freelance player troupe in Brookline. She has performed with American Dancer Heritage, MJT/Tslila Dance Company and Choreo. Chris has been performing at King Richard’s Faire since 1993 as a Gypsy Dancer and works with a local comedy group.

Jeffrey Louizia (Assistant Director) has participated in the REACH program as a teen apprentice, college intern, and now as an instructor and assistant director. Proficient in many styles of dance, Jeffrey has studied extensively in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and hip hop, as well as traditional Haitian folk dance. He received his BA in Dance from Dean College in 2006. Mr. Louizia’s performances have taken him across New England, up and down the Eastern U.S. seaboard, and into Canada. Recently he filmed a W.B. Mason Commercial and performed with MSO and Sokolow Dance Foundation. He is currently working with Unyted Stylz, Bucc House, Arc en Ciel and J.S. Fusement.

Stephanie Imbornone, a native of Quincy, MA, realized her passion for dance at a young age while studying under the direction of Don Bigger and The Dance Company. Her love of the arts led her to pursue a BA in dance at Dean College where she trained in modern, ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop. There she was a member of the Dean Dance Company and C.E.O./Choreographer of the Dance Team. She recently was filmed in a W.B. Mason Commercial. She is currently working with Unyted Stylz Entertainment under Ricardo Foster Jr., with Arc en Ciel, a Haitian Folkloric dance company, and on creating her company, J.S. Fusement, with partner, Jeffrey Louizia.

Sandra Shih Parks holds BFA in Dance Performance from Tisch School of the Arts, New York University and an MFA in Dance from Smith College. Upon graduation from the Tisch School, Ms. Shih toured nationally with a production of the King and I.  In addition, Ms Shih has been the lead dancer/choreographer for more than 60 different concerts for singers from Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, and New York area since 1996.  She has performed at different venues including City Center, the Carnigie Weill Recital Hall in NYC, Trump Plaza Casino/Resort, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun as well as San Juan, Puerto Rico and Brazil.  Sandra started her teaching career in 2000 when she taught at the Queens Dance School and Dynamic Dance School in the NYC area.  She has taught at the Pioneer Valley Ballet, Franklin School for the Performing Arts, and at Mass Motion Dance.