Where I'm From

Syracuse, NY and Salisbury, MD

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My Dance Training

In my early dance training, I concentrated on classical ballet, studying with Tatiana Akinifieva-Smith, Elena Manakhova, and Betty Webster. Soon I joined a pre-professional ballet company and performed in many of the classics, including the Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Coppélia. After high school, I made a dream of mine come true: I moved to New York City to pursue dance. I attended the Alvin Ailey School in partnership with Fordham University at Lincoln Center and earned a BFA Degree in Dance Performance. While pursuing my degree as a scholarship student, I performed works by Zvi Gotheiner, Kevin Wynn, Elisa Monte, Robert Battle, Pascal Rioult, Jacqulyn Buglisi, Nathan Trice, Ronald K. Brown, Max Luna III, Troy Powell, and Alvin Ailey. I furthered my education through studies at American Ballet Theatre, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet.

 

My Dance Experience

Following graduation, I accepted professional performance opportunities in the concert and commercial dance spectrum.

Since 2010, I've been performing with CONTINUUM Contemporary/Ballet, where I am a founding company member. There I have had the honor of working with such choreographers as Juanjo Arques, Amy Seiwert, Emery LeCrone, Tawny Chapman, and Donna Salgado.

My experience also includes performing with the Eastern Shore Ballet Theatre, Ailey/Fordham Student Dancers, Deborah Lohse's ad Hoc Ballet, Nejla Yatkin's NY2Dance, and Darion Smith's Janusphere Dance Company. Within the commercial spectrum, I've performed in industrials for L’Oreal, the International Beauty Show, The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on CBS, and as a guest artist for corporate galas in Miami and Barcelona, Spain.

 

Other Passions and Interests

A big part of my dance adventure in NYC is also as a teacher. I hold a certificate from the Dance Education Laboratory at the 92nd Street Y and have taught for the School at STEPS on Broadway, the Ballet Hispanico School, and currently am on faculty at the Joffrey Ballet School. My work is featured in the May 2014 Issue of Dance Teacher Magazine. 

 

Merging my passions for ballet, education, and illustration, I also co-authored the children’s book Crafterina, with my sister Donna Salgado. The storybook tells the tale of a young girl that creates crafts that help her go on dancing adventures. The goal of Crafterina is found within the inspiring tagline: Create Your Dream. As a child creates crafts and dances from the storybook with their parent, they soon realize it is possible to bring imagination to life. This read-create-dance process playfully encourages empowerment, teaching youngsters they have the ability to make anything possible. Our hope is that they will continue to do so for the rest of their lives! For more information about Crafterina and our other dance education books, please visit: www.Crafterina.com



What I Love About Dance

I love the music, the feeling of being free, big sunny studios, how it makes me happy, seeing my friends be themselves, being able to share my art, performing, learning from different choreographers, learning from wonderful teachers, finding new ways of moving, being creative, and using my imagination.

 

My Favorite Pre/Post Rehearsal Snack

Pretzels, bananas, pink berry, and peach tea!