The faculty at CBT are committed to both high quality artistic training and the dancers' health and wellbeing. CBT Instructors include professional dancers and CBT alums. All are experienced with credentials and work as a team under the Artistic Director to provide dancers of all ages the best training possible.
Amy Ashley
Ballet, Pointe
CBT Teaching Artist
Instructor since 2021
Training: Stillpoint Dance Studio (Oregon), Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program, certified teaching artist Mark Morris Dance Center
Professional Performance Experience: Ariel Rivka Dance, DisagreeableCreatures
Rebeccah Brann
Early Steps, Modern
CBT Teaching Artist
Covenant Ballet Principal Dancer
Instructor since 1995
Training: Covenant Ballet Academy Alumni,
Alvin Ailey Certificate of Dance Graduate.
Founder and Artistic Director of HopeDanceNYC, Certified Personal Trainer
Mandy Chan
Ballet, CBT Teaching Artist
Covenant Ballet Principal Dancer
Instructor since 2003
Training: MFA in Dance from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts (scholarship), BFA in dance (First Class Honors) at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
Certified Pilates, Yoga instructor, and registered Somatics Movement Therapist
ABT© Certified Teacher in Primary through Level 3 of the ABT© National Training Curriculum.
Karina Fornazaro
Ballet, Boys' Project
Instructor since 2022
Training: MA in Dance Education:
Teaching in the Professions / ABT Ballet
Pedgogy from NYU Steinhardt, MS in Psychology from State University of Maringá, and Marcia Angeli Academy in Maringá, Brazil
ABT© Certified Teacher in Primary through Level 7 and Partnering of the ABT© National Training Curriculum.
Kristin Licata
Junior Company Advisor, Ballet
CBT Teaching Artist
Covenant Ballet Principal Dancer
Instructor since 2007
Training: BFA in dance from the Fordham University -
Alvin Ailey Program
Professional Dance Experience: Matthew Westerby Company, Ariel Rivka Dance, Valerie Green Dance Entropy
ABT© Certified Teacher in Primary through Level 3 of the ABT© National Training Curriculum.
Jose Rivera
Summer Intensive Ballet
Instructor since 2008
Training: BA in dance from Julliard School,
School of American Ballet, the Gallman’s Newark Dance Theater School and the Dance Theater of Harlem
Professional Performance Experience: in Germany and the U.S., Former Principal Dancer with CBT
Contemporary, Boys Project
CBT Teaching Artist
Covenant Ballet Principal Dancer
Instructor since 2008
Matthew
Westerby
Training: BA (Honors) Dance Theatre from Laban Centre (London) with Graduate Diploma in Advanced Performance (practical credits for MA)
Professional Dance Experience: Europe and the U.S.
Founder and Artistic Director of the Matthew Westerby Company
Gabrielle Ayoub
Early Steps, Ballet
Instructor since 2018
Training: Covenant Ballet Academy Alumni,
Manhattan Youth Ballet, La Guardia High School,
Summer Intensives with Peridance, Nutmeg Conservatory, NYSSSA Ballet, and Boston Ballet
ABT© Certified Teacher in Primary through Level 3 of the ABT© National Training Curriculum.
Stephen Campanella
Ballet, Boys Project, Pointe
Covenant Ballet Principal Dancer
Instructor since 2016
Training: Princeton Ballet School Scholarship Recipient,
San Francisco Ballet School Summer Intensive Scholarship, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Graduate Program, B.A from Rutgers University. Professional Award in Benesh Movement Notation.
Professional Dance Experience: American Repertory Ballet, New York Theatre Ballet, Dances Patrelle
ABT© Certified Teacher in Primary through Level 7 of the ABT© National Training Curriculum.
Colleen Fechner
Early Steps, Ballet
Covenant Ballet Theatre Dancer
Instructor since 2021
Training: Minnetonka Dance Theater School, BFA in Dance at Belhaven University, Intellidance® Babies Certification,
Tykes & Tots Certification
Professional Dance Experience: Atmosphere Dance Company/Project Dance, Shachah Touring Company, Katy Hagelin Dance Project Company, Heartbridge Performing Arts Company
ABT© Certified Teacher in Primary through Level 3 of the ABT© National Training Curriculum.
Nanako Kitagawa
Ballet, Pointe
Instructor since: 2010
Training: The École Supérieure de Danse
de Cannes Rosella Hightower in France and Goh Ballet Academy in Canada Professional Dance Experience: USA Ballet Company,
Connecticut Ballet, Long Island Ballet & Atlantic Ballet
ABT© Certified Teacher in Primary through Level 7 of the ABT© National Training Curriculum.
Brenda Neville
Ballet, Pointe
Instructor since 1999
Training: BA in Dance Pedagogy (Cum Laude) at Butler University (Indiana), Milwaukee Ballet School, Ailey School, American Ballet Theatre School
Founder and Artistic Director of Neville Dance Theatre
Former Principal Dancer with CBT
ABT© Certified Teacher in Primary through Level 7 of the ABT© National Training Curriculum.
Joseph Tudisco
Modern/Jazz
Instructor since 2008
Training: David Howard Dance Center, Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, Ailey School, SUNY Purchase College, Brooklyn Academy for the Performing Arts
Professional Performance Experience: The Andy Williams Show in Branson, MO, Former Principal Dancer with CBT
Arrow &
Beauregard
CBT Mascots
(Otherwise known as Bow & Arrow)
Arrow since 2014
Beauregard since 2019
Training: School of Hard Knocks, Puppy School and lots of treats
No professional experience.
