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Joanna Markowitz, Director
Joanna Markowitz, director (Towson State University) performed professionally for eleven years in NYC with numerous dance companies. She performed at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, on national TV and worked on a video project for PBS. Joanna was a faculty member at Brooklyn College for six years and was a guest teacher at NYU, Clark Center for the Performing Arts, Ruth Currier Studio, Steps on Broadway and other professional studios. Her choreography has been favorably reviewed in such publications as The New York Times, Village Voice and Dance Magazine and was commissioned by Towson State Dance Ensemble. She studied on scholarship with the Jose Limon Dance Company, Peabody Institute in Baltimore, Alvin Ailey, American Ballet Theatre, Tokunagas and various other schools. Joanna taught dance for eighteen years at Orange County Community College, has also taught at Westchester Community College and has been teaching for over thirty years. Orange County School of Dance was started in 1992.
Joanna is Currently listed in 'Who's Who of America'
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Alla Arzoumanov
Alla Arzoumanov graduated from the Institute of Art and Performance in 1975 (Dushandev, Russia). She received her masters degree in piano, accompaniment and ensemble playing. Alla worked for twenty years as department chair in music schools and Institute of the Arts. She received numerous government awards for her preparation of students in becoming professional musicians and winning first places in state and interstate competitions.
Alla started to live and teach in the U.S. in 1991
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Jennifer Hamlin-Orpilla
Jennifer Hamlin-Orpilla (musical theater and tap teacher) has been involved in dance and theatre since the age of ten. She has studied dance at numerous studios and has trained with The Windemer Ballet Company in Queens, NY and The Berest Dance Studio in Long Island, NY. Jennifer has trained at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute (both in NYC) and holds a B.F.A. in Theatre Arts from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. She has worked off-Broadway, performed in national tours and is a proud member of Actor's Equity Association.
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Bill Iannone, percussion
After participating in school bands and studying with several working musicians in the New York City area, Bill gained valuable practical experience working club dates in the greater metropolitan area. As a working musician, experience was gained in performing with rock, jazz and marching bands as well as playing for shows, singers and dancers at resorts in the Catskills. Additional experience in recording studios and performing in telethons provided lessons to be shared with students. Teaching drums has always been part of the musical experience and as a guidance counselor on a middle and high school level provided a good foundation for working with school age students.
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Lisa LaBella
Lisa LaBella (yoga and voice instructor) graduated with honors from the University of the Arts in 2006 with a Bachelors Degree in Vocal Performance. She has been performing for 15 years and was featured last summer at the Festival Lyrica Italiana in Italy. Lisa has performed in productions of La Traviata, Tales of Hoffman and The Elixir of Love. Recently she has performed with the Delaware Valley Opera Company.
Lisa has been practicing yoga for twelve years including the forms of Bikram, Iyengar, Jivamukti, Ashtanga and Power Yoga. Her teacher training was at the Yandara Yoga Inistitute in Todos Santos, Mexico in 2007. Her training focuses on Iyengar alignment. Lisa has been teaching yoga at numerous gyms, studios and the ashram.
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Maryann Maffei
Maryann Maffei (art and piano teacher) studied classical piano and technique under Gesila Scott (Manhattan School of Music) from 1985-1998. She has an Associates of Art degree in Music (2004) from Orange County Community College. Maryann studied jazz improvization with Christopher Parker from 1998-2005. She has taught beginner through advanced private and group piano students since 1989.
Maryann has been drawing and painting for 35 years. She studied printmaking at Garrison Art Center 1976-1984. She studied portrait figure drawing and watercolors under Stephen Douglas from 1973-1980. She is currently enrolled in the Art Education program at SUNY New Paltz (2005-present). Maryann exhibited printworks and drawings at Garrison Art Center, Rheinbeck Arts Fair and several arts fairs throughout Dutchess & Putnam counties. She has exhibited works at OCSD Gallery and SUNY New Paltz student gallery.
Maryann won 1st prize at Art Foundation show 2006 and 2007. |
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Nafisa K. Manapat, dance, voice and piano teacher
Nafisa graduated from the College of Music Education in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. She received a degree in methodology of teaching music, conducting and piano, accordion and voice. Nafisa also attended the prestigious Moiseyev Dance School where she studied ballet and European folk dance. She also trained at the Bishkek School of Ballet where she studied the classics--Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Giselle, etc.
Nafisa is the director of the voice ensemble at Orange County School of Dance. She has been teaching over ten years including public school system in the Soviet Union.
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Angelo Pagano, Woodwind, Brass & Piano Instructor
Angelo earned his bachelor’s degree as a scholarship student at Mannes School of Music and his master’s degree at Long Island University. His debut as a clarinet soloist was in Town Hall in NYC and was followed by performances with the New York City Symphony and other orchestras. His many solo recitals earned him acclaim from the New York City press. Mr. Pagano created and directed the only professional symphony orchestra in Orange County, The Highlands Symphony Orchestra. His championing of contemporary music has resulted in many exciting premieres of new American works.
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Sara Marie Simas, voice and piano teacher
Sara has a BA from SUNY Fredonia and is a music major from SUNY Orange. She has taken voise with Madame Ada Mae Curran, Ruth Sorrel Curtis, Ron DeFesi and Richard Dorr.
Sara has performed in numerous plays and operas. In 2005, she was named "Best Actress" in Orange County by the Times Herald record.
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Eileen Slawinski, ballet and jazz dance teacher
Eileen studied dance at the Mozartina Musical Arts Conservatory in Tarrytown, NY as well as at OSCD. She appeared in performances at the Tarrytown Music Hall and assisted in direction/choreography. Eileen has been teaching dance at OCSD for eight years and has choreographed several ballet pieces for her Ballet I and II student performances. She has added Jazz I and Ballet III to her teaching schedule and is looking forward to working with her students to prepare for their June performance. Eileen is the OCSD stage manager for their performances and also assists with the art gallery exhibit installations and receptions.
In addition to her dance instruction, Eileen is an upline manager for IBM Corporation currently responsible for an administrative orgranization at three site locations. Throughout her IBM career, she has also held positions in systems education and project management for disaster recovery.
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George Whetstone, viola teacher
George studied Viola at the Hartt School of Music and Western Connecticut State University in connection with the Manhattan String Quartet. He has participated in numerous summer programs including the Music Mountain Young Professional String Quartet Seminar and the Aspen Music Festival.
Mr. Whetstone has performed in wide ranging orchestras including The Mexcio City Opera, the American Chamber Orchestra, Albany Symphony, Ridgefield Symphony, Sarasota Opera, Metro Lyric Opera, New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players and the Garden State Philhemonic.
He balances his orchestral work with extensive involvement in chamber music programs and solo work with summer festivals and in New York Metropolitan area churches.
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