NEW FACULTY
 
Laura Martel
Lower School Ballet, Choreography
 Laura Martel has been dancing since she was three years old.  She began her formal ballet training at the New Paltz School of Ballet, and became a principal member of the New Paltz Ballet Company at the age of thirteen. She performed annually in such productions as The Nutcracker, Les Sylphides, Firebird, and Coppelia where she shared the stage with members of the New York City Ballet, including Nilas Martins, Wendy Whelan, and Miranda Weese.  Her ballet training included numerous summers at ballet-intensive programs in New York State.  

At the age of seventeen, Laura moved to Prague in the Czech Republic, where she studied dance under the direction of Lynn Barr and performed throughout Eastern Europe.  

In 2009, she received her Bachelor's degree in Film and Media from SUNY New Paltz.  Laura teaches ballet in the Hudson Valley. 
 

FACULTY
 
Deanna Ford
Upper School Ballet, Jazz, Choreography
 Deanna Ford began her classical training in Washington State. Upon
her arrival in New York City, she continued her training, on scholarship,
at the School of American Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, The Harkness
Ballet and with David Howard. Deanna began her professional career
as a soloist with the Hartford Ballet. She was also a member of the
New Jersey Ballet. Deanna was a featured ballet dancer for Radio
City Music Hall Productions, and was also a Rockette at Radio City
Music Hall. She has been teaching classical ballet and jazz
throughout the Northeast for twelve years. 
Belle Golden
African, Choreography
Belle Golden has been dancing since the age of four. She initially
studied ballet and tap at the New Rochelle School of Ballet. In
the late 1970's, she had the opportunity to study with Pearl Primus,
one of the pioneers of African Dance in America. Belle joined Pearl
Primus Dancers and performed throughout the United States. Belle
also studied at Dance Theatre of Harlem, The New Dance School in
New York City. She performed and danced with Alvin Ailey when
Mr. Ailey asked Pearl Primus Dancers to work with his company.

Belle teaches African Dance throughout both Westchester County
and Dutchess County. She is also a personal trainer and was
interviewed on The Today Show in New York City on the subject of fitness. 
Todd Hall
Upper School Ballet, Choreography
 Todd Hall began dancing in Rhode Island, at the age of ten, with the Festival Ballet. One of his earliest roles was that of young Fritz, Clara's brother, in The Nutcracker. Todd trained at the School of American Ballet in New York City, as well as at the Joffrey Ballet School, and the School of the Boston Ballet. He has performed with the Boston Ballet and the Washington Ballet, among others, and has been a guest artist with a number of ballet companies in the United States, dancing such roles as Albrecht in Giselle, the Prince in Swan Lake, the Cavalier in Nutcracker, and Franz in Coppelia. Todd currently teaches and choreographs extensively throughout the Northeast and overseas. 
Jennifer Fuchs Hart
Guest Teacher,
Upper School Ballet
 Jennifer Fuchs Hart began dancing at the age of 4, and was formally trained at The School of American Ballet. In 1989, Peter Martins asked her to join the New York City Ballet.  During her career with the New York City Ballet, Jennifer performed much of the repertory of George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and Peter Martins, as well as dancing in the work of resident choreographers for the Company. She performed as a demi-soloist and soloist in many ballets, including The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, The Four Temperaments, and Vienna Waltzes. Jennifer can be seen as a marzipan in the film version of George Balanchine's Nutcracker.

After her retirement from the New York City Ballet in 1995, Jennifer began teaching children's classes at Studio Maestro in New York City. She has been a ballet teacher for 15 years, and has taught throughout the Hudson Valley, including at Vassar College, the Community Dance Center, and the New York Academy of Ballet.  Jennifer is also a teacher assistant, working in the special education department in the Arlington School District. 
Denyse Looney
Middle School & Upper School Ballet, Choreography
 Denyse Looney began her training at the New School of Ballet, in
Schenectady, New York, under the direction of Phyllis Marmein. During
her early years as a dancer, she performed childrens' roles in numerous
ballets, including The Nutcracker, A Midsummer Night's Dream and
Firebird. When she was fourteen, Andre Eglevsky arranged an audition
for Denyse at the School of American Ballet, where she was accepted
under full scholarship.  Denyse danced professionally with the
Chicago Lyric Opera Ballet, the Washington Ballet and the Hartford
Ballet, and as a soloist with the Eglevsky Ballet Company.

Denyse studied with David Howard, Melissa Hayden, Robert Denvers,
Bobby Blankshine, and Dianna Cartier, among others, and taught
ballet for Robert Denvers. 
Laura Seaman
Lower and Middle School Ballet, Choreography
 Laura Seaman has been dancing since the age of three. At eight, she
began to study ballet at Ballet Arts Studio. As a teenager, she
continued her training at Ballet Arts with Valerie Feit, Hilda Morales
and Laurie Freedman. In 1995, Laura earned a BFA in Dance, with a
scholarship, from the State University of New York at Purchase. While
at SUNY Purchase, she studied with Kevin Wynn, Larry Clark, Sarah
Stackhouse, Neil Greenberg and Kazuko Hirabayashi. Laura was a company
member of The In-Forward-Motion Dance Company, under the artistic
direction of Debra Noble. While in the Company, she performed the
works of Colin Connor, Jean Churchill, Albert Reid, Alan Danielson,
Randy James, Neta Pulvermacher and Maida Withers. Laura then
joined the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company. Laura teaches dance to both
children and adults. She is also a Registered Nurse.

 
Man-ching Tom
Guest Teacher, Upper School Ballet
 Man-ching Tom began her professional career as a soloist with the Theatre Ballet of San Francisco. She has also performed with the Hong Kong Ballet, where she worked with guest directors Ivan Nagy, Kenneth Gillespie and Patricia Merrin. Classical repertory included Giselle, Swan Lake, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, La Sylphide and La Boutique Fantasque. Teachers have included Merriam Lanova, Kaleria Fedichiva, Antonio Mendes and Robert Blankshine. Upon retiring from performing, Man-ching began teaching classical ballet at the San Francisco Conservatory of Ballet, London School of Ballet, San Francisco State University, and Manhattanville College, among other institutions and schools.  She currently teaches throughout the Hudson Valley. 
 

STAFF
 
Cindy Heady-Marsh
Administrative Assistant

 Cindy recently retired from the New York State Office of Court Administration, where she was a State-wide administrator for Court programs and new initiatives. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Orange County Ballet Company.  
Mary Pesacreta

Administrative Assistant