NYCPAC - New York City Performing Arts Centre :: Dance Department

Christopher Recchia - Artistic Director
(Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Modern, Hip-Hop, Creative Movement)
Christopher started his professional career at age 11 in David Merrick's off Broadway production of Stop the World, I Want to get off! starring Jason Alexander. Christopher, a native New Yorker, is a graduate of the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts, class of 1992, under the direction of Michelle Mathesius. Upon his graduation he was accepted and attended The Juilliard School under the direction of Benjamin Harkarvy. Christopher has performed for the following companies/choreographers as; Jacque d'Amboise, artistic director of The National Dance Institute, Septime Weber, Michelle Benash, Lisa Hopkins, Daniel Catanach, Alisa King, Jennifer Muller, Wendy R. Seyb, Walt Disney World Company (Orlando) performing as a "Kid of the Kingdom", Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Joe Antony Cavise, artistic director of Off Center Dance Theatre , "Bio-Systems" a film for The Museum of Natural History and The Gypsy Project. Christopher has been in the productions of NYC Theatrical Events and the Broadway Exchange, working for his teacher/mentor Joe Lanteri. He has also been a guest teacher for Dance America/Dance Olympus convention. He has recently performed in his 5th season with Off Center Dance Theatre as well as performing in the The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz as the "Scarecrow" for The Company Of Dance Arts, Jennifer Church artistic director, Red Bank, NJ.

Kimberly Recchia
(Business Director)
K imberly holds a BBA in Marketing and an AAS in Fashion Merchandising from Laboratory Institute of Merchandising in NY. She has worked for Vera Wang as a Sales & Marketing Executive for the Ready to Wear Division in NY along with Kenneth Cole, Bloomingdales, The Gap, Biolage, and Wella haircare. She has trained in dance for 18 years including classes at Steps on Broadway and Peridance, and has been involved in the business aspect of the dance industry for the past 8 years.

Danny Peterson
(Tap, Theatre Arts)
Danny is from West Long Branch, N.J. whose work has appeared in many national network commercials and soap operas. Dan is a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). He has been a student of dance since the age of 6 and has won a world title in tap dance at the Fred Astaire International Jazz and Tap Championship held at the Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan. He currently teaches tap, acting, and musical theater at the Red Bank Dance Academy and the NYC Performing Arts Centre, Inc. Dan has an extensive background in music, which includes an original music project called Makers of Fine Clocks. With numerous theater productions in his background, Dan has recently appeared as Bobby Child in the Gershwin musical "Crazy For You" at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank. He has worked as a choreographer for the past three years under Director Joe Russo at the Red Bank Regional Performing Arts HighSchool. Dan has enjoyed very much teaching movement and theater expression in a Summer Shakespeare Workshop at the Count Basie Theater.

Lionel Blandford
(Ballet, Pre-Pointe, Advanced Pointe)
A native of Brooklyn, NY, Lionel began his dance training at the age of thirteen at F.H. LaGuardia High School for music and art and for the performing arts. Graduating in 1995 be went on to the Juilliard School where he studied for one year. Lionel has danced with such companies as the Atlanta Ballet, the Georgia Ballet, the Eglevsky Ballet, the Pennsylvania Ballet, and Donald Byrd the group. He is currently Ballet Master for the Darrell Daniels Repertory Dance Co. and is on faculty at the Bronx Dance Academy. He is currently a dancer for Creative Outlet based out of Brooklyn, NY.

Jessie "Mira" Nahar
(Hip Hop)
Jessie "Mira" Nahar is a Brooklyn native who has been dancing since the age of 8 and choreographing since the age of 13. She began training at various dance schools throughout New York City such as, Broadway Dance Center, Stepping Out Studios, New Dance group, Manhattan Motion Studio, Dance Sport Studio. Her dance training consists of Hip-Hop, Street Jazz funk, West African, Afro-Cuban, Salsa and Reggae. She has performed with various artists such as, Missy Elliot, Alliyah, Changing Faces, DLG, Rome, Milo and Veronica. Film credited as a featured Latin dancer in the film Woo, starring Jada Pinkett Smith and Tommy Davison. She began teaching her first hip-hop dance classes at the age of 13 at her Hudde Main JHS in Brooklyn N.Y. That is where she found her passion to choreograph and perform in talent shows, annual recitals, benefit concerts and fund raising showcases. She has been teaching Hip-Hop for over ten years throughout New York, New Jersey and Atlanta at the Madison Boys and Girls club, Beacon Program, Dance Place Plus, Latin Fever Studios, Artistic Dance Motion, Beverley’s Dance School, and Dance Sport. She has performed at Rock Steadys 20th Anniversary celebration, Broadway Dance Centers Performance Outlet with critically ac-claimed Amount Boyz, and the annual Passion of Dance venues. Throughout her career as a dancer/choreographer, she has tackled many other aspects of enriching her life such as graduating with a Bachelors degree from Hunter College in Psychology, volunteering at several public schools mentoring the youth in dance education, interning at various record labels such as Polygram, Mercury, and Black Island Records. Jessie continues to teach dance however, strongly is pursing her career as a professional dancer.

James Moody
(Acting Technique, Improvisation,
Monologue & Scene Study)
Jim Moody is a graduate of the Juilliard School and was a member Group 1 under the direction of John Houseman. Mr. Moody has appeared in numerous motion pictures and was nominated for an N.A.A.C.P Image Award for his work in the movie Bad Boys starring Sean Penn.

Jim has been a teacher at the LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts for more than thirty years where he helped launch the careers of many young artists including recent Academy Award winner Adrian Brody. In the film Fame written and directed by Alan Parker, Jim played the role of the acting teacher.

GUEST TEACHERS

Andre Irons
Andre Irons was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He began his formal dance training at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts and completed a double major in Business Administration & Africana Studies from the University at Albany in 2005. Andre has trained extensively at the Dance Theatre of Harlem and Alvin Ailey where he received an Honorable Mention Award in Modern Dance from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA) in 2001. He has worked with choreographers such as Camille A. Brown, Roger C. Jeffrey, Lisa Rinehart, and Brian Thomas, and is currently signed with DDO Artist Agency in New York City.

Roger C. Jeffrey
(Modern)

Roger C. Jeffrey was born in New York City where he began his training at Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center. A graduate of Performing Arts High School, he received his B.F.A. from The Juilliard School under the direction of Benjamin Harkarvy. Mr. Jeffrey has performed in the companies of Bernice Johnson, Kevin Iega Jeff, Twyla Tharp, Zvi Gotheiner, Martial Roumain, and with Mikhail Baryshnikov's White Oak Dance Project. He has also worked with Gary Deloatch, Dudley Williams, Eleo Pomare, Benjamin Harkarvy, Otis Salid, Debbie Allen, Rasta Thomas, D'bi. Young, Doug Varone, Richard Move, Mark Dendy and Obediah Wright. Inspired by his mentor Kevin Iega Jeff, he began to explore his full artistic potential as both an instructor and choreographer at the Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center, Edge School of the Arts, Devore Dance Center, Onyx Dance Company, Elisa King and Dancers, Ulster Ballet Company, Philadanco!, CityDance Ensemble, The Juilliard School, Lincoln Center Institute, Goucher College,Marygrove College, City College of New York, Purchase College Conservatory of Dance, Philadelphia University of the Arts, University of Santa Barbara, Long Island University (C.W. Post), the Joffrey School (Texas), New York Hip-Hop Festival, Theatre Passe Muraille (Canada), La Companya (Spain), Tanz Project(Germany), Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, American Ballet Theatre/Make a Ballet Program, Dancespace Center and Peridance Center. Mr. Jeffrey is currently working with The Metropolitan Opera Ballet Company and Lar Lubovitch Dance Company.

Mayte Natalio
Mayte was born and raised in Queens, New York. She is an alumna if the NYC LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts and received her B.F.A. in Dance from the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance in 2005. Mayte has trained at Ballet Hispanico and Dance Theater of Harlem. She has also participated in the Professional Project in Montreal, founded by Alexandra Wells, where she worked with Margie Gillies and Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal among other companies. In 2005 Mayte was in the cast of The Ogunquit Playhouse's production of Elton John's AIDA in Ogunquit, Maine. Mayte has worked with choreographers such as of Camille Brown, Michael Blake, Jacqulyn Buglisi, Roger C. Jeffrey, Nathan Trice, Megan Williams, Kevin Wynn and was an apprentice with Jawole Willa Jo Zollar's Urban Bush Women. Mayte is currently a member of the Parsons Dance Company, she joined the company in May 2006.


	Home About Us News Classes Registration Schedule Media Referral Program Why Choose Us? Gallery Contact Us	FACULTY BIOS Christopher Recchia - Artistic Director (Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Modern, Hip-Hop, Creative Movement) Christopher started his professional career at age 11 in David Merrick's off Broadway production of Stop the World, I Want to get off! starring Jason Alexander. Christopher, a native New Yorker, is a graduate of the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts, class of 1992, under the direction of Michelle Mathesius. Upon his graduation he was accepted and attended The Juilliard School under the direction of Benjamin Harkarvy. Christopher has performed for the following companies/choreographers as; Jacque d'Amboise, artistic director of The National Dance Institute, Septime Weber, Michelle Benash, Lisa Hopkins, Daniel Catanach, Alisa King, Jennifer Muller, Wendy R. Seyb, Walt Disney World Company (Orlando) performing as a "Kid of the Kingdom", Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Joe Antony Cavise, artistic director of Off Center Dance Theatre , "Bio-Systems" a film for The Museum of Natural History and The Gypsy Project. Christopher has been in the productions of NYC Theatrical Events and the Broadway Exchange, working for his teacher/mentor Joe Lanteri. He has also been a guest teacher for Dance America/Dance Olympus convention. He has recently performed in his 5th season with Off Center Dance Theatre as well as performing in the The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz as the "Scarecrow" for The Company Of Dance Arts, Jennifer Church artistic director, Red Bank, NJ. Kimberly Recchia (Business Director) K imberly holds a BBA in Marketing and an AAS in Fashion Merchandising from Laboratory Institute of Merchandising in NY. She has worked for Vera Wang as a Sales & Marketing Executive for the Ready to Wear Division in NY along with Kenneth Cole, Bloomingdales, The Gap, Biolage, and Wella haircare. She has trained in dance for 18 years including classes at Steps on Broadway and Peridance, and has been involved in the business aspect of the dance industry for the past 8 years. Danny Peterson (Tap, Theatre Arts) Danny is from West Long Branch, N.J. whose work has appeared in many national network commercials and soap operas. Dan is a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). He has been a student of dance since the age of 6 and has won a world title in tap dance at the Fred Astaire International Jazz and Tap Championship held at the Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan. He currently teaches tap, acting, and musical theater at the Red Bank Dance Academy and the NYC Performing Arts Centre, Inc. Dan has an extensive background in music, which includes an original music project called Makers of Fine Clocks. With numerous theater productions in his background, Dan has recently appeared as Bobby Child in the Gershwin musical "Crazy For You" at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank. He has worked as a choreographer for the past three years under Director Joe Russo at the Red Bank Regional Performing Arts HighSchool. Dan has enjoyed very much teaching movement and theater expression in a Summer Shakespeare Workshop at the Count Basie Theater. Lionel Blandford (Ballet, Pre-Pointe, Advanced Pointe) A native of Brooklyn, NY, Lionel began his dance training at the age of thirteen at F.H. LaGuardia High School for music and art and for the performing arts. Graduating in 1995 be went on to the Juilliard School where he studied for one year. Lionel has danced with such companies as the Atlanta Ballet, the Georgia Ballet, the Eglevsky Ballet, the Pennsylvania Ballet, and Donald Byrd the group. He is currently Ballet Master for the Darrell Daniels Repertory Dance Co. and is on faculty at the Bronx Dance Academy. He is currently a dancer for Creative Outlet based out of Brooklyn, NY. Jessie "Mira" Nahar (Hip Hop) Jessie "Mira" Nahar is a Brooklyn native who has been dancing since the age of 8 and choreographing since the age of 13. She began training at various dance schools throughout New York City such as, Broadway Dance Center, Stepping Out Studios, New Dance group, Manhattan Motion Studio, Dance Sport Studio. Her dance training consists of Hip-Hop, Street Jazz funk, West African, Afro-Cuban, Salsa and Reggae. She has performed with various artists such as, Missy Elliot, Alliyah, Changing Faces, DLG, Rome, Milo and Veronica. Film credited as a featured Latin dancer in the film Woo, starring Jada Pinkett Smith and Tommy Davison. She began teaching her first hip-hop dance classes at the age of 13 at her Hudde Main JHS in Brooklyn N.Y. That is where she found her passion to choreograph and perform in talent shows, annual recitals, benefit concerts and fund raising showcases. She has been teaching Hip-Hop for over ten years throughout New York, New Jersey and Atlanta at the Madison Boys and Girls club, Beacon Program, Dance Place Plus, Latin Fever Studios, Artistic Dance Motion, Beverley’s Dance School, and Dance Sport. She has performed at Rock Steadys 20th Anniversary celebration, Broadway Dance Centers Performance Outlet with critically ac-claimed Amount Boyz, and the annual Passion of Dance venues. Throughout her career as a dancer/choreographer, she has tackled many other aspects of enriching her life such as graduating with a Bachelors degree from Hunter College in Psychology, volunteering at several public schools mentoring the youth in dance education, interning at various record labels such as Polygram, Mercury, and Black Island Records. Jessie continues to teach dance however, strongly is pursing her career as a professional dancer. James Moody (Acting Technique, Improvisation, Monologue & Scene Study) Jim Moody is a graduate of the Juilliard School and was a member Group 1 under the direction of John Houseman. Mr. Moody has appeared in numerous motion pictures and was nominated for an N.A.A.C.P Image Award for his work in the movie Bad Boys starring Sean Penn. Jim has been a teacher at the LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts for more than thirty years where he helped launch the careers of many young artists including recent Academy Award winner Adrian Brody. In the film Fame written and directed by Alan Parker, Jim played the role of the acting teacher. GUEST TEACHERS Andre Irons Andre Irons was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He began his formal dance training at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts and completed a double major in Business Administration & Africana Studies from the University at Albany in 2005. Andre has trained extensively at the Dance Theatre of Harlem and Alvin Ailey where he received an Honorable Mention Award in Modern Dance from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA) in 2001. He has worked with choreographers such as Camille A. Brown, Roger C. Jeffrey, Lisa Rinehart, and Brian Thomas, and is currently signed with DDO Artist Agency in New York City. Roger C. Jeffrey (Modern) Roger C. Jeffrey was born in New York City where he began his training at Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center. A graduate of Performing Arts High School, he received his B.F.A. from The Juilliard School under the direction of Benjamin Harkarvy. Mr. Jeffrey has performed in the companies of Bernice Johnson, Kevin Iega Jeff, Twyla Tharp, Zvi Gotheiner, Martial Roumain, and with Mikhail Baryshnikov's White Oak Dance Project. He has also worked with Gary Deloatch, Dudley Williams, Eleo Pomare, Benjamin Harkarvy, Otis Salid, Debbie Allen, Rasta Thomas, D'bi. Young, Doug Varone, Richard Move, Mark Dendy and Obediah Wright. Inspired by his mentor Kevin Iega Jeff, he began to explore his full artistic potential as both an instructor and choreographer at the Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center, Edge School of the Arts, Devore Dance Center, Onyx Dance Company, Elisa King and Dancers, Ulster Ballet Company, Philadanco!, CityDance Ensemble, The Juilliard School, Lincoln Center Institute, Goucher College,Marygrove College, City College of New York, Purchase College Conservatory of Dance, Philadelphia University of the Arts, University of Santa Barbara, Long Island University (C.W. Post), the Joffrey School (Texas), New York Hip-Hop Festival, Theatre Passe Muraille (Canada), La Companya (Spain), Tanz Project(Germany), Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, American Ballet Theatre/Make a Ballet Program, Dancespace Center and Peridance Center. Mr. Jeffrey is currently working with The Metropolitan Opera Ballet Company and Lar Lubovitch Dance Company. Mayte Natalio Mayte was born and raised in Queens, New York. She is an alumna if the NYC LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts and received her B.F.A. in Dance from the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance in 2005. Mayte has trained at Ballet Hispanico and Dance Theater of Harlem. She has also participated in the Professional Project in Montreal, founded by Alexandra Wells, where she worked with Margie Gillies and Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal among other companies. In 2005 Mayte was in the cast of The Ogunquit Playhouse's production of Elton John's AIDA in Ogunquit, Maine. Mayte has worked with choreographers such as of Camille Brown, Michael Blake, Jacqulyn Buglisi, Roger C. Jeffrey, Nathan Trice, Megan Williams, Kevin Wynn and was an apprentice with Jawole Willa Jo Zollar's Urban Bush Women. Mayte is currently a member of the Parsons Dance Company, she joined the company in May 2006.
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FACULTY BIOS

GUEST TEACHERS