Isadora Snapp
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TEEN JAZZ CO-DIRECTOR. JUNIOR COMPANY DIRECTOR.
BALLET, JAZZ. |
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Isadora grew up in Vermont, studying studying ballet, modern and jazz with Lorraine Neal and Holly Yacawych at CD&FS. Following her high school graduation, she spent a year in New York city training at Dance New Amersterdam Studios and New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Since then, she has moved back to Vermont to pursue her interest in teaching and her own work. She has had the opportunity and pleasure to work with many local and national artists, including the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, Ron K. Brown, David Dorfman, Larry Keigwan, Yo-El Cassel and Christopher Anderson.
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Current Faculty
Rosemary Leach |
TEEN JAZZ CO-DIRECTOR.
HIPHOP, FUSION |
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Rosemary (she/her) studied at CD&FS during her teen years and performed with the first Teen Jazz group under the direction of Lorraine Neal. Rosemary went on to receive her B.A. in Dance and Cultural Studies at Hampshire College in 1993, and she performed with the Orts Theater of Dance in Tuscon; the Montana Transport Company in Missoula; Hoi Polloi in Massachusetts and Soup/All-Purpose Dance Company at Phantom Theater in Warren, VT. She loves teaching many forms of movement to students of all ages and abilities and also serves on the faculty of Bates Dance Festival Youth Arts Program and Essential Physical Therapy & Pilates.
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MaryChris DeBelina |
BALLET, MODERN, CO-MOTION
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Mary Chris DeBelina Doyle’s focus since 2008 has been primarily teaching children creative dance and raising her growing family. MC studied Biology and Dance at Dartmouth College (B.A. 2005) and combined her two passions at Sarah Lawrence College receiving an MFA in Dance (2008). MC founded the Hopkins Center’s Children’s Creative Dance Program at Dartmouth and taught until 2012 when her family relocated to Philadelphia. Relatively new to Vermont, Mary Chris is excited to find local choreographers to work with and classes to teach.
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annamaria dipietropaolo |
HIP HOP
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AnnaMaria DiPietropaolo (she/her) is originally from Northern Virginia, relocating to Vermont in 2013. She has a strong interest in the preservation and education of Black dance forms and their communities, as well as the relationship between dance and neurodivergence/mental illness, with the ultimate goal of making dance more accessible and inclusive to all by dismantling deeply rooted biases. She currently resides in central Vermont, working as an office manager/dancer/choreographer/podcast host, and spends her spare time creating all different kinds of art. “I am a guest in the street and club dance community, and I am incredibly grateful for the knowledge and movement that has been shared with me by hosts, elders, and my mentors so that I may pass it on to others. The knowledge that I teach comes from Rennie Harris, Moncell Durden, Shakia Johnson, Quilan ‘Cue’ Arnold, and Millie Heckler.
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It's vital for me to acknowledge this so I can help eliminate issues in the community such as attribution, representation, and appropriation. We must be the change we want to see in the world, and hire Black dancers and educators to share their knowledge rather than hearing it secondhand from hegemonic bodies. 100% of the proceeds from my classes go back to Black educators and students.” If you are a BIPOC dancer at CD&FS who is looking for help to cover the cost of classes, please contact the studio.
MARISA HALL |
CONTEMPORARY
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Marisa Hall (she/her) is a dancer and choreographer from the Adirondacks who has found her soul’s home here in Montpelier. Marisa’s affinity for dance has guided her since her earliest years, evolving from a traditional jazz-ballet-modern background to the amalgamation of contemporary-house-femme repertoire that inspires her current works and movement vocabulary. Dance is her home, and sharing this sanctuary with you is her highest honor.
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ALLISON MANN |
TAP, YOGA
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Allison’s rich and eclectic background includes VT State secondary licensure in English, Vocal Music, and Dance, and she is a certified Yoga instructor and Massage Therapist. Allison is also a professional Folk and Jazz vocalist, and continues her ongoing studies of the craft, science, and art of vocal production and singing. Allison’s dance related studies include Afro-Haitian and Afro-Cuban dance and culture, Tap, Jazz, Yoga, and West African dance. Since 1992, Allison has taught dance, movement, music, and academics in public schools, colleges, and private settings including Community College of Vermont, Goddard, Johnson State, and Montpelier High School.
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TRACY MARTIN |
MODERN
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Tracy graduated from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts Dance Department. She performed in several theater dance productions and, after moving to Vermont, has become artistic director of the Phantom Theater in Warren. She has been teaching modern, creative movement for children, and NIA throughout Vermont and has been on the CD&FS faculty for eight years. Tracy believes there is a dancer in everyone. She approaches all of her classes with unbridled enthusiasm and infuses all of her students with creativity and the joy of dancing.
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CALVIN WALKER |
BREAKING
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Calvin Walker (he/him) began dancing in his early teens under the guidance of Cheri Skurdall and the NCUHS dance program. Writer by day, breaker by night, he continues to train and compete in a balanced capacity with his crew/band of brothers, the Rhythm Riderz. In the past, he has performed with Bryce Dance Company, Paula Higa Dance, and as a variety act with the Green Mountain Cabaret. He has taught at studios across Vermont and has a passion for all forms of creative movement.
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Lorraine neal,
FOUNDER
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Lorraine has studied with some of the great legends in modern and jazz, and has taught various styles of dance to students of all ages and levels throughout Vermont and New Hampshire since 1972. She was on the dance faculty of Goddard College, and was a master teacher for the Burklyn Ballet Theatre Summer Program for 10 years, and, more recently, the Arts Supervisor for a small Special Education private school in NYC. Lorraine has choreographed, directed, produced, and performed in numerous dance and theater productions, and is the founder and former artistic director of Teen Jazz.
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