Faculty:
Studio Coordinator, Dancer, & Faculty Member
Kathleen Bostleman began her dance training at the Toledo Ballet and the Toledo School for the Arts, and she later attended the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City on scholarship. She graduated summa cum laude with honors from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and holds a BFA in Ballet. While completing her degree, she studied ballet and modern dance at the Beijing Dance Academy and graduated from the Alonzo King LINES Ballet | Training Program under the direction of Karah Abiog. In addition, she spent summers studying at the Joffrey Ballet School, Colorado Ballet, and Cincinnati Ballet. She has performed and choreographed new work as a freelance artist in San Francisco and New York City and taught classes and workshops for Toledo Ballet, the Teens@LINES program at Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Bay Area Ballet Conservatory, and UCLA Ballet Company. She is an RYT-200 certified yoga instructor and a Licensed Massage Therapist. Embodimentessentials.com
Kathleen Bostleman began her dance training at the Toledo Ballet and the Toledo School for the Arts, and she later attended the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City on scholarship. She graduated summa cum laude with honors from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and holds a BFA in Ballet. While completing her degree, she studied ballet and modern dance at the Beijing Dance Academy and graduated from the Alonzo King LINES Ballet | Training Program under the direction of Karah Abiog. In addition, she spent summers studying at the Joffrey Ballet School, Colorado Ballet, and Cincinnati Ballet. She has performed and choreographed new work as a freelance artist in San Francisco and New York City and taught classes and workshops for Toledo Ballet, the Teens@LINES program at Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Bay Area Ballet Conservatory, and UCLA Ballet Company. She is an RYT-200 certified yoga instructor and a Licensed Massage Therapist. Embodimentessentials.com
Assistant Studio Coordinator, Dancer, & Faculty Member
Hannah Schayes, originally from Syracuse, New York, became serious about her dance training at the age of thirteen. She studied at summer intensive programs with dance companies across the country including Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Paul Taylor, and José Limón. Hannah earned her BFA in Dance and minored in Sociology at Mercyhurst University where she achieved various dance and academic scholarships. As an inductee of the National Honors
Society of Dance Arts (NHSDA), she was involved in experiences on and off campus that allowed her to be engaged in the community. Additionally, she had the opportunity to study abroad in Dungarvan, Ireland, where she performed and
furthered her studies. Currently, she resides in New York City where she is dancing and teaching.
Hannah Schayes, originally from Syracuse, New York, became serious about her dance training at the age of thirteen. She studied at summer intensive programs with dance companies across the country including Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Paul Taylor, and José Limón. Hannah earned her BFA in Dance and minored in Sociology at Mercyhurst University where she achieved various dance and academic scholarships. As an inductee of the National Honors
Society of Dance Arts (NHSDA), she was involved in experiences on and off campus that allowed her to be engaged in the community. Additionally, she had the opportunity to study abroad in Dungarvan, Ireland, where she performed and
furthered her studies. Currently, she resides in New York City where she is dancing and teaching.
Faculty Member
Jalyn Gill recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from Montclair State University where she received a BFA in Dance. Jalyn has performed in works by Earl Mosley, Martha Graham, Christian vonHoward, and Ohad Naharin. She’s been dancing since the age of five and trained in dance schools such as Edge School of the Arts, Dance Theatre of Harlem and Mark Morris Dance Group. Jalyn also had the opportunity to travel abroad to Stockholm, Sweden to participate in an intensive with DOCH University and Balletakadimen.
Jalyn Gill recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from Montclair State University where she received a BFA in Dance. Jalyn has performed in works by Earl Mosley, Martha Graham, Christian vonHoward, and Ohad Naharin. She’s been dancing since the age of five and trained in dance schools such as Edge School of the Arts, Dance Theatre of Harlem and Mark Morris Dance Group. Jalyn also had the opportunity to travel abroad to Stockholm, Sweden to participate in an intensive with DOCH University and Balletakadimen.
Faculty Member
Basia Lamy is a dancer and dance teacher in New York. She began her dance training at the age of three then trained and competed in many styles before turning her focus to ballet at age 13. She was accepted to train on scholarship at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School where she had the opportunity to perform in various works including George Balanchine’s Serenade. Basia also participated in several summer intensive programs including Miami City Ballet, Ballet Chicago, and Alonzo King LINES Ballet. A recent graduate of New York University in the Tisch School of the Arts, Ms.Lamy majored in Dance, with a minor in Business of Entertainment, Media, and Technology and took several courses in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. At Tisch she studied ballet, contemporary, improvisation, and dance composition. During her studies at NYU she had the opportunity to choreograph her own work as well as perform in creative works by students, faculty members, and guest artists. During the pandemic Basia began teaching and choreographing for students via zoom and in-person. Her goal is to always create an environment that focuses on the joy, artistry, and freedom that comes with dance!
Basia Lamy is a dancer and dance teacher in New York. She began her dance training at the age of three then trained and competed in many styles before turning her focus to ballet at age 13. She was accepted to train on scholarship at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School where she had the opportunity to perform in various works including George Balanchine’s Serenade. Basia also participated in several summer intensive programs including Miami City Ballet, Ballet Chicago, and Alonzo King LINES Ballet. A recent graduate of New York University in the Tisch School of the Arts, Ms.Lamy majored in Dance, with a minor in Business of Entertainment, Media, and Technology and took several courses in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. At Tisch she studied ballet, contemporary, improvisation, and dance composition. During her studies at NYU she had the opportunity to choreograph her own work as well as perform in creative works by students, faculty members, and guest artists. During the pandemic Basia began teaching and choreographing for students via zoom and in-person. Her goal is to always create an environment that focuses on the joy, artistry, and freedom that comes with dance!
Dancers:
Dancer
Originally from Saitama, Japan, Kana Takahashi is a NYC-based dancer/actor. Her favorite theater credits include South Pacific at Midtown Arts Center and West Virginia Public Theatre, Miss Saigon, Hair, Pippin, Oklahoma!, Unto These Hills, Six Strings Sonics (Fringe NYC), and War+Lovers (off-Broadway). As a dancer, she has performed for John Cage Centennial Festival, Buglisi Dance Theatre, Ailey Citigroup Theater, MuSE, and Azul Dance Theatre, among others. She received her certificate of dance from the Ailey School. She also holds a Single Sword Stage Combat certification by SAFD and a Flexibility Specialist certification by IFPA. She has been dancing with ALDEN MOVES Dance Theater since 2011. kanatakahashidance.com
Originally from Saitama, Japan, Kana Takahashi is a NYC-based dancer/actor. Her favorite theater credits include South Pacific at Midtown Arts Center and West Virginia Public Theatre, Miss Saigon, Hair, Pippin, Oklahoma!, Unto These Hills, Six Strings Sonics (Fringe NYC), and War+Lovers (off-Broadway). As a dancer, she has performed for John Cage Centennial Festival, Buglisi Dance Theatre, Ailey Citigroup Theater, MuSE, and Azul Dance Theatre, among others. She received her certificate of dance from the Ailey School. She also holds a Single Sword Stage Combat certification by SAFD and a Flexibility Specialist certification by IFPA. She has been dancing with ALDEN MOVES Dance Theater since 2011. kanatakahashidance.com
Dancer
Sarah Elaz is a dancer, choreographer, and bassist from North Andover, Massachusetts. She earned dual degrees in Dance and Physics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and was awarded the Chancellor’s Talent Scholarship for dance. Sarah moved to New York City after participating in Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company’s 5-month Dance Journey program, where she trained intensively in Israel. Sarah is currently a dancer in the multimedia play SHE: A Choreoplay, which has been performed at New York Live Arts, Brooklyn Museum, HERE Arts Center, New York Ethical Society, and at colleges throughout the United States. She has been featured in several music videos and live concerts for bands like KITTEN, the James Brown Dance Party, and Miss Dukes & The Package. Sarah is also a professional musician. She is currently the bassist for Jimmy and THE BAND, Carrier, the Digital Pranksters, and occasionally for Rennie Pincus. She hopes to continue making art in collaboration with the amazing dance, music, and art communities in Brooklyn and beyond.
Sarah Elaz is a dancer, choreographer, and bassist from North Andover, Massachusetts. She earned dual degrees in Dance and Physics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and was awarded the Chancellor’s Talent Scholarship for dance. Sarah moved to New York City after participating in Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company’s 5-month Dance Journey program, where she trained intensively in Israel. Sarah is currently a dancer in the multimedia play SHE: A Choreoplay, which has been performed at New York Live Arts, Brooklyn Museum, HERE Arts Center, New York Ethical Society, and at colleges throughout the United States. She has been featured in several music videos and live concerts for bands like KITTEN, the James Brown Dance Party, and Miss Dukes & The Package. Sarah is also a professional musician. She is currently the bassist for Jimmy and THE BAND, Carrier, the Digital Pranksters, and occasionally for Rennie Pincus. She hopes to continue making art in collaboration with the amazing dance, music, and art communities in Brooklyn and beyond.
Guest Dancers:
Guest Dancer
Estelle Bottella is from Paris, France and trained at the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts where she graduated in 2011. She spent summers training at Boston Ballet School, Colorado Ballet Academy, and the Royal Ballet School. She went on to dance as a trainee with American Repertory Ballet for two years. She joined Connecticut Ballet in 2013 where she was featured as Clara in their Nutcracker alongside Julie Kent and Alexander Hammoudi and spent a year with Manassas Ballet Theatre. In 2015, Estelle moved to Germany to dance with JSLN Dance Company where she spent two years touring Europe performing numerous works of classical and neoclassical ballet. In September 2017, Estelle was featured on French national television in the TV show “Prodigies” on France2 where she performed with the Winter Palace Saint Petersburg Ballet. Recently, Estelle performed with Connecticut Ballet, Thomas Ortiz Dance, Ballet for Young Audiences, Lydia Johnson Dance, Jersey City Ballet. Estelle has taught kids and adults for the past five years throughout the tristate area. She is an enthusiastic teacher who loves to introduce ballet to whoever wants to learn.
Estelle Bottella is from Paris, France and trained at the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts where she graduated in 2011. She spent summers training at Boston Ballet School, Colorado Ballet Academy, and the Royal Ballet School. She went on to dance as a trainee with American Repertory Ballet for two years. She joined Connecticut Ballet in 2013 where she was featured as Clara in their Nutcracker alongside Julie Kent and Alexander Hammoudi and spent a year with Manassas Ballet Theatre. In 2015, Estelle moved to Germany to dance with JSLN Dance Company where she spent two years touring Europe performing numerous works of classical and neoclassical ballet. In September 2017, Estelle was featured on French national television in the TV show “Prodigies” on France2 where she performed with the Winter Palace Saint Petersburg Ballet. Recently, Estelle performed with Connecticut Ballet, Thomas Ortiz Dance, Ballet for Young Audiences, Lydia Johnson Dance, Jersey City Ballet. Estelle has taught kids and adults for the past five years throughout the tristate area. She is an enthusiastic teacher who loves to introduce ballet to whoever wants to learn.
Guest Dancer
Liz McKendry hails from Buffalo, N.Y and is celebrating her fifth year with this beautiful company. Liz got her start performing in Donn Arden's Jubilee! before landing a spot in the Broadway Musical The Producers. Off-Broadway: Sleep No More (McKittrick Hotel), Comedy of Errors, Othello (The Shakespeare Lab NYC). Regional: The Red Dress (The New Phoenix Theatre), Mamma Mia (The Gateway), The Producers (Paper Mill Playhouse), A Funny Thing...Forum (Paper Mill Playhouse), Boeing (Cape May Stage). Film: The Producers. Gratitude to Alden Moves Dance Theatre and Luigi's Jazz Centre.
Liz McKendry hails from Buffalo, N.Y and is celebrating her fifth year with this beautiful company. Liz got her start performing in Donn Arden's Jubilee! before landing a spot in the Broadway Musical The Producers. Off-Broadway: Sleep No More (McKittrick Hotel), Comedy of Errors, Othello (The Shakespeare Lab NYC). Regional: The Red Dress (The New Phoenix Theatre), Mamma Mia (The Gateway), The Producers (Paper Mill Playhouse), A Funny Thing...Forum (Paper Mill Playhouse), Boeing (Cape May Stage). Film: The Producers. Gratitude to Alden Moves Dance Theatre and Luigi's Jazz Centre.