Studio Coordinators:
Studio Coordinator & Dancer
Sasha Smith, originally from Syracuse NY, earned her BFA in Dance from Adelphi University in 2014 where she performed works by Paul Taylor, Pascal Rioult and Orion Duckstein. As a freelance artist in NYC she has been a company member with Vashti Dance Theater, Ballaro Dance and Mazzini Dance Collective. Additionally she worked with Dance Heginbotham during the creation and tour of a commissioned work for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and with Emily Johnson Catalyst Dance for a site-specific performance atop an installation at Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens, NY. Sasha is currently a collaborating artist with Parisa Khobdeh Dance Company and Bridget Cronin Dance. Concurrent with her dance pursuits, Sasha is an RYT certified yoga instructor.
Sasha Smith, originally from Syracuse NY, earned her BFA in Dance from Adelphi University in 2014 where she performed works by Paul Taylor, Pascal Rioult and Orion Duckstein. As a freelance artist in NYC she has been a company member with Vashti Dance Theater, Ballaro Dance and Mazzini Dance Collective. Additionally she worked with Dance Heginbotham during the creation and tour of a commissioned work for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and with Emily Johnson Catalyst Dance for a site-specific performance atop an installation at Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens, NY. Sasha is currently a collaborating artist with Parisa Khobdeh Dance Company and Bridget Cronin Dance. Concurrent with her dance pursuits, Sasha is an RYT certified yoga instructor.
Assistant 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
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.
Additional Faculty Members:
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!