Ballet Master & Dance Scientist, Artistic Consultant

Arleen Sugano "Miss A"

Miss A Sugano, although she received her MFA in choreography (University Iowa/undergraduate UC Berkeley-dance), her recent focus has been devoted to ballet pedagogy for professionals and pre-professionals: streamlining the technique to promote safe dance practices by honing biomechanics. Highlights include teaching at the Joffrey Ballet School & Rod Rodgers Dance Company, both in NYC, Lula Washington Dance Company in L.A.; coaching ballet gold medalist Aya Noma to national titles in Japan, performing in several companies of A Chorus Line, producing the national tour of the Canadian ballet In The Land of Spirits, and working with Shania Twain as her movement stylist. From 2009-2011 she was the artistic director of Ballet Arkansas.
The USA International Ballet Competition held in Jackson, MS invited her to be part of the school faculty associated with the competition in 2010. Additionally, that year, the International Alliance of Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) invited her to speak in the plenary session in Birmingham, England.
She co-authored with dance physicist, the late Dr. Kenneth Laws, the second edition of the book, Physics and Art of Dance (Oxford University Press, released in 2008). In February 2016, she scripted the TED-Ed video on fouettés. Her current projects include writing a new book detailing classical ballet training integrating science: analyzing biomechanical ergonomics to reduce the risk of injury, and promote longevity and, producing a teacher training program. She contributed to IADMS’s health and wellness book for young dancers that was released in Fall 2016. In February 2021, she authored an article for Pointe magazine on alignment and placement.
Because of the internet, Miss A is able to teach and consult all over the country and world. She writes a weekly newsletter that incorporates her approach and methodology to ballet technique.​

Dance Movement Therapist, guest choreographer

Ali McClellan

Co-Founder & Choreographer of Larga Vista Dance

Ali is an Arkansas-bred, Brooklyn-based creative artist. She began dancing at a young age, training in ballet, contemporary, and jazz styles for 15 years. Ali’s early training includes mentorship from Tracie Stanfeild, Arleen Sugano, and Kristen Pittman. Upon moving to New York, Ali completed a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Marymount Manhattan College. She graduated magna cum laude, training with artists such as: Sheila Barker, Nancy Lushington, Catherine Cabeen, Francoise Pender, and more. Ali holds a Master of Science degree in Dance/Movement Therapy from the Pratt Institute. Dance/movement therapy provides an expansive framework of viewing movement, thus informing Ali’s perspective of her approach to choreography: an investigation of one’s internal and external world(s), spontaneity as expression, and the innate emotional catharsis of movement. In addition to her work in New York, Ali enjoys teaching at studios throughout Arkansas and Missouri, sharing her love and knowledge of contemporary and improvisation movement styles. She continues to choreograph solo and group pieces that perform across the Midwest. When teaching, Ali creates a learning environment of self-exploration and emphasis on relationship and authentic connection with others. Each person on this planet has a unique life experience. Through her personal movement practice, teaching, choreography, and therapeutic facilitation, Ali opens herself to various perspectives while acknowledging the limits of her own. Ali constantly looks to grow, and facilitate growth, through a lens of compassion, curiosity, and humility.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist

Dr. Iris Platt

Iris is a pelvic floor physical therapy specialist whose path has been anything but linear. With a diverse background spanning dance, yoga, martial arts, strength training, clinical work, and applied research, she brings a uniquely holistic perspective to her practice.

Originally from Boston, Iris grew up competing in international Latin and ballroom dance before moving to New York City to pursue a BFA in Modern Dance at Marymount Manhattan College. While dancing in project-based works and teaching yoga professionally across Manhattan, she earned her Master’s degree in Neuroscience from Columbia University in 2017. During this time she was also an active collaborator and researcher with the Reciprocity Collaborative and Partnering Lab, a Boston-based applied research initiative focusing on ethics in physical interaction.

In 2021, Iris completed her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Columbia and began her clinical career at Beyond Basics, a leading pelvic health clinic in Manhattan. She launched her own private practice, Elemental Movement PT, in 2023 and became a certified Pelvic Rehabilitation Specialist through Herman & Wallace in 2024.

Outside the clinic, Iris is a first-degree black belt and remains an active teacher and practitioner of both Karate and Yoga. She has taught courses in Health Equity & Social Justice and Pelvic Health at Columbia University, and regularly leads workshops on pelvic health, breath, and movement.

Iris’s multifaceted background informs her integrative approach to care—rooted in science, shaped by movement, and grounded in deep respect for the body’s capacity to heal and adapt.

​​

​​

​​

​​

​

​​​

Sports Rehab Injury Specialist

June Rivera

June Rivera is a board-certified athletic trainer and strength & conditioning coach, specializing in sports medicine, injury rehab and pain management. She has been coaching since 2013 and has worked in D1 collegiate settings and professional sports. Coach June fuses advanced rehab principles with genuine care, guiding clients to build strength, restore mobility, enhance the brain and body connection, and prevent future setbacks. With a track record spanning collegiate to youth athletics—Columbia University, Long Island University, Wagner College, Poly Prep, and Bay Ridge Prep—June delivers world-class programming to help you move pain-free, train smarter, and get back to what you love.

​

• M.S. in Sports Medicine and Athletic Training, Long Island University (2017)

• Board-Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) 

• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)

• Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES)

• Functional Movement Screen (FMS-L1)

• USA Weightlifting Level 1 (USAWL1)

​​

​​

​​

​​​

​​

​​​

​​

​​

​​

​​

​​​

​​​​

​​

​​

​​

​​​​​​​​​​

CNM, MSCP, CSC

Kara Govoni

Kara Govoni is a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), Menopause Society-Certified Practitioner, and AASECT Certified Sexuality Counselor. She has dedicated her career to helping women through vulnerable life experiences, from pregnancy and birth, to sexual dysfunction, to midlife and menopause. She has worked as a full-scope CNM for the past 13 years in both obstetrics and gynecology but over the past five years has honed her specialty to sexual health and midlife care, as she feels an increasing passion to help women during some of the most vulnerable - but least-talked-about-times in their lives. 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Menopause Coach

Grace Veras Sealy

Grace Veras Sealy is a Women's  Holistic Health Coach (IIN), Perinatal Consultant, Doula and Educator. She is a Menopause Health Coach at Elektra Health, a digital health company that provides evidence-based virtual care, education, and peer support for women navigating the 10+ years of the menopause transition. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Integrative Primary Care Physician

Dr. Chloe Godwin

Dr. Godwin is an integrative primary care physician certified by the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine and the American Board of Family Medicine.  She became interested in a holistic approach to health while at Brown University where she focused on community health. Originally from North Carolina, Dr. Godwin has now called Brooklyn home for the last 14 years.  She is currently affiliated with NYU and practices at Sullivan Street Medical. This downtown private practice was founded with the idea of going against the grain by devoting more time to patient visits and providing modern primary care which sees each patient as an individual.  Dr. Godwin’s areas of expertise include women’s health, thyroid health, and an integrative approach to primary care.
 

Women's Health Coach

Chantel Bermejo

Chantel Bermejo is a women’s strength coach with a B.S. in Exercise Science, physical therapy experience, and advanced certifications in:

• Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism Coach 

• Pregnancy & Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist 

• Functional Movement Screening

Specializing in prenatal, postpartum, menopause, and pelvic floor health, Chantel blends functional strength training with rehab-based principles to support women in every season of life.

Her philosophy: All women deserve to strength train.
Whether you’re preparing for motherhood, navigating menopause, or simply want to feel strong and capable—this assessment is your empowering first step.

Chantel guides women through every season, focusing on pelvic floor health, mindful breathing, and balanced nutrition. Her holistic approach fosters strength, stability, and self-assurance, ensuring progress inside and outside the gym. Chantel has helped countless women rebuild strength, resilience, and vitality—proving age and motherhood are catalysts for growth.

Contemporary Master Teacher

Max Stone

Max holds an MFA in dance and served six years as Senior Lecturer on the faculty at Southern Methodist University. He was with the original Broadway cast of the Neil Simon/Marvin Hamlisch musical/play, They’re Playing Our Song. He has guest taught at the Juilliard Conservatory, Tish School of the Arts at NYU, Complexions Summer/Winter Intensives, Bates and Joffrey Summer Dance Intensives,  conducted choreography seminars for Cirque du Soleil’s Mystère, and classes for Paul Taylor Dance Company. During their NY City Center season in 2010, Max taught company classes for Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake. Recently, he choreographed for The Rainforest Benefit at Carnegie Hall, sponsored and directed by Sting and his wife, Trudie Styler. In 2013, Max choreographed for the Noah Baumbach/Greta Gerwig film, Frances Ha. He is currently on faculty at both STEPS on Broadway and Peridance Center.
Max is Artistic Director of Sexy Beast NYC, an online-only dance company based in New York City. 

Max was gracious to allow the Larga Vista Dance Company use parts of his specialized whole body warm-up as their company warm-up. Many of the dancers and choreographers train with Max in NYC. 

Guest Choreographer

Miho Ryu

Miho Ryu is a New York–based dancer, choreographer, and teaching artist originally from Tokyo, Japan. She holds a BA in Drama from Waseda University and received the Best Dance Choreography Award at the Oniros Film Awards® in 2018. She has created and performed over 100 works—including live performances, films, music videos, and interactive installations—across Europe, Asia, and the United States. Her choreography for the film The Sea was featured at the 68th Berlin International Film Festival, where she also appeared on stage. After two decades of professional work based in Japan, Ryu returned to New York in 2024—the city where she first trained in dance from 1999 to 2004. Her recent work has been presented at WestFest Top Floor at the Martha Graham Studio Theater, Crossing Boundaries at Dixon Place, Recess at Chez Bushwick, At Capacity/AOCC by Movement Research at BAX, TNSP at Peridance Center, Time Capsule Project at Chain Theatre, Yes! Dance Festival at Firehouse Theatre (VA), Asiatri Jogja 2025 in Indonesia. She currently teaches contemporary dance at Peridance Center and Steps on Broadway.

​

​​​

Guest Choreographers & Professional Dancers

Soles of Duende

A Brooklyn-born Puerto-Rican from New Haven, a Mexican Puerto-Rican Jew from the Lower East Side, and a Bengali Indian from Jersey walked on to the wooden floor & the rest? History. Bonded by their deep love of music, their crafts, and true connection, Soles of Duende is on a lifelong mission to elevate the joy and music of true collaboration across disciplines and the celebration of the forms they practice. Based in the sounds of Tap (Amanda Castro), Flamenco (Arielle Rosales) and Kathak (Brinda Guha) , Soles of Duende’s fire is the spirit that lives within each of these women to celebrate their connection given their beautiful differences and to uplift the forms that made them.
Soles of Duende (est. 2016) is a Bessie-nominated group (2023) that has graced the stages of The Joyce Theater, Joe’s Pub, Reg Lenna Arts Center, Yale Schwarzman Center, Barnes Foundation, Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Museum, NYU Skirball Center, Danspace Project and more. Soles has been featured on the cover of Dance Magazine (March 2024), received Critics’ Pick in the New York Times (2022) and was listed as one of NYT’s Best Dance Performances of 2022. Soles has lit floors on fire since their inception showcasing the power of three women conversing in distinct percussive dance traditions. solesofduende.com

Guest Choreographer & Professional Dancer

Alexis Borth

Alexis Borth is a dance artist, choreographer and educator based in New York with a continued footprint in Kansas City. She is also a GYROTONIC®/GYROKINESIS®/yoga instructor, previous Charlotte Street Foundation Studio Resident (’22-’24) and Director of KC Open Pro Class. She holds her BFA in Dance Performance & Choreography from the Conservatory at UMKC. Her career has been stationed in New York, San Francisco and beyond - highlighted credits include: Complexions Contemporary Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, New York Fashion Week, Dance Theatre of San Francisco, and various independent projects and music videos. Alexis’ choreography has been presented/commissioned by Berkeley Ballet Theater, SF Art Institute, Kansas City Ballet, & Charlotte Street’s Making Moves/ProdoLab/Scratch Night/Art Gallery. She has produced upwards of 15 works in the last three years for CSF’s programming and for national organizations and events. Alexis continues to perform, choreograph, and teach across the country with plans to expand her creative reach internationally.

​

​

Guest Choreographers & Professional Dancers

sarAika movement collective

sarAika movement collective is a New York–based contemporary dance company founded by queer women Aika Takeshima (Japan) and Sara Pizzi (Italy). Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, the collective uses dance as a tool for social engagement, exploring themes that spark dialogue and connection. Blending cross-genre and cross-cultural collaboration, their work ranges from pressing social issues to personal narratives. sarAika also partners with local organizations to develop community-based programs, aiming to create safe, expressive spaces that nurture creativity and expand the boundaries of art.

Founded in 2021, sarAika joined the NYC Dance Parade, which was being streamed live on TV Channel 25, and they were part of the opening reception of the SJAC Annual Open Gallery. In 2022 sarAika performed live/live stream or video projected more than 50 times, including their first evening-length show as Off Off Broadway, maturing their first commission for ETALIA Theater and The Museum of NYC. Every year, sarAika is part of Queensboro Dance Festival, Japan Parade, NYC Pride March, and a guest dance company for Dance Parade. In 2023, they were awarded by Spoke The Hub to have their first solo production, received RedTail residency at JCAL, and toured in Japan, offering choreographic workshops and performances. In 2024, they were also commissioned by IATI and awarded as resident artists at the Performance Project at University Settlement for an evening-length show. Recently, sarAika is committed to an international collaboration with OICDF in Japan and LPP in Italy, and commissioned by Naoko Tosa to choreograph for their show for NWFW in collaboration with Japan Society.

Guest Professional Dancer

Lana Hankinson

Born and raised in Marietta, Georgia, Ms. Hankinson is a freelance performing artist currently based out of New York City. In early years, she studied at Anne Burton Avery’s Academy Dance Company and then in the Metropolitan Ballet Theatre’s Conservatory Program under the direction of Maniya Barredo and Andrea Pell. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Adelphi University as recipient of the Jeff and Tina Bolton Scholarship and Ruth St. Denis Prize, under the tutelage of Frank Augustyn.

Ms. Hankinson is also a Dance Equity Association and ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensives in Pre-Primary through Level 7 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.

Guest Professional Dancer

Roxanne Young

Roxanne Young, a native of Denver, CO, trained at her mother's studio, Expressions of Dance and Arts Academy and at the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance School. She attended the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, TX from 2003-2006 where she was a member of the Repertory Dance Company I. In 2006, Ms. Young was a Finalist for the National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts in Modern Dance, now YoungArts, which is held in Miami, FL. After high school she continued her studies at the University of Utah, joining the Department of Modern Dance from 2006-2010. In 2010 she joined the Dallas Black Dance Theatre II and in 2011 Ms. Young joined the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble as a member of the second company and was promoted to the first company after one season and continue dancing for the company for 3 seasons. After being an apprentice for a year, Ms. Young had danced with Elisa Monte Dance, under the direction of Tiffany Rea-Fisher in 2016 for one season. Taking on the path of freelancing, Roxanne had worked with variety of artists including nathan trice/RITUALS Dance Theater Music, Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company, Heidi Latsky Dance, Yara Travieso, Gesel Mason Performance Projects, AThomasProject, Clymove, Emotions Physical Theatre, and Nu-World Contemporary Danse Theater.

In addition to performing, Ms. Young enjoys teaching creative dance, ballet, modern dance, and jazz to students from the age of 5 to adults. She had the privilege teaching in institutions such as Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Academy, Purelements, Montclair High School, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, National Enrichment Group, Marcia Brooks/Various Works, Peridance, Brooklyn United and was a Horton Technique Assistant to Milton Myers at the Ailey School and Steps on Broadway.

Roxanne is a proud owner and founder of KarmaInMotion88 L.L.C., a massage practice that came into existence since October 2021.