DESTINATION DANCE
INSTRUCTORS 2021
Norberto “Betto” Herrera, from Ecuador, migrated to New Jersey with his family in 1996 as a teenager. He started to train in Latin dance to feel in touch with his culture, an experience which inspired him to seek knowledge about the roots of Afro-Latin music and dances.
Soon after joining the US Marines in 2000, Betto started teaching Afro-Latin dance classes at Camp Lejeune, NC and the Jacksonville USO. His desire to dance, led him to the Triangle Area, where he started teaching as well, and finally founded Mambo Dinamico Dance Company in 2002, and continued teaching lessons even after his discharge from Active duty in 2004. He now teaches at Carmen’s Cuban Cafe, in a partnership that has helped create a vibrant dance scene in the Triangle area.
During his career, Betto had sought training and mentorship from some leaders in the dance and music industry, like Salsa Dancer Ismael Otero, Afro-Cuban Master Felix “Pupy” Insua+, legendary mambo dancer Cuban Pete and Barbara Craddock, Afro-Cuban Maestra Marisol Blanco, and Ethnomusicologist Prof. David Garcia from UNC-CH.
Some highlights of his career include:
- Featured artist at national and international dance conferences.
- Appointed as judge of several regional and international competitions.
- Featured in many local and national publications.
- Appearances in local and international television.
- Sought as a subject for scholarly research by University professors and students because of his expertise in Afro-Latin dance and music.
- Coordinated collections of items needed for disaster relief like Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and Ecuador’s Earthquake.
- Conducted lectures and presentations at schools, universities, corporations, national organizations and local government about the influence of Latin music, dance and culture in the US.
Celebrated as one of the most gifted and innovative new voices in American dance, Juel D. Lane was anything but fearless growing up in Atlanta, Georgia. Overcome by severe anxiety as a child, Lane would soon discover it was that same body that would unlock his freedom.
Lane’s serendipitous encounter with dance occurred while he studied theater in Tri-Cities High School’s Visual and Performing Arts magnet program. Picking up on his faculty and fluidity with movement, teachers Freddie Hendricks and Dawn Axam suggested Lane register for dance classes. And like a tsunami stirred by a butterfly in flight, Lane’s dance destiny was set into motion.
After receiving elite training from Tri-Cities High School and the Youth Ensemble of Atlanta, Lane earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts with a focus on Contemporary Dance. It was the unconstrained self-expression offered by this style of dance that freed Lane from his severe anxiety.
Lane pushes the boundaries of contemporary dance through choreography that “strips labels and shows humanity,” as he puts it. Whether he examines political concepts, gender roles, or his own intimate experiences, Lane stays unapologetically true to his singular perspective. Lane’s clear vision is met by his extraordinary technical talent, resulting in ever-growing national acclaim that is helping to launch his career to new heights.
World-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater recently invited Lane to flex his creative muscle as a featured choreographer for Ailey II, a secondary company that focuses on emerging young dancers and innovative choreographers. This addition to Lane’s resume lends global flare to an already robust list of accolades and achievements.
Lane’s exceptional repertoire has landed him on the cover of Dance Studio Magazine and on Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” list.
Currently dancing with Bessie Award-winning Camille A. Brown & Dancers, Lane made history in 2012 as the first local and independent black choreographer to have his work commissioned by the Atlanta Ballet. From there, he participated in the 2015-2016 Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation New Directions Choreography Lab, and collaborated with dance legends across the United States.
In 2010, he began incorporating multimedia into his performative work. His film projects, "Just Another Day," "How to Kill a Ghost," and "When The Beat Drops," showcase the complexity, playfulness and creativity within this dynamic choreographer’s mind.
Lane’s choreographic voice and the growth of his repertoire share one common thread: they are fast. Lane nods to his up-tempo inclinations when he says, “My work is fast because the hyperactive boy with anxiety is still in there.” Lucky for us, he is helping to shape the future of dance before our very eyes.
Lindsay Fischer Viatori spent the bulk of her career in New York City dancing with Helen Simoneau Danse (rehearsal director), Nathan Trice/RITUALS, Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company, Collective Body/ Dance Lab, Ellen Cornfield, Daniel Charon, Camille A. Brown, Ayo Jackson, Steve Rooks, Sidra Bell and VIA Dance Collaborative (founding member). She has also had the pleasure of performing works by Twyla Tharp, Jiri Kylian, Ton Simons, Esther Baker-Tarpaga, Tatiana Baganova, Simoné Ferro, and Miguel Gutierrez among others. She has performed in Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera’s West Side Story and North Shore Music Theater’s Victor/Victoria. Film credits include Lead Arabian in Robert Lindgren’s The Nutcracker (PBS/UNC-TV), feature film Across the Universe (directed by Julie Taymore and choreography by Daniel Ezralow), music video Pieces of You by The Hot Seconds, dance film SILKEN: EDGE, and she is currently collaborating with director Cara Hagen on an upcoming dance film titled Color Theory. Her choreography has been presented at the Ailey Citigroup Theater (NYC), St. Mark's Church (NYC), and University Settlement (NYC) as well as commissioned for SUNY Fredonia, VIA Dance Collaborative, Point Park University, and Slippery Rock University. She received her BFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in 2002 where she was the recipient of the prestigious Sarah Graham Kenan Endowed Fellowship of Excellence. She also received her MFA in Choreography from the University of Iowa in 2014 as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and as the first recipient of the Strategic Initiative Fellowship recognizing excellence in her field. She was awarded a Community Supported Artist Grant through the New Hazlett Theater (Pittsburgh, PA) and presented an evening of her work titled OverExposed in April 2017. For this performance, she was also recognized as an “Outstanding Performance” in the Pittsburgh City Paper. In 2017, she began performing for The Blanket (a Pittsburgh-based dance company) where she performed the iconic works of Lucinda Childs and was featured in Dance Magazine Online. Additional performances with The Blanket include the works of Christopher Williams and Beth Gill. Currently, she is co-authoring research on ethical jazz dance pedagogy with collaborator Jeremy Blair. She is also the co-founder and director of the FORGE Summer Dance Intensive, hosted at Slippery Rock University. She is an assistant professor of dance at Slippery Rock University teaching all levels of Ballet, Modern, and Jazz Techniques, as well as, Composition, Repertory and Lecture Courses.
Baba McDaniel Roberts is a legend in the Durham Public Schools community and 2016 Durham Arts Council Emerging Artist Recipient for Dance. Currently, he is the Artistic Director of The Harambee Collective, Assistant Artistic Director of the African American Community Collaborative, and Master teacher at Empower Dance Studio. Baba McDaniel encourages all youth with his mantra, "Believe in Yourself, Keep the Faith, and Don't Give Up".
Soumayah Consuela Nanji is a graduate of Tri-Cities High School where she majored in dance. She is trained in various forms of African Diaspora Movement including Afrobeats, Champeta, Dancehall, House, and Samba Reggae. Soumayah has travelled globally teaching dance workshops and intensives in Africa, Asia, USA, and South America and has trained with various international dance instructors including Jose Carlos Arandiba, Sekou Heru, Rennie Harris, and Danielle Lima. Currently, Mrs. Nanji is the Artistic Director of her own dance company, Gifted En Movement Dance Theater, showcasing works in progress in Afro-contemporary dance theater and teaching masterclasses as a touring international dance artist.
Francine E. Ott, a native of New Orleans, received her B.F.A in Dance from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and has had the pleasure of studying with many artists that she admires. She has worked and danced with Camille A. Brown and Dancers, Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, A Dance Company, among others. She has had the privilege of teaching many workshops, classes, and residencies---as well as being able to showcase her choreography. Francine has received her Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling at Nyack College, and is currently a Dance Lecturer and Director of Panoramic Dance Project at North Carolina State University. Ms. Ott has her own company, Francine E. Ott/The Walk, where she integrates mental health with dance and other art forms, allowing one to further their creativity through a unique therapeutic process---providing a space for growth, healing, change, and transformation in one's life.
Lauren Tartaglia has performed in multiple Jersey Boys productions including Broadway, First National Tour and Las Vegas, where she is a three-time recipient of the BroadwayWorld.com award. Tours: Hairspray, Grease starring Frankie Avalon (Rizzo). Training: Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, BM/CUA. Endless love and thanks to Mom, Dad, Christine, and my incredible husband, Hector!
Tareake Dorill Ramos (Rehearsal Assistant/Dancer) was proudly born and raised in the Lower East Side, NYC. Tareake graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in 2017 with a BFA in Dance. Tareake trained with Rosie’s Theater Kids, New York State Summer School for the Arts (NYSSSA), Dancing Classrooms and The Ailey School. He has performed in works by Robert Battle, Juel D. Lane, Ming-Lung Yang, Twyla Tharp, Doug Varone, Kira Blazek and Susan Jaffe. Tareake started his own organization, Dorill Initiative, to empower youth to tell their stories and transform communities through art. Tareake has taught at First to Fifth Summer Intensive (NY), EPIC Dance Convention (NC), Broadway Dance Center (NY), The Isadora Festival (Russia), and Scottsdale Community College (AZ). Tareake is grateful to be a part of G&D and excited to be in his third season with the company.
Brianna Cooper holds a BFA in Dance Performance from East Carolina University. During her time at ECU she performed in faculty works, student choreographed shows, ACDFA events, and with guest artists including Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and Madeline Reber. After graduating she continued her training at the American Dance Festival. For two years, she had the privilege to work with La Bella Vita Arts based in Livorno, Italy. She then performed for several years with Code f.a.d. Company, based in Raleigh, NC. Brianna currently performs with North Carolina-based contemporary dance companies including OM Grown Dancers, Natalie Marrone & The Dance Cure, and KT COLLECTIVE.
Brianna also has a passion for educating young dancers. She is currently the Jazz and Contemporary Director at Destiny Dance Institute and Co-Director of the Campaneria Ballet School Ensemble, in addition to working as a freelance choreographer and instructor for other private studios throughout the region. She is also a preschool dance teacher with Little People’s Creative Workshop. She has worked with undergraduate students as a guest instructor at The Tuscan Summer Dance Intensive and Duke University. She recently studied at Giordano Dance Chicago and became certified in the basic, beginning, and intermediate levels of the Giordano Jazz Technique through the Nan Giordano Certification Program. When she is not dancing, Brianna works in group fitness and as a certified Pilates Instructor and holds certifications from the American Council on Exercise as a Group Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer.
Rachel Harris started dancing at Dance Productions, a studio in her hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina. She graduated Cum Laude from the University of Southern California Glorya Kaufman School of Dance where she received her BFA with an architecture concentration in 2020. While in school, she also trained at Jacob’s Pillow, Abraham.In.Motion, and Ailey School summer intensives and was featured in music video by popular artist Brandy. Upon graduation, Harris joined Zeitgeist Dance Theatre as an inaugural company member and later joined Parsons Dance in July 2020. Harris has choreographed for Howard University, Windward School, and dance studios alike. She is also the co-founder of Make Space, a program that provides opportunities to mentor and engages young Black artists. Harris works to maintain her performance and choreographic versatility while integrating environmentally-friendly technology into her practice.
Dom-Sebastian
Hip Hop
Dom-Sebastian is a Hip-Hop & Contemporary Fusion Artist trained in various degrees of StreetDance, social grooves, and contemporary dance techniques. He has battled amongst B-Boys, shot commercials for Samsung and NatGeo, done blogs for Verizon, and is apart of an elite dance community known as the Red Bull Beat Riders.
Dom-Sebastian has taught in multiple teaching settings for universities, local studios, and community workshops for organizations like the NC Folk Festival, GCS Dance Day, and Greensboro Downtown Parks. He was the first Hip-Hop Dance Instructor to teach at ADF's Studios and has completed training with the National Dance Institute (founded by New York City Ballet principal dancer Jacques d’Amboise). Dom-Sebastian is an Adjunct Professor for Elon University. He works with Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, NC as an Arts Integrated Facilitator where he uses art as a learning tool to assist elementary teachers in Title 1 schools. He is trained in multiple forms of improvisation and choreographic techniques. Dom-Sebastian also teaches private lessons and works with local stores to produce social media content to promote their businesses.
Kathryn Roberts Leibe is a native of North Carolina where she received her BFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts – School of Dance. She has trained with the Boston Ballet, The Rock School, Merce Cunningham Studios, and Limon Institute to name a few. In 2002 Kathryn had the honor to be a guest teacher for the North Carolina Dance Festival and UNCSA summer program. Kathryn has performed, choreographed, and trained dancers throughout North Carolina, New York City, and New Jersey. While in New Jersey, she taught ballet and contemporary dance at the notable Academy of Dance Arts under the direction of Shayne and Nick Mishoe. During her time there she significantly elevated the contemporary program at ADA and in 2013 she created “Evening of Dance”. An evening of Dance was a performance of her own choreography with the collaboration of her students to benefit a local charity. This tradition has generated thousands of dollars for charities in Monmouth County, NJ, and is still being held every Spring. Along with being a dance teacher, Kathryn is a certified Pilates instructor and has her own studio, KL Pilates LLC located in Charleston, SC. Drawn to Pilates at an early age, it has become a key part of her dance training and injury rehabilitation. Kathryn received her Pilates teaching certification through Kinected under the supervision of Kelly Kane and with Ellie Herman of Ellie Herman Pilates in Brooklyn, NY. She also trained with Blossom Leilani Crawford of Bridge Pilates and Pilates Anytime! Kathryn brings a dancer's perspective to her teaching which helps her students achieve their fullest range of motion in the safest way possible. She takes pride in providing students with the tools necessary to carry them through everyday movements regardless of any physical limitations. Her dedication and vast experience help her students reach their goals in a safe, positive, and supportive environment. She currently lives in Charleston with her husband and two children.
Originally from Colombia, Andrea was born in a family of artists. Her mother, a folklore dancer, and her father, a songwriter, and musician, influenced her love for music and dancing. At a very early age, Andrea was committed to learning different Latin American folk dances at the school of arts which she attended in Bogotá. She was later selected by the school to participate in school dance competitions around the country. She joined a Latin American Folk Dance company for seven years performing dances like Tango, Flamenco, and Jarabe Tapatio. Even though she took a different college path, she continued dancing as a hobby and stayed connected with her folk roots after finishing school. Andrea came to the U.S in 2013 and has been a Latin Dance instructor at the Walltown Children’s Theater for 4 years and at Clapping Hands Farm for the past two years. Andrea has performed in different local events in Durham and at the Durham Public Schools. Andrea brings to all her classes new sounds and rhythms that will transport participants to the roots of Latin America.
Ronald West is a graduate of the North Carolina State University / College of Design / School of Architecture and received a Bachelor’s Degree in 2007 for Environmental Design in Architecture. Ronald was mentored and trained under Kirstie Spadie of the North Carolina Dance Institute on a full scholarship while attending the College of Design. He has studied and danced as a company member of the Black Box Dance Theater lead by Artistic Curator, Michelle Pearson, an adjunct company member at the Dance Exchange in Washington D.C. lead by artistic director, Cassie Meador, and has studied at ‘The PULSE’ student and teacher workshops in Atlanta and New York under the pulse faculty master teachers and various workshops across North Carolina. A natural study, Ronald began assisting six months into his training and went on to teach by the end of his first year of training. He continues to explore a vast range of dance movements in his classes, in which cutting-edge contemporary hip hop and jazz styles are explored. To add, he has danced professionally in Modern Dance works, both locally and nationally, under choreographers Diego Carrasco Schoch, Kate Davis, Courtney Greer, Justin Tornow, Killian Manning, and Michelle Pearson in association with the Continuum Collective, Dance Exchange, and Black Box Dance Theater. He has also had works featured and selected in the North Carolina Dance Festival, the Durham Independent Dance Artists premiere season, as well as, the upcoming independent documentary, ‘Earth Caster’, about the life of Thomas Sayre, where he danced, conceptualized, and choreographed movement for the film. He has become one of North Carolina’s most sought after choreographers and master teachers within the University System, dance studio circuit, public and private school systems and he continues to broaden his palette by branching into the commercial music video scene, including choreography for vocalist, Jean Morisson, musician, Sean Magee, and the band, Citizen Shade.
Beyond choreographing for the previously mentioned, in 2011, Ronald founded the BLACK IRISH contemporary hip hop company. BLACK IRISH is focused on the generation of innovative movement, visual design, and conceptual content, while utilizing connections with other progressive artists in all genres of the arts, with the simultaneous intent of bringing the dance and greater community together through the love of dance, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or religion. So far, BLACK IRISH has partnered with the band, Citizen Shade, videographer, Michelle Lotker, hand pan musician Jeremy Lewis, bass guitarist, Ian O’Hare, videographer, Griffin Hart Davis, fashion designer, Kate Erwin and choreographer, Michelle Pearson. Ronald West continues to grow both as a student and teacher and is excited about his future movement research. Ronald West’s next journey will be to travel with 2 other colleagues in April 2016 to China, as a diplomat of the U.S. State Department, to truly use dance as a universal language and test the powers of connection with dancers, special needs children and everyday citizens.