Who We Are - Ballet Academy East

Reach. Grow. Achieve.

BALLET ACADEMY EAST

New York City’s leading center for complete ballet education, inspiring students to fulfill their highest potential within a caring and nurturing environment

Ballet Academy East offers comprehensive dance training for beginners through professionals. Led by world-class faculty in an environment that encourages professional and personal success, BAE is your home for quality dance education.

BAE is home to aspiring dancers of all ages in its Young Dancer, Pre-Professional, and Adult Divisions. Located in an epicenter of dance and culture, BAE is internationally recognized for exceptional dance training. Classes nurture students’ physical and emotional well-being, build their technical skills, and develop their artistry. Performance opportunities in the Pre-Professional Division offer students the chance to work with a variety of internationally-recognized choreographers and coaches in classical, neo-classical, and contemporary works.

Introducing Studio 6, Coming Fall 2023!

Young Dancer Division Faculty

Anne Kelly, Principal
Courtney Abernathy
Jessica Azenberg
Miranda Berlin
Isa Boysen
Madison Burns
Lauren Cadle
Tara Clark
Savannah Cobb
Ava Desiderio
Sarah Feliciano
Mackenzie Fey
Sophie Hutchinson
Yuki Kittaka
Katie Lohiya
Julia Ortiz
Elizabeth Portnoy
Alexa Ratini
Emily Sarkissian
Laura Stile
Cleo Sykes
Kaileigh Underwood

Primary Division Faculty

Anne Kelly, Head of Division
Miranda Berlin
Sarah Feliciano
Mackenzie Fey
Yuki Kittaka
Elizabeth Portnoy
Elizabeth Walker

Children + Teen Division Faculty

Stephanie Chun, Head of Division
Selina Chau
Ava Desiderio
Sarah Feliciano
Anne Kelly
Yuki Kittaka

Adaptive Dance Division Faculty

Mackenzie Fey, Head of Division

Musicians

Adria Barbosa
Mallory Baker
Zane Bridwell
Mark Ceppetelli
Michael Cherry
Stephanie Chun
Joe Cross
Ryan DeFranzo
Barbara Gayny
Mikhail Golubitskiy
Wendy Griffiths
Peter Groch
Ludmilla Halfen
Ayako Hirasawa
Mark Klett
Rich Klessig
Jensen Krall
Michael Kooman
Kai Lovelace
Daniel Mainhardt
Lali Mirry
Alana Murphy
Gregory Nissen
Miho Nozawa
Sean Pallatroni
Mary Beth Roberts
Junko Sakai
Paul Sottnik
Rosanne Soifer
Noriko Sunamoto
Mark Taytler
Whitney Wallace
Adam Young

Annie Lebeaux, Guest
Steven Mitchell, Guest

Administration

Julia Dubno, Founder and Director

Diane Miller-Chapman, Administrative Director
Amy MacDermott, Director of Admissions
Katherine Eletto, Associate Administrative Director
Kaileigh Underwood, Administrative Manager
Laura Stile, Birthday Party Coordinator
Nancy Sebouhian, Faculty & Staff Coordinator

Front Desk Administrators:
Sarah Albee, Gabby Audet, Juliann Barbella, Liliana Chapman, Danielle Cho, Ava Desiderio, Zoe Harris, Kay Prescott, Pilar Mellon-Reyes, Alexa Ratini, Laura Stile, Andrea Sweeney, and Cleo Sykes

David Howard Memorial Library

Ballet Academy East is honored to house the David Howard Memorial Library, a collection of books bequeathed to BAE by the beloved dance icon, David Howard. Mr. Howard was one of the most highly respected and sought after ballet teachers in the world. His student roster included countless professional dancers from New York City Ballet, Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and beyond. Every Summer Intensive David Howard graced BAE with his presence. Our hope is that this beautiful library enables our students and faculty to continue to feel David Howard’s remarkable presence at BAE.

Check Out Books

The books on the bottom four shelves may be checked out and taken home in two week intervals. Please see a front desk associate to retrieve a book from the book case. You will need to leave your name and email address. Books are to be returned no later than two weeks after check out.

The Special Collection

The books located on the top shelf and programs may be looked at in the studio, but may not leave the premises. If you would like to look through a book or program from the Special Collection, please see a front desk associate.

Employment Opportunities

Available positions will be posted as needed.

General Policies

Diversity Statement:

BAE cherishes the diversity of our community. We recognize and respect individual differences in culture, race, ethnic origin, religion, gender, and sexual orientation, and provides a welcoming environment of respect and sensitivity.

General Policies:

No animals allowed unless they are trained service animals, wearing their vests.
Please follow all Health and Safety Protocols listed on our website.
Please follow all dress code and rules related to your school division, listed on the program pages of our website.
Students arriving more than 10 minutes after their class has begun will be asked to reschedule for another day. This is for the safety of the individual student who has not warmed up properly, as well as to avoid interruptions for the teacher and students already in the class.