Fall Session Registration is Now Open!
About Us
DANCE WORKS MISSION
Our Mission at Dance Works is to deliver high quality dance education in a fun, nurturing, yet disciplined and challenging atmosphere affordably. Our mobile studio's goals are to welcome and inspire dancers at every level of interest, from recreational to professional track, to reach their fullest potential. We support dancers development technically, artistically, athletically, and emotionally while promoting dedication, hard work, fostering friendships and encouraging creativity. We offer a safe, inclusive and non-competitive environment with experiences that build confidence and benefits that last a lifetime.
We are proud members of NDEO & IADMS
Dance Works is a proud member of the National Dance Education Organization and the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science. We are an approved Chapter of the National Honors Society of Dance Arts whereby students are recognized for their outstanding artistic and academic achievement in grades 6-12 with educational, leadership , community outreach and networking opportunities. We will recognize and induct students while helping to advance the field of dance education. There is opportunity to receive the gold Honor Pin and wear the blue and white Honor Cord and/or Medallion at graduation.
DANCE WORKS LEADERSHIP & INSTRUCTORS
Wendy Wood Barletta is the Founder, Executive & Artistic Director, Instructor and Choreographer for Dance Works since 1999. She has evolved Dance Works, now recognized for its broad repertory, development of the whole dancer and for a vision that keeps dance, fitness and creativity alive affordably in our community. Wendy began her dance-teaching career at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1982, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from the 5-College Dance Department. She is a Guest Artist to the Dance Department and advisor, helping current Dance Majors set & achieve their career goals. Wendy has a performance degree though her concentrations were aligned with Dance Education, Choreography and post-graduate work in fitness. Wendy has performed, taught and choreographed for all ages and levels in New York, California, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Canada and in Europe. She studied with Alvin Ailey Bella Lewitsky, Luigi, Gemze de Lappe and many other well renowned dance pioneers and their disciples. She brings well-rounded experience to her classes. Many of her students have gone on to perform professionally in movies, TV and on stage. Others have entered into dance teaching, dance therapy and other dance and fitness related fields. Wendy emphasizes fun in her classes, while teaching proper technique and alignment and overall body strengthening and flexibility. She provides a creative and rewarding learning environment to help each dancer develop her own style. In addition to her degree in Dance, Wendy is a former AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor, Licensed Zumba® Instructor and Certified CPR/AED.
Etrita Abddullahu
Etrita Abddullahu danced professionally with the National Ballet of Kosovo for four years and was part of seven premier shows. In 2017 she decided to move to New York, where she participated in American Ballet Theater & Joffrey Ballet School intensives. In 2020 she graduated from the Joffrey Ballet School - Trainee Program, and she will graduate from New Jersey City University in Spring 2021 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance.
While in New York, Etrita has danced with Joffrey Ballet School, The Coleman School of Dance, Illuminations Dance Company, Michael Mao Dance Company, Dance Works Fundraiser Showcase and others.
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Lauren Barette
Lauren Barette is a New York based dancer who started her dance training at the Los Angeles Ballet Academy, a Royal Academy of Dance certified ballet school. In 2017, She trained with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in their summer intensive program. She then attended UCLA where she graduated with a B.A. in dance, specializing in ballet, modern, West African, and performance/choreography techniques. Post graduation, Lauren moved to New York City and attended the trainee program at the Joffrey Ballet School. Lauren most recently choreographed the off Broadway musical, "Romeo and Juliet; Tribal Rock" and toured with the original musical and "The Lincolns of Springfield". Lauren has been teaching children and adults for over 7 years.
Emma Morris
Emma Morris started dancing at a young age in Auckland, New Zealand. She trained in Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop and Musical Theatre.
After winning a number of national titles and working in the Auckland commercial industry, she made the move to Los Angeles to further her dance training at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in 2018 where she now her Associate Degree in Dance Theater. In 2020 she moved to Texas where she danced professionally for Zion Dance Project and toured with Dance Revolution as a member of RevCrew. Emma has been fortunate to have trained in all areas of the performing arts from Acting, Singing, and Dancing to Directing, Writing and Choreographing. With her passion for everything Performing Arts, Emma now continues to train and work in the Dance Industry.
Christina Morrison - Modern/Contemp/Jazz/Hip Hop
Christina Morrison is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer based in New York City. Her early training at Walker's Dance in Lowell, Massachusetts afforded her unique opportunities on top of being part of their award-winning dance troupe, like performing at the Joyce Theater in NYC, SummerStages in Central Park and the ACE Capezio Awards under the guidance of Jaclyn Walsh. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Contemporary Dance Performance from Boston Conservatory at Berklee. After graduating Christina moved to Chicago where she performed in and/or presented works at The Edge Theater, The Greenhouse Theater, Going Dutch Festival, Links Hall, Stage 773, as a guest artist for DanceWorks New Dances 2020, for Peckish Rhodes Performing Arts Society, and for uneARTH Arts Festival. As a choreographer, Christina has been commissioned to make work for the ELCA Youth Gathering at NRG Stadium (Houston, TX), the ICA Boston Summer Series (Boston, MA) and for Simantikos Dance (Chicago, IL). In 2021, Christina founded Moving Artist Initiative based in Chicago and continues to operate the program remotely from her new home in NYC.
Torre Randel - Instructor - Jazz, Musical Theater, Creative Pre-Ballet, Ballet and more!
Torre Randel is a New York City based dancer, musical theater, instructor, performer and choreographer Say something interesting about your business here. She graduated from the American Musical Dramatic Academy after studying at the LA and NY campuses with a focus on Theater Dance. Her varied performance career has led her to many stages across America working in theaters, theme parks, ballroom dance tour and even a circus! Her passion for bringing the arts to young performers enabled her to find a love for teaching. Torre is delightful with children!
Other Guest Instructors & Performers
Throughout the years Dance Works invites talented artists, dancers and fitness professionals to teach classes & to perform. For many years we've have the pleasure of experiencing fantastic guest artists including (LtoR) Nicole Barletta , Etrita Abdullahu, Pilin Anise, Jordyn Schettiino, Devyn Ciccio, Frederick Davis, David Fernandez, Megan Daly, Paul Herman, Tracy Fiore Lingeza, Allison Podolsky, Ashley Smith, Toni-Michelle Rubio, Torre Randel, Caeser Ortiz, Sarah Burns, Georgia Teperikidou and John Layseca among many others.
Student Teacher's Assistants
Olivia is a Dancer, Teacher's Assistant, Choreographer and graduated as a member of our Dance Works Company performance group. She was inducted into the NHSDA (National Honors Society for Dance Arts) and is now a Freshman at PACE University. She started her dance journey with Dance Works taking Jazz & Broadway dance 8 years ago. She was then introduced to Modern Dance 5 years ago and truly connected to Modern Dance. She studied composition with us her junior year of high school. Olivia is a valuable member of our Dance Works community and student staff.
Lauren is a Dancer, Teacher's Assistant, Student Choreographer and member of our Dance Works Company performance group. She is a High School Senior where she is part of the dance program and recently inducted into the NHSDA. She has been dancing with Dance Works for 12 years where she studied ballet, modern tap & jazz and now composes pieces for performance. She especially loves and continues to study ballet, modern and contemporary dance. Lauren is a valuable member of our Dance Works community and student leadership staff.
Gianna is a Dancer, Teacher's Assistant, member of the Dance Works Company performance group and has been studying with Dance Works since she was 3. She is now a high school Sophomore. She has taken Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern/Contemporary and now focuses on her Classical Ballet and Pointe training. She is working toward her induction into the NHSDA (National Honors Society for Dance Arts). Gianna is also an artist and loves listening to music. She is a valued member of our Dance Works community and student staff.
Giselle is Teacher's Assistant and high school sophomore studying Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern and Contemporary. She loves to choreograph and work with children. Giselle has loved dancing since she began ballet at the age of 3. She danced ballet for 10 years and has been a competitive gymnast for 9 years. Giselle also enjoys playing piano and plays everything from Mozart to Taylor Swift!
Why Choose Dance Works?
- We provide personal attention a holistic approach to instruction with positive attitude.
- Our younger classes include assistants to lower student/instructor ratio.
- We are more affordable than most dance studios without compromising quality dance education.
- Dance Works has a variety of classes for training at all ages and levels that can fit into your family schedule. If you don’t see a class you are interested in, please speak with us and we may be able to make arrangements!
- We are proud to offer multiple options for you and your dancer to explore. From one class per week as a recreational dancer to intensive programs for a more serious dancer, we have something for everyone!
- Dance Works is proud to offer age-appropriate dance education and costuming.
- There are several performance opportunities including a Winter Showcase or Nutcracker, Spring Fundraiser Showcase which in part benefits the American Cancer Society and The Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation, Student Choreography Showcase in January that in part benefits The Valerie Fund and performances for local children’s hospitals and nursing homes. We host a Spring Recital and at the end of workshops and school closure camps and summer mini-camp sessions we have a petite and informal presentation.
- Dance Works is a proud chapter of the NHSDA (National Honors Society of Dance Arts), recognizing and inducting students who express interest while helping to advance the field of dance education. There is opportunity for dancers to receive the gold Honor Pin and wear the blue and white Honor Cord and/or Medallion at graduation.
- We offer Dance Camps for Working families when school is on break or has a Superintendent's Conference Day and in during summer break.
- Dancers are encouraged to create their own choreography, giving rise to young expressive and artistic talent.
- Our community culture is inclusive, respectful, friendly, family-oriented and committed to the high quality of our program! We love to dance and especially love to share our passion for dance and fitness with our students! Parents are welcome to wait for and watch their dancers (however Covid-19 requires parents to wait outdoors).
- Location, location, location! Our locations are flexible, easy to find parking and we currently offer indoor, outdoor, and pod classes in Harrison, West Harrison, Purchase, Rye, Rye Brook, Larchmont, Tarrytown, Scarsdale and Irvington. We provide outdoor instruction, virtual classes via Zoom and can customize locations for private, semi-private classes, parties and corporate classes and events. Our studio locations are close to multiple coffee spots, restaurants, shops. There's so much you can do and enjoy before and after class or while you wait for your dancer.
DANCE WORKS PHILANTHROPY
Dance Works produces an annual showcase that bridges the gap between local student performing companies and Manhattan professionals who gather in a non-competitive way to celebrate dance while raising funds to help change the lives of the community around them. Here are just some of the charitable causes we support: The American Cancer Society’s Making Strides for Breast Cancer, The Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation, The March of Dimes, The Children’s Cancer Fund, Avon Foundation’s Breast Cancer Crusade, Avon Foundation’s Speak Out Against Domestic Violence Campaign, The American Red Cross, Make-A-Wish, the Blythedale Children’s Hospital and The Little Angels Child Care Center. Dance Works students have performed for patients and residents at the Maria Ferrari Children’s Hospital, Blythedale Children’s Hospital, Hebrew Home for the Aged, The Osborn Home and for many other community services & events. Thus far Dance Works has raised over $95,000 in an effort to help save and improve lives. Fundraiser ticket sales and targeted workshop proceeds go to charity.