About Us

Our Mission at Dance Works is to deliver high quality dance education in a fun, nurturing, yet disciplined and challenging atmosphere affordably. Our Westchester, NY 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 collaboration and creativity.  We offer a safe, inclusive and non-competitive environment with experiences that build confidence and benefits that last a lifetime. 

Wendy Wood Barletta is the Founder, Executive & Artistic Director, Instructor and Choreographer for Dance Works since 1999. She has evolved Dance Works, 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 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. 

Todd Hall Todd Hall has trained at the School of American Ballet in New York City, Joffrey Ballet School, and the School of the Boston Ballet. He performed with Boston Ballet and Washington Ballet and as a guest artist with a numerous American ballet companies.  Todd currently guest teaches and choreographs throughout the United States and in Europe. 

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. 

Nicola Davis "Nici", is a passionate performer and dance teacher.  

She started teaching youth dance classes over a decade ago in Germany, where she was born. She graduated with her diploma in Performing Arts and Dance Pedagogy at the Ballettfoerderzentrum in Nuremberg/Germany. Throughout the years and during her work study at CityDance Conservatory, she taught all ages and levels in a variety of styles (ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, hip hop, heels dance) in Germany, Italy, Croatia and the USA. Settling in NYC six years ago, Nici performed as a backgup dancer for various local artists on stages and in music videos, has been featured in commercials and has been teaching in dance studios and after school programs. 

Nici is beyond excited to join the Dance Works family and can’t wait to share her knowledge and passion. Next to learning more about the way your body moves and what it is capable of, you will also learn the technique of the style you are pursuing while having lots of fun learning, exploring and most importantly, DANCING! 

Lauren is a Dancer, Teacher's Assistant, Student Choreographer and former member of our Dance Works Company performance group.  She is a Junior at James Madison University where she is a member of their Dancing Dukes dance club.  In high school she was nducted into the NHSDA. She danced with Dance Works for 12 years taking ballet, modern tap & jazz and now composes pieces for performance. She especially loves and ballet, modern and contemporary dance.  Lauren is a valuable member of our Dance Works community and student leadership staff.

Anna is a Sophomore at the Boston Architecture School studying to be an architect.  She founded the Ballet Club at LaFayette University and was a former member of the Dance Works Company performance Group.  She is dancer, dance instructor, choreographer and an honorary member of the National Honors Society for Dance Arts.  She is also our Stage Manager and production staff for our many annual showcases each season.  

Gianna is a Dancer, Teacher's Assistant, former member of the Dance Works Company performance group and has been studying with Dance Works since she was 3.  She is now a sophomore engineering student at Cooper Union college in NYC.  She has taken Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern/Contemporary and is continuing her dance training at several of the prominent NYC dance schools.  She is and honors inductee into the NHSDA (National Honors Society for Dance Arts).   Gianna is a valued member of our Dance Works community and student staff.

Giselle  studies public policy at Cornell University, is a Dance Works Teacher's Assistant and graduated with honors as part of the National Honors Society of Dance Arts.  She was a member of the Dance Works Company performance group and studied Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Modern and Contemporary dance.  Giselle has loved dancing since she began ballet at the age of 3.  She danced ballet for 10 years and was a competitive gymnast for 9 years and won the all-round USAIGC gymnastics champion.   

Olivia  is a Dancer, Teacher's Assistant, Choreographer and was inducted into the National Honors Society for Dance Arts.  She was a member of our Dance Works Company performance group.  Olivia is now a Junior at PACE University.  She started her dance journey with Dance Works taking Jazz  & Broadway dance and was then introduced to Modern Dance 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.

Jackie is a dancer, Teachers Assistant and Choreographer with Dance Works.  She was inducted into the National Honors Society for Dance Arts Junior Chapter in 2021 and our Secondary Chapter in 2023.  She began her dance journey at age 3 with Dance Works studying ballet and tap.  She has been focusing on her ballet training for the last several years performing as part of our Senior Company and has been en pointe for four years.  In 2017 Jackie decided to diversify her dance studys and took up competitive Irish step dancing.  In 2021 she became the Traditional Set Champion at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Oireachtas. Jackie is a valued member of our Dance Works Community and Teaching Assistant staff! 

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 $106,000 in an effort to help save and improve lives. Fundraiser ticket sales and targeted workshop proceeds go to charity.