CHOREOGRAPHER | TEACHER
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Alissa is a choreographer and educator who teaches dancers of all ages to harness their potential, refine their technique, and grow their artistry. She specializes in modern/contemporary, improvisation/composition, and Bollywood dance. She is currently on faculty at Logrea Dance Academy, and has also taught at Westchester Ballet Center for the Performing Arts, PS 107, Soul Arts Academy, and Brooklyn Prospect Charter School. She has been a guest teacher at Bates College and Movement Research, and has taught master classes at Somers High School, Hudson River Performing Arts, Noble & Greenough School, The Dance Conservatory, Mohonasen Color Guard, and Johnstown High School.
Alissa's students have placed in the Top 12 at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) performing her contemporary choreography. She has also coached the Johnstown High School color guard team, helping them place 4th at worlds in 2017 with her choreography. Alissa has worked with couples to create personalized, heartfelt dances for them to perform on their wedding day. Alissa performed professionally in NYC with Barbara Mahler, Heather McArdle, and John Carrafa, among others. Alissa's choreography has been presented at the Center for Performance Research, Dixon Place, Triskelion Arts, Green Space, Gibney Dance, Provincetown Dance Festival, and more. Her choreography on film has premiered at Dance New Amsterdam, Coney Island Film Festival, DOTA Dance Festival, and Langston Hughes African American Film Festival. Alissa, a third generation dancer, received a BA in both Politics and the Arts, and Dance at Bates College. She studied Bharatanatyam in India at the Nrithya Sheshtra Dance School, during which time she performed at the Sarveswarar Temple of Madurai. Alissa has practiced Klein Technique with Barbara Mahler for the past 10 years, which has greatly influenced both her movement quality and teaching philosophy. |
