Jennifer Buono, Ballet
Jennifer Buono was introduced to ballet, jazz and tap at a very young age. She began studying under Delia Foley of the Mohawk Valley Ballet. Jennifer is a member of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) in London and completed up to the Intermediate Level in the RAD, including both ballet and character dancing. Jennifer has attended summer programs at Briansky Saratoga Dance Center, Boston Ballet, and the Kirov Academy in Washington D.C.. Jennifer has studied under highly esteemed and repected instructors and dancers during her studies, and was introduced to modern choreography, African, Spanish, and hip hop styled of dance, in addition to ballet.
Jennifer has danced in various productions such as the Nutcracker, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and Celebration. She has danced the role of Spanish Chocolate and THe Dew Drop Fairy in the Nutcracker and has even had the unique opportunity to partner with Devon Carney formerly of the Boston Ballet, among dancing other lead roles in various ballets. Jennifer works full-time for Insight House Chemical Dependency Services, Inc. in Utica Ny as a Prevention Counselor in area middle and high schools and also currently holds an MBA in Technology Management from SUNYIT.
Christy Cannistra, Modern, Hip Hop, Ballet
Christy Cannistra grew up in central New York and completed her
ballet studies under The Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus.
She has performed roles in The Nutcracker, which include:
Spanish, Doll, Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy. Also, performed in
the ballets Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella.
Christy attended the Boston Conservatory where she earned a BFA in Dance.
At the Conservatory she danced in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, African and Musical Theater
productions. Christy danced professionally in Boston with Triiiplethreat Hip-Hop group
and opened up for artists including “Fabolous” from Def Jam recording Artists.
After dancing professionally she went back to school and received a Masters Degree
in Education from the University of Massachusetts Boston. Over the last 10 years
Christy lived in Boston teaching dance and drama for the Boston Public Schools,
local dance studios and after-school programming. Christy recently moved back
to the Utica area and is excited to be teaching students in the Utica City School
District as the magnet coordinator for Watson Willams Magnet Elementary School and
the Dancenter.
Check the link out of my students dancing!
www.wktv.com
video from the news
Check out the Utica OD, they made the front local page and there are more photos online!
www.uticaod.com
Brianne Hyatt-Fontaine, Modern
Brianne Hyatt-Fontaine has been dancing since 1989, first at Step w/ Jodianne then The Dancenter until 2000. Upon graduating, Brianne attended the State University of New York College at New Paltz where she pursued her academic curriculum including dance. She studied under Yoav Kaddar formerly of The Paul Taylor Dance Company, her collegiate repertoire included ballet, modern and African dance. Brianne performed annually in the theatre production of Fresh Dance, in addition to being a team member of the SUNY New Paltz Kickline and the Urban Hip Hop Group. Brianne has since returned to the Mohawk Valley and is enjoying her oppurtunity to share her passion for dance in the place that helped create it.
Jessica Novillo, Belly Dancing
Jessica Novillo is frequently described as a natural dancer. Growing up in a Latin household, dance was part of every family function. It is Jessica's goal to share the joy and expression of dance with others. Trained in jazz, tap and ballet in her early years, Jessica left her native Utica to explore, taking her passion for dance and her talent for singing all around the globe. As an exchange student in Costa Rica she learned everything from Salsa to Cumbia. While in Turkey, her love for Belly-Dancing blossomed from the rhythms of the Arabic world. Back in New York, Jessica performed in Grammy nominee Bobby Sanabria’s Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra and frequented many of the city’s best Salsa clubs. She contemporaneously taught music and dance classes for toddlers in Upper Manhattan.
Kayla Snyder, Hip Hop
Joining our faculty in the upcoming year is Kayla Snyder. Kayla graduated top rank from Madison, Oneida County Boces with a degree in Criminal Justice. She was also captain of the Cheerleading team. She currently attends Utica College and is pursing a degree in Recreation Therapy. She is a member of their dance organization A.I.M. (Africa In Motion) in which they concentrate on Hip-hop and incorporate other styles of dance. We are happy to have Kayla with us.
Jamie Sitera, Ballet
Jamie Sitera has been the director of the Dance Academy for 30 years, first with Valley Gymnastics and then forming her own studio. She has been teaching dance for over 40 years in her private
business and for 18 years in the Utica City School District (Watson Williams) as the Magnet Dance Specialist. In 2008, she became the Assistant Principal at General Herkimer Elementary Magnet School. This past year she choreographed Once Upon a Matress for Sauquoit Valley Schools and has worked on numerous musical productions throughout the Mohawk Valley. Serving as the President and Artistic Director of the Leathertstocking Ballet, Jamie produced the full length ballet Alice in Wonderland this spring as well as LB’s annual Nutcrackers. She holds her School District Administrators License and is completing her Doctorate in School Leadership. She closed her business to join the faculty at the Dancenter and is excited about the opportunities this move will provide for her and her students.
Hannah Straney, Tap
Bio coming soon...
Carrie Putrello, Director: Jazz & Ballet
Carrie has earned scholarships from prestigious schools
including North Carolina School for the Arts, San Francisco
Ballet School, and Ballet Aspen in Colorado. She danced
professionally with the Santa Monica Dance Company
for many years and was a showgirl in Osaka and Nagoya
under the direction of Ben Lokey. Ms. Putrello received
her education through the School of Creative and Performing
Arts in Cincinnati, Ohio and the University of Cincinnati.
Ms. Putrello has been a guest teacher at Hamilton College, Munsun Williams
Arts in Utica, NY and Absolute Dance in Auburn, NY.
Carrie opened the DANCENTER in 1998 and has since created
a quality dance school where students have fun and
learn to become better dancers. Carrie has brought advanced jazz, lyrical and ballet
pieces to national competitions. Winning special awards in choreography, technique, intensity, precision and entertainment.