MANHATTAN MOTION                                                  Dance & Fitness Studios

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• Gabrielle Taylor (Jazz) trained in Ballet, Modern, Jazz & Fitness & has an MFA in Dance from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She has been a teacher, choreographer & dancer for over 20 years, & prior to opening Manhattan Motion Studio taught dance & fitness at Pace University, Barnard College & several studios in NYC, Virginia & Puerto Rico. She is passionate about teaching, & encourages students to put a part of themselves into the movement. She strives to make every class combination a mini performance, emphasizing the development of technique, style & self-expression." 

•  Douglas Shankman (Rhythm Tap) Trained in Ballet Modern, Jazz & Tap in NY at The American Dance Machine, Paul Taylor Foundation, Broadway Dance Center & Dance Ellington. He has choreographed for cabaret, film, video & TV, & previously taught dance at New York University, Usdan Center for The Arts, Broadway Dance Center & New York Ballet Institute.

• Kokko (Hip Hop) Has been teaching Hip Hop in NYC for several years at noted dance studios such as Broadway Dance Center, Stepping Out Studios, Dance Manhattan, and for ten yeas at Manhattan Motion. She has appeared in music videos including R'Kelly and SuperCat, and has performed in the USA & abroad with R & B recording artist Joe.                                              

• Charlene “Chi-Chi” Smith (Hip Hop) continues to climb new heights! Since 2005, she has performed the works of noted choreographers Fatima Robinson, Laurie-Ann Gibson, Nu Stylz, Bam-Bam Nexx Level & others. She was featured dancer for NBC’s NFL Kickoff performance with P.Diddy & for LL Cool J’s “Todd Smith” tour. In addition, Chi Chi modeled on BET’s Rip The Runway 2006 for Michael Jordan’s female clothing line, & was seen in national commercials for Mohegan Sun, Ipod, Stride Gum & MTV’s dance instructional show: Dances From The Hood. Chi Chi teaches at 92nd St.Y, Manhattan Motion Studio, United Nations International School & at La Danse (NJ). She encourages all to “dance like no one is watching!” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx_G0vGgaH0

• Joharra (Belly Dancing) Jessica Gallo (Ballet) brings both versatility & knowledge to her teaching at Manhattan Motion! She majored in dance at the University of Colorado where she studied Ballet, Modern Dance, Jazz, African Dance, Anatomy & Kinesiology. Moving to NYC she  continued her studies by adding Classical Spanish Dance, Belly Dancing, Yoga & Pilates to her training. Jessica has performed with "Lori Bellilove & Co.", the resident performing company of The Isadora Duncan Foundation, and three years ago added both Belly Dancing classes & performances to her repertoire. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5UAPke6PjA

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• John Sefakis (Tap) wrote his masters' thesis in directing on Bob Fosse. ( "Bob Fosse and his Visual Design for the Theater": Becoming a director in Self-Defense"). John has directed & choreographed many Fosse shows for regional and dinner theater, including "Damn Yankees", "Sweet Charity", "Pippin" & "Chicago". He also taught Tap & Jazz at Phil Black Dance Studio for fifteen years, and Jazz at Broadway Dance Center. John is also fortunate to to be able to make use of his dance & theater training at Thirteen/WNET, where he acquires local arts/dance programs.

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• Samuel Salazar (Zumba Latin Fitness) was born and raised in Venezuela with the latin moves "in his blood". He participated in many dance competitions while in high school, but never fell in love with it until he attended his first Zumba Workshop in Dayton, Ohio. He realized how  great it made him feel, & became Zumba certified in order to teach it to others. ".Zumba  has changed my life, and I want to pass it on to rest of the world. C'mon and Dance...let's ZUMBA !" 

• Shanti Wargo ( Adult & Teen Hip Hop ) Shanti has taught Hip Hop in Los Angeles for the past six years and has worked with top choreographers such as Debbie Allen, Wade Robson, Tim Stevenson and Swoop. Her dancing and choreography have been featured in various WNBA and NBA halftime performances, as well as music videos, television appearances, and live performances throughout the USA and abroad. 

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• Delilah ( Belly Dancing ) Delilah has been performing & teaching  Middle Eastern Dance as well as Flamenco in the USA & all over the world for years. She has previously taught students of various levels at Serena Studios, the oldest Belly Dance studio in NYC as well as STEPS on Broadway, Makor Cultural Center, New York Sports Clubs & Fazil's Dance Studios.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLnxEQ00

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• Lael Morse (Zumba) Lael started working out when she was 13 and from that time wanted to become a fitness instructor. In 2007, she tried Zumba for the first time and fell in love. She knew this was the class for her to teach! As soon as she could, she became certified, and has been spreading Zumba love ever since! Not only is it a fantastic and fun cardio workout, it is also works your whole body.
  Ditch the Workout, Join the Party!!
  

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• Hilde Gore (Cardio Dance) A graduate of the New York High school of Performing Arts, Hilde has studied with Mette Spaniardi at Purchase College & Liane Plane at Broadway Dance Studios, among others. She has taught Cardio Dance  at Equinox Health Club in NYC & Club One Health Club in San Francisco. Her class is based on the original, unique dance exercise program, Free Dance, designed by fitness guru Molly Fox, under whom Hilde studied for eight years.

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• Anna Griffin (Ballroom, Tap, Wedding Choreography) Anna is classically trained in Ballet, Tap, and Jazz, studying with the likes of Ed Staver, Kat Wildish, Frank Hatchett, and Robert Reed. She is also a Ten Dance Ballroom Competitor, Performer and Choreographer, having trained with Linda Staver, Bob Powers, Julia Gorchakova, Jim and Jenell Maranto, Toni Redpath, Michael Meade, and many more. Anna has taught people of all ages, from children to seniors, across the United States.  

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• Andre Lee (Hip Hop) Has trained in Jazz, Ballet, Tap & African Dance, though he currently specializes in teaching/ choreographing more commercial dance styles such as Hip Hop. Andre has performed & toured all over the world with recording artists Shakira & Thalia, and has choreographed for many artists including Charlie Coleman, Shorty Blaze & for Club Avalon in NYC. Andre has been teaching kids & adults at Manhattan Motion for over three years.

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Christina Tucker (Zumba) Christina started dancing at age four as a professional hula performer in Hawaii. She studied jazz and tap as a youth and was a musical theater major at the University of Miami. She began teaching dance fitness classes at the Streetdance Factory in Miami in 1997 & taught a dance fitness class called 'Vangroovin' at various studios & gyms in Vancouver, BC. Christina has also been a cycling instructor at Equinox in NYC for 4 years, & a Zumba instructor for the past 3 years. She is very excited to be joining the Manhattan Motion team of instructors!

• Cynthia Araujo (Salsa-on-2) has been dancing, teaching & performing Salsa/Mambo professionally for 7 years. She has had the pleasure of dancing alongside some of today’s great salsa musicians such as Oscar De Leon, Tito Puente Jr., Victor Manuelle & Gilberto Santa Rosa.
  As Assistant Director of a NYC dance company, her performances have included showcases across the US, Puerto Rico & as far away as Italy. Some of her on-screen credits include the independent film Falling in Rhythm, a soon-to -be-released dance documentary on Salsa & the ABC Morning News. Cynthia is known for her style & grace on stage, as well as her playful energy & dedicated teaching style. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfZnBg3PS1A

• Ryan K. Davis (Hip Hop)  is a Jersey native with a strong infatuation for dance. Growing up he has always known that becoming a dancer would be his number one pursuit from the passion he feels through the expression of dance, especially hip-hop. Currently Ryan is a dance major at Rutgers  University - Mason Gross School of the Arts training in modern and ballet, and teaches both adults & kids at several dance studios in NY & NJ. Ryan also continues his training in hip-hop and is honored to have worked with choreographers Kelly Peters, Bam-Bam, DS, and more. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-WB6QHdlWI

Nancy Andrews (Pre-Teen Hip Hop) is a native North Carolinian & graduated from Shenandoah University with a BFA in dance performance.  She studied extensively under Alan Arnett, Ting-Yu Chen, Kim Gibilisco, Erica Helm & Maurice Fraga, & performed nationally & internationally in Canada, Taiwan, Spain, NYC & Virginia with the Shenandoah Dance Touring Ensemble & Ekilibre Dance. Ms. Andrews has had the pleasure of dancing for Ekilibre Dance, Kim Gibilisco Dances, Inspirit, Kelley Donavon & Dancers & Lillie & Gillie Performance Projects since moving to NYC in 2008.  She works as a yoga instructor, & has taught jazz, modern, hip hop, tap, ballet, clogging & contemporary dance in studios all over the east coast.

Jason Gonzalez ( Teen Hip Hop) Has 15 years of dance experience as a performer & as a choreographer for the last eight. He left everything behind in Florida several years ago & moved to the NY/NJ area to pursue a career in dance, & his work in the arts & entertainment field thus far has included performing & choreographing for artists Jadakiss, Mike Jones, Pretty Ricki, Ludacris, Juvenile, Montell Jordan, Diversity 3, Mystere, Keyonna Hall, Juss & Coro. In addition to teaching, Jason is also working as a backup/lead dancer for a new freestyle artist.