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WHAT WE DO... At Dance with Miss Rachel, kids ages 10 weeks and up have a place to let their creativity blossom. In unique, inspirational 45-minute classes, kids learn ballet, singing, musical theatre, and more. All classes are taught by professionally trained instructors who teach through song. What makes us different from other kids' programs? Just ask anyone who's taken our classes. Our individualized approach to teaching makes each child feel like a star. At Dance with Miss Rachel, we seek to educate children through storytelling, imaginative song and movement, and spark their inner creativity. Not only do we have fun, dance is the ultimate way for kids to develop balance, strength, flexibility, coordination, rhythm, grace, sharing, and independence! WHO WE ARE... 
"Miss Rachel" Cantor
Owner / Director "Miss Rachel" comes to NYC from West Bloomfield, Michigan, where her love of all things theatrical began. She performed in school and community shows since age 5 before attending the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy. After graduating High School, Rachel attended The Boston Conservatory, graduating with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Upon graduation, Rachel moved to NYC and has been performing in New York and around the country ever since! In addition, Rachel is an accomplished voiceover artist with national spots for Huggies, Walmart, and McDonald's. Rachel also voiced the character of Barbie in the Barbie read-along audiobooks. Her passions for theatre and working with children have proven to be a winning combination. Over the years, "Miss Rachel" has become a downtown staple, sharing her love of song and dance with hundreds of children in the community. After several years of hard work and preparation (including a year rolling her backpack—aka "mobile studio"—around town), Dance with Miss Rachel is truly a dream realized. Read more about her story in the Tribeca Citizen, the SoulCycle blog, and DanceTeacher! 
"Miss Ashley" Brown Anderson
Lead Instructor "Miss Ashley" grew up in Raleigh, NC, where she fell in love with dance at an early age. She graduated from James Madison University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and Dance. While at JMU, she taught dance to local students with the Dance4Life program and trained in the Professional Semester at Broadway Dance Center. Her favorite credits include performing in BCEFA’s 29th Annual Gypsy of the Year and a regional production of Anything Goes. She can’t wait to share her passion with young dancers at Dance with Miss Rachel! 
"Miss Lacey" Baroch
Lead Instructor "Miss Lacey" is originally from Jacksonville, Florida where she started dancing at a very young age. Her passion for dance led her to Point Park University where she earned a BFA in dance. Since graduating, Lacey danced professionally in NYC with several contemporary dance companies and artists. Her favorite experience has been touring internationally to South Korea, China, and Germany where she performed and taught young students. Lacey is delighted to be a part of the DWMR team and is excited to share her love of dance with the students! 
"Miss Brianne" Bischoff
Lead Instructor Brianne grew up in Commack, Long Island and recently graduated from Boston Conservatory at Berklee, with a BFA in Contemporary Dance. She has taught in Boston for School Moves/PreSchool Moves, Brookline Ballet School, and the Eliot School. Brianne's recent performance and choreography credits include Beauty and the Beast at CM Performing Arts Center, and serving as resident choreographer for Tea Time. She is so happy to now be a part of the Dance with Miss Rachel team! 
"Miss Anne-Marie" Browning
Lead Instructor "Miss Anne-Marie" was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. She started training very young as a competitive dancer, winning many awards against dancers all over the country in many styles of dance. She attended American Musical and Dramatic Academy here in New York City, studying Dance Theatre, and in 2020, she graduated from Utah Valley University in Modern Dance. Miss Anne-Marie has such a passion for teaching! She has been teaching/choreographing dance for students and studios from ages 2-18 in many styles. She taught for many years at award-winning "Best in State" Utah Dance Artists Creative Arts Pre-School. She also has been dancing professionally for many years. Some of her favorite credits include, Hello, Dolly!, The Little Mermaid, Singin' in The Rain, and Footloose, all performed at Hale Center Theatre and West Valley Arts in Salt Lake City. She's so excited to bring all her sunshine and love for dance to Dance with Miss Rachel and to her students! 
"Miss Isabel" Bustamante
Lead Instructor “Miss Isabel” earned her BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts Department of Drama’s New Studio on Broadway, after training at the Conservatory Ballet School in Reston, Virginia. Since college, she has pursued her career as an actor, singer, and dancer, working professionally in NYC, including Off-Broadway venues. She has also worked as a teaching assistant at NYU Tisch for dancing and acting, alongside Dell Howlett, Barry McNabb, and Tiffany Rachelle Stewart. Isabel has a passion for bringing artistry into the lives of young dancers and is thrilled to be joining the DWMR team. 
"Miss Kimberly" Cooper Schmidt
Director of Operations "Miss Kimberly", originally from a small town in New Jersey, holds a BA in Musical Theatre from Manhattanville College. After college, she pursued a performance career that took her from one tiny Off-Broadway theatre to another all while teaching children's dance and gymnastics classes and running events for children and families alike. Her passion for theatre led to a career in production and general management before returning to her love of dance and childhood enrichment here at DWMR! When not at the studio, Miss Kimberly can be found baking or hosting one of her two Broadway-themed podcasts. 
"Miss Bridget" Crisonino
Lead Instructor "Miss Bridget" earned her BFA from NYU, Tisch School of the Arts, from the New Studio on Broadway. Raised in Berkeley Heights, NJ, she grew up surrounded by a family of musical artists and was taught by talented and supportive teachers who continue to serve as her artistic role models to this day. Bridget first brought her love for song and dance to the stage through piano, dance competitions, and participating in Paper Mill Playhouse's All-Star Company. Bridget's affinity for theatre magic followed her as she appeared in roles such as Ariel, Snow White, Belle, Little Red Riding Hood, and JoJo in Seussical. She made her first NYC appearance in the Off-Broadway musical, Evergreen. Bridget continues to perform with the NY Pops in Carnegie Hall Gala Concerts, as well as appearing in various workshops, readings, and television shows. Bridget is so excited to be joining the DWMR team and to share with her students all the joy, love, and friendship from the many years of dance in her own youth. 
"Miss Ellen Grace" Diehl
Assistant Instructor "Miss Ellen" is an MFA Acting graduate from Case Western University and the Tony Award-winning Cleveland Play House. She has been teaching little ones for over a decade, and originally received her classical ballet training from Chambersburg Ballet, where she was a company member and student for 14 years. Ellen is an actor and choreographer, with choreography credits including Big Fish, Seussical, Oklahoma!, and Carousel, and performance credits including The Little Mermaid (Ariel), Mamma Mia! (Sophie), and Oklahoma! (Ado Annie). Ellen is a proud member of AEA. 
"Miss Sarah Beth" Duren
Lead Instructor “Miss Sarah Beth” is originally from Clearwater, Florida, where she studied music, theatre, and dance. Her passion for teaching was evident as she assisted many dance and music classes at her local conservatory. She then moved to NYC and received her Bachelor of Music, where she studied musical theatre and dance at NYU Steinhardt and NYU Tisch. Throughout her college career, she was part of the choreography team for many musicals and operas. She continues to perform and choreograph around NYC while teaching dance. She is thrilled to be part of the DWMR team, helping to teach the talented stars of the future! 
"Miss Emma" F.
Assistant Instructor “Miss Emma F." grew up in Alexandria, Virginia, where she began dancing at age five. Her love of dance and performing led her to pursue her BFA in Ballet from the University of Utah, from which she graduated in 2023. In college, she was honored to have the opportunity to perform in pieces such as Giselle Act II, the Dream Scene from Don Quixote, and José Limón’s A Choreographic Offering, as well as a short film. After graduating, she moved to NYC, where she is pursuing a professional career in acting and dance while teaching at DWMR. Dance has been such a gift to her throughout her life, and she is so excited to be sharing this gift with the students at DWMR. 
"Miss Nicole" Fava
Assistant Instructor "Miss Nicole" is originally from Dana Point, CA, and graduated from the University of Mississippi with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Since graduating, she has performed and choreographed across the world. Recent credits include Grease on Harmony of the Seas for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, the national tour of A Charlie Brown Christmas, Maine State Music Theatre, The Public Theatre, Timberlake Playhouse, and The New York Theatre Barn. She also works as a mentor and choreographer for the Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute and her Alma Mater. She is so excited to share her love of the arts with the next generation of performers and to be a part of the Dance with Miss Rachel Team. 
"Miss Emma" Garber
Assistant Instructor “Miss Emma G.” grew up just outside Boston, MA where she fell in love with dance at an early age. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with her BFA in Dance and a BA in Journalism, and is currently pursuing her MA in Dance Education from Hunter College. Miss Emma is also a Teaching Artist with the New York City Ballet, and previously taught in ballet studios throughout Massachusetts. She is thrilled to be joining the DWMR team and is excited to share the magic of dance with her students! 
"Miss Annaliese" Hall
Lead Instructor “Miss Annaliese” is originally from Sydney, Australia, where she grew up singing and dancing at every possible moment. She moved to New York City, where she earned her BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts Department of Drama’s New Studio on Broadway. During her time at NYU she gained such valuable insight from being a teacher’s assistant to Barry McNabb and dance captain for Dell Howlett. Since college, she has started to pursue her professional acting and choreographic career across NYC including New York Theatre Festival. Annaliese is very passionate about bringing the joy of theatre and dance into the lives of young future artists and is delighted to be a part of the DWMR team! 
"Miss Rachel" Hall
Lead Instructor “Miss Rachel” Hall is originally from small a town in Virginia called Smithfield, aka the Ham Capital of the World, and now lives in the Big Apple, New York City! She moved to NYC to study dance at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), where she earned her Certificate in Concert, Commercial, and Theater Dance after graduating in 2023. She began dancing at a young age at her hometown studio in Virginia, where she not only found her love for dancing, acting, and singing, but she also found her passion for choreographing and teaching the next generation of dancers. She has had the opportunity to perform at many conventions/competitions around the country with her studios dance company, be in multiple musical theater stage productions, choreograph award winning pieces, and perform on stages around NYC. She is now pursuing her professional career in dance and is so happy that Dance with Miss Rachel is now a part of her journey. 
"Mr. Canaan" J. Harris
Pianist Canaan J. Harris is a NYC-based pianist, music director, and composer originally from Binghamton, NY, who was part of the inaugural class of the Musical Creators' Institute. His works include: Boys, Boys Behave!, Elaine!?, (both with Jacob Iglitzin) and Plane Girl (with Hayley Goldenberg & Julia Sonya Koyfman). He has music directed at Theater Aspen, Cortland Repertory Theater, Bristol Valley Theater, 54 Below, The Green Room 42, Chelsea Table & Stage, and the Laurie Beechman Theater. He was also awarded the SUNY PACC Prize to fund his Pocket Opera Project (POP) that develops 15-minute operas based on middle schoolers' short stories with composers and librettists from Binghamton University and are performed at Tri-Cities Opera in Binghamton, NY. 
"Mr. James" Harvey
Pianist "Mr. James" studied music composition at NYU Steinhardt and the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop. His original musical, The Crack in the Ceiling, was produced at the New York Musical Theatre Festival and the New York International Fringe Festival. His one-man comedy show, The Bald Faced Truth, continues to play to sold-out audiences in New York City. As an educator, James has worked for such organizations as Tada Youth Theatre, American Musical Theatre Academy, and A Class Act NY, and is experienced in teaching musical theatre performance, songwriting, and piano. 
"Miss Sarah" Haynes
Lead Instructor "Miss Sarah H" is a dancer from Toronto, Ontario, now living in New York City. She began dancing at a young age and continued her studies at Pace University in NYC where she received a BFA in Commercial Dance and a minor in English Literature. Since graduating, Sarah has been working professionally as a dancer in the United States and Canada. Select credits include Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA, the Greg Frewin Magic Show in Niagara Falls, Canada and the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ. She has had the pleasure of working with many notable choreographers such as Mandy Moore, Jeremy Duvall, and Patti Colombo. Sarah is so excited to be a part of DWMR and share her passion for dance with all the young dancers. 
"Miss Lisa" Kassay
Director of Operations & Business Development Miss Lisa received her BFA in theatre from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She has performed in the Broadway/Touring companies of Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady, Hairspray, Beauty and the Beast, Seussical, Cats, and Showboat. As a choreographer, Lisa has worked at numerous regional theaters, and created commercial industrial performances for Nintendo and Mercedes Benz. Miss Lisa has been a theatre and dance educator for nearly two decades working for Broadway Dance Connection, Shanghai Theater Academy, and Class Act Performing Arts Studio. Lisa is also Disney Teaching Artist for Disney Theatrical Group. She has a Master’s degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communication from NYU. She is the mom of two incredible boys. She enjoys baking, sewing, and biking. 
"Miss Breana" Lochrie
Lead Instructor "Miss Breana" grew up in Commack, New York, which is where her love of dance and theatre began at a young age. From getting to compete in all different styles of dance, to performing in musicals, to being trained by a New York City Ballet soloist who worked with George Balanchine himself. She pursued her passion and got her BFA in Dance at Point Park University, Conservatory of Performing Arts. She has performed in many productions, but her favorite will always remain The Nutcracker. Since graduating, she has performed with a professional ballet company all throughout NYC while also working on original work with other choreographers in both ballet and musical theatre jazz for stage, community outreach, and events. Miss Breana is so excited to share her love of dance with all her students at Dance with Miss Rachel. 
"Miss Julia" Mann
Front Desk Manager “Miss Julia” is an actor and singer from Philadelphia, PA. She recently received her BA in Musical Theatre from American University. She also had the honor of attending the London Theatre Program at the British American Drama Academy, where she trained in classical theatre. Before moving to NYC, Miss Julia worked as a studio manager and teacher at the Conservatory of Music and Dance. She is delighted to be a part of the DWMR team! 
"Miss Leigh Marie" McCarver
Lead Instructor “Miss Leigh Marie” has been dreaming of sharing her love of dance with others since she was a little girl growing up in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Performance at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. While in school, she worked as an Assistant Teaching Artist at Nashville Children’s Theatre, where she specialized in helping young artists find confidence and foster empathy. Her most recent credit is with Nashville Shakespeare Festival in Love’s Labour’s Lost. She is thrilled to be a part of the DWMR team and hopes to encourage all dancers to dream big too! 
"Miss Alle-Faye" Monka
Lead Instructor "Miss Alle-Faye" grew up in Morristown, New Jersey, but her passion for musical theater brought her to the Professional Performing Arts School in NYC. She went on to receive her B.F.A. in Musical Theater from The University of Michigan and has since performed at regional theaters around the country and toured Japan. Some of her highlights include A Chorus Line, Annie, The Wizard of Oz, Gypsy, The Wedding Singer, 42nd Street, and Mary Poppins. You can also catch some of her performances with Starkid Productions on YouTube. Miss Alle-Faye currently splits her time as a dance instructor and fitness instructor here in NYC. She absolutely loves sharing her talents with children and feels honored to have such an impact on their lives through dance and music here at Dance With Miss Rachel. 
"Mr. Andryi" Nahirniak
Baby Bop Music Leader “Mr. Andryi” is an actor and musician based in New York City. He was born and raised in Cottage Grove, WI, as part of a large musical family that fostered a love for music and performing. As an actor, Andryi graduated from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and soon after toured around the US in the National Tour of An Officer and a Gentleman. Regionally, he has performed at Woodstock Playhouse (Sweet Charity, Fame) and The John W. Engeman (Mystic Pizza). As a musician, Andryi plays guitar and sings around NYC. He also teaches private guitar lessons to all age groups around Manhattan and virtually. 
"Miss Elise" Shangold
Lead Instructor “Miss Elise” is thrilled to be a part of the Dance with Miss Rachel team! She is originally from Storrs, CT, where she fell in love with dance and theater at five years old! She went to French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts every summer and The Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts for high school until she went to Rider University to get her BFA in Musical Theatre! Right after college, she was in the new musical national tour of An Officer and A Gentleman, that she had been with through its reading and workshop stages with Work Light Productions. Select regional credits include Mystic Pizza at the John W. Engeman Theater, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Beehive, And The World Goes Round at Forestburgh Playhouse, and Snow White at the Hangar Theater. She is so excited to share her love of dance and theater with the next generation of performers! 
"Miss Emily" Spicer
Lead Instructor “Miss Emily” grew up in Wichita Falls, TX, and recently graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC, where she studied Dance Theatre. After graduating, she has continued teaching in the city while she pursues her professional performance career. One of her favorite experiences in the city was performing in the Industry Showcase at Steps on Broadway in February 2024. Miss Emily has taught multiple styles of dance from ages 2-18, and loves getting to share her passion for the arts. She is excited to continue spreading the joy of dance to children alongside a fabulous team at DWMR. 
"Miss Sophie" Stromberg
Assistant Instructor “Miss Sophie” grew up in Westminster, Maryland where she discovered her passion for dance, voice, and musical theatre performance at a young age. She choreographed several youth theatre productions and taught dance classes to children in her hometown while in high school. These experiences ignited her love of teaching and desire to inspire young artists. She graduated from the Institute for American Musical Theatre in New York City, after which, she served as Swing and Assistant Dance Captain on the Annie National Tour. She has also performed at Surflight Theatre, The Classic Theatre of Maryland, and Hairspray: In Concert with John Waters and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. She is so excited to share her love of the arts with the next generation of performers at DWMR! 
"Mr. Zack" Zaromatidis
Baby Bop Leader "Mr. Zack" is a New York-based actor and singer/songwriter. His love of music began at age 13 when started playing guitar. After graduating with a BFA from Pace University for Musical Theater, Zack led the first national tour of the Tony Award winning musical, Bandstand, and played Carl Perkins in the tour of Million Dollar Quartet Christmas. He is also a full-time guitarist, playing professionally across the country for various projects and with his band, All My Sons. |
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