Meet the Dancers

 

Dana Fisch (Founder/Artistic Director) is an honors graduate of Oklahoma City University with a degree in Dance Management allowing her to work in all aspects of dance and non-profit management.  Her previous dance company experience includes five seasons as a Principle Dancer and Dance Captain of New Jersey Tap Dance Ensemble,  four as a Jazz Dancer and Company Manager in Push Factor Dance Company, and two seasons with  Mazel Toes Tap Company.  While dancing for these companies and Undertoe, she had the opportunity to perform in prestigious venues such as The Cotton Club, The Pearl Theater, The 92nd Street Y, Webster Hall and NJPAC, in The International Dance Festival, DanceNow Harlem, The Downtown Dance Festival, FIGMENT and alongside the NJ Symphony Orchestra, the Princeton Symphony and the NJ Ballet.  Some of her previous choreography credits include: Push Factor Dance Company, Off-Broadway rock opera The Capital Mall, Cabaret @ The Cave, DanceNow Harlem, New Dance Group Exchange, House of the Roses (a volunteer organization), and Oasis (chashama).  As a teacher, Dana has taught regular classes at local studios in Kansas, Oklahoma and New Jersey,  was the resident tap instructor for DanzJam (Conventions & Competitions), was a teaching artist for NJ Elite Dance Competitions & Conventions and has taught master classes around the US. Dana currently teaches tap at Broadway Performing Arts in Bloomfield, NJ; various dance forms at Brooklyn Jewish Dance Institute; and is one of the teaching artists for Undertoe’s Tappy Hour®.

 

Anne-Allegra Bennett (Tap Apprentice, 1st Undertoe Season) is originally from Eugene, Oregon, where she graduated from the Univ. of Oregon with a B.A. in Dance focusing on Technical Production, a minor in Theater Arts, and a certificate in Film Studies. In Eugene, she performed with the University’s Dance Department Repertory Dance Company where she learned and performed works by the dance faculty, as well as the choreography of guest choreographers Barry McNabb, Gabriel Masson and Tiffany Mills. In addition, she performed with The Oregon Festival of American Music and local theater and dance companies. After moving to New York, Anne-Allegra performed in the late Ernest “Brownie” Brown’s “Old Man Time” tap piece at The NY City Tap Festival; has performed at The Choreographer’s Canvas; interned at Broadway Dance Center with an emphasis in theater dance and tap; interned with the American Tap Dance Foundation; has performed around the city at promotional events for Office Max’s “Elf Yourself” campaign, Glamour Magazine’s flash mob for Fashion Week, and Anjellicle Cats Rescue. She currently studies dance at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway. In addition to dance she has also served on technical production crews in various capacities for companies nationwide with a focus on stage management and lighting design. She currently assists in several theater dance and tap classes for adults at Broadway Dance Center, as well as in their Children and Teen Program. Anne-Allegra is also a member of Crystal Chapman’s New York Theatre Dance Ensemble that was started in January of 2010.

Angela Chimenti (Tap Apprentice, 1st Undertoe Season) began dancing when she was only 2 years old in the Bronx, New York. As she got older and began to take her love for dance more and more seriously, she started taking classes in almost every style at Steps on Broadway. She continues to take and teach classes at Dream Makers Performing Arts in the Bronx, with whom she has won a regional title and various elite awards. She was a featured dancer in a music video for the band Crystal Castles and was a part of the dance mob that was organized for the debut of Dance Central for xbox 360′s Kinect. Angela was also involved with Bronx Spotlight Theatre, where she played Zaneeta Shinn in “The Music Man” and Chastity in “Anything Goes” and was also the dance captain in both productions. In May of 2011, she and her dance team performed at the Tap Extravaganza/Flobert Awards as a tribute to Charles Goddertz. She has worked as an assistant choreographer for “Beauty and the Beast” and “The New Kid” at Random Farms Kids’ Theatre. Angela enjoys all styles of dance and teaches children of all ages at Dream Makers Performing Arts in both classes and private lessons.

Kali McSweeney (Jazz Dancer, 1st Undertoe Season) It didn’t take Kali long to figure out what her passion was.  At the age of three she asked her mother to take dance classes and that’s where her dream began. By the time she was seven Kali was dancing everyday and all day.  She started off dancing in a small studio in New Jersey where she has won numerous awards for her talents and style.  Later, she started studying in the place where dreams come true, New York City.  Kali’s love for dance started to grow by leaps and bounds when she studied at major dance studios of New York City such as Alvin Ailey, Joffrey Ballet, Peridance, Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center.  In 2009 she was asked to join the Mad About Dance Company under the direction of Michiyo Tanaka. Since then she has also been a soloist in Balasole Dance Company along with other freelance work.  Kali McSweeney is a full time artist but also teaches young children in New Jersey with her love and passion for dance.  Currently she is still a member of Mad About Dance as a company member/soloist, where she performs throughout the New York City area.

Lauren Newby (Jazz Dancer, Company Manager, 3rd Undertoe Season) began her dancing career at two and a half at the Lois Allen School of Dance where she studied ballet, tap, jazz and pointe until she was eighteen. Lauren earned her BA in Dance from DeSales University, graduating Magna Cum Laude and was an active part of the department as: a member of the University’s Dance Team (student director, senior year); a member, Vice-President, and President of their chapter of XTE: the National Dance Honor Society; a dancer for many well known teachers and choreographers; and a choreographer when opportunities arose. All four years Lauren was a teacher for the University’s local community dance program: The Conservatory of Dance. In her senior year, Lauren was the Student Assistant Director of the Conservatory, running it’s day to day operations and gaining experience in the administrative end of dance education. Since the fall of 2005 Lauren has returned to the Lois Allen School of Dance in Clark and Bridgewater to teach all genres and age groups. Lauren has spent her summers since 2005 as a dance instructor at Camp Ballibay for the Fine and Performing Arts in Camptown, PA where she is currently the Dean of Campers in addition to teaching all styles of dance. She’s choreographed many musicals both for Camp Ballibay and New Jersey schools including “Guys and Dolls”, “Annie Junior”, and “Oklahoma.” Lauren is also a member of the National Dance Education Organization, Dance Educators of America, Associated Dance Teachers of New Jersey, and Dance New Jersey. Lauren is ecstatic to be both dancing with Undertoe Dance Project and working as the Company Manager to ensure the continued success of the company.

Megan Newell (Jazz Dancer, 2nd Undertoe Season) was born and raised on Long Island New York. She began exploring various dance forms since the age of three at Vic D’Amore Dance Studio (Deer Park). While dancing through high school she performed at her local community theater Creative Ministries in shows such as FAME and Aladdin. In 2006 her Modern and Ballet training deepened while attending Adelphi University where she graduated cum laude with a BFA in Dance (2010). At Adelphi, she had the privilege of working with various artists such as Pascal Rekoert, Tracy R. Kofford, Aszure Barton, Doug Varone, Danny Grossman, Leda Meredith, Sharon Wong and Frank Augustyn. Megan is currently teaching dance at American Studio of Performing Arts.

 

 

Nicole Ohr (Tap Dancer, Tap Captain, 4th Undertoe Season) is a 2008 Hofstra University graduate with a BA in Dance and in Psychology. While at Hofstra University, she trained in ballet, modern and tap dance and performed professionally choreographed pieces by artists such as Lakai Worrell (hiphop); Amy Marshall, Rosalind Newman, Karla Wolfangle (modern); Anita Feldman and Olivia Rosenkrantz (tap). Since graduating, Nicole continues her training with Michelle Dorrance, Barbara Duffy, Derick Grant and Jared Grimes. In addition to dancing with Undertoe, she is currently performing with Mazel Toes Tap Dance Crew and Boston Tap Company. She has performed works by Brenda Buffalino, Michelle Dorrance, Jared Grimes and Ray Hesselink and in Broadway Underground at B.B. Kings (choreography by Jared Grimes), the Main Event at Symphony Space (choreography by Shelby Kaufman), Jacob’s Pillow (Boston Tap Company) and The Pulse Tour (choreography by Andrea Torres). You can also find Nicole tapping in the Step Up 3D Broadway Dance Center Promotional Video (choreography by Michelle Dorrance). On top of tap dancing, she has performed as a Soca dancer with De Jump Up Crew. She is currently working for the American Tap Dance Foundation, is a Dance Instructor (various styles) in Connecticut and throughout Long Island and the NYC area and is one of the teaching artists for Undertoe’s Tappy Hour®.

Rachel Pieroni (Jazz and Tap Apprentice, 1st Undertoe Season) Rachel was raised in Bergenfield, New Jersey, where she began her dance studies at the age of two. At the age of six, she started her singing studies in her church choir. At the age of 9, she performed in her first professional New York production, the opera entitled “Norma”.  In middle school and high school she performed with County and Regional choruses and musical productions. While continuing her performing arts education, she attended Bergen County Academies High School for Visual and Performing Arts, where she studied Voice and Music. She recently graduated cum laude from Hofstra University this past May 2011, with her Bachelor of Arts in Dance, and a minor in music. While there, she studied modern, ballet, and tap dance, as well as hip hop, musical theater, contemporary modern and jazz in Danceworks, a student-run dance club which was privileged to be President of in her senior year. Rachel was able to work with and perform pieces of Anita Feldman, Amy Marshall, Niles Ford, Maxine Steinman, Karla Wolfangle, Dina Denis and Stormy Brandenburger during her time at Hofstra. She is currently continuing her dance training in New York City, and is thrilled to be rehearsing and performing in her first Undertoe season.

Lacey Sasso (Jazz Dancer, Jazz Captain, 4th Undertoe Season) was raised in Kansas City, MO and has been dancing since the age of four.  She attended Missouri State University where she earned a B.F.A. in Dance Performance with a minor in Psychology.  While attending MSU she was a member of Inertia Dance Company which promotes literacy through creative movement. Lacey performed works by Susan Dodge, Lisa Fusillo, and Shirley Ririe, among others and has performed internationally at the 19th Congress on Dance Research in Larnaka, Cyprus and at the first Congress on Dance Pedagogy in Bogota, Colombia.  Since graduation, Lacey moved to New York City where she presented choreography and worked with Push Factor Dance Company. Lacey is entering her fourth season with Undertoe Dance Project (NYC) where she serves not only as the Jazz Captain, but she is also a featured choreographer and the resident Jazz teaching artist. When she is not in rehearsals, Lacey spends her time teaching at Broadway Bound Dance Studio and Walker’s Dance and Gymnastics. Lacey currently splits her time between New York City and Boston, where she is in her second season with   S I X O N E S E V E N Dance Collective.

Kimberly Schafer (Tap Dancer, Jazz Swing, 3rd Undertoe Season) received her Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance Performance from Oklahoma City University. Since then, she has performed, choreographed, and taught across the United States.  Most recently she performed in “Broadway Bares XX” produced by Jerry Mitchell and directed by Josh Rhodes, and “Easter Bonnet” at The Minskoff Theatre for Equity fights Aids. She also performed in “Broadway on Broadway”, a show in Time Square that features music selections from current Broadway shows. She began her dance training at the age of 3 and has studied under Gregory Hines, Randy Skinner, Anne Reinking, and Brenda Bufalino. She has also had the privilege to perform at the Tap Extravaganza/Flo Bert Awards in 2006 and 2010. She has performed in various regional productions such as “Funny Girl”, “Crazy for You”, “Singin in the Rain”, “The Will Rogers Follies”, “Cabaret”, “Victor, Victoria”, and the National Tour of “42nd Street”.  Her choreography credits range from musical theatre to master classes to music videos.

Lauren Schmidt (Jazz Dancer, 1st Undertoe Season) Lauren was born and raised in Atkinson, NH.  She began her dance training at the age of 3 at Karla Pattavina’s Dance Academy in Bradford, MA, where she studied Jazz, Tap, Ballet and  Pointe.  Through the years she received additional training from artists such as Mandy Moore, Ray Leeper, Dee Caspary, and Gil Stroming, and eventually was granted the opportunity to perform their choreography at Radio City Music Hall.   In High School she  toured with pop singer JoJo, in the Rock ‘n Roll Gymnastics tour featuring Gold Medalists Paul and Morgan Hamm.  In 2007 her dance training intensified as she enrolled as a dance major at Marymount Manhattan College studying Ballet, Modern, and Jazz.  She graduated cum laude with a BA in Dance and Business Management in 2011.

Kelsey Sheppard (Tap Dancer, 1st Undertoe Season) Kelsey is an actor-dancer-singer born and raised in New York City. Her tap dance training began at the age of 4 with Bonnie MaCleod in the children’s program at Woodpeckers Tap Dance Center. She continued her study of tap with Robin Tribble, followed by many years with Susan Hebach in her program Tap Dance for Young People. She has also trained at the American Tap Dance Center, Broadway Dance Center, and Steps. At her alma mater, Indiana University, Kelsey served as the artistic director of Footnotes Tap Dance Group.  She has performed with the PeriChild Ensemble, the Tap City Youth Ensemble, and is a enjoying her first season with Undertoe Dance Project.

Demetra Tsantes (Tap Apprentice, 1st Undertoe Season) was born and raised in Queens, New York where she danced from age 8 through 17 with Dance Dynamics Studios under Director Mary D’Angelo. At Binghamton University, where she completed her BA in Comparative Literature and Psychology, she studied under Tapper JoEllen Hansen Kuhlman and worked with her as a Teaching Assistant. She also became a choreographer and co-President of Tap That, the campus based Tap Dance group. She currently works with Senior Citizens at University Settlement’s community based centers, providing fitness classes. Demetra has developed her own unique class, Tap Dance Class for Fitness and Better Bone Health, specifically for them. She volunteers with the Tap Program at Educational Alliance, and works under seasoned teachers Danielle Pierce and Faith Kimberling as a Class Assistant at the School at Steps. She is also continuing her dance training at Steps under Tap experts Charles Goddertz and Andrew Nemr.