Brooklyn's Finest {Dance Crew}

Amanda Diaz 

CHRISTY "PRINCESS" VELAZQUEZ started dancing before she could walk.She began her training in ballet and tap at the Vicky Simegiatos
Studio of the Performing Arts in Brooklyn, New York. Through out her
twelve years with Vicky Simegiatos she has furthered her training
through ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, pointe, salsa, and flamenco and at
11 years old was cast as Clara in the yearly Nutcracker production.
Christy also held a modeling contract with a dance wear company
“Bodywrappers” and was featured in their catalogues, runway shows, and various nationwide dance magazines. Christy was accepted into the Talent Unlimited High School of the Performing Arts where she majored in dance. While in high school, she began training at the Xtreme Dance Studio in Staten Island and was a back up dancer for recording artist “Gia-Bella”. This led her to perform at various locations in the tri-state area including the famous Apollo Theater. Christy then continued her training at the Beyond Dance dance center in Brooklyn, New York where she began her hip hop training with “Mr. Kid”. She has also taken classes in ballet and hip hop at the world famous Broadway Dance Center in New York City. Christy has had the pleasure of training with famous choreographers such as Brian Friedman, Mia Michaels, Wade Robson, Shane Sparks, Criss Judd, Dave Scott, and Laurie Ann Gibson at the Pulse dance conventions.

Currently Christy is the choreographer and a dancer for the new recording artist “ge0” where she has created and been a part of routines for shows and music videos. Other credentials include performances in groups and as a soloist in various dance
competitions, college recitals, conventions and the well-known Puerto
Rican day parade. Christy has also won the 2009 LEA schloarship award from Beyond Dance in recognition of her hard work and dedication as a dancer. Christy currently attends CUNY: The College of Staten Island where  she minors in dance and will be graduating with a Bachelors of Arts in Women Studies this spring. She will begin her Masters of Arts in Dance Education in the fall. Christy dedicates her life to becoming a professional dancer and plans to pass on her love and knowledge of dance through teaching.

 LAUREN ZUNDE was born and raised in Brooklyn. She started dancing at the age of 4 up to the age of 7. After she went on to different things but some how she always caught her self dancing around the house at school etc. She realized she liked dancing more than she thought and that's where her heart was at. So she made a decision that she was going to give it her all and she started back dancing at 17, being part of the competition team at The Brooklyn Dance Center. There she explored and studied different dance styles such as ballet, tap, lyrical, modern, contemporary, jazz, samba, hip hop and breaking. From competing in Long Island, New Jersey and all over the tri state area she grew more and more passionate.   She also met Mr Kid there  and as her teacher he helped her to explore and evolve her hip hop. Mr Kid so how much she was growing and her potential was more than any of his students at the time so he took her in and she join his dance group called Motion Sickness Crew and performed at numerous events along side the crew. Lauren as also participated at the Pulse taking a variety of classes with Wade Robinson, Dave Scott, Shane Sparks, laurie Ann Gibson, Chris judd, and many more. Now she is currently with the company team at Beyond Dance For The Performing Arts where she also a sub for Mr Kid teaching hip hop and breaking. Lauren is now pursuing her dancing more than ever and is aspiring to get her master's in dance education

MARY D'ACIERNO  was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Ever since she was a little girl all she wanted to do was dance. She received dance training for the past 15 years. She went to various different dance schools to get the most of her learning experience. She attended Miss Pat’s Dimensions in Dance, Vicky Simegiatos Performing Arts Center, and most recently Triple Essence. She competed in many different dance competitions in the Tri state area. From 2006-2010 she was a member and captain of Saint Joseph’s College Dance Team the “Diamonds.” She choreographed and taught various styles of dance to her team, and helped them become the best team Saint Joseph’s has seen in years. She has experience in all types of dance: hip hop, ballet, lyrical, tap, jazz, and contemporary. Her love for dance has helped her in getting many different jobs such as a dance teacher and an entertainer. She dances at all different types of events such as barmitvahs, sweet 16s, weddings, corporate events, etc. Her enthusiasm and dancing abilities helps make the parties she works all the more entertaining! She has taken various classes at Broadway Dance Center. She also got the privilege to dance at different arenas such as Madison Square Garden and the Izod Center. She is currently graduating college and going to get her masters degree in speech pathology, but will be “forever on my toes!”

 MIKAEL KACHANOVSKY, 12, was born and is being raised in Brooklyn. He began dancing Break and  Hip Hop at the age of 5 1/2 with Mr. Kid.  By the age of 7 1/2 he made company in his dance school and added Tap, Jazz,Ballet,Lyrical and Contemporary to his style of dancing.  In 2008, Mikael went on to expand his "HORIZONS" by enrolling in the HORIZONS DANCE CENTER in Brooklyn.  There he was accepted into their Jr. Company Division.

SAMANTHA BALLENGER started dancing at the young age of two. She first danced at New School of Dance in Bay Ridge. She then came to the Brooklyn Dance Center in Bensonhurst at 12 years old, and had joined the Senior Competition Team by the following year. She danced for the Senior Competition team until the age of 18, when she graduated High School from Fontbonne Hall Academy. Samantha has performed at KTU’s Disco Ball Concert for the past three years, performing with stars such as "The Sugar Hill Gang", "Bonnie Pointer", "Carol Douglas", "Tavares", "Chic" and "The Tramps". She has also performed in local nursing homes and parks in the Brooklyn community. In addition to her performing she also has taught many classes at the Brooklyn Dance Center and loves to work with children.  She aspires to be a Speech Therapist while still keeping up with her dancing career.  She has also trained with Mr. Kid at The Brooklyn Dance Center for 5 years.  She has also worked for Trio Productions and continues to do so.

 My name is THERESA JEAN HEYER. I am 16 years old.  I have been dancing for 13 years.  I have been attending the Albee School of Dance in Downtown Brooklyn since I was 3 years old.  Recently, I have started taking Ballroom Dance, I hope to one day compete in Ballroom Competitions.  I have participated in Dance Competitions since 2004.  I have competed in various competitions namely: Starbound, Metrotech, Dance Explosion and Fire & Ice.  In June I performed in a    Hip Hop Dance Festival called “Dancing in the Street”. 

Valona Saka 

Amanda Diaz

Christy Velaquez

Lauren Zunde

Mary D'Acierno

Mikael Kachanovsky

Samantha Ballenger

Theresa Jean Heyer

Valona Saka