Karina is the manager of the Dance Department at Closter Performing Arts. She is a highly qualified ballet instructor with a passion for dance education and accessibility. She obtained her Master of Arts in Teaching Dance in Higher Education and American Ballet Theatre Pedagogy from New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. As an American Ballet Theater Certified Teacher, Karina is proficient in all levels of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Her comprehensive training equips her to provide students with a solid foundation in ballet technique and artistic expression. During her time at NYU, Karina gained valuable experience working with young dancers. She had the opportunity to assist primary classes at the prestigious Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School and interned with the Dance Theatre of Harlem Summer Intensive program. Her dedication to choreography was showcased in the NYU Masters' concert, where she crafted captivating dance pieces.

Originally from Brazil, Karina received her ballet training and completed her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Psychology, specializing in child development and educational processes. This unique background allows her to bring a holistic approach to her teaching, considering both the physical and emotional aspects of her students' growth.

With over 10 years of experience teaching ballet, Karina is a seasoned instructor who understands the importance of creating a nurturing and inclusive learning environment. She believes in making dance accessible to all individuals, regardless of their background or ability. Her advocacy for accessibility aligns perfectly with our ballet school's values.

Karina's expertise, combined with her commitment to student development and inclusivity, make her an invaluable addition to our faculty. She strives to empower her students, fostering their love for dance while instilling discipline, technique, and artistry. With her extensive knowledge and genuine passion for teaching, Karina inspires her students to reach their full potential and discover the transformative power of dance.

Nicole Zadra is a highly accomplished ballet teacher with a rich background in ballet training and performance. Her passion for dance and dedication to her craft have taken her on a journey spanning both the United States and Russia. Nicole's training began in the USA, where she honed her skills at prestigious institutions. In 2012, she graduated from the Manhattan Youth Ballet on a merit scholarship, studying under the renowned Daniel Ulbricht. Seeking further artistic growth, Nicole pursued her training at the world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia, where she graduated in 2014 under the guidance of Marina Leonova. Throughout her professional career, Nicole has graced the stages of esteemed ballet companies around the world. In 2014, she joined The Hong Kong Ballet as a member of the Corps de Ballet, where she performed in captivating productions such as Don Quixote, Swan Lake Act III, the Choreographers Showcase, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Turandot. Her time with The Hong Kong Ballet allowed her to showcase her technical prowess and artistry.

In 2016, Nicole joined Ballet Memphis, further expanding her repertoire and captivating audiences with her performances. She immersed herself in a diverse range of pieces, including classical ballets such as Giselle and Peter Pan, as well as George Balanchine's Square Dance, The Wizard of Oz, and various contemporary works. Working alongside esteemed directors and choreographers such as Nina Ananiashvili, Deborah Wingert, Maxim Beloserkovsky, and Brian Reeder, Nicole continued to grow as an artist.

Not only is Nicole an accomplished performer, but she is also an ABT certified teacher. She specializes in the National Training Curriculum, ranging from Pre-primary to Level 3, and has received the prestigious ABT Project Plie scholarship. Nicole's dedication to teaching and her passion for sharing her knowledge with aspiring dancers make her an invaluable asset to our ballet school. Throughout her career, Nicole has been recognized for her exceptional talent and received numerous scholarships for her outstanding achievements. Her training includes valuable experiences at renowned institutions such as The Alvin Ailey School, NYSSSA, The Rock School, Boston Ballet, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet.

During her training, Nicole gained extensive performance experience, gracing the stages of prestigious venues. Highlights of her career include notable roles in productions such as La Fille Mal Gardée at the Bolshoi Theater, The Sleeping Beauty and the Hungarian Rhapsody at the Kremlin Palace in Russia, and Jerome Robbins' Interplay.

Her versatility extends to contemporary, character dance, and jazz pieces, showcasing her ability to captivate audiences with a wide range of dance styles. With her wealth of experience and passion for ballet, Nicole Zadra brings a unique perspective to her teaching. Her nurturing approach, combined with her technical expertise, helps students develop their skills and artistic expression. We are thrilled to have Nicole as part of our esteemed faculty, where she inspires and guides aspiring dancers on their journey towards excellence in ballet.

Ryan Yuri embarked on his artistic journey in 2014 at the esteemed Academia Roda Viva, guided by the artistic direction of Daniela Dias. His passion for dance led him to further cultivate his skills at Itego em Artes Basileu França in Goiânia, Brazil, where he trained under the expert guidance of Simone Malta from 2015 to 2019.

In 2019, Ryan joined the Ballet to Teatro Escola Basileu França youth company, a pivotal step in his career. During this time, he had the privilege of collaborating with renowned professionals such as Olga Dolganova (Russia), Leidy Escobar (Cuba), Simone Malta (Brazil), Ana Maria Campos (Brazil), and Binho Pacheco (Brazil). His repertoire includes performances in full-length productions, as well as neoclassical and contemporary works, showcasing his versatile talent.

Ryan's participation in prestigious festivals and competitions, including Promodança, Festival de Dança de Joinville, and YAGP, not only earned him numerous awards but also secured scholarships to renowned institutions like Barcelona Dance Center and Alberta Ballet School. His remarkable achievement includes a 2nd place win in the Men's Senior Division at YAGP.

His dance journey is adorned with exquisite experiences, featuring notable pas de deux performances such as the Bluebird Pas de Deux from Sleeping Beauty. Ryan has graced the stage in complete ballets with orchestras, including iconic productions like Coppelia, The Nutcracker, Carmen, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, The Fairy Doll Suite, Grand Pas Classique Hongroise Raymonda, La Esmeralda, Les Millions d'Arlequin, among others.

Throughout his artistic development, Ryan has had the privilege of learning from distinguished teachers and coaches, such as Jair Moraes (Male CIA Jair Moraes), Ana Paula Oioli (Director of Costal City Ballet-Canada), Olga Dolganova (Russia), Lars Van Cauwenbergh (SPCD), and Cristopher Powney (Royal Ballet School). These mentors have played a crucial role in shaping his artistry and contributing to his success on the international dance stage.

Olivia Banach is an experienced dance educator, choreographer, and program manager with over four years of professional teaching experience. She has worked extensively with dancers ages 3 through adult, providing instruction in jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, musical theatre, ballet, and technique. As a choreographer, Olivia has created original work for solos, duets, trios, and group performances, earning multiple choreography awards and recognition at regional, national, and world dance competitions.

Olivia is committed to providing thoughtful, engaging instruction that develops strong technical foundations while encouraging artistry, confidence, and creativity. Her experience teaching both group and private lessons, along with her background in program management, allows her to create a structured and supportive environment in which dancers can grow as both performers and individuals.

Sophia Costa is a dance instructor and choreographer passionate about creating meaningful dance education rooted in strong technique, artistry, and individuality. A New Jersey native, Sophia began dancing at age five and trained extensively in ballet, jazz, and contemporary at Broadway Bound Dance Center, American Ballet Theatre, Ellison Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Steps on Broadway, and Broadway Dance Center.

Her performance background spans competitive, collegiate, commercial, and contemporary dance. As a member and captain of the Holy Angels Dance Team, she performed at venues including Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center and earned three national Hip-Hop championships. She later danced for the University of Mississippi Dance Team, performing at events including the Sugar Bowl and ESPN College GameDay and earning a national championship in Game Day. At the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Sophia furthered her training in ballet, modern, contemporary, and commercial dance while studying choreography, improvisation, and dance history.

Now based in Northern New Jersey, Sophia continues to teach, choreograph, train, and perform. She has taught ballet, jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, and dance team preparation and choreographed award-winning competition pieces, including a group work recognized with an Industry Dance Award for “Outstanding Performance.” Her recent work includes performing in the feature film The Blood Orange and training with Complexions Contemporary Ballet.

As an educator, Sophia strives to create a supportive and challenging environment where dancers build strong technical foundations while developing confidence, creativity, musicality, and their own unique artistic voice.

Diane is an accomplished dance educator and former professional dancer originally from London, England. She trained with the Royal Academy of Dance and holds teaching certification in Classical Ballet, as well as qualifications with the International Dance Teachers’ Association in Modern, Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Gymnastics, and Ballroom.

Prior to pursuing a career in education, Diane performed professionally in numerous film, television, and stage productions in England and internationally, including the distinguished honor of performing for Her Majesty the Queen. Her extensive professional performance experience has provided her with a deep understanding of artistry, discipline, and performance quality, which she brings into her teaching.

In addition to her dance qualifications, Diane is a trained early childhood educator and holds a Montessori Teaching Diploma and qualifications in English as a Second Language. Her background in both dance and early childhood education allows her to create engaging, supportive, and age-appropriate learning experiences for her students. She is passionate about nurturing confidence, artistry, and a lifelong appreciation for dance in every student she teaches.

Kara Bruzina's ballet journey began at the esteemed School of Classical Ballet in her hometown of Lexington, Kentucky. Her dedication to her craft led her to pursue further studies at Wagner's Ballettschule in Freiburg, Germany, and Tachibana Ballet in Sendai, Japan. She also had the privilege of attending summer sessions at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, further enriching her training. Kara's passion and commitment culminated in her graduation with Summa Cum Laude honors, earning her a BFA in Dance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Even while still in college, Kara began her professional dance career, which spanned across several states and companies. Notable among these were her performances with Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Memphis, Collage Dance Collective, Kentucky Ballet Theater, Dayton Ballet, Lexington Ballet, and Tulsa Ballet Theater, among others. Her repertoire encompassed a wide range of roles, showcasing her versatility and artistry. From classical to contemporary to modern, Kara captivated audiences with her portrayal of characters such as Odette in Septime Weber's Swan Lake, Clara and Sugar Plum in The Nutcracker, Balanchine's Allegro Brillante, Mark Godden's Angels in the Architecture,Trey McIntyre's Naughty Boy, Matthew Neenan's The Last Glass, and Adela in Alvin Ailey's Feast of Ashes.

Throughout her dance journey, Kara's talents and interests expanded beyond performing. She gained valuable experience working in various costume shops, exploring costume construction and design as a new creative outlet. Additionally, she pursued training in Stott Pilates, further enhancing her understanding of movement and body mechanics. Kara also had the opportunity to introduce the world of dance to underprivileged children in different cities through public programs and outreach initiatives in schools, sharing the transformative power of dance with young minds.

Since her move to New Jersey in 2014, Kara has embarked on a fulfilling career in teaching, choreography, and coaching. She initially joined Petrov Ballet School as a teacher and later discovered the joys of nurturing young dancers and sharing her knowledge and experiences at Elite Ballet Academy. Now, Kara eagerly looks forward to this new chapter at Waldwick School of Ballet, where she can continue to inspire and impart her love of dance to students. Her remarkable journey, combined with her passion for teaching, will undoubtedly enrich the lives of aspiring dancers and shape their artistic growth.

Ivy Ha earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts and Art Education from Saint Peter’s University in New Jersey. With a deep passion for Fine Arts, she also completed an additional three years in a Fashion Design program at the Art Institute of NYC.

As a highly qualified art teacher with a standard teaching certificate from the state of New Jersey, Ivy has dedicated the past 18 years to teaching in both private and public schools. She has extensive experience working with a diverse range of students, from children as young as three to adults. Currently, she teaches many gifted and talented students across various art studios.

Ivy actively encourages her students to embrace challenges and participate in art competitions and events. Many of her students have achieved notable success and recognition in various art competitions and awards. Her mission as an art educator is rooted in the belief that creativity, continuous learning, and personal growth are essential to artistic development.

Michael Yun has served as cover conductor for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and has assisted with the Lyric Opera of Baltimore, Opera Theatre of Montclair, Mannes Community Orchestra, and Miami Music Festival Symphony Orchestra. He has also taken part in festivals in Spain, Italy, and Canada. As a pianist, Mr. Yun has won first prizes at the New York Music Festival Competition and the New Jersey Teachers’ Association Competition. He is also a two-time recipient of a scholarship award from the Council of Korean Churches of Greater New York. He earned his Master’s degree in orchestral conducting at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where he studied with the legendary Gustav Meier, and Markand Thakar, a protégé of Sergiu Celibidache. Other conducting teachers include Agrippino Bellino, Scott Jackson Wiley and Ronald Braunstein. Mr. Yun received his degree in piano performance from the Mannes College of Music where he studied with Yuri Kim. Currently, he is conductor of the Heritage Choir.