Nicole Loizides Albruzzese
Artistic Director NYDT, Ohman School of Ballet and Ballet Instructor
Nicole began her classical training at The Ohman School of Ballet, under the direction of New York City Ballet soloist Frank Ohman in 1981 and started her professional career with the New York Dance Theatre at the age of 17 while also on scholarship at Joffrey Ballet School in NYC. Her dance career is vast and diverse having performed extensively with Momix and Ballet Hispanico, as well as several regional classical and contemporary companies for a collective 25 years before shifting her attention toward directing and producing.
She’s performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages spanning 44 countries across 6 continents and taught master classes around the globe. She’s been featured both on the cover of Dance Magazine and on ABC’s Live with Regis and Kelly as “the Athletic Dancer” and had the privilege of meeting and performing for HM Queen Elizabeth and HM Prince Philip at the Royal Variety Show in Liverpool, England.
Graceanne Pierce
Ballet Instructor
Graceanne Pierce is currently a New York City based Freelance Artist. She is a former Corps Artist of Ballet West and American Ballet Theatre Studio Company member for two seasons. Her repertoire includes George Balanchine’s “Jewels”, Alexei Ratmansky’s “The Nutcracker”, Lauren Lovette’s “Le Jeune”, Ethan Stiefel’s “Overture”, August Bournonville’s “William Tell Pas de Deux”, and Claudia Schreier’s “Neon”. Graceanne was a guest principal artist at the Gala Internazionale at Teatro alla Scala where she performed the pas de deux from George Balanchine’s “La Source”. She has been a part of iHeart Dance NYC’s rooftop performance series. There, she has danced works by Ask la Cour, David Fernandez, and Gary Pierce. Graceanne was featured in Dance Magazine’s article “Indie Ballerinas”. She is a guest artist with Tabula Rasa Dance Theater. In summer of 2022, Graceanne had the principal role of “Sheila” in the international tour of “A Chorus Line”.
Jessica Snyder Hambley
Ballet and Modern Instructor
Ms. Hambley received her classical training with Frank Ohman and continued her dance studies at Tulane University where she concentrated on Modern, spent a semester at the Edna Manley School of Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston, Jamaica, and was the recipient of the Minette I. Starts Dance Award for outstanding achievement.
She has studied contemporary, jazz, theater dance, tap, acro, hip-hop, Afro-Caribbean folk and ballroom, taking master classes and workshops with leading performers and choreographers.
Ms. Hambley performed for several years with New York Dance Theatre and numerous regional contemporary companies and has choreographed for professional dancers as well.
Cecilia Saia
Ballet Instructor
Ms. Saia trained originally in classic dance and ballet in her home country of Argentina. She earned a BA in Contemporary Dance from the Teatro San Martin and an MFA in Dance from the Universidad Nacional de Las Artes in Buenos Aires.
Ms. Saia was a Principal Tango Performer and Choreographer in the original Tony nominated production of Forever Tango. After touring both nationally and internationally, she returned to New York to teach, heading up the Tango Division at DanceSport Dance Studio, made famous by Al Pacino in “Scent of a Woman”. With her partner, Ronen Khayat, she performed at venues such as Lincoln Center, Town Hall, and Carnegie Hall. Ms. Saia also performed with international ballet star, Julio Bocca.
In 2013, Ms. Saia was honored with an Hola Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Artist, for her work in Tango Fever at Teatro Latea.
Nicola Hospedales
Ballet Instructor
Nicola trained at London Studio Centre in London, England. Her performance career has taken her to the UK, Trinidad, Grenada, Brazil and around the US. She’s performed with many different dance companies including Sleight of Hand Theatre, Fulham Opera, Ageis Live Arts, Conception Dance Theatre, Cascade Festival Ballet, The People Pile and E.I.C Dance Theatre. In 2014, she founded her own dance company, NHD Dance in and joined Moving On in 2022 working alongside Artistic Director Nicole Loizides. Ms. Hospedales holds her certifications in PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique), the ABT National Teacher Training Program, as well as by the Royal Academy of Ballet.
Jaileen Vargas
Ballet Instructor
Andrea Blom
Ballet Instructor
Andrea started dancing when she was three and received her classical training at the Frank Ohman School of Ballet where she performed roles in NYDT’s “The Nutcracker” from Angel to the Sugar Plum Fairy. After attending summer intensives with NYSSSA, ABT and Ballet Austin, she turned her focus to study acupuncture. A licensed acupuncturist since 2013, Andrea now enjoys the best of both worlds. She has been a member of Moving On since 2018, guests with Pandora Ballet, a member of the Winds of the Moon Belly Dance Troupe, New York Dance Theatre, and continues to freelance – being given opportunities to dance everything from ballet to Bollywood. Her largest role thus far is as a mother to her son James Franklin, in part named after NYDT/OSB founder and mentor Frank Ohman.
Sandy Cieslak
Ballet Instructor
Sandy Cieslak began her performing arts journey at the American Ballet Studio of Bayport, where she developed a deep passion for dance. During summers, she trained intensively with the Joffrey Ballet throughout high school. Her dedication to her academics took her to Stony Brook University, where she was able to pursue theatre arts and dance as a minor, majoring in French Literature, thus merging her interests in linguistics and the performing arts. During her time at Stony Brook, she had an incredible opportunity to study abroad in Lyon, France and continue her bilingual education at Université Lumière Lyon II. While overseas, she studied classical ballet under the direction of Florence Allard-Meunier at the Académie de Danse Lyon VII.
In 2022, she earned her first NYS teaching license in secondary world languages. In the spring of 2024, she graciously accepted an invitation to dance with Tau Dance Theatre of Honolulu as a company member, performing classical ballet alongside artists specializing in traditional Hula and Native Hawaiian dance. Currently, she is finishing her Master of Science in Childhood Education at Hunter College, while simultaneously performing with NYDT and instructing ballet at the Ohman School of Ballet.
Craig Wasserman
Ballet Instructor
Craig Wasserman, originally from New York, received his dance training at the School of American Ballet in New York City, Often performing with New York City Ballet. He then joined Pennsylvania Ballet (now Philadelphia Ballet) in 2011. Working his way through the ranks, he perform numerous Principal and Soloist roles, including in works by Christopher Wheeldon, Justin Peck, Wayne McGregor, Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine, William Forsythe, and Trey McIntyre. He then joined Kansas City Ballet in 2019 for 3 seasons as a leading dancer. Returning to New York, Craig has since been performing as a freelance dancer. Throughout his career, Craig has received several prestigious accolades, notably being included in “Wendy Perron’s Best of 2016”, Dance Magazine”.
Lola Volkmar
Ballet Instructor
Lola Volkmar is a BFA dance major at LIU Post and has had the pleasure of serving as Co-Company manager for the Post Concert Dance Company. Lola has performed in pieces by Croix Dilenno, Lloyd Knight, Natalie Lomonte, Yoshito Sakuraba and many others through PCDC. She has worked closely wih Artistic Director Nicole Loizides through NYDT’s internship program building skills specifically related to their community outreach program. She loves artistic endeavors that challenge the social norm, giving the hopeless hope. Opening minds, opening hearts, giving insight, offering understanding, and demonstrating empathy are all aspects of dance Lola loves! Ms. Volkmar’s creative process landed her the opportunity to perform her world premiere of “Found” at the Gold Coast Dance Festival in 2024.
Brooke Lawson
Ballet Instructor
In Loving Memory of Lara Damadeo
Ms. Damadeo trained originally on Long Island with the June Claire Studios before studying and working with the Joffrey Ballet in New York.
She continued to study at Steps on Broadway and the Broadway Dance Center where she also taught. She held a degree in both Dance and Elementary Education from New York University and taught in the Hauppauge School District.
Ms. Damadeo was also a Pilates master instructor and trainer, as well as a Zena Rommett Floor Barre® teacher. She danced with the Joffrey Ballet, Long Island Ballet Theater, JC Lynn Dancers, Washington Square Repertory, and Kaleidoscope Dancers.
Diane
Lichtenberger
Advisor
Ms. Lichtenberger trained and graduated from the School of American Ballet before attending the Juilliard School where she received a B.F.A. Degree in Ballet and Modern Dance. Along the way she was also mentored by André and Lida Eglevsky and Anthony Tudor.
She has performed with the New York City Ballet, Radio City Music Hall, the Eglevsky Ballet as a soloist, the Louis Falco Company and the José Limon Company. Ms. Lichtenberger has been a prolific choreographer for the Ohman School where her pieces have been lauded by Jacques d’Amboise, Allegra Kent, Violette Verdy and several other legendary New York City Ballet dancers.
She has directed and choreographed scores of musicals for theater groups on Long Island including Plaza Theatrical Productions and was an adjunct professor of dance at Hofstra University for 13 years.