NYDT Spring Soirée performance & reception

NYDT continues to provide performance opportunities for artists in our region. Swing into Spring is grateful to our wide array of alumni and professionals that continue to grace our stages!

Thank you Biwill Calixte, Sandy Cieslak, Elysena DeStefano, Naomi Fowler, Katie Fox, Anna Gross, Lola Haven, Matthew Lannigan, Brooke Lawson, Alana Lewis, Sara Tobia, Jaileen Vargas, and Craig Wasserman for swinging into Spring with us!

Biwill Calixte – Dancer

Biwill Calixte, born and raised in Haiti, is a passionate Ballroom and Latin dancer who has been dancing since 2004. In Haiti, he competed with students as a pro-am competitive dancer in International Latin dance style.  Through ballroom, Biwill has developed a love and dedication for the dance world, as well as strong skills and a deep love for performance and the art of partner dancing.

After moving to the United States in 2018, Calixte continued pursuing his dance career by working with Arthur Murray Dance Studio, gaining valuable professional experience, and teaching students in multiple styles of dance, such as international style, American rhythm, and social dances. Today, Biwill is an NDCA registered pro who competes competitively in the rising star and open professional American Rhythm categories. His journey reflects commitment, talent, and a continuing passion for Ballroom and Latin dance.

Sandy Cieslak – Dancer

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, Chevalier Ballet, and instructing ballet at the Ohman School of Ballet.

Matthew Lannigan – Clarinetist

Matthew Lannigan is a rising senior pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in Clarinet Performance and Music Education at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. He is in the studio of Dr. Julianne Kirk-Doyle and serves as Principal Clarinetist of both the Crane Wind Ensemble and the Crane Symphony Orchestra.

During his time at Crane, he has been featured as a soloist on numerous works, including Pines of Rome, Blue Shades, and Danzón No. 2. Matthew is excited to join OSB and NYDT for this production and hopes you enjoy the show!

Jaileen Vargas – Dancer

Jaileen Vargas began her Balanchine training at the late age of 14 years old. She trained at The Ballet Center, in Old Bethpage, and later expanded her technique under former artistic director and founder Frank Ohman from 16 to 21 at The Ohman School of Ballet. Jaileen continued her studies at Adelphi University as an English/ Education major with a minor in dance. In the dance program, Jaileen broadened her technique in both Ballet and Modern through Vaganova, Graham, Taylor, and Forsythe style training under Orion Duckstein, Frank Agustyn, Adelheid B. Strelick and Jen Kreichman.

During her time at Adelphi University, Jaileen was featured in guest pieces, choreographed by Rasta Thomas and Joy Douglas and dance films, choreographed and directed by Sarah Rehm. It is an annual tradition for Jaileen to be involved in NYDT’s Nutcracker since 2016. She has danced in lead roles, such as Arabian Coffee, and as Dew Drop. In 2022, her training expanded into American Rhythm Ballroom dance mentored under Stephanie Falciano at Dance With Us Long Island. Jaileen, and her professional dance partner Bob Gai, compete in major ballroom competitions around the tristate area in both the rising star and open professional divisions. Today, Jaileen uses her wide repertoire of training in ballet, modern, and ballroom dance to expand and shape her movement styles and creative choices.

Craig Wasserman – Dancer

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 performed 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 touring the country and teaching at the Ohman School of Ballet. Throughout his career, Craig has received several prestigious accolades, notably being included in “Wendy Perron’s Best of 2016”, Dance Magazine”.