Faculty

Debbie Schod - Children’s Program

Ms. Shod was educated at Bay Path College in Massachusetts and specialized in early childhood education. Her dance training included Frank Hatchet, Joe Tremaine, Charles Kelly, Luigi, and Henry LeTang. She also taught for six years at the Galipeau School of Dance in Massachusetts. In addition, she ran her own dance program “Dancing with Debbie” in Trumbull, CT. She specializes in early childhood dance education and helps instill the love of dance in her young students.

Alexi Tchernichov - Ballet

Mr. Tchernichov received his early education at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia. A graduate of the Vaganova Choreographic Institute in St. Petersburg, he is the son of Elena Tchernichova, former Principal Ballet Mistress of American Ballet Theatre. Mr. Tchernichov has a vast classical ballet background which he shares in daily lessons and repertoire rehearsal.

Peter Nevin

Mr. Nevin trained and performed with the Westchester Ballet Company. In 1994, he joined Wichita Falls Ballet Theater as principal soloist. He performed principal roles in numerous productions including, Harem Scarum, Hi-Tek Aztec and Tapestry. In 2002, Mr. Nevin returned to the East Coast and regularly performs as a a guest artist throughout Connecticut and the New York area.

Carey Nevin

Ms. Nevin began her ballet studies with The Royal Academy of Ballet under the direction of Doris Driver and continued with the New England Academy of Dance. Ms. Nevin earned her teaching certificate in ballet, modern and jazz from the School of the Hartford Ballet and performed as an apprentice with the Company under the direction of Michael Uthoff. She has choreographed and performed with the New Canaan Town Players, New Cannan Summer Theater, The Westport Dance Center and Woodbury Academy.

Alfred Obersteiner

Mr. Obersteiner, a native of Austria, received his dance training in Switzerland and New York City. As a soloist and principal dancer with numerous companies, he has toured extensively throughout Central Europe, South and North America. He currently works as a freelance dancer, choreographer and dance instructor, working with many renowned institutions such as American Ballet Theatre, St. Paul School, United States Figure Skating Association and the David Howard Teacher Training Workshops. Currently, Alfred teaches and choreographs in the tri-state area.

George Ziminski - Private Ballroom Instruction

Mr. Ziminski is a professional, certified ballroom dance instructor. He was the 1997 USISTD Theater Arts Champion. He performed with the Albano Ballet, Footnotes, Co-N-Tempo and is also a member of the Woodbury Ballet Company.

Diane Kearns - Jazz, Tap

Ms. Kearns was a student of Frank Hatchet, Charles Kelly and Savion Glover. She was the former Artistic Director of DanceMaker Studio in Southbury. She continues to teach Jazz, Tap and Hip Hop throughout the State of Connecticut. Currently, she teaches Jazz at the Westover School in Middlebury and teaches the intermediate and advanced level Jazz and Tap classes at the Woodbury Academy.