Our faculty are more than instructors, they're teachers!
Faculty & Staff
Mary Naftal President & Artistic Director
Mary Naftal has been teaching students of all ages for over 40 years and holds a degree in Education with specializations in Early Childhood Education and Dance from Long Island University. In addition to her role at Dance Connection, Mary is the founder of the Penny Prima® brand, Artistic Director of the Making Wishes Grow Performance Initiative, and has coached studio owners from across the country on teacher training, early childhood programs, and studio ownership.
Mary Naftal
President & Artistic Director
Mary Naftal
President & Artistic Director
Melinda Civitella
Studio Manager
Melinda Civitella
Studio Manager
Joe Naftal
Marketing Director & Production Mgr.
Joe Naftal
Marketing Director & Production Mgr.
Donna Iaboni
Facilities Manager
Donna Iaboni
Facilities Manager
Colleen Riccardelli
Teacher Training Program Dir.
Colleen Riccardelli
Teacher Training Program Dir.
Erin Sforza
Public Relations Coordinator
Erin Sforza
Public Relations Coordinator
Jennifer Kranenberg
Enrollment Coordinator
Jennifer Kranenberg
Enrollment Coordinator
Brooke-Ashley Bellafiore
Dance Teacher & Social Media
Brooke-Ashley Bellafiore
Dance Teacher & Social Media
Ava Nicole Bryant
Dance Teacher
Ava Nicole Bryant
Dance Teacher
Liz Camera
Dance Teacher
Liz Camera
Dance Teacher
Emily Civitella
Dance Teacher & Music Coordinator
Emily Civitella
Dance Teacher & Music Coordinator
Stacey Chiesa
Dance Teacher
Stacey Chiesa
Dance Teacher
Calob Congdon
Music Teacher
Calob Congdon
Music Teacher
Jenn D’Auria
Dance Teacher
Jenn D’Auria
Dance Teacher
Michaela Darragh
Dance Teacher
Michaela Darragh
Dance Teacher
Sarah Davidman
Dance Teacher
Sarah Davidman
Dance Teacher
Victoria Flick
Dance Teacher
Victoria Flick
Dance Teacher
Gretchen Goess
Dance Teacher & Asst. Production Mgr.
Gretchen Goess
Dance Teacher & Asst. Production Mgr.
Julie Groh
Dance Teacher
Julie Groh
Dance Teacher
Cathi Murphy
Dance Teacher
Cathi Murphy
Dance Teacher
Denise Nuñez
Visual Arts Teacher
Denise Nuñez
Visual Arts Teacher
Melissa Orlick
Dance Teacher
Melissa Orlick
Dance Teacher
Billy Arco
Associate Teacher
Billy Arco
Associate Teacher
Erin Gratzer
Associate Teacher
Erin Gratzer
Associate Teacher
Jeanna Diaz
Assistant Teacher
Jeanna has been apart of Dance Connection since she was 5 years old. She has danced on the competitive team, as well as performed with Dance Connection for 7 years. During this time, she has also been a part of the Teacher Training Program. Dance has become a part of her life that she is most passionate about. Dancing has helped her evolve, mature and grow in more ways than one. She would love to continue and share her knowledge of dance, that Dance Connection has taught her, to our current and future dancers.
Jeanna Diaz
Assistant Teacher
Jeanna has been apart of Dance Connection since she was 5 years old. She has danced on the competitive team, as well as performed with Dance Connection for 7 years. During this time, she has also been a part of the Teacher Training Program. Dance has become a part of her life that she is most passionate about. Dancing has helped her evolve, mature and grow in more ways than one. She would love to continue and share her knowledge of dance, that Dance Connection has taught her, to our current and future dancers.
Sam Gut
Assistant Teacher
Sam Gut
Assistant Teacher
Ava Michels
Assistant Teacher
Ava Michels
Assistant Teacher
Rose Ryf
Executive Assistant
Rose Ryf
Executive Assistant
Brenna Skinnon
Production Stage Manager
Brenna Skinnon
Production Stage Manager
Megan Campisi
Office Staff
Megan Campisi
Office Staff
Jenny Diaz
Office Staff
Jenny Diaz
Office Staff
Alicia Martinez
Office Staff
Alicia Martinez
Office Staff
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