Our faculty are more than instructors, they're teachers!
Faculty & Staff
We are a friendly, inspiring, and encouraging faculty to our students of all ages and abilities. We are dedicated with a commitment to you or your child’s love of dance.  
Mary Naftal <h6>President & Artistic Director
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.

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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.

Ginny Mastrosimone

Customer Service & Ops Coordinator

Ginny Mastrosimone

Customer Service & Ops Coordinator

Erin Sforza

Public Relations Coordinator

Erin Sforza

Public Relations Coordinator

Jennifer Kranenberg

Enrollment Coordinator

Jennifer Kranenberg

Enrollment Coordinator

Markus McGee

Social Media Coordinator

Markus McGee

Social Media Coordinator

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

Gabriella D’Arienzo

Dance Teacher

Gabby was born and raised on Long Island and started dancing at two years old. She was trained in all styles of dance, but her favorite styles to perform and choreograph are Jazz, Musical Theatre, Hip-hop, and Contemporary. She attended Sacred Heart University, where she graduated with a Business Management degree and Dance Minor. There she was a dedicated member and choreographer of the school’s dance ensemble. Pieces she choreographed for the program’s shows are ‘Welcome to the Moulin Rouge’, ‘Tina’, and ‘Diamonds Are Invincible.’ She is now pursuing her dreams of teaching the next generation of dancers.

Gabriella D’Arienzo

Dance Teacher

Gabby was born and raised on Long Island and started dancing at two years old. She was trained in all styles of dance, but her favorite styles to perform and choreograph are Jazz, Musical Theatre, Hip-hop, and Contemporary. She attended Sacred Heart University, where she graduated with a Business Management degree and Dance Minor. There she was a dedicated member and choreographer of the school’s dance ensemble. Pieces she choreographed for the program’s shows are ‘Welcome to the Moulin Rouge’, ‘Tina’, and ‘Diamonds Are Invincible.’ She is now pursuing her dreams of teaching the next generation of dancers.

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

Sheila Doyle

Dance Teacher

Sheila Doyle

Dance Teacher

Gretchen Goess

Dance Teacher & Asst. Production Mgr.

Gretchen Goess

Dance Teacher & Asst. Production Mgr.

Julie Groh

Dance Teacher

Julie Groh

Dance Teacher

Sam Gut

Dance Teacher

Biography coming soon.

Sam Gut

Dance Teacher

Biography coming soon.

Melissa Kinnear

Dance Teacher

Melissa has been a student at Dance Connection for 14 years. She has also been in the Teaching Training Program for 4 years. She loves to play tennis and teach it too! She wants to help young children to grow as dancers and to teach them how amazing dance is and the places it can take them. Over the years she has studied Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical and Dance Enrichment. She has also been in the Recital Company and on the Competition Team for many years.

Melissa Kinnear

Dance Teacher

Melissa has been a student at Dance Connection for 14 years. She has also been in the Teaching Training Program for 4 years. She loves to play tennis and teach it too! She wants to help young children to grow as dancers and to teach them how amazing dance is and the places it can take them. Over the years she has studied Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical and Dance Enrichment. She has also been in the Recital Company and on the Competition Team for many years.

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

Victoria Rossano

Dance Teacher

Victoria Rossano

Dance Teacher

Brooke-Ashley Reyes

Dance Teacher

Brooke-Ashley Reyes

Dance Teacher

Annette Siguenza

Dance Teacher

Annette has taught dance and drama in the five boroughs of N.Y.C. for 47 years. After moving to Long Island in 2021, she took a short hiatus and is now extremely happy to join the faculty at Dance Connection. Annette has trained recreational, competitive and theatrical dancers from preschool age through adult and has experience teaching dancers with special learning abilities. Annette is looking forward to this new chapter in her dance career.

Annette Siguenza

Dance Teacher

Annette has taught dance and drama in the five boroughs of N.Y.C. for 47 years. After moving to Long Island in 2021, she took a short hiatus and is now extremely happy to join the faculty at Dance Connection. Annette has trained recreational, competitive and theatrical dancers from preschool age through adult and has experience teaching dancers with special learning abilities. Annette is looking forward to this new chapter in her dance career.

Dejia Solomon

Dance Teacher

Dejia has been dancing at Dance Connection for fourteen years and has been teaching for seven. Dejia continues to study ballet, jazz, pointe, and tap. She loves sharing her love for dance with younger students. When not at dance she enjoys cheering, participating in her schools marching band, and hanging out with friends.

Dejia Solomon

Dance Teacher

Dejia has been dancing at Dance Connection for fourteen years and has been teaching for seven. Dejia continues to study ballet, jazz, pointe, and tap. She loves sharing her love for dance with younger students. When not at dance she enjoys cheering, participating in her schools marching band, and hanging out with friends.

Kristen Wallace

Dance Teacher

Kristen Wallace

Dance Teacher

Billy Arco

Associate Teacher

Billy Arco

Associate Teacher

Diane Gendron

Associate Teacher

Diane Gendron

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.

Rose Ryf

Executive Assistant

Rose Ryf

Executive Assistant

Brenna Skinnon

Production Stage Manager

Brenna Skinnon

Production Stage Manager

Megan Campisi

Social Media Associate

Megan Campisi

Social Media Associate

Jenny Diaz

Office Staff

Jenny Diaz

Office Staff

Alicia Martinez

Office Staff

Alicia Martinez

Office Staff

Ava Michels

Office Staff

Ava Michels

Office Staff

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