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.

Learn More

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

Ginny Mastrosimone

Office Staff

Ginny Mastrosimone

Office Staff

en_USEnglish