RAYMOND “SPEX” ABBIW is a gifted dancer, performer, choreographer, and artist who has emerged and established himself as a creative force within the hip hop/street dance community. A New York City born native has served as a vanguard for the preservation of the history and evolution of the art form of hip hop dance for a remarkable 20 years and has collaborated with several of hip hop’s pioneers and innovators among dance, music, and theater. He graduated New York’s acclaimed Art School of Design and received an initial introduction to the hip hop at the height of its explosion in 1988, which ignited his enthusiasm and lifelong commitment to hip hop dance and culture forging himself onto an astonishing career that has led him to collaborations with notable artists such as pop star, Mariah Carey, and hip hop performers, Lauryn Hill and Wyclef John just to name a few. Spex’s standout ability and performances that led him to international tours throughout Japan and Europe as a featured dancer and highly sought after teacher. In 2002, Spex would further his evolving artistic abilities by making his acting debut in Off Broadway’s , highly acclaimed, hip hop musical, Full Circle’s Productions Soular’d Power as a featured performer, dancer and actor. Spex is a founding owner of the House Dance Conference and continued to emerge as an acclaimed dance instructor in New York’s Broadway Dance Center This standout performer, dancer, and choreographer continues to set his sights on the development of highly innovative works that relate to an ever evolving audience the power of urban dance and culture.
EVELYN BALASSANIAN started dancing at age 8. By age 12 she was training in Russia and at 14 she was performing as a soloist with major European dancers, teachers and choreographers: George Balanchine in Serenade; John Butler in Scheherazade; Morris Bejar; Robert DuWarren; Robert; and Inga Urazgildier. In the U.S. she joined the Dance Theatre of Long Island with artistic director and international choreographer, Ali Pourfarrokh. For 15 years she taught and choreographed ballet at the Long Island School of Dance and Berest School of Dance. She also taught and danced with the American Theatre Dance and Eglevsky Ballet prior to 2015. She has been teaching at the Gold Coast Arts Center since 2009. In addition, she also teaches at Glen Dance Studio in Glen Head and Nassau Community College to dance major and non-major students for over 8 years.
MEGAN CLANCY comes from a performing arts family, and began performing at the age of 3. She has attended the Professional Performing Arts High School in NYC, where she studied Musical Theater and vocal at the Harlem School of the Arts and Dance with the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. She has studied Dance and Theatre Arts at City College of New York; where she also obtained a degree in Psychology. Megan has also studied Musical Theatre, Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap and Ballet at Broadway Dance Center and the New Dance Group. Megan has performed with The Harlem Repertory Theatre and has had the pleasure of being an assistant dance teacher at the 92nd street Y; Harkness Dance Center. Megan has also had the privilege of working with students in NYC public schools teaching musical theater, theater history and dance. Megan enjoys performing and teaching students of all ages and abilities. Megan is also a choreographer for the GCAC Competition Dance Team since 2018 and is very proud of the members of the competition team for all their amazing achievements and dedication.
ALEXANDRA HART began dancing at age 3. She attended Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Queens as a dance major, where she received formal training in ballet, jazz, tap, and modern dance. In high school, Alexandra worked with celebrated guest choreographers and attend performances from world-renowned companies, thus expanding her dance vocabulary. She graduated from Fordham University with a major in Economics, and now works in the Development department at New York City Ballet in Lincoln Center. Alexandra has been teaching students in preschool through high school for more than ten years and enjoys sharing her passion for dance with the next generation.
AMANDA MONTONI has been a theatre-lover since before she could walk. She grew up listening to her grandmother sing along to musicals like The King and I, Gigi, Cats, Funny Girl, and more. Thanks to her grandma Barbara, she found a love that would last her lifetime. She has been a performer since her first dance recital at 2 years old. Now, after studying musical theatre, she is an award-winning Director/Choreographer/Actress in NY. Some of her awards include The Josephine Foundation Choreographer of the Year Award for Cabaret (2016), and She Loves Me (2017). She has sold out audiences for her directorial work on The Addams Family – The Musical and Five Women Wearing the Same Dress. Montoni is a co-founder and board member of the Royal Star Theatre company in Queens, and a team member of the indie-theatre-focused company, Theatre Beyond Broadway. She has choreographed and directed for numerous years at Sewanhaka High School, Hicksville High School, Plaza Theatrical Productions, and the SYJCC Children’s Theatre. Her goal is to bring the magic of theatre and the comradery and sense of community that goes along with it to the youth. Children are magic, and theatre magic is a powerful tool that sparks creation, confidence, and the ability to “go with the flow.” She is ecstatic to have found Gold Coast Arts Center, a place where comradery, community, and creation blooms. www.amandamontoni.com
ISABELLA (BELLA) PERLMUTTER is a New York-born and raised dancer, choreographer, and instructor who recently received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Music Business from Hofstra University. She is a well-rounded artist who grew up as a competitive dancer before expanding into concert and commercial dance. She continues to train in both New York and Los Angeles, most recently completing the Industry Intensive at Millennium Dance Complex. Throughout her career, she has had the opportunity to work with artists including Seán Curran, Ohad Naharin, Braylon Browner, Kelly Sweeney, and Lauren Poppin, amongst others. As a choreographer, Bella has created work for both the stage and camera. Some highlights include directing/choreographing a dance film for Hofstra’s Undergraduate Research Day and setting work at the Dance Bloc NYC Festival. As a teacher, Bella strives to create a welcoming space for creative exploration and discovery. She encourages students to feel confident in their movement and find their individuality while still contributing to the energy of the group. Her favorite part of teaching is sharing her love of the arts with her students and inspiring them to find their own appreciation of the arts through movement.
JENNIFER STATHES has been dancing since the age of 3 and hasn’t stopped since. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Queens College in dance with a minor in business and holds a master’s degree in elementary education. She is a full time elementary school teacher for the NYC DOE. She was a member of her high school and college dance teams and was captain of a rhythmics team in high school as well. She has taught jazz, tap, ballet and hip hop to children ages 2 through adult. In addition to dancing Jennifer also teaches Zumba fitness to children and adults. Jennifer is Gold Coast Arts Center’s Dance Team Coordinator.
JESSICA SULLIVAN Originally from Queens, New York, Jessica is a recent graduate of Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance, pursuing minors in Psychology as well as Education as a Social Science. She is continuing her education at NYU to gain a MA in Dance Education through ABT. Sullivan received training at Nadia’s Performing Arts Centre, Queens, NY since the age of 3, as well with the Joffrey Ballet School in the Jazz and Contemporary Trainee Program throughout high school. Sullivan has worked with choreographers including Mia Michaels, Angelica Stiskin, Michael Blake, Phil Orsano, John Evans, Michelle Manzaneles, and André M. Zachery. Jessica plans to continue performing and teaching, while exploring various opportunities in the dance and administration world.
YASMEENA has established herself as a highly sought after professional belly dance artist and has traveled internationally to attend workshops and seminars with the most notable teachers in the industry. Her commitment to belly dance has led her to Egypt, where in June 2022 she won first place and was crowned Queen at the “Jewel of the Nile” Belly dance competition in the live music category. She is a devotee of international Master teacher and Oriental dance inspiration, Yousry Sharif, and has worked closely with other celebrated Master instructors.
Yasmeena holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Music and spent over a decade teaching instrumental music to children ranging from elementary school through high school. She worked with the gifted and talented youth and conducted orchestras and band ensembles before she decided to leave music completely and pursue her lifelong dream of dance. Her experience performing belly dance as a professional began in 2006, as a solo dancer and eventually invited to become a member of a Theatrical Dance Company. A highlight for Yasmeena’s career was when she was invited to perform with Egyptian Pop Mega-Star Mahmoud Elleithy and cutting-edge musician Abd El Salam in Nashville, USA for their only concert in America in 2019. This showcased her diverse experience and abilities to work with the crowd of over 1000 people, the expert musicians and with elite industry professionals.
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