National Dance Institute of New Mexico

	Donna Scheer - Director of SPA; Jazz, Musical Theatre Donna received a B.A., Theatre Arts/Dance from Santa Clara University and an M.A. in Theatre from San Jose State University. As a musical theatre director and choreographer, her work has been seen nationwide. She has taught dance and theatre in public and private schools, studios, and universities across the country.
	Jefferson Baum - Director of Dance Track; Ballet Mr. Baum has performed as a principal with Ballet Arizona, Milwaukee Ballet, Cleveland Ballet and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. A principal guest performer, teacher, and choreographer with numerous companies and schools throughout the world, he also transformed the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp program into a national-level summer dance department and served as Director of Dance at Grand Valley State University.
	Russell Baker - Ballet Russell received his B.A. in English from Vassar College and his M.F.A. in Ballet Teaching and Choreography from the University of Utah. He danced with the Kansas City Ballet for ten years and is currently National Dance Institute of New Mexico's Executive Director.
	Tamara Bates - Tiny Tots Trained in New York City at the Martha Graham School and at Alvin Ailey School of Contemporary Dance, in the past fifteen years, Tamara has studied Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian, Flamenco, Salsa, Tango and West African dance with master teachers from all over the world. She has taught all age groups from three year olds to adults in private dance schools, public schools and after-school programs. She has an MA in Child Development from Tufts University.
	Barbara Bentree - Voice Barbara is an award-winning singer with a degree in Music Education. She has written, directed, and produced shows and was the vocal music producer for The New Mickey Mouse Club on the Disney Channel. She has sung and directed music for television shows such as Ally McBeal, Wings, and Days of Our Lives.
	Melissa Briggs- Modern, Yoga, Tiny Tots Melissa received a B.A. from Smith College and an M.F.A from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts. In New York City, she taught dance and visual art classes, and performed and presented with her company, Melissa Briggs Dance. Melissa is also on the dance faculty at the University of New Mexico, and Little Earth School.
	Wendy Chapin - Theatre Wendy teaches acting at the College of Santa Fe, Tara School and Santa Fe Girls School. She is also an artist working with the Santa Fe Arts Commission's school program, Artworks.
	Kristie Karsen - Tiny Tots Kristie has taught and assisted at NDI-NM since 2005 in Voice, Musical Theatre and Dance for Tots classes. After years of performing professionally in New York, she is happy to be sharing her knowledge, experience, and love of performing.
	Amanda D. Lujan - Ballet, Hip Hop Since 1996, Amanda has served as a ballet, jazz, and hip-hop instructor for children ranging in ages from ages six and up. She has taught and choreographed for Prince Ballet, Inc., The Children’s Dance Program, Moving People Dance Theatre, and Charisma Dance Company.
	Catherine Oppenheimer - Ballet Catherine co-founded NDI-NM in 1994 and is currently Founding Artistic Director. She has danced professionally with the New York City Ballet and Twyla Tharp Dance Company.
	Diana Orozco-Garrett - Tiny Tots, Tap Diana is a native of Dallas, Texas and has studied tap, jazz and ballet since age four. Diana has been teaching with NDI-NM since 2001.
	Tim Santos - Tap, Jazz, Musical Theate Currently, NDI-NM & Broadway Theater Dance Workshop's Artistic Director, Tim was a principal teacher with National Dance Institute (NY) and a director for their summer programs. He performed and assisted in the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall for fifteen years, has performed in productions around the US and held artistic positions at New Ballet School-Associate School of Feld ballets/NY, and the Ittleson Center for Child Research.
	Daren Savage - Ballet Daren has performed with the San Antonio Ballet, the Tennessee Festival Ballet, BalletMet, the Milwaulkee Ballet Company, Ballet Pacifica and New Mexico Dance Theater, where he is Associate Director. Also a licensed pilot, he enjoys flying radio-controlled models as well as full-size airplanes.
	Christin Severini - Ballet Christin is a former dancer with American Ballet Theatre in NYC. She trained at the North Carolina School of the Arts and the School of American Ballet, and has worked with some of the leading teachers and dancers of our time. Christin has been teaching ballet to aspiring young dancers of all ages in Santa Fe and in White Rock NM for the past four years.
	Danny Silver - Hip Hop Danny attended U.C. Berkeley in the Dept of Dramatic Arts, studying dance with David Wood of the Martha Graham Company. She has taught dance and fitness in California and New Mexico since 1986.
	Vladimir Stadnik - Ballet Vladimir was born in St. Petersburg, Russia and received his ballet training at the Vaganova State Ballet Academy, and a Magister of Arts (BA) from St. Petersburg State Conservatory. As a professional dancer he has toured the Soviet Union, Europe, and the US. He has worked as a teacher and choreographer in Switzerland, Finland, France, Italy, and the US.