LAMBARRI DANCE ARTS

FACULTY

Alexa has been a dance educator for over a decade, advocating for "smart" dance training. Alexa graduated magna cum laude from Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts 2014 with a B.F.A. in Dance and received the University Dance Works Scholarship & Dance Express Choreography Award. Alexa is a Relative Motion Master Teacher, a NASM Certified Personal Trainer with Corrective Exercise, Youth Exercise, & Performance Enhancement Specialties & is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (Level 3), Progressing Contemporary Technique & is T Spheres Certified Teacher. She has taught workshops across the country at various conventions and competitions and as a guest at studios including prestigious locations like Broadway Dance Center. Her students have gone on to perform in the National Tour of Matilda, the North American Tour of Mean Girls, North American Tour of Hadestown, and attend Boston Conservatory, UArts, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Montclair State, Alvin Ailey and more! Alexa has worked with Larry Keigwin, Brian Brooks, Julia Ritter, Ginger Thatcher, Pamela Levy, Stefanie Batten Bland, & Sidra Bella & performed at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington D.C.). As a member of Zella Dance Company, Alexa performed across the United States & she toured internationally with the production Uma Saudação à Whitney Houston. In 2017 Alexa founded Lambarri Dance Arts, in memory of her grandmother Nilda Lambarri who passed from Dementia, to provide a space for young dancers to grow as artists while developing their technique incorporating functional methods to train in "smart" and more efficient ways. 

ALEXA

Evy Vaughan (She/Her) is a performing artist and dance educator originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. She received her training at Pace University, where she graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in Commercial Dance (Choreography and Pedagogy Concentrations) and a Minor in Biology.

National/ International performance credits include: CHICAGO Tour (Mona, Roxie u/s), AIDA Cruises (Carnival). Select Regional: Carousel A Christmas Story (Ensemble, Mother u/s, Dance Captain), The Producers (Usherette, Showgirl u/s), West Side Story (Minnie), Tarzan (Ensemble). NYC: The NEW Jack Cole Dancers' CLUB ACT (COLE JAZZ), A Place For Us (Danielle Diniz, Accent Dance). 

Additionally, Evy is extremely passionate about dance pedagogy and education. She created a new Jazz Dance syllabus for professional dancers, specifically based on the biomechanics of training in character heels. Evy is also certified in Personal Training (NASM), coaches at Orange Theory Fitness, and aspires to hold a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She is represented by Resolute Artists Agency. @evyvaughan

EVY

Mary Ann Massa was born and raised in Old Bridge, New Jersey, which is where she trained in all styles of dance. Mary Ann graduated from The Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College in 2019 with a BFA in dance and a concentration in Ballet. During her time at Purchase, she had the opportunity to perform works by George Balanchine, Norbert De La Cruz lll, Gregory Dawson, Michelle Thompson Ulerich, and Stuart Loungway. Additionally, she got to perform a duet at the Kuan Du Arts Festival in Taiwan in 2017 choreographed by Norbert De La Cruz lll. She attended workshops and programs at Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ballet X, San Francisco Conservatory Forsythe Program,The Rock School, and more. Mary Ann was a professional dancer with New Jersey Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Continuum Contemporary Ballet and Thang Dao Dance Company. She is now a freelance artist in New York City and is very passionate about teaching dance to the younger generation.

MARY ANN

Marlon Santana is a professional teaching artist, dancer and creative from Elizabeth, NJ. After being self-taught for many years, he began his formal training at the age of 19 studying Hip Hop, Commercial Jazz and Contemporary Fusion. His credentials include: BTS, “The Soul Spot” Directed and Choreographed by Candace Brown, Carnival NYC, Club Jeté in LA, Sybarite and many more. Past dance companies: Motus, Royal Thieves, Kreativ Mndz, and Enigma Dance Collective. For the last few years, his main focus has been towards teaching and bettering the NY/NJ community in studios such as Broadway Dance Center, Peridance Capezio Center and Brickhouse NYC. Marlon is looking forward to more opportunities facilitating safe environments where people can grow in ways they never thought possible.

MARLON

Ashlynn DeGeorge received a BFA in Dance from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. While in school, she had the opportunity to perform works by Trisha Brown and Sidra Bell. Originally from North Carolina, she grew up training at The Academy for the Performing Arts and has furthered her education through intensives including The Juilliard School, Vim Vigor Dance Company, RUBBERBAND DANCE, B12 Summer Main Event, and David Dorfman Dance. Ashlynn has performed as a soloist and company member with Unbound Dance Company by Caroline Lewis Jones, in Reina Gray’s nRG at Kansas City’s Modern Night at the Gem, onstage at Radio City, and more. She has worked closely assisting choreographers such as Peter Chu, Chelsea Thedinga, Spencer Dennis, and Jenn Freeman. Her work has been shared at Steps on Broadway Choreography Lab, Forza Dance Bloom Emerging Artist Festival, and Second Avenue Dance Company’s Showings. She has worked with Broadway Dance Center Youth and Teens Program, as well as taught at numerous studios throughout the US. Ashlynn is currently a professional assistant with Adrenaline and Revive Dance Conventions where she tours the country on weekends, assisting classes and teaching open classes to young dancers of varying ages.

ASHLYNN

Sarah Bovat (she/her) is a New Jersey based artist, originally from Central Massachusetts. She grew up in competition dance, studying at Diane Kelley Dance Studio for 14 years. She received her BFA in Dance and a minor in Business from the University of the Arts. During her time at UArts, Sarah has worked with Sidra Bell, Helen Sinoneau, Tommie-Waheed Evans, Shayla-Vie Jenkins, Jesse Zaritt, Mark Castera, Da’Von Doane, and Katie Swords Thurman. Now, she is teaching at multiple studios, continuing her training in NYC, and has recently acquired a barre certification. As an educator, Sarah has dedicated 8 years to nurturing the next generation of dancers, spreading the love of dance, and emphasizing the importance of taking care of students' physical, emotional, and creative needs. She empowers them to be motivated and engaged individuals in addition to strong technicians and powerful performers. In her classes, students can expect a blend of rigorous technical training, individual creativity, and collaboration all designed to challenge and inspire them. Sarah is not just a teacher, but a mentor and an inspiration to their students, encouraging them to reach their fullest potential both in dance and in life. With a passion for dance that is as infectious as it is profound, Sarah continues to leave a lasting impact on the dance world, and cannot wait to teach at Lambarri Dance Arts in Bayonne for another season!

SARAH

Melanie, through over a decade of teaching, continues to put technique first and continue her own education to provide science-based, proven training to all of her students. Melanie is a graduate of Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in 2016 with a B.F.A. in Dance, cum laude, and was a recipient of the prestigious James Dickson Carr Scholarship. She has worked with choreographers Jessica Lang, Nick Bruder, Kate Weare, Jennifer Freeman, Kim Gibilisco, Keith Thompson, Pamela Levy, Doug Elkins, and Julia Ritter. As a member of the Movement Playground she has performed at the John F. Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.), Jacob’s Pillow, and other note-worthy NYC venues. Melanie is a Relative Motion Master Teacher, T Spheres Certified Teacher and is certified in Alixa Flexibility (Level 3), Progressing Ballet Technique Level 3 (PBT), & Flexistretcher (Advanced). She has taught workshops across the country at various conventions and as a guest at studios including prestigious locations like Broadway Dance Center. Melanie is the co-Owner of Lambarri Dance Arts which was founded in memory of her grandmother Nilda Lambarri who passed from Dementia to provide a space for young dancers to grow as artists while developing their technique incorporating functional methods to train in "smart" and more efficient ways. 

MELANIE

Ashley Agrusa has been dancing for 20+ years. She is originally from Michigan, where she trained at Deborah’s Stage Door on their competitive team. She is trained in jazz, tap, ballet, acro, musical theatre, hip hop, lyrical, and contemporary! She is a proud graduate of Cap 21 Conservatory at Molloy University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Her professionally career has lead her to perform shows including The National Tour of My Fair Lady as assistant dance captain, Anything Goes (PCLO) Beauty and the Beast and School of Rock (Tuacahn), Catch Me If You Can (The REV) and many more! One of Ashley’s passions in life is to spread knowledge and help foster the next generation of artists! 

ASHLEY