Meet our Lead Teachers (accelerator INTERNS) / 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR
“Dance to Unite shows students that the arts are more than just a form of expression, they’re a way of connecting people and bringing us together.”
kayla Sirefman
Kayla found Dance to Unite online and immediately knew it was something she was interested in. Born and raised in Brooklyn, she’s been drawn to the dance world from a young age, and has danced various styles from ballet to hip hop. For her, dance is all about community, which is why she was drawn to Dance to Unite. She believes that dance should be about forming close relationships while exploring different cultures and styles.
“I love working with younger kids and sharing my passion for dance. I am inspired by the Dance to Unite mission to promote kindness and peace.”
Camilla Philips
Camilla is a high school student from New York. She began tap dancing at 5 years old at a studio that specializes in tap and musical theater. From there she started to explore different styles of dance. Her love for dance and different art styles has grown with her. She is still currently tap dancing anytime she has the opportunity. Being a part of Dance to Unite has been wonderful for Camilla because she gets to teach others to be kind and respectful through something she loves to do.
Meet our assistant Teacher interns / 2024-2025 School year
“Dance to Unite brings people together in the best possible way, connecting us to our community through movement and learning, I feel so lucky to be even a small part of something so special.”
savannah ford
Savannah Ford is an undergraduate student at Pace University studying English Literature and Languages, with a minor in photography. She got involved with Dance to Unite through a civic engagement course at Pace and hopes to use her background in dance to share her love for this artform while working with under-resourced schools in the city.
“My favorite thing about Dance To Unite is its emphasis on accessibility and togetherness, dance is for everyone!”
Rylan joenk
Rylan Joenk is a recent graduate of NYU Tisch Dance and now works as a freelance movement artist and choreographer, as well as an assistant ballet teacher. This is Rylan’s first year as an intern with Dance to Unite.
“Dance has been my passion since I was a kid. Dance to Unite represents me so much. Not only in regards to culture, but also in who I am as a person.”
Francisca Lora Salazar “franchesca”
Francisca was born in the Dominican Republic where she brought her Hispanic moves to NYC very young. She was an intern throughout her high school years at Ballet Hispanico while taking classes. She also worked in a dance school as a teaching artists in the Upper West Side. Francisca still continues to dance today and is almost done with her degree in Developmental Psychology with a minor in Disabilities.
"Being able to spread the gift of dance through positive words and attributes is one of the best things about Dance to Unite that is showcased all throughout."
Tyler Washington
Tyler Washington is currently a student attending Pace University studying Peace and Justice Studies and Political Science. Her interest in dance grew at a young age of 3 and she competitively danced until her senior year in high school along with her interests growing with following dance trends with her friends. She finds dance to be one of her favorite hobbies and loves to share the joy of dance with everyone.
“I spent months looking for a community like Dance to Unite and I could not be happier to finally be a part of the community. It’s already been such a blessing, witnessing each child’s excitement grow with every class.”
Sadie Lozano-Mieles
Sadie Lozano-Mieles, 22, graduated from Boston University earlier this year with a Bachelor’s Degree in Neuroscience and minors in Dance and Psychology. Born and raised in Queens, New York, she began ballet classes at three years old at her local dance studio. Since then, she immersed herself in styles ranging from tap, acrobatics, modern, contemporary, pointe, and lyrical, before studying dance from a more formal academic approach. When she’s not dancing, Sadie enjoys learning new things every day from experienced physicians at her pediatric medical assistant job. Sadie hopes to learn more about dance as it relates to her Hispanic culture and get to know others along the way! She loves working with kids and hopes to teach others just how therapeutic dance itself and the community it brings can be. Sadie firmly believes in making all dance forms accessible to every community, regardless of age or skill.
"I love when we get to apply the values we discuss to dance. For example, we talk about respect and then practice it by respecting each other's space while dancing. We learn about kindness and then show it by encouraging one another with kindness. It all comes together so beautifully."
sarah glick
Sarah Glick was born in Miami Beach, Florida, where she began dancing and writing at a young age. In 2018 she graduated from New World School of the Arts for high school, where she studied intensive dance and acting techniques while simultaneously studying at Miami City Ballet School. Sarah studied Gaga Technique under the tutelage of Batsheva Company Members at The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. In 2023 she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Mason Gross School of the Arts, where she earned a BFA in dance and founded and served as president of the student organization Peace is Possible, a social organization that fosters community between Jewish and Palestinian Students. Sarah currently lives in Bushwick, Brooklyn, where produces dance films and writes.
“Dance to Unite has made me excited for my Mondays! It has given me a purpose, being able to give kids the opportunity to learn how to dance and making a beautiful community as well. It truly is a privilege to be a part of this wonderful organization!”
trinity fuller
Trinity Fuller is a sophomore at Fordham University studying film production and communications-media studies. Trinity is originally from Los Angeles, California and was able to grow up in an arts loving community. She spent a majority of her child and teenhood performing in her school musical theater performances and began to grow her passion for performing. As she has entered college, the fast paced schedule of school along with not going into a musical based field has made her miss the community that’s built when it comes to performing. Dance to Unite’s internship opportunity has given her the privilege to be in a community similar to the ones she's had in the past.
"Dance to Unite gives me a space to use dance to build community and promote kindness; sharing that with younger kids has been beautiful and inspiring."
Casey Moskowitz
Casey Moskowitz is a high school student from New York City. She has been dancing since she was six years old. She dances with a performance company and has performed at various events such as at Barclays Center for the New York Liberty basketball team. She is trained in jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, theater dance, and tap. Aside from dance, Casey is passionate about writing, journalism, photography, art, and community service. As an intern at Dance To Unite, she hopes to introduce kids to dance in a fun, supportive, and creative environment.
“I love to work with the younger dancers of Dance to Unite. Their enthusiasm and love for dance inspires me.”
milena carpati
Milena has been dancing since she was 4 years old at Shuffles Broadway Tap and Musical Theater Company. She loves all forms of dance and has been part of Broadway Dance Center’s youth performance program Artists in Motion (AIM). AIM performs tap, musical theater, contemporary, and hip-hop pieces locally in NYC and the tri-state area. She is also a member of her high school dance club. Milena has been a teaching assistant to young tappers at Shuffles and the Junior musical theater performance group at AIM.
“Dance to Unite gives me the space to instill the joy of dance onto others. It is an environment similar to that which inspired me”
Hannah Troy Morgan
Hannah Troy Morgan has found expression and connection through dance. She believes dance bridges communities, fosters love, and helps us grow meaningful relationships. Hannah hopes to bring people together through dance by breaking barriers and fostering connection that is powerful and lasting, bringing the world closer to love by drawing us closer to one another and being part of the change.
“I have always enjoyed sharing my love for the arts, and I wanted to join Dance to Unite because it brings people together through dance and fosters a community where young students can be themselves."
Sreya Sathish Kumar
Sreya is a freshman studying neuroscience at Columbia College. Sreya Sathish Kumar began ballet in Seattle, Washington, at four. She later continued her journey to the Ellison Ballet Professional Program, where she danced for two years before getting accepted into Columbia University. Sreya continues to dance in college and hopes that by being a part of Dance to Unite, she can create a fulfilling environment that brings happiness to young kids and makes dance accessible to people from all backgrounds.