Now Enrolling for Spring Semester 2023
February 1, 2023 thru June 29, 2023
NEPA Ballet Faculty
Julio Alegria
Artistic & Executive Director
Ballet, Pointe & Mommy and Me
Julio Alegria is a passionate dance and ballet teacher and mentor to young professional dancers. His positive and “happy” attitude toward dance and life and his work ethic reflect on stage in both his own performances and in those of the students he instructs. Mr. Alegria joined Ballet Theatre of Scranton as a Faculty Member and Ballet Instructor in September 2020 and also is Founder and Artistic and Executive Director of NEPA Ballet in the Poconos.
Julio was born and raised in Mexico City and received his training from the National Arts Center and the Centro de Educacion Artistico Frida Kahlo. Upon moving to the United States, he entered the Joffrey Ballet School's training program on scholarship and has also studied at the Boston Ballet School, The Banff Center for the Arts in Canada, Ballet Hispanico, Ballet Academy East, and Ballet Austin. Among the famed instructors Mr. Alegria has studied with are Gelsey Kirkland, Eleanor D'Antuono, Cheryl Yeager, Darla Hoover, NadegeHottier, Karina Elver, Elizabeth Walker, Eva Evdokimova, David Howard, Fabrice Herrault, Peter Frame, and Richard Bowman.
Julio has danced for companies and choreographers in Mexico, Canada, Europe, and the United States, including Dance Theater of Harlem, Alabama Ballet, Les Ballet Trockadero de Monte Carlo, GelseyKirkland Studio Company, Eglevsky Ballet, Atlantic City Ballet, Merce Cunningham Trust, Ardentia, Bronx Opera Company, and Compañia Nacional de Danza (Mexico City). Previously, Mr. Alegria taught ballet at the Dwana Smallwood Performing Arts Center and the Brighter Choice Community School in Brooklyn.
Annina D'Agosto
Jazz & Hip Hop
Annina began dancing at the age of eight studying in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop. She began competing at the age of ten and continued through the age of eighteen. At age fourteen, Annina started focusing on hip-hop; learning the different techniques within each style of hip-hop. Recently, Annina took part in a training program at Broadway Dance Center, where she trained for eighteen hours a week under working professionals and choreographers. She continues her dance education through workshops and classes. Annina’s teaching experience includes two competitive dance studios in the Brodheadsville and Tannersville areas, Wind Gap Middle School for their production of “You’re a good man Charlie Brown” , and Northampton community college. Annina has a B.A. in education from East Stroudsburg University. Annina’s classes focus on musicality and rhythm, as well as teaching the fundamentals within each style. It is also important that each student find his or her own unique style while, of course, having fun.
Chisato Sandoval
Ballet
Chisato was born and raised in Kushiro Japan, and began dancing at the age of six years old. She first started studying jazz and basic ballet. She performed in multiple jazz festivals held in Hokkaido Japan. By age eleven, she started choreographing pieces for the studio recitals. At age twelve, she joined Kimiyo Ballet where she trained in classical ballet as well as pointe. After moving to the United States, she continued studying ballet and modern at Broadway Dance Center while attending Marymount Manhattan College. As an adult, she trained at Ballet Academy East under Julie Voshell and Peter Brandenhoff. She also learned Salsa dancing techniques at Cache Dance Studios in the Bronx. Currently, she takes adult classes at NEPA Ballet where her children train. With her training and knowledge in ballet, she coaches her children at home regularly. She is also a swim team coach for Pocono YMCA. Dancing has helped her tremendously in body awareness and discipline. She finds being able to give detailed pointers to each child while keeping them motivated and encouraged to be a joy, and witnessing their growth to be one of the most rewarding parts of teaching. Ballet teaches you so many things, not only in dance but also in life. It is important to her that each student takes away the life skills that will help them years later while enjoying this beautiful form of art.
