Instructors

Mary Rotella received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Stephens College; where she also studied voice and acting. Right after college, she moved to New York to continue her studies while pursuing a career in Concert Dance and Musical Theatre. Mary immediately secured work in a musical and the rest is history. Her National Tour and Broadway credits include 42^nd Street, Cabaret with Joel Gray and Jerome Robbins’ Broadway. She performed in an international tour of My Fair Lady and in several regional productions including, Damn Yankees directed by George Abbott, Brigadoon, Guys and Dolls, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Mary has also appeared in industrial shows, in commercials and on film. When not performing, she was directing and choreographing productions here in the United States and abroad. Mary also taught professional level classes at STEPS, and Peri Dance and was on the faculty of NYU’s Cap 21 and University of Michigan’s musical theater programs. She was a guest teacher and director/choreographer  at many colleges and private studios across the United States and in Finland and Japan.  After a long and very successful career as a freelance artist Mary transitioned to academia. She served as Chair of Dance at Stephens College for five years, was Director of Dance at The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry for seven years as well as Artistic Director for the Steffi Nossen School of Dance for two years. She most recently served as Chair of Performing Arts for the John Cooper School a Pre-K through 12 school in the Woodlands, Texas until the spring of 2019. As the saying goes, “Home is where the heart is,” and Mary is thrilled to be back in New York working as a freelance actor, director and choreographer, and teacher. 

Cynthia Thole 

Director/Choreographer/Professor of Dance and Musical Theater

A veteran of the Broadway stage, Cindy combines her gifts of creativity and leadership, with her extensive stage experience to influence and shape her ongoing work as a director/choreographer/teacher. Cindy has been privileged to work with and learn from many of the finest Broadway directors and choreographers of our time. 

Director/Choreographer credits:

As Director/Choreographer, Cindy has remounted Broadway shows regionally, including 42^nd STREET(Allenberry Playhouse, Reagle Music Theater), ME AND MY GIRL (Mill Mountain Theater, Reagle Music Theater, Montclair Operetta Club), andOKLAHOMA!(Fairleigh Dickinson University).

Cindy’s original director and/or choreographer work in New York City includes GOLLY GEE WHIZ (Lincoln Center Reel to Reel Series), AVENUE Q the workshop, and The 2^nd Annual Easter Bonnet Competition. NY Pops Birthday Celebrations at Carnegie Hall featuring Cyndi Lauper, Bobby Lopez, Kelli O’Hara, and Alan Menken.

Regional direction and/or choreography credits include work at:  Theater Under The Stars, Atlanta; Theater by the Sea, Rhode Island; Theaterworks USA, TADA!, Two Beans Productions, University and Educational Theater. Credits include: SHE LOVES ME, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, CAROUSEL, PAJAMA GAME, INTO THE WOODS, THE 25^th ANNUAL PUTNUM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, SEUSSICAL, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, KISS ME KATE, THE FULL MONTY, GUYS AND DOLLS, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, A CLASS ACT, HAIRSPRAY, FERDINAND THE BULL, 9 to 5 the Musical, LITTLE WOMEN, CABARET, SPRING AWAKENING, and PIRATES OF PENZANCE. 

*Cindy received nominations for Best Director and Best Choreographer by the Independent Reviewers of New England for 2014 for ME AND MY GIRL at Reagle Music Theater,

*Cindy received an Honorary Doctorate in Musical Theater from Fairleigh Dickinson University, where she was Head of Dance and Musical Theater as a Clinical Associate Professor for 15 years. Her many teaching credits include a faculty position at Montclair State University and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. Cindy’s former students can be seen dancing on Broadway, and in major dance companies. 

Performance credits:

Broadway: 

42^nd STREET, (Phyllis Dale) under the direction of Lucia Chase, Randy Skinner, and Karen Baker; 

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, (Kathy Seldon u/s) directed and choreographed by Twyla Tharp; 

ME AND MY GIRL, (Ensemble)with Director Mike Ockrent, Gillian Gregory (Tony Award for choreography, and with Tony winners Robert Lindsay and Marianne Plunkett) 

MEET ME IN ST LOUIS, (Charlotte Moore u/s) directed by Louie Burke, with George Hearn; 

NICK AND NORA, (dance captain and swing, she received the Gypsy Robe) Director Arthur Laurents, starring Barry Bostwick and Joanna Gleason; 

MY FAIR LADY, (Ensemble) Howard Davies (director), Donald Saddler (choreographer) with Richard Chamberlain 

A CHRISTMAS CAROL, the Musical, Madison Square Garden (dance captain and swing), direction by Mike Ockrent, and choreography by Susan Stroman.  Cindy fulfilled these duties for 10 seasons working closely with the artistic team to maintain the show, teaching leading roles to Tony Randall, Terrance Mann, Tony Roberts, Jim Dale, Roddy McDowell, Roger Daltry, Tim Curry, Frank Langella, F Murray Abraham, and Hal Linden.

Tours:

First National of SUGAR BABIES, choreographer; Ernie Flatt, with Carol Channing and Robert Morse;  The Broadway National Tour of OKLAHOMA!; worked with the shows original choreographer Agnes De Mille, and director; James Hammerstein. 

The Arena stage production of ANIMAL CRACKERS directed and choreographed by Baayork Lee 

And the first National Tour of Gower Champion’s 42^nd STREET.  

Lisa “Ayleeza” Quattrochi approaches choreography for dance and drums with the same passion she brings to life itself.    Her teaching style and performances are infused with spiritual energy and a wide range of emotional expressions!  She began Riqq and Tar drumming in 1989 and Performed in the  “Mob of Angels” with drum teacher and mentor Layne Redmond. Ayleeza began dance training in 1993 studied under notable instructors, including Aszmara, Tava Naiyin, NYC Bellyqueen Elishiva and NYC Brenna Crowley.  Currently she’s training with Mercedes Nieto from Hungary.   Ayleeza also toured Internationally and in Canada as a belly dancer and drummer with the Middle Eastern band, ISHTAR.   

www.ayleeza.com