Teachers

Diane Dragone

New Jersey University certified teacher of dance by NJ Department of Education.  Taught special education dance 1984-1992 at Hudson County Schools of Technology.  Performer/Teacher/Choreographer Regional and National Broadway Tours and North Jersey Dance Company.  Frequent guest teacher at several grammar/high schools and universities.  Executive producer of award winning Dance Vista cable telelvision program-now in its 15th season.  Artistic director/choreographer for the Kennedy Dancers.

Ekaterina Bykova 

Ekaterina Bykova is a certified dance instructor with 17 years of professional dance experience. She began to dance at the age of 5 and has trained with top professional ballroom coaches from around the world. Ekaterina has  been a competition champion and finalist in many competitions throughout Russia and Europe. Her energy and passion for dancing and teaching has made her one of the finest females in the dance industry.  Ekaterina’s motto in life is: “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing!”

Teuta Hyriana Vrzivoli

 American Council on Exercise (ACE)-certified fitness instructor. Zumba I Licensed Instructor and ZIN member. Accomplished bellydancer, fire-spinner and fan-dancer. Choreographer, motivator and dedicated, student-oriented teacher. Creator of the Bellybelles exercise format, a balanced combination of sound bellydance technique and strength training. CPR, AED and First Aid-certified by the American Heart Association. IDEA Health and Fitness Association member.

 Junie Kenworthy

 graduated with a BFA in dance choreography from Arizona State University. Shortly after, she relocated to New York and has since had the opportunity to teach dance in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and New Jersey.  Her classes range from classical ballet to dance/creative movement therapy with blind students as well as incarcerated teens. In addition, Junie has taught Dance Theater on cruise ships and various locations in the US with Camp Broadway.  She has worked with and performed for Delfos Danza Contemporania of Mazatlan, Yin Mei, Randy James, White Wave, Kathleen Dyer with KDNY, VISSI Dance Theater and she's pleased to be starting her third year as a company member and instructor with the Kennedy Dancers.

 Kristin VanDeventer began her dance training at the age of two. In 2006, Kristin received the New Jersey Governor's Award for Artistic Excellence and Leadership in Dance. After graduating from high school as valedictorian, she attended Montclair State University where studied dance and nutrition sciences. During her time at Montclair, she learned and performed works by internationally known choreographers, including May O'Donnell, Bill T. Jones, Shapiro & Smith, Murray Louis, Robert Battle, and many others. Kristin graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2010 with her BFA in Dance, and was named outstanding senior in the dance department. She is currently performing with the Kennedy Dancers, and is delighted to be a part of the teaching staff for the 2011 school year!

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Danielis "Gigi" Dragone Horan

Danielis “Gigi” Dragone Horan has been dancing  for ten years 
and frequently performs  with the Kennedy Dancers Professional Company as well as 
the Jr. Company.  She has studied various dance styles and techniques including ballet, pointe,jazz, modern, hip-hop, Latin and American ballroom, Middle Eastern Belli Dance and Zumba. 
Gigi, along with the rest of the Junior Company, has competed and won competitions,

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Rachel Khan 

 is a senior member of  The Kennedy Dancers Inner City Youth Junior Dance Company. She has studied various dance styles and techniques including ballet, pointe,jazz, modern, hip-hop, Latin and American ballroom, and Middle Eastern Belli Dance. Rachel has performed many times with the Kennedy Dancers Professional Repertory Company and has competed and won competitions with the ICY.