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Faculty Bios
| Marianne Anderson-Santilli (Director)
Marianne began her dance studies at a local dance school directed by Clare Mundy of Wantagh. It was there that she found her love of dance and the joy of working with children. Under Mrs. Mundy’s loving guidance, Marianne opened her school in 1973 at the age of eighteen. Having been nurtured and loved in Clare’s warm, family-like atmosphere, she sought to create a similar atmosphere in her own school. As the school began to grow, MAS began college studies, first at C.W. Post for Theater and then moved on to Adelphi University where she completed her B.S. in Physical Education. She studied Dance at Adelphi and attended classes in Manhattan where she had the privilege of studying with Charles Kelley, Frank Hatchett, Ann Reinking, and many other highly regarded teachers of that time. She had the opportunity to participate in graduate studies at American University, in Washington D.C., and met and studied with Lee Theodore (the original Anybodys in the Broadway version of West Side Story), Buzz Smith (the original cast of “The Pajama Game”) and Gemze deLappe (the original Laurie in Oklahoma). At this time, Miss Theodore was director of The American Dancemachine - a company devoted solely to re-creating the finest dance pieces in American Musical Theater. This experience culminated in Marianne’s lifelong passion for Broadway show dancing and led to numerous opportunities to choreograph such musicals as Guys and Dolls, Sweet Charity, Lil’Abner, Anything Goes, and many more. Marianne considers her staff members one of her greatest accomplishments - each member is a sensitive and creative individual with great technique, talent, energy, and love for the arts. |
Heather Umhafer (Assistant Director)
Heather Umhafer is the Assistant Director of the Marianne Anderson School of Dance, where she received her dance training from childhood through adulthood. Heather has been an instructor at the MASD for the past 10 years. She attended Quinnipiac University in Connecticut where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications / Journalism. Throughout Heather's college career she continued dancing with Double G Productions where she performed for private parties such as bar/bat mitzvah's, weddings, sweet 16's, corporate events and fundraisers. She also performed with the dance company Rhythm By Nature in Rueben Edward's Underground Dance Project. Heather worked for several years at Clear Channel Communication's WALK 97.5 FM before returning full-time to her first love, dancing! |  | Kristen Collins
Kristen Collins trained at the Marianne Anderson School of Dance for 14 years. She will be graduating with honors from Hofstra University in May 2010 with a B.A. in Dance and Psychology. Kristen was awarded the 2009-2010 Dance Endowment Scholarship by the dance faculty and was elected as the dance department's President. She has furthered her training at NYU's Summer Intensives, Bates Dance Festival in Maine, and most recently was a scholarship recipient at the American Dance Festival at Duke University. In March 2009 Kristen's choreography was selected to be performed at the American College Dance Festival's Northeast Gala Performance at Penn State University.
|  | Carolyn Dooley-O'Brien
Carolyn Dooley, an alumnus of the Marianne Anderson School of Dance, has taught Modern, Ballet and Pilates at the studio for the past six years. She has also studied at the Joffrey Ballet School and the Frank Ohman School of Ballet. Carolyn danced as a soloist with Frank Ohman’s Ballet company, The New York Dance Theater, from 1997-1999. In 2003, she received a B.A. in dance from Hofstra University where she graduated with honors. While at Hofstra, she worked with professionals such as Robin Becker, an accredited teacher of the Martha Graham Technique, Cathy McCann, a principal dancer with the Paul Taylor Dance Company and Jolea Maffei of the Milton Meyers Dance Company. Carolyn was featured in a reconstruction of José Limon's ''A Choreographic Offering'' and has performed with choreographers Michael Blake and Sheila Kaminsky. In addition, she holds a Masters degree in Childhood Education which she received in 2006 from Hofstra University. For the past three years, Carolyn has worked as a Third Grade Teacher in Jericho, New York. She is currently a Primary School English teacher at the Lycée Français de New York. |  | Lisa Lagravinese
Lisa is originally from Massapequa, NY on Long Island. She trained at the Marianne Anderson School of Dance and attended Long Island High School of Arts. After graduating high school she journeyed down to Dallas, TX on artistic scholarship to attend SMU as a dance major. She there received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance. Lisa enjoyed performing works by choreographers as Martha Graham, Balanchine, Sabrina Madison-Cannon and Max Stone and working with renowned teachers as Jeremy Blanton, Karen Kriete, Myra Woodruff, and Nathan Montoya along with others! She ventured back to NY where she continued training at the Graham School and Broadway Dance Center along with teaching ballet and modern on Long Island. Lisa is very excited to be back in Dallas and be part of CBD faculty and to begin her first season with CBD Company and DekaDance! |  | Allison Peters-Rezza
Allison Peters-Rezza trained at the Marianne Anderson School of Dance and also received her early dance training with the Joffrey Ballet School (NYC). Allison furthered her training through summers spent dancing with The Hartford Ballet School. She received her Bachelors in Fine Arts Dance Performance from the University of Akron (OH) and her Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Dowling College (NY). Allison has performed and taught dance across the United States. Some performance credits include: Repertory Project (OH), Repertory Dance Company (OH), Cleveland San Jose Ballet (Performance with the Choreographers Showcase), and the Bare Bones Dance Project (NYC). Some teaching experiences include: Marianne Anderson School of Dance, Nassau BOCES Cultural Arts Center, Southern Dance Masters, The Dance Institute (NSAD), and Coventry Performing Arts High School. Allison has also taught numerous master classes New York and Ohio. |  | Linda Walsh
Linda Walsh is a graduate of the Marianne Anderson School of Dance with fifteen years of formal training. She is currently teaching jazz and tap at the Mariann Anderson School of dance. Linda is a senior at the Fashion Institute of Technology studying Interior Design. She is a second year member of the New York Jets Flight Crew and was selected to be a member of the cheerleading squad for the 2008 NFL Pro Bowl in Hawaii. |  | Joseph Conger
Starting his dance career at the Marianne Anderson School of Dance, Joe continued his training attending BOCES and the prestigious Meadows School of the Arts at SMU, in Texas. Upon graduation he danced with the nationally recognized Bruce Wood Dance Co, as a leading company member. While in texas he worked as a guest artist with Dallas Black Dance Theater, Chamberlain Ballet, Ballet Ensemble of Texas, Fort Worth Opera, Metropolitan Classical Ballet, Dallas Repertory Ballet, as well as performing extensively in the industrial and fashion runway circuit. He has toured nationally as a teacher and performer. A certified Pilates and Yoga instructor, Joe moves home to New York from Chicago where he spent the last two years as the #1 Pilates trainer for Fitness Formula, the elite health club in the city. He has worked with children and adults of all ages and is thrilled to be a part of the Marianne Anderson family, to whom he owes his career. He is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Physical Therapy. |  | Kelly Long
Kelly Long, a native of Massachusetts, graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in Dance from Hofstra University in 2009. In addition to dancing throughout NYC and Boston as a member of Kelley Donovan & Dancers, Kelly has trained at the Bates Dance Festivals, Boston Conservatory, and Jacob’s Pillow. Her choreography has been performed at Dance Theater Workshop, the Bates Dance Festival, Connecticut College, and Hofstra University. In addition to teaching modern, Kelly has been privileged to teach creative movement to mentally handicapped adults in the AHRC program at Hofstra University. Kelly is currently working to earn her M.S. in Dance Therapy from the Pratt Institute. |  |
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The Marianne Anderson School of Dance | 1865 Wantagh Avenue | Wantagh, New York 11793 | 516-826-1988 |
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