Saratoga City Ballet Instructors
Siobhan Di Prima Dunham, School Director, began training in ballet at the Hollenbeck School of Dance in Albany, NY. She went on to attend the School of American Ballet for five years leading her to a professional dance career. She danced with Pacific Northwest Ballet under the direction of Melissa Hayden (principal dancer NYCB), Nevada Dance Theatre, Dublin City Ballet (Ireland), and the Berkshire Ballet Company. Siobhan holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a concentration in dance from the University of Utah, as well as having an extensive undergraduate education in Art History. Her teaching career began as the director of the ballet program at Emma Willard School for Girls in Troy, NY. Since then she has taught in programs both locally and abroad. For two years she was the Interim Artistic Director of the National Museum of Dance. In addition to instructing at SCB, she is the Director of Arts Education at SPAC, where she runs a Pre-Performance Talk series for New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra during their summer residencies, and works in the outreach education division for dance and music.
Siobhan Di Prima Dunham, School Director, began training in ballet at the Hollenbeck School of Dance in Albany, NY. She went on to attend the School of American Ballet for five years leading her to a professional dance career. She danced with Pacific Northwest Ballet under the direction of Melissa Hayden (principal dancer NYCB), Nevada Dance Theatre, Dublin City Ballet (Ireland), and the Berkshire Ballet Company. Siobhan holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a concentration in dance from the University of Utah, as well as having an extensive undergraduate education in Art History. Her teaching career began as the director of the ballet program at Emma Willard School for Girls in Troy, NY. Since then she has taught in programs both locally and abroad. For two years she was the Interim Artistic Director of the National Museum of Dance. In addition to instructing at SCB, she is the Director of Arts Education at SPAC, where she runs a Pre-Performance Talk series for New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra during their summer residencies, and works in the outreach education division for dance and music.
Beth Fecteau, Artistic Director
Beth has been a performer, dance educator, and arts administrator in the Capital District since 1985 and now serves as Artistic Director for Nacre Dance Group. She trained with The New Jersey Ballet, The Walnut Hill School for the Performing Arts and is a graduate of the Performing Arts School of Philadelphia. She attended Towson State University in Towson, MD as a scholarship student in dance and graduated cum laude from Russell Sage College in Troy, NY with a B.A. in Visual and Performing Arts with a dance concentration. She is currently working towards her graduate certificate in Arts Administration through the drama department at the University of Connecticut.
She has performed with New Jersey Ballet, Towson Dance Ensemble, Margaret Wagner and Dancers, Maude Baum and Company and The Isadora Duncan Dance Institute. She served as a teaching artist for the Capital Region Center for Arts in Education through SUNY Albany.
After her reign as co-director of Youth Ballet Company and School in Clifton Park, she served as Director of Arts and Programming for The National Museum of Dance and implemented the School of the Arts which now is a sustaining force for the museum. During her tenure, she had the opportunity to perform the works of American Dance Choreographers Charles Weidman, Isadora Duncan, Pearl Primus, Anna Sokolow and Donald McKayle. She created the children’s exhibit ChoreoMotion at the Museum and has overseen the installation of several exhibits. She administered the inductions of dance legends Frankie Manning, Arthur and Kathryn Murray, Bob Fosse, The New Dance Group and Bill T. Jones into The Hall of Fame.
Currently, Beth serves on the Board of Directors for Universal Preservation Hall and Saratoga Artsfest. She also serves as Artistic Director for Saratoga City Ballet.
Tina Fretto Baird, Instructor
As a Jazz Tap Artist and Educator, Tina is a protégé of Brenda Bufalino and a part of the Copasetics Club lineage. Her early training began at Orlando School of Dance in Schenectady, NY with Orlando and Eleanor Pigliavento, and she was additionally mentored by Barbara Duffy & Katherine Kramer. Since 1991 she has taught at numerous schools and colleges throughout New England, New Jersey and New York, including Emma Willard, Russell Sage College and Skidmore College. She has performed at Jacob’s Pillow in Lenox, MA with Lynn Schwab, the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Duke Ellington’s “Sacred Symphonies” with the Albany Symphony Orchestra, The National Museum of Dance Gala “Singin’ In The Rain” with the Alex Torres Orchestra and in NYC at Zinno’s Jazz Tap Brunch with Barbara Duffy and at Swing 46 under the auspices of Buster Brown. She is the owner of Saratoga Jazz Tap where she provides private mentorship, creates new works and produces concerts and National Tap Dance Day festivals, bringing in guest artists and musicians to teach and perform.
Her most recent presentations/collaborations include Saratoga City Ballet’s “The Nutcracker Sweet & Swingin’ “ (2017 Loewenburg Auditorium), Saratoga ArtsFest First Fridays “A Vaudeville Circus” (2015 Tang Museum), “Everything Will Be Copasetic” (2014 Saratoga ArtsFest, Universal Preservation Hall), National Tap Dance Day Festival with Brenda Bufalino (2013 National Museum of Dance), National Museum of Dance Black History Month Celebration (2013 with tap dancer Rebecca Kim), Stoptime: Louis Armstrong Celebration (2011 curated by Margo Mensing). She has choreographed productions for Saratoga Children’s Theatre, Saratoga Springs High School Drama Club and St. Clement’s Church, and serves on the Board of the Dance Alliance of the Capital Region and the Catholic Daughter’s of America. She holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts/Directing from the State University of New York at Albany with a minor in Dance from Skidmore College and lives in Saratoga Springs with her husband and daughter.
Laura Feig, Instructor
A New York native, Laura Feig trained at the Seiskaya Ballet Academy and later studied with Maggie Black. Laura began her career with the Atlanta Ballet under the direction of John McFall, where she spent ten years, becoming a principal dancer with the company. She has also performed as a member of the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company, The National Ballet of Canada, BalletX, Chautauqua Ballet, and Ballet NY.
Most recently, Laura performed as an original Broadway cast member in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Carousel” and Christopher Wheeldon’s “An American in Paris”. She has also toured the US, Canada, and Japan starring in Twyla Tharp’s “Movin’ Out” in the role of Judy.
Laura has danced principal roles in classics including Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Coppelia, and Don Quixote. She has performed leading roles in works by Julia Adam, George Balanchine, Val Canaparoli, Matthew Neenan, Michael Pink, Ben Stevenson, Christopher Wheeldon, and Lila York. Ms. Feig has had many roles created for her by choreographers including Justin Peck, Christopher Hampson, Edwaard Liang, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Alexei Ratmansky, Margo Sappington and Stanton Welch.
Laura has extensive teaching experience in classical ballet, pointe, and musical theatre workshops. She was a faculty member of the Atlanta Ballet Center for Dance Education, and Ballet Mistress of the Peoria Ballet. Laura is currently an adjunct professor at Skidmore College.
Laura Feig, Instructor
A New York native, Laura Feig trained at the Seiskaya Ballet Academy and later studied with Maggie Black. Laura began her career with the Atlanta Ballet under the direction of John McFall, where she spent ten years, becoming a principal dancer with the company. She has also performed as a member of the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company, The National Ballet of Canada, BalletX, Chautauqua Ballet, and Ballet NY.
Most recently, Laura performed as an original Broadway cast member in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Carousel” and Christopher Wheeldon’s “An American in Paris”. She has also toured the US, Canada, and Japan starring in Twyla Tharp’s “Movin’ Out” in the role of Judy.
Laura has danced principal roles in classics including Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Coppelia, and Don Quixote. She has performed leading roles in works by Julia Adam, George Balanchine, Val Canaparoli, Matthew Neenan, Michael Pink, Ben Stevenson, Christopher Wheeldon, and Lila York. Ms. Feig has had many roles created for her by choreographers including Justin Peck, Christopher Hampson, Edwaard Liang, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Alexei Ratmansky, Margo Sappington and Stanton Welch.
Laura has extensive teaching experience in classical ballet, pointe, and musical theatre workshops. She was a faculty member of the Atlanta Ballet Center for Dance Education, and Ballet Mistress of the Peoria Ballet. Laura is currently an adjunct professor at Skidmore College.
Jessica Fowler, Instructor, studied with The American Dance Center in Saratoga Springs, NY under the direction and care of Madame Phyllis Latin. While in high school she performed as a member of the Phyllis Latin Dance Company, Inc. at many local venues. Jessica went on to receive a BA in Dance and a BA in Psychology from the University of Buffalo in 2006. While attending UB, Jessica performed in several school productions as well as guest performances with Buffalo City Ballet and Western New York’s Children’s Choir. In 2014 she also received her Master of Science in education (MSEd) in Childhood / Special Education from the College of Saint Rose. Jessica was on the teaching staff of The American Dance Center for over 10 years before the studio closed. Jessica began instructing at Saratoga City Ballet in February of 2016.
Jennifer Manino, Instructor
Jennifer Manino began her life-long love of dance at the young age of 5. Attending private schools such as Walnut Hill and later a graduate of The HARID Conservatory. Mrs. Manino also studied at renowned schools such as: The Joffrey Ballet School in NYC, Pacific Northwest Ballet, School of American Ballet and Boston Ballet. Her professional career began touring for the Broadway show Cinderella which took her to over 20 cities throughout the USA. She then joined Columbia City Ballet where she danced soloist and principle roles. After two years at CCB, she went back to NYC where she began performing for The Metropolitan Opera Ballet. During that time, she attained a degree from New York University. After eight seasons dancing with the MET, she began teaching for various schools in NJ & NY including the Joffrey Ballet School in NYC. She also taught for Miami City Ballet School in Florida for 3 years. She has over eight years of teaching experience and her true passion is teaching the younger children. Jen, her husband and three energetic children live in the Saratoga area. Founder of Story Dance Studios (storydancestudios.com), she began teaching and creating her classes in September of 2018. She is very excited to be joining the faculty at Saratoga City Ballet.
Jennifer Manino, Instructor
Jennifer Manino began her life-long love of dance at the young age of 5. Attending private schools such as Walnut Hill and later a graduate of The HARID Conservatory. Mrs. Manino also studied at renowned schools such as: The Joffrey Ballet School in NYC, Pacific Northwest Ballet, School of American Ballet and Boston Ballet. Her professional career began touring for the Broadway show Cinderella which took her to over 20 cities throughout the USA. She then joined Columbia City Ballet where she danced soloist and principle roles. After two years at CCB, she went back to NYC where she began performing for The Metropolitan Opera Ballet. During that time, she attained a degree from New York University. After eight seasons dancing with the MET, she began teaching for various schools in NJ & NY including the Joffrey Ballet School in NYC. She also taught for Miami City Ballet School in Florida for 3 years. She has over eight years of teaching experience and her true passion is teaching the younger children. Jen, her husband and three energetic children live in the Saratoga area. Founder of Story Dance Studios (storydancestudios.com), she began teaching and creating her classes in September of 2018. She is very excited to be joining the faculty at Saratoga City Ballet.
After receiving early training from her mother, Deborah trained at the School of American Ballet from age 9-18. She also spent many happy summers at NYSSSA school of ballet. She continued her training in her late teens as a scholarship student at The Rock School of the Pennsylvania ballet, where she performed with the company. As a child performer she was chosen to dance many roles with The NYCB as well as ABT.
Deborah has performed with The Ballet Company of Spokane, the Capital ballet Company and locally with Tango Fusion Dance Company. In recent years she has appeared many times singing and dancing with local theater groups, including The Local Actor’s guild of Saratoga and Home Made Theater.
Deborah has taught every level of ballet and pointe:
1993-2001 at the Albany Dance Institute and 2007-2008 at the Saratoga Ballet Academy until she decided to take a break and focus on raising her three sons. She is currently a faculty member at Saratoga City Ballet.
Deborah Otto-Jones, Instructor
After receiving early training from her mother, Deborah trained at the School of American Ballet from age 9-18. She also spent many happy summers at NYSSSA school of ballet. She continued her training in her late teens as a scholarship student at The Rock School of the Pennsylvania ballet, where she performed with the company. As a child performer she was chosen to dance many roles with The NYCB as well as ABT.
Deborah has performed with The Ballet Company of Spokane, the Capital ballet Company and locally with Tango Fusion Dance Company. In recent years she has appeared many times singing and dancing with local theater groups, including The Local Actor’s guild of Saratoga and Home Made Theater.
Deborah has taught every level of ballet and pointe:
1993-2001 at the Albany Dance Institute and 2007-2008 at the Saratoga Ballet Academy until she decided to take a break and focus on raising her three sons. She is currently a faculty member at Saratoga City Ballet.
Pamara’s classical foundation and technique comes from working with world-renowned instructors including George Balanchine, Robert Joffrey, Alexandra Danilova, Andre Eglevsky, Stanley Williams, Felia Doubrovska, Diana Adams, and Suzanne Farrell. Mr. Balanchine and Maria Tallchief selected her to work with them for The New York City Ballet Educational Department. This provided valuable performance opportunities to dance numerous roles with soloists from major New York City ballet companies. It also led to a private audition with Robert Joffrey who offered her a contract to join The Joffrey Ballet. Pamara danced leading roles in several ballets, and had new roles created for her. She performed worldwide as a principal dancer with The Joffrey Ballet. Her guest appearances include The Eglevsky Ballet, The Los Angeles Ballet, and The Lexington Ballet.
She has had the opportunity to work with choreographers Jerome Robbins, Leonide Massine, Gerald Arpino, Lew Christensen, and Anna Sokolow. Some of the leading roles she danced were “Swan Lake”, “Coppelia”, “Fanfarita”, “Interplay”, “Pas de Dix”, “Pas de Quatre”, “Stars and Stripes”, “Nutcracker”, and “Sleeping Beauty. Retiring from the performing world, Pamara raised a family and established her career in teaching, choreography, and directing. In this area she has taught at Skidmore, Russell Sage, Siena, and Adirondack Community Colleges, Ballet Regent, The Capital Ballet and Saratoga City Ballet. She also taught at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City and at a summer Joffrey Midwest Workshop. She instructs figure skaters on and off the ice. Her choreography has been used in productions for The Lake George Opera Festival, The Glens Falls Community Theater, and The Empire State Institute for the Performing Arts. Pamara directed The Lexington Ballet Company prior to moving to upstate New York. As Artistic Director of the Adirondack Repertory Dance Theatre for 30 years, she choreographed programs using professional musicians and guest artists, and created a holiday tradition, “Night Before Christmas”.
Becky Tibbatts, Instructor, grew up training at our very own Saratoga City Ballet for 8+ years. She danced many elite roles, including Sugar Plum Fairy from the Nutcracker and Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland. Becky spent her summers at the New York State Summer School of the Arts under the artistic direction of Daniel Ulbricht and Jenifer Ringer, and also at Boston Ballet School under the artistic direction of Margaret Tracey. At 16, Becky began working at Saratoga Dance Etc., in downtown Saratoga, and she has been professionally trained as a pointe shoe fitter by Leslie Roy-Heck, former soloist with New York City Ballet. She continues to work at the store as the official pointe-shoe fitter and modification expert. Becky uses her pointe shoe knowledge to aid dancers and helps answer all questions regarding dancers’ feet. After graduation, Becky went on to receive her Associates in Liberal Arts from SUNY Adirondack, and still continues to strive for a career in the dance field. She is delighted to have begun her teaching career this past September and feels so grateful to now be a teacher at her home studio.
Laura Vanzetta grew up dancing in the Capital Region where she studied, modern dance, jazz, ballet, and hip hop. She then went on to study dance further in college at SUNY The College of Brockport. At Brockport, Laura studied modern dance under teachers and mentors Bill Evans, Karl Rogers, Heather Acomb, Mariah Maloney, and several other modern dance professionals. Post college, Laura danced in New York City with Jerry, “Jerry Curls” Paulino in the Shade Dance Company, and with Jilai Wang in 7MPR Dance Company. Laura also spent time studying under Beth Fecteau, artistic director of Nacre Dance based in Saratoga. Laura recently completed her 200hr Yoga Teacher training in May 2019 as well and feels she is able to bring the principles of yoga into her dance teaching. Laura currently teaches a variety of dance styles and children’s yoga in studios across the Capital Region. Laura enjoys the gift that movement gives us, and is excited to share this gift with the students at Saratoga City Ballet.
Laura Vanzetta grew up dancing in the Capital Region where she studied, modern dance, jazz, ballet, and hip hop. She then went on to study dance further in college at SUNY The College of Brockport. At Brockport, Laura studied modern dance under teachers and mentors Bill Evans, Karl Rogers, Heather Acomb, Mariah Maloney, and several other modern dance professionals. Post college, Laura danced in New York City with Jerry, “Jerry Curls” Paulino in the Shade Dance Company, and with Jilai Wang in 7MPR Dance Company. Laura also spent time studying under Beth Fecteau, artistic director of Nacre Dance based in Saratoga. Laura recently completed her 200hr Yoga Teacher training in May 2019 as well and feels she is able to bring the principles of yoga into her dance teaching. Laura currently teaches a variety of dance styles and children’s yoga in studios across the Capital Region. Laura enjoys the gift that movement gives us, and is excited to share this gift with the students at Saratoga City Ballet.
Vanessa Viscusi, Instructor, received her early training from the Academy of Dance Arts in Red Bank, NJ under the tutelage of Jennifer James Church. She earned her BFA from the College at Brockport State University of New York. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in ballet from Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts. Vanessa has performed with ballet companies in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and was previously a teacher in the children’s division at the school in which she was trained, and served as Artistic Director in a number of Saratoga City Ballet productions.
Vanessa Viscusi, Instructor, received her early training from the Academy of Dance Arts in Red Bank, NJ under the tutelage of Jennifer James Church. She earned her BFA from the College at Brockport State University of New York. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in ballet from Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts. Vanessa has performed with ballet companies in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and was previously a teacher in the children’s division at the school in which she was trained, and served as Artistic Director in a number of Saratoga City Ballet productions.