Linda Ciccone
Tracy Ciccone-DiTroia
John
D. Galli began dance training 35 years
ago and has trained with the top teachers and
choreographers in the world. An alumnus of
Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival and Boston Ballet
Summer Program, and a former member of the
Festival Ballet of RI (he was the Nutcracker
Prince in 1982), Jon has also trained in Los
Angeles and New York. His extensive training
includes all styles of dance: Ballet, Jazz,
Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Tap and Modern – from LA to
Broadway, as well as extensive choreography and
teaching experience. Some of Jon’s performance
credits include Walt Disney Production in LA,
Office Two-One Productions in Japan (in
Japanese), the Young Americans in LA, Jacob’s
Pillow Dance Festival (for Baryshnikov & Co.,
ABT). Some choreography credits include Young
Americans in LA, Celebrity Cabaret for Special
Olympics (with Tisha Campbell and Geri Jewell)
in RI, as well as other regional performances.
With a BA in Theatre Performance, Mr. Galli has
trained in acting, directing, singing and music
composition with professionals from across the
country, including at Trinity Repertory
Conservatory. Besides teaching at TCPA, Jon has
been a dance competition adjudicator nationally
for over a decade, primarily with Starlight
Productions, and Jon is the resident
choreographer at the Newport Playhouse and
Cabaret. Jon also instructs master classes in
dance and theatre; choreographs, directs and
produces; and offers competition and audition
performance consultation.
Amanda
Faiola started dancing at the age of
four. Amanda even remembers when the studio was
placed under the new name of Tracy Ciccone
Performing Arts (TCPA) in 1994. She trained with
Tracy every week in tap, jazz, lyrical and
ballet. At the age of 14 she decided that she
wanted to become an assistant teacher for TCPA
and for 2 ½ years she was trained. Then in 2000
she finally became a dance instructor teaching
children ages 2 ½-13. Amanda even held some
adult tap and hip hop classes. With TCPA she has
traveled to Florida to perform in Disney for the
first time in 1998 and again in 2000, 2002, and
2004. Even two classes that she taught performed
in Disney in 2004 and 2007, which Amanda was
extremely proud to have represent her as an
instructor and TCPA in general. Throughout her
dance career she has gone to many conventions
where she was able to take classes from famous
choreographers, was a part of the dance team in
high school, and participated in some dance
classes at Rhode Island College (where she now
attends). At RIC she is studying for her degree
in early childhood education, but she still
teaches dance part-time. Amanda says how much
the motto here at TCPA is the truth “join as
friends, leave as family” because she looks at
Linda as her second mom, and at Tracy as an
older sister. The studio has become her other
family and she loves teaching here.
Crystal
Martins began attending Tracy Ciccone
Performing Arts over 15 years ago. After
attending other studios, the inviting, warm, and
passionate atmosphere of the studio outshined
all others. This family atmosphere allowed
Crystal to become a permanent fixture.
Throughout the years, Crystal participated in
commotions, Disney World performances, dance
conventions and various local performances.
Crystal's love for dance was so strong; she went
to the studio every day after school and
Saturday mornings to assist Linda and Tracy.
During this time she learned all aspects of the
business and developed excellent teaching and
performance skills. This lead to becoming a full
time dance teacher. Crystal also attended school
to become and esthetician. She now teaches part
time leaving space to fulfill her other passions
in life.
Billy Angel
Merinda
Baron
Arianna
Buonanno has studied the art of dance
since she was three years old. As an ultimate
gold medalist during her years as a competition
student, Arianna has had the good fortune to
dance with Master Teachers in Providence,
Boston, New York, Florida, and Las Vegas. She
received many special performance awards for
Showmanship, Style, and Technique. During her
fifteen years of dance training,
Arianna has become proficient in the styles of
ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern and hip-hop.
Dancing has given her great enjoyment, a healthy
work ethic, and life-long friendships. Dancing
had a varied and dynamic impact on her life, and
has taught her valuable lessons: to never give
up, and to always strive to do your best. She is
a deans list student at the University of Rhode
Island. She will graduate in May 2011 with a
Bachelor of Science Degree in Textiles, Fashion
Merchandising, and Design; she will also receive
a minor in art history. Arianna has been an
advocate for Breast Cancer Awareness charities
since the age of fifteen. She was crowned Miss
Teen Rhode Island International in 2008 and used
that venue to promote charity events and work to
raise funds for the cause. Though she did not
start out at Tracy Ciccone Performing Arts, she
is honored to teach in a loving family oriented
environment.
Kristina
DeAngelis has
been dancing since the age of three and has been
teaching for seven years. She trained with
Heather Rosciti artistic director/owner of Dance
R.I. where she danced in various competitions,
conventions and master classes. Continuing her
passion she pursued her dancing career at Dean
College School of Dance where she received her
Associates Degree in Dance. She was trained in
the four disciplines of ballet, modern, jazz,
and tap. She had the opportunity to participate
in Dance
Extravaganza Five Minutes to Curtain featuring
Maurice Hines, AC Ciulla, Derick K. Grant,
and Jay T. Jenkins.
Kristina choreographed and performed in several
showcases and performances while attending the
School of Dance. She then moved on to obtaining
her Bachelors Degree in Psychology at the
University of Rhode Island and joined the U.R.I.
Dance Company. She also started teaching at The
Studio and Performing Arts in Narragansett,
Rhode Island in 2006 while attending school.
That is where she was introduced to Rhode
Island’s premiere tap dancer and choreographer
Brian Jones. She has been studying with him
since 2006 to present. After graduating from the
University of Rhode Island, Kristina started
working at Rhode Island Family Court where she
continues her love of helping children every day
in the Court Appointed Special Advocates Office.
She is also on the Board for Friends Of Rhode
Island CASA Inc. where she plans fundraisers and
events to help raise money for the CASA Program.
She recently performed in Dance for a Cause
Fundraiser that was held in Cranston, R.I.
Kristina is currently attending RIC where she is
completing her Masters Degree in Social
Work. She is very excited to join the Tracy
Ciccone Performing Arts family and share
her passion of dance with everyone.
Laurie Guarini has an extensive background
in lyrical, contemporary, jazz, tap, ballet,
acro, and preschool. She has trained under
world-renowned Master Dance Teachers such as
Kelly Cannone, Gerri-Ann Genga, Hersey Marsden,
Myles Marsden, Doug Caldwell, Dan Karaty, Wade
Robson, Joe Termaine, and Mia Micheals in Rhode
Island, Boston, Connecticut, New York, Las
Vegas, and Florida. She has performed
regionally and nationally in events including
the Epcott Center in Walt Disney World, Opening
Ceremony for Major League Soccer, Dancers
Responding to AIDS in New York City, Opening
Ceremony for the Miss Rhode Island Pageant, an
inter-office commercial for Koch Eye Associates,
and many charity events. Laurie has played many
roles in her dance career from award-winning
dancer, to teacher for studios throughout New
England, to choreographer for regionally and
nationally award-winning routines, to Artistic
Director, to competition judge, to event planner
for recitals, performances, and charity events,
to Office Manager. She has over a decade of
teaching experience behind her. Her love for
dance has only grown over the years and she
feels very lucky to be able to share that love
through her teaching.
Alicia White
Kristen MacTavish began her dance education at
the age of 3 studying under Donna Carter, Susan
Messier, and Hope Specht totaling 18 years of
dance education. Kristen owned and operated her
own dance school located in Pawtucket RI from
1998-2006. She has studied and can teach all
major forms of dance....ballet, tap, jazz and
acrobatics. She well known for my
acrobatic/gymnastic dynamic instruction,
contortion work, strength/flexibility,
pre-school classes and musical theatre. She is
certified through the Aerobic Fitness Foundation
of America. Kristen's teaching style is fun,
energetic, challenging and she puts an emphasis
on technique in every class! She has taught
throughout the New England area in private
schools, dance schools, and Senior Centers
totaling 12 years of teaching experience.
Kristen is a mother to 6 beautiful
children...she has a lot of patience!
Gianna Parrella - Teachers Assistant
Lanzi Baron - Teacher's Assistant
Maria Senerchia - Teacher's Assistant
Maria Kolacki - Secretary/Office Manager