Ballet, Tap, Children’s Ballet/Tap, Competition Director

“Miss Helen” started her career here in Scotch Plains at a local dance studio when she was 3 years old. After graduating from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, Helen attended Sullins College in Bristol, Va, and graduated with honors in Dance. She established MAFA in 1969, and continues her education to this day as a member of Dance Masters of America NYC Chapter #26, where she is a former board member and secretary. Helen is currently Vice President of Associated Dance Teachers of NJ workshops.

Jazz, Children’s Ballet/Tap, Competition Director

Ellen has been with the Moderne Academie since she was 4 years old. After graduating from SPF High School, she received her BFA degree in dance from Point Park University. Right after graduation she went on the National Tour of ‘Harlem Suite” (starring Maurice Hines and Jennifer Holliday). Ellen landed in Hollywood after a year on the road and worked steadily as a professional dancer for 10 years. She was a member of Equity, SAG, Aftra and Agva. She worked on many movies, tv shows, theater productions and commercials. Ellen has performed with Michael Jackson, Prince, Ray Charles , Jim Carrey, Vanessa Williams, En Vogue and many more. She has been a member of Associated Dance Teachers of NJ for 20 yrs and has been a teacher at the MAFA for over 25 Yrs.

Children’s Ballet/Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Pre-School Ballet

For the past 15 years, Miss Kathy has had the pleasure of sharing her gift and love of dance with the students of MAFA. Watching them grow and learn through dance is joyous! Miss Kathy holds a BFA in dance from Point Park University and has an extensive musical theatre background touring throughout the US in such show as 42nd Street, Anything Goes, Me & My Girl, West Side Story and Gypsy.

Tap/Adult Tap, Hip Hop, and Children’s Ballet/Tap

Christine started dancing at a young age at the Moderne Academie of Fine Arts. She was four when she started her passion, dance. Along the way she won several awards competing in state competitions and Nationals in Florida and Myrtle Beach. She performed as a soloist, in several team tap pieces and one lyrical. Christine became a MAFA alumni in 2002 and graduated Kean with a Psychology degree 2008. She started back dancing and teaching at Moderne Acadamie at the age of 24. She has now been teaching at Moderne Acadamie for 12 years. Christine teaches children’s hip hop, tap/ adult tap, children’s ballet/tap. Christine is also a middle school teacher. She furthers her education in her teaching career by attending professional workshops from the Association of Dance Teachers of NJ. She loves to spread and share her love and passion for dance with others as a growing teacher!

Acro, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Lyrical

A native from Ukraine, Tetyana was admitted to the Ukrainian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation at the age of seven. Trained by Irina and Albina Derugina, she reached pristine technique level, achieving first places in national and international competitions, ultimately becoming European champion in group routine category. From an early age, Tetyana also had a passion for dance.

After moving to New York, Tetyana was motivated by several dance exhibitions to pursue a career in dance. She started taking classes at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway, quickly expanding her training in different styles of dance such as Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet and Lyrical. Tetyana was recognized by choreographers Frank Hatchet and Glenn & Brian, who got her started with her dance career. Years of training, experience and gymnastic background helped her become part of the cast of Cabaret on Broadway.

Tetyana also started teaching in 2000. She joined MAFA in 2008 where she is currently teaching many dance styles, Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet and Acro. Her background of gymnastics in combination with professional dance techniques enables her to create unique styles of dance. She is hoping to convey her love of dance to kids of any age.

Contemporary, Ballet, Children’s Ballet/Tap, Competition Assistant Director

Sandi Rivera is a Puerto-Rican dancer and choreographer based in the NY/NJ. Sandi received her BFA in Modern, BA in Teaching Arts, and Minor in Business in 2020 from Marymount Manhattan College where she performed work by Nancy Lushington, Anthony Morgeriato, 10 Hairy Legs, and more. Starting in 2019 she worked with ImmaBeast/ImmaBreathe, a commercial hip-hop and contemporary company in Los Angeles, California under the direction of Janelle Ginestra, MaryAnn Chavez, and Monika Felice Smith and continues to freelance in NY. Her teaching and choreography career began in 2016, interning at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Step’s Pre-Professional Showcase Program, and teaching contemporary, ballet, dance conditioning, and commercial styles within MAFA, the tri-state area, and beyond. She continues to choreograph both regionally and nationally recognized contemporary, contemporary ballet, and commercial works for pre-professional dancers, companies, and studios across the country, including MAFA’s competitive Senior and Junior teams since 2017.

Ballet, Pointe, Competition Assistant Director

Sabrina Canas (she/her) is a first generation Argentine American artist based in Brooklyn, NY. She holds her BFA in Dance from the University of the Arts (UArts), where she performed works by Jesse Zaritt, Netta Yerushalmy, Helen Simoneau, Marguerite Hemmings, Beth Gill, Sidra Bell, and others. In January 2018, she performed and attended the International Association for Blacks in Dance Conference in Los Angeles, California, under the direction of Tommie-Waheed Evans and Kim Bears-Bailey, and in November 2018, Sabrina produced and presented an immersive installation performance in Solmssen Court, under the direction of Niall Jones. Since moving to Brooklyn, Sabrina has presented a collaborative duet at The Craft, performed at BAM Fisher, 92nd Street NY, Triskelion Arts, NOD Theater (SEA), and Uptown Rising Performance Series, and was featured in jazz musician Tony Glausi's music video, When It All Comes Crashing Down, which premiered in February 2021. Sabrina is currently working with Kinesis Project, SAXYN Dance Works and HB² PROJECTS among other independent project based companies in New York. She is presently creating new work with her collaborators under tidbit collective. She will be teaching Ballet and Pointe as well as choreographing for the competition team this fall/spring season at MAFA.

Lyrical

Madison is thrilled to be on staff at MAFA where she has spent the last 14 years training! She has found her passion in all genres of dance and has won multiple scholarship awards representing MAFA with Associated Dance Teachers of NJ and Joffre Ballet Texas. Madison has also had the opportunity to perform in New Jersey School of Ballet's Nutcracker and work and train with a pre-professional dance company, Z Artists Group, performing in venues such as The Joyce Theatre in Manhattan. Her dance video credits include "She's The One" with Man In Motion, "Halls of Your Heart", Columbia University film school and "Whispers", The Dreamland Fire band. Madison is eager to pass on her love of dance to her MAFA students.