XiaoChuan Xie, a.k.a. Chuan, is a Chinese-born dancer/psychotherapist who currently pursues a M.S. in Dance/Movement Therapy at Sarah Lawrence College. She holds a B.A. from SUNY Empire State College and is a Certified Laban Movement Analyst. As a performer, Chuan is a Clive Barnes Award and Fred Astaire Award nominee for her excellent performances in Martha Graham Dance Company and The King and I on Broadway. Dance Magazine named her one the “Best Performers of 2015”.  As a teacher, she has taught in many professional dance schools and educational venues in NYC, such as Martha Graham School and The Taylor School, to list a few. 

 Vivianna DeSantiago is a dancer and singer based in New York City.  She is originally from Yuma, Arizona, but decided to move out east to pursue her dreams in performing in the city.

She received her BFA from the University of Arizona School of Dance where she fell in love with Modern and Jazz dance, despite my strict ballet background. Upon graduation, she joined Modern American Dance Company in St. Louis, MO to begin her career.  Then when she made the move to the big apple she was fortunate to win the Inaugural Ann Reinking Scholarship!  She spent her year training at Steps on Broadway with the best theater instructors in the industry.  Now you can find her taking dance classes at her favorite studios (The Taylor School & Steps), taking voice lessons, and auditioning!

Megan is a choreographer and director based out of NYC. Born and raised in Las Vegas, NV, she trained at a competitive dance studio and performing arts high school. She then moved to NYC to study contemporary and improv dance at the Steps on Broadway Conservatory Program. There she trained and performed with choreographers such as Max Stone, Marijke Eliasburg and Dionna Pridgeon. Since then Megan has been choreographing live shows and directing music videos for artists including Zuli Jr, Sabriel, BlackJeans, Enrose and Petra Jarrar. 

Nicole grew up on a horse farm in central Connecticut and began her dance training at Starship Dance Theater. She went on to attend SUNY Purchase College and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance Performance. While in school she had the opportunity to perform works by Adam Barruch, John Hegginbothum, Doug Varone, Rosalind Newman, Bettijane Sills to name a few. Professionally, Nicole has had the distinct pleasure of dancing with Shawn Bible Dance Co, Kathleen Helm and Dancers, Sea Legs Dance, and Hyperspace Dance. Beyond New York City, she has toured internationally to Sri Lanka and Sao Miguel, Azores. Currently, you can catch her joyfully performing with Time Lapse Dance, Rocha Dance Theater, and the award winning group “Jenny Rocha and The Painted Ladies.” As a dance maker, Nicole has presented her choreographic work at festivals in New York City, Philadelphia and Chicago. She is very excited to join Amanda Kupillas Dance family and share her joy of dance with her students!

Gaby Cook is an esteemed, active professional in the global lindy hop community. For nearly 20 years, she has established her career, teaching and performing for international lindy hop workshops and festivals. She had been featured in programs such as SW!NG OUT at the Joyce Theater, The Kennedy Center 50th Anniversary, BET Soultrain Awards, Jacob’s Pillow’s Inside/Out Series, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Spoletto Arts Festival, The 92nd St Y and many appearances Midsummer Night Swing at Lincoln Center. When she is at home in New York, she is a teacher and co-creator for the swing dance educational program at the 92Y.

In New York, Gaby curates and teaches a swing dance educational program with Caleb Teicher and Nathan Bugh at the 92Y. In class, she is playful, informative and honest. Through teaching dance, she seeks to connect new audiences to the immensely rich history of swing-era dances. She prioritizes equality for followers and leaders in the classroom space — and has championed a movement first approach to teaching partnered dance content.

Dilara is a British/Turkish belly dancer and teacher. Originally from London, UK she studied Performing Arts at Drama Studio London. Upon graduating, she joined the Hartbeeps family to teach multi-sensory movement classes to preschooler children alongside facilitating belly dance workshops for pregnant women in preparation for birth. In witnessing the therapeutic layers of

dance and movement, Dilara decided to move to NYC, and is currently in pursuit of a M.S. degree in Dance/Movement Therapy at Sarah Lawrence College. To this day, she continues to both perform and witness her movement as a source of information. She loves to take inspiration from mama nature and often incorporates the imagery of nature in her movement and classes.