Alumni Broadway Connection

CATS Alumni, Stephanie is currently in “Hamilton” on Broadway, for which she also served as Associate Choreogrpher.  She served the same double role for Andy Blankenbuehler’s “In the Heights” (Tony Best Musical, Choreography).  She appeared alongside Idina Menzel in “If/Then” on Broadway. She served as  Associate Choreographer for Broadway’s musical “Bring It On”  (nominated for a Tony & Drama Desk Award for Best Choreography). Other credits include: “Fly”  (written by Emmy & Tony Award winner Bill Sherman) co-choreographer ‘Zelda’, a new musical. Faculty:  Broadway Dance Center

Tera-Lee – CATS & Tap CATS Alumni, She closed “Mamma Mia” on B’way(Ensemble and Dance Captain, and then went right into the American Dance Machine’s lauded run at the Joyce Thtr. Other credits include Urban Cowboy (B’way), Hot Feet (B’way)  with Maurice Hines,  Nat’l Tours: Mamma Mia, Spamalot (Dance Captain).Worked with David Parsons, Festival of Music. Film/TV:The Smurfs Movie,  SNL, Late Night. Tera-Lee performed live with Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Kanye West, Earth,Wind,and Fire. She is  on faculty at Steps on Broadway and Marymount Manhattan College.

Kelli was a member of our CATS & Tap CATS Companies. She is currently on Broadway in the Tony-winning revival of “The King and I.”  She earned her BFA in Dance from The Ailey School/Fordham University in NYC. She has worked with Robert Battle, Elisa Monte, Jacqulyn Buglisi. She performed works by Paul Taylor & Alvin Ailey. Kelli toured with JUNTOS Dance Collective. Kelli performed the role of Pilar in “Legally Blonde: The Musical” aboard Norwegian Cruise Line  in Hawaii. Kelli always gives back to us by choreographing for our CATS soloists.

Nancy Renee Braun: CATS & Tap CATS Alumni , Associate Choreographer Madison Square Garden and Kennedy Center “Elf: The Musical.”  Original Broadway production of “Fat Camp” and revival of “Gypsy” with Patti Lupone. numerous regional theatre productions, including A Chorus Line, The Boy Friend, Grease, My One and Only, and The Wild Party.  Nancy  has been choreographing and teaching musical theatre for over a decade in New York City, Chicago, and many other cities across the country. A graduate of Northwestern University.

IIlene Bergelson: Ilene started her career after finishing her studies at Center Stage on the television series FAME starring Debbie Allen.  She performed on Broadway in Carousel with Audra McDonald and played the role of Meg in the National Tour of Phantom of the Opera.  Ilene also played the role of Ethel in Hal Hartley’s movie, NO SUCH THING.  Ilene is the founder of Lifemoves Health and is an American Council on Exercise Continuing Education Specialist lecturing throughout the country.

Keely Beirne received her BFA in Musical Theatre from Penn State University.  Theatre credits: Norwegian Cruise Lines “After Midnight” (Tap soloist), National tours of Memphis (Ensemble/Felicia Understudy), and Smoky Joe’s Café (Brenda),  42nd Street, Phantom, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Ruth) at the Pittsburgh CLO,  Hairspray (Dynamite) at Merry-Go-Round Playhouse and many productions at Penn State.  Keely is a proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association and forever a proud alum of CATS & Tap CATS Center Stage

Amanda Braun: CATS & Tap CATS Alumni, recently completed Broadway’s “Elf: The Musical” at Madison Square Garden.  She performed in the National tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat while finishing up her degree at Pace University in NYC as a BFA Musical Theatre major. She has also been seen in the National Tour of Catch Me If You Can and NYC’s The AWESOME 80s PROM. She started her career at NJ’s Plays in the Park as Amber in Hairspray and Sharpay in High School Musical. Proud Center Stage Dance and Theatre School alumni since the age of 3!

Alaine Kashian:CATS Alumni,Broadway Credits: Cats, The Times They Are A-Changin’.  National Tours: Cats, Rent, Jesus Christ Superstar.  Vegas: We Will Rock You, Destination Unknown.  Regional: Spring Awakening, Can Can, Love Sweet Love, Nightmare Alley.  Web Comedy: Single Ladies Pregnant Redhead, The Call Center, Zombie Baby.Film: The Last Vial, Guess Who I Saw Today.  TV: Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego (Jacqueline Hyde), Cavemen.  Current: Dreams in the Witch House- A Lovecraftian Rock Opera.

Gregory DeSantis, CATS & Tap CATS Alumni, graduated North Carolina School of the Arts with B.F.A. Currently:  Company Member; Oakland Ballet Company, Resident Corps San Francisco Opera.  National Tour: James in Twyla Tharp’s “Movin’ Out.” He joined Colorado Ballet studio company in 2010 and was promoted to corps de ballet where he danced for two seasons. He has appeared as a guest artist with Greensboro Ballet, Urban Ballet Theatre, Zikr Dance Ensemble, Liss Fain Dance, Oakland Ballet, The Washington Ballet, and San Francisco Opera.

Arturo (Arthur) Soria: Off-Broadway: “Hit The Wall”. Regional Theatre: “OLIVERio” at Kennedy Center (currently),”Peter and the Starcatcher” in Ohio, Michigan and St. Louis, “Water by the Spoonful” at Studio Theatre, Washington, DC. the award winning “Seven Spots on the Sun” at Cincinnati Playhouse. Arturo was singled out (along with Barbra Streisand and John Lithgow) by New Yorker columnist Hilton Als for Best Performances of 2012 for “Hit the Wall” at Steppenwolf Theatre. He graduated from the prestigious DePaul University Theatre Program.

C.A.T.S Performance Company & Tap CATS of Center Stage -Xander is a dancer for the legendary Brenda Bufalino’s “new” American Tap Dance Orchestra and has danced in her shows, “Primordial Memories” and “Sound Check,” and in Tony Waag’s “Tap City”. He was dance captain for Emmy award winning choreographer Jason Samuels Smith’s ensemble for “Take it To the Stage,” and has danced for “Cirque Du Soleil” choreographer, Jared Grimes, in his show “Broadway Underground” at the B.B. King Blues Club. Xander has worked with choreographers Michelle Dorrance, Derick K. Grant, Chloe Arnold and Lynn Schwab and has performed in Ayodele Casel’s “Tappy Holidays.” He dances with Germaine Salsberg’s “Les Femmes Plus” and is dance captain of Shelby Kaufman’s “Mazel Toes.” Xander has performed at Lincoln Center, Joseph Papp’s Public Theater (Joe’s Pub), Symphony Space and The Apollo Theater; he was a guest tap dancer on “Sesame Street” and “Today in New York.” Currently, Xander directs his own tap company in New York City, Sophisticated Sounds, and is a frequent guest teacher at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway; he has had the privilege of sharing the stage with three of his greatest inspirations, Brenda Bufalino, Barbara Duffy and George Warren.

After graduating the C.A.T.S performance Company, Brittany received her Dance BFA in at the University of Arizona in 2010. Brittany has been fortunate enough to perform at Dance New Amsterdam, The American Dance Festival, and The Art-if-Act Dance Project in Tucson and will be rejoining the company in December as they prepare for a month long tour around Asia this May. Brittany was honored to perform the role of “Anita” in The West Side Story Suite at the American Dance Festival. This fall will be her first season dancing and assisting directing with CONDER/ dance in Phoenix; and will be dancing for MarioCoDahlhaus Dance in their premiere performance this October in Tucson. Brittany is so thrilled to be living and breathing her dreams… People can only push you so far but it’s what YOU DO YOURSELF that makes the difference!

C.A.T.S. Performance Company, Center Stage. Lisa graduated from North Carolina School of the Arts, then went on to make her Broadway debut with the role of Tanya in ”King Hedley II”; “Romeo & Juliet” and the musical “The Women of Brewster Place”. Lisa was also in the National Tour of “Vagina Monologues”, “Wit”. Her theatre credits include “Othello” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “School House Rocks”, “Madea” where she played the lead and was nominated for Best Leading Actress. Lisa’s television career is quite extensive and includes: “Cold Case”, “Saving Grace”,11th Hour”, Law and Order”, “Sex and the City”, “ER”, “Criminal Minds” and “Third Watch” among others. Her Film credits include: “Something for Nothing”, “I am through With White Girls”, “Marci X” and “Space Scraper”.

Beth is a proud 2005 graduate of the C.A.T.S Performance Company of Center Stage. She received her BFA in music theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory in 2009. Beth went on to perform in the National Tour of “The Wizard of Oz” where she was in the ensemble as well as the understudy for Glinda. Currently Beth is performing the role of Shelly (as well as the understudy for Tracy) in “Hairspray” at the Papermill Playhouse. Love, love, love to all the C.A.T.S and Center Stage!!!♥

Alumni of the C.A.T.S Performance Company of Center Stage. Michelle went on to play Diana Morales in the national tour of “A Chorus Line”, under the direction of Baayork Lee. She was also seen as Anita in “West Side Story with the Nashville Symphony. Michelle’s other credits include the national tour of “The Who’s Tommy”, “Sweet Charity” and a featured dancer as well as assistant choreographer in the world premiere of “Only a Kingdom” at the Pasadena Playhouse. She also served as assistant choreographer for the national tour of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” starring Rip Taylor. As an on screen actress she can be seen in episodes of “Sex and the City, “The Sopranos” and the independent film “The Entrepreneurs”.

C.A.T.S. Company, Center Stage- Tootsie graduated Cornell Univeristy with a BA in Psychology and Dance. She is a NYC choreographer who captures the electricity of contemporary funk/jazz and translates it into television, musical theatre and concert stages. Tootsie choreographed the original rock musical “The Possession of Mrs. Jones” for the LA Film Festival and was nominated for three Ovation Awards. Tootsie’s work can be seen on MTV, HBO, the WB, UPN, New York City’s Metro Channel. She has appeared on the Today’s Show, and her work has appeared on ESPN and internationally on Spain’s Telecino channel, and was an Associate Producer of several HBO documentaries. Her musical theatre credits include: LA Film Festival’s Stage to Screen, New York City Fringe Festival, and NYC Children’s Theatre. Tootsie is the creator and director of The Dance Workshop in Manhattan.

A proud graduate of the CATS Performance Company, Center Stage, Christina earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Dance and Psychology from Northwestern University, where she studied under Laura Wade, Jeff Hancock, and Billy Siegenfeld. Since graduating, Christina has had the privilege of working with AMEBA Acrobatic and Aerial Dance Company, Corpo Dance Company, and Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre. Christina was most recently seen on stage at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, Chicago, performing with Cerqua Rivera as part of the city’s “Made in Chicago” Jazz Series. One of Christina’s most rewarding experiences is having served as the Choreographer for Mac ‘n Cheese Productions’ “Dance Experiment”. She is currently heading up “Dance Experiment 2”. She has performed in the Show “Duets for My Valentine”. Christina is also humbled to have worked with and performed works by Michelle Manzanales (the rehearsal director for Ballet Hispánico). Christina is also a certified and licensed massage therapist and encourages you to be good to yourself! Go in Beauty!

Cheryl graduated C.A.T.S Performance Company of Center Stage Dance & Theatre in 1994, she received her BFA in Dance Education from the University of the ARTS in 1999. She was the company member of Winged Woman Dance Company from 1998-2004. She has presented her own choreography at the CLUE Performance Series, The Kimmel Center, Koresh Artist Showcases and the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. She established the Koresh Children’s Studio (Best of Philly – 2007), the Koresh Kids Dance Outreach Program, as well as the Koresh Artist Showcases. In 2008, she became the Director of External Relations at Group Motion Dance Company. Cheryl moved on to The Rock School for Dance Education as the Program Manager. Currently, she is the Director of Development at the Painted Bride Arts Center, a presenting organization now in its 41st season. BESIDES dancing, Cheryl has worked in film and Television. In 2001, she made her television debut on Forensic Files for Court TV. She maintains a working relationship with her favorite indie film company, Super-Nerve Entertainment. She has starred in numerous feature films such as Misdirected and Victim’s Song, which won Best Feature Film in the Big Bang Film Festival in 2009.