Cathy’s Dance Studio
Cathy’s Dance StudioUnder the Direction of Owner/Artistic Director Spiro Pavlakos, Cathy’s Dance Studio offers tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, modern, acrobatics, and pointe classes from pre-K to pre-professional level. Classes run from September-June and culminate in a Dance Show at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria NY in June each year. Whether it’s Broadway Style Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Rhythm Tap, Acrobatics, Hip Hop/Street, or Modern – or our Pilates, Bellydance, and Sensory-Friendly Dance Workshops, Cathy’s Dance Studio’s talented and caring teaching staff delivers quality instruction at affordable prices. We welcome dancers to join us throughout the year, so please call or email us to see about having your child join one or more of our classes. We offer a free trial class and multi-class and sibling discounts.
Cathy’s Dance Studio was founded in 1956 by a former Radio City Music Hall Rockette, Miss Cathy Dooley, to share the art of dance with children of all ages, create a loving dance community, and to prepare students who want to pursue dance careers with top-level training. Our school has yielded countless Rockettes, as well as on and off-Broadway performers. Our teachers stay abreast of the latest dance trends and techniques by making sure to continue their own dance training, both at the studio and at various studios around NYC.
We continue that tradition today under the Direction of Owner/Artistic Director Spiro Pavlakos. Spiro has been dancing and teaching at Cathy’s Dance Studio since the 1980s, has also studied with countless dance professionals over the years at studios including STEPS, Peridance, and Broadway Dance Center, and has also taught at Callina’s Studio as well as at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts where he is frequently a Guest Choreographer. Spiro is thrilled to be able to continue to bring quality dance programming in a welcoming, family-friendly environment to the Astoria community.
Spyridon Pavlakos
Owner/Artistic Director/Teacher
Spiro Pavlakos, who grew up here in Astoria, started dancing at Cathy’s Dance Studio back in the 1980s. Spiro went on to train at Steps in New York City, Broadway Dance Center, and Peridance Center, under the tutelage of renowned dance instructors Joseph Lanteri, Daniel Tinnazi, Patricia Wilcox, Denise Webb, Susie Taylor, Cecilia Marta, Michelle Kadison, Natasha Baron, Slam, Karl Barbee, David Everett, David Storey, Finis Jhung and Peter Schabel.
Spiro has used his wonderful choreography and dance skills to train generations of young dancers in Astoria for many years now, at Cathy’s, at Callina’s School of Classical Ballet, and at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, where Spiro is frequently a guest choreographer. Being able to own and run Cathy’s Dance Studio is a dream come true and a labor of love for Spiro, who has dedicated his life to youth, to dance, and to Astoria.
Jessica Nieto-Saraiva
Office Manager/Instructor:Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Acrobatics
Jessica started dancing at Cathy’s at the age of two. She is a graduate of The Frank Sinatra School of the Arts. In addition, she has studied at Alvin Ailey and the American Ballet Theater Chelsea Piers (Acrobatics/Gymnastics). Jessica has performed at The American Ballet Theater (REFLECTIONS), New York City Ballet/Lincoln Center (THE HUNT), Metropolitan Opera House (RODEO) and City Center (SWAN LAKE/RODEO). She holds a BA from John Jay College.
Mariana Kerrigan
Instructor: Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Jazz, Tap
Mariana began dancing at Cathy’s when she was 5 years old and has studied dance at Broadway Dance Center, Peridance Center, and Steps on Broadway. Mariana has been teaching dance to children and adults for many years at both Cathy’s and at Callina’s School of Classical Ballet.
Additionally Mariana is a Dance Vendor with the NYCDOE as well as a NYCDOE Teacher of Middle School ELA. She choreographs and coaches shows at various NYC Public Schools. Mariana holds a MA from Touro College and a BA from Hunter College.
Susana Blanco
Instructor: HipHop/Street, Jazz, Latin Jazz, Modern
At the age of 10, Susana started her dance studies in Madrid, Spain. She studied with world famous dancers & instructors in London, Rome, Paris and New York. She received a certificate of excellence in the International Program at Broadway Dance Center (New York). Professionally she has danced on Television and on stage in the Musical ensemble of “Lope de Vega Musical”, “La Fuerza del Destino”, and “Cabaret”. She was a Cheerleader with the Real Madrid basketball team. In New York, she was as a member of the Urban Dance League (Hip Hop), performed at the Highline Ballroom and danced with Maria Torres (Latin Jazz), Sheila Barker (Jazz) and Ashlee Dawson (Fusion) dancing in Carnival, Symphony Space and Madison Square Garden. She also spent a year on tour as a backup dancer for Salman Khan. Susana holds a degree in Dance from the European University of Madrid (Spain).
Jessica Guerra
Instructor: Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern
Jessica Guerra studied at Callina’s School of Dance in Astoria for over 25 years. She was a teacher there for over 15 years under the direction of Callina Moraytis and assistant director Spiro Pavlakos. Additionally, she has trained with various instructors from Broadway Dance Center, Alvin Ailey, Dance New Amsterdam, and Peridance Center in ballet, contemporary, Horton, modern, tap, jazz, hip hop and theater. Jessica has also performed at Astoria Manor for the Ronald McDonald House charity, and at Merce Cunningham Center for the Performing Arts. Jessica holds a B.A. from Fordham University and currently works in Hospital Administration.
Rosemarie Madrid
Instructor: Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Acrobatics
Rosemarie began dancing and teaching at Cathy’s in the mid 1990s. She is also a graduate of the LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts in NYC. Rosemarie has studied and performed at the National Dance Institute, The NYC Ballet, The Jeoffrey Ballet, and Ballet Hispanico. She has also appeared on tv in shows such as Law & Order. Rosemarie holds a BA from St. Francis College and also studied in Italy at Scuola Lorenzo DeMedici.
Alicia Sammarco-Reyes
Instructor: Tap, Jazz, Ballet
Alicia began dancing at the age of 10 at Callina’s School of Classical Ballet. She has been teaching dance for 14 years at Callina’s and now at Cathy’s. She also teaches Zumba and CrossFit, and creates choreography for Sweet 16s. Additionally Alicia teaches Spanish for the NYCDOE at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts. Alicia holds a MA from Touro College and a BA in Spanish and Dance from Queens College.
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Kaitlyn Amrhein
Instructor: Acrobatics
Kaitlyn started dancing at Cathy’s when she was 2 years old. Kaitlyn danced at the studio for 16 years. She graduated from The Urban Assembly New York Harbor School, with multiple professional scuba diving certifications. Kaitlyn is attending SUNY Maritime where she studies Marine Environmental Science, with United States Coast Guard Deck Hand License. She is on Maritime’s swim team and she is also a Red Cross Lifeguard. Kaitlyn plans to ship out for Officer Candidate School for the Marine Corps Summer 2019.
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