THEINSTRUCTORS
LEARN FROM OUR AWARD WINNING CHAMPION INSTRUCTORS
Karissa Spinola
K.H.O.M Founder
Karissa is a seasoned dancer, teacher, and choreographer. She has choreographed dances for half time shows at the Barclay’s Center and performances at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. She has also choreographed many award-winning competition dances and title winning solos. She has danced in elite companies since the age of 7, began assisting teachers at the age of 11, and fell in love with instructing dance when she taught her first classes at the age of 16.
She started Karissa’s House of movement to not only help dancers reach their full potential on and off the stage through proper skill instruction/training, but also inspire a passion for dance, a strong self-esteem, self-confidence, and respect for one another. Karissa’s goal is to ensure that each student will all learn how to be an integral part of a dance family.
Alexis Racanello
Senior Instructor
Alexis Racanello began her formal dance education at the age of five and then continued to perform and compete for over ten years winning numerous regional titles.
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Alexis graduated from the University at Buffalo with a BA in Dance and minors in Health and Wellness and Counseling. While at the University at Buffalo, she was a member of Zodiaque Dance Ensemble and performed and choreographed for Dancer’s Workshop and Digital Poetry and Dance, where she was also a soloist. At Buffalo, Alexis trained under Thomas Ralabate, Melanie Aceto, Kerry Ring, and many others.
Alexis has a love of choreographing and performing, as well as a true passion for teaching and spreading a love of movement and self-expression through dance!
Chad Eastman
Contemporary Instructor
Chad Eastman (he/him) is a New York City based dancer and choreographer originally from Tucson, Arizona. Chad's choreography has been showcased and competed for several seasons now and has received high adjudications and choreography selects.
Chad's performance experience include dancing in the national broadway tour of Fiddler On The Roof, and works by Jose Limón and Robert Battle at Perry-Mansfield. He can also be seen in the University of Arizona School of Dance's "In/Out/Side The Box" and Pace University's "Emergence" showcase.
Growing up, Chad studied at Studio One Arizona Dance Company for 10 years on their prestigious and nationally recognized competitive team. He also has spent his summers training at Perry-Mansfield at their Pre-Professional six week intensive. Chad is passionate about creating art and sharing his work with the world through dance.
Alejandro Ulloa
Ballet Instructor
A native of Nicaragua, international freelance artist Alejandro Ulloa began his dance training at the Escuela Nacional de Ballet de Nicaragua under the direction of maestro William Herrera, and launched his professional dance career with the Compañía Ballet de Nicaragua where he quickly became a principal dancer. He was later invited to be part of the contemporary company Danza Contemporánea Universitaria UNAN-Managua. In 2015, Alejandro launched the first-ever ballet and neoclassical ensemble at the Nicaraguan University, where Alejandro became the Cultural Promoter for the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua, as well as Director for the “Taller de Líneas Clásicas”. Later that year, he also became co-producer, teacher, and choreographer for Compañía Ballet de Nicaragua, as well as a ballet and contemporary teacher at the Escuela Nacional de Ballet de Nicaragua.
Alejandro’s vast repertoire has ranged from classical to contemporary works, as he has worked with a plethora of directors and choreographers. He has danced for Gainesville Ballet, Danse Etoile in Costa Rica, Connecticut Ballet, Island Moving Company, Neglia Ballet, Ajkun Ballet Theatre, and Connecticut Ballet Center, New Haven Ballet, among others. He has also participated in many festivals, such as Jacob’s Pillow Festival in Lenox, Massachusetts, APAP Festival in New York City, Bitef Theater and Terazije Theater in Serbia, the International Ballet Gala in Nicaragua, the 50th anniversary of Universidad de Campeche-Mexico, Fundacion Ballet de El Salvador, and Great Friends Dance Festival in Newport, Rhode Island among others. In addition, Alejandro was an integral part of the Art and Science Unite as Psychological Treatment in Adults and Youth Workshop, developed by the Yale Hispanic Mental Health Clinic, and in 2016 he was awarded the “Artist of International Projection of the Year” by the Nicaraguan Artist Association.
Alejandro is currently a member of Thomas Ortiz Dance Company, Ballets with a Twist and Kathryn Posin Dance. Alejandro is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of East Coast Contemporary Ballet.
Aysia Alves
Hip-Hop Instructor
Coming Soon!