Our Teaching Artists

Steven Atwater

Founding Director

read steven's bio

Steven Atwater, a native of the greater New York area, is a much sought after teacher and choreographer, whose experience and knowledge of the pre-professional and professional worlds of dance has guided many of his students to successful performance careers. His students have gone on to dance with major recording artists like Justin Bieber & Chelley, perform in regional theatre productions & music festivals and have been accepted into highly noted college dance programs, including the University of the Arts, the American Musical & Dramatic Academy (AMDA) and Marymount Manhattan College. He has been on faculty for intensives, has judged for leading dance events and has taught master classes throughout the country. Steven has also served as casting assistant to celebrated casting director, Stuart Howard, and uses his casting experience to help facilitate his students' career goals. Steven currently lives in New York City and continues to be inspired by the ever-evolving dance culture that persists throughout the city. Steven has a BA in theatre with a minor in media studies from Hunter College. Steven teaches ballet applications, stretch/conditioning, jazz and contemporary.



Thomas Ford

Founding Director

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Thomas Ford is a New York City-based dance artist and writer. He is a founding director of companyONE, a pre-professional training program, where his students have been accepted to B.F.A. dance programs at Fordham/Ailey, Purchase University, Marymount Manhattan College and PACE University, and summer programs at The Rock School and American Ballet Theatre. He is also year-round faculty at the Joffrey Ballet School in NYC. His choreography has appeared at venues like the Joyce Theater and the Ailey Citigroup Theater, and most recently been presented at Next@Graham, the Peridance APEX Showcase, the Capezio A.C.E. Awards and the STEPS Performance Lab. His writing, on dance and other matters, has appeared in ELLE, Dance Magazine, Dance Spirit—where he served as a contributing editor, Dance Teacher and the Brooklyn Rail. His performance credits include “The Kennedy Center Honors,” The Radio One Music Awards, Debbie Allen’s “Dreams,” PBS’ “A Capitol Fourth,” Laurie Ann Gibson’s “Addictive” music video and performances with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. He has toured with Mike Minery’s “Tapaholics” and the renowned D.C.-based troupe, Tappers With Attitude. The National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (YoungArts) recognized him as a Presidential Scholar, an experience culminating in a solo performance on the “Today Show.” Thomas has a B.A. in communications from Marymount Manhattan College and is currently pursuing an M.F.A. in dance at Hunter College in NYC. Thomas teaches ballet, pointe, contemporary and tap.



Keisha Hughes

Hip Hop Instructor

read steven's bio

Steven Atwater, a native of the greater New York area, is a much sought after teacher and choreographer, whose experience and knowledge of the pre-professional and professional worlds of dance has guided many of his students to successful performance careers. His students have gone on to dance with major recording artists like Justin Bieber & Chelley, perform in regional theatre productions & music festivals and have been accepted into highly noted college dance programs, including the University of the Arts, the American Musical & Dramatic Academy (AMDA) and Marymount Manhattan College. He has been on faculty for intensives, has judged for leading dance events and has taught master classes throughout the country. Steven has also served as casting assistant to celebrated casting director, Stuart Howard, and uses his casting experience to help facilitate his students' career goals. Steven currently lives in New York City and continues to be inspired by the ever-evolving dance culture that persists throughout the city. Steven has a BA in theatre with a minor in media studies from Hunter College. Steven teaches ballet applications, stretch/conditioning, jazz and contemporary.



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1527 Lakeland Avenue | Bohemia, NY 11716