Leadership & Staff

Leadership

Rachel DiLeo (She/Her)

Executive Director, Conservatory

Irina Lapteva (She/Her)

Managing Director, Conservatory

Asanga Domask (She/Her)

Director of Student Advancement, Conservatory

Staff

Stanislav Issaev

Ballet Master, Conservatory

Anna Canova (She/Her)

Program Manager, Conservatory

Natalie Palumbo (She/Her)

Front Desk Manager, Conservatory

Jessica Denson (she/her)

Registrar, Conservatory

Robert J. Priore (He/Him)

Ignite Artist/Senior Faculty, Conservatory

Kim Kokich

Communications and Development Specialist, Conservatory

Rotita “Ro” Cunningham (She/Her)

Interim Artistic Associate, Conservatory

Alicia Canterna

Interim Artistic Associate, Conservatory

Alicia Canterna is a seasoned professional in the world of Classical Ballet and Contemporary Dance.

Katherine Weaver

Development and Social Media Assistant, Conservatory

Katherine Weaver, B.A. McGill University, is excited to join the CityDance team as Development and Social Media Assistant. As a former collegiate and international level sailor, Katherine holds a great appreciation for the environment CityDance Conservatory provides young people in their journey towards mastery and performance at the highest levels of dance. She brings a love for the arts as well as proven experience in fundraising and external communications.

Sarah J. Ewing (She/Her)

Conservatory Interim Artistic Associate, Ignite Artist, Systems Integration Director

Molly Hohlt

Interim Artistic Associate, Conservatory

Cristina Vasilis (She/Her)

Sr. Manager, Day Programs, YAGP & Special Projects, Conservatory and Faculty, Studios

Faculty

Olga Aru (She/Her)

Faculty, Conservatory

Ryan Bailey (He/Him)

Faculty, Conservatory

Micah Geyer

Faculty, Conservatory

Jameel Hendricks

Faculty, Conservatory

Jameel Hendricks is a graduate of the Philadelphia High School for the Creative & Performing Arts (CAPA) where he received his early training as a dance major, and was appointed the position of Dance Captain entering his senior year. Upon graduating from CAPA, Jameel was presented with the Dance/Humanitarian/Congeniality award presented by LaDeva Davis. He has recently become a recipient of the 2023 International Choreographer Award presented by XING Dance Theater. Jameel attended "Eleone Dance Unlimited" as a scholarship student and was appointed the title of dance captain for the training company "Eleone Connections." Jameel has also had the opportunity to attend "The Rock School for Ballet" as a full scholarship student other local dance intensives such as “Dance Creates New Stars (DCNS)”, and Anthony Burrell’s “Breaking Barriers”. After graduating from CAPA, he then went on to continue his training at Rutgers University (Mason Gross School of the Arts), majoring in Dance Education. Following his duration at Rutgers University, Jameel went on to become a touring company member of “Eleone Dance Theater” in 2014. Shortly after his occupancy at Eleone Dance Theater, in the year of 2016 Jameel began his tenure as a company member of Philadanco. Throughout his career thus far Jameel has been able to work with a vast amount of choreographers such as Anthony Burrell, Sean Bankhead, Jeremy Green, and Rennie Harris, as well as teach numerous masterclasses, speak on panel discussions, and even restage classic works such as Talley Beatty’s “A Rag, A Bone, and a Hank of Hair”. As a result of his years training extensively in various styles of dance, Jameel has been able to gain commercial dance experience performing alongside artists such as Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Bobby Shmurda, and XSCAPE. Jameel has also had the opportunity to choreograph for Philadelphia’s annual 6abc Thanksgiving Day Parade & the 2021 Made in America Music Festival. Aside from his professional endeavors, Jameel has extensive experience in collaborating with the School District of Philadelphia using dance as a way to contribute to the artistic & communal endeavors amongst the youth in the city. He currently teaches at several dance schools and is working on furthering his artistic abilities as a freelance artist while also venturing into a new entrepreneurial journey with his new production company “M3 (ME)” Productions.