Sandra Coyte
“Sandy” has been dancing for over 20 years. She was in the first of cast of Creative Source Dance Ensemble for many years and majored in Theatre and Dance as well as Elementary Education in college. Sandy is no stranger to pageants: she was in over eighteen of them, including “Miss World 1980”.

Sandy was the owner of her own dance school and dance company from 1983-1993, which gave her much insight into the world of dance and competitions. Sandy had a vision to create the most professional and exciting one-day workshop and Competition ever! New York Dance Experience is the result of that vision.

Alison Holmes Bramwell
Born in England, Alison grew up in South Africa, where she had extensive training in Classical Ballet. She is a qualified teacher in the Cecchetti Method and has a degree in Ballet and Theatre. Musical credits include, "Will Rogers Follies", "Sound of Music", "42nd Street", and "George M".

Alison and her husband, Roy, have gained international recognition as Principal dancers and Adagio' Team on Cruise Ships and in large extravaganzas world wide. We are very pleased to have Alison among the team of New York Dance Experience professionals.

Roy Bramwell
Originally from South Africa, Roy has an intense background in Jazz, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre and Adage' Work. Musical credits include, "Mame", "Barnum", "Will Rogers Follies", "42nd Street", and "Hello Dolly".

Roy and his wife have partnered each other for the past 15 years, performing as featured adagio team in places such as South Africa (Sun City), France, Italy, Japan, Cruise Ship and throughout the United States. They continue to perform, teach dance and coach adage' throughout America.

We are very excited to have Roy as a member of the New York Dance Experience.

Maurice Brandon Curry
Maurice Brandon Curry has developed a diverse and distinguished reputation as a director, choreographer, producer, and most important to him, educator. He currently has ballets in the active repertoires of over twenty companies worldwide and has directed and/or choreographed events as diverse as Die Fledermaus for the Dutch National Opera; the Always Is Forever tour for Diana Ross; music videos for Prince, Al B. Sure, and Paul Lekakis; commercials for Burger King and Fila; the kickoff for the Tour de France; and the 1999 spring collection for Giorgio Armani in Milan. He choreographed the 2000 Michael Awards and was associate producer for the 2001 show. Additionally, Mr. Curry has also directed and/or choreographed three critically acclaimed Off-Broadway shows and numerous regional theatre productions.

Mr. Curry choreographed the opening for Broadway Celebrates the Spirit of Harlem at the world famous Apollo Theatre. Additionally, he conceived, directed and choreographed From Ballet to Broadway which featured over 100 dancers and singers from Broadway shows, ballet and modern dance companies in New York City.

Mr. Curry has a earned a noted reputation as an educator, evidenced by the numerous students accepted in some of the most prestigious summer programs, colleges, and dance companies. His students are currently dancing with the American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, on national and international tours, and on Broadway. He is most proud of his students who have been accepted to the School of American Ballet, which is where Mr. Curry trained. Currently,

Mr. Curry is on the faculty of the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City and continues to guest teach around the country. He is also the Artistic Director of Jazz Dance America.

Mariellen Murray Mariellen graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre/Dance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. She toured Europe in various musicals and appeared on television as an NBC Evening Magazine dancer.

In Atlantic City, NJ she appeared in various casinos extensively working in musical variety shows. Mariellen has choreographed numerous musical shows for Spirit Cruise Lines, Libertyland Theme Park in Memphis, Tenn., Visionland Theme Park in Birmingham, AL, Hilton Hotel Industrial in Las Vegas, NV and most recently Casino Magic in Biloxi, Mississippi.

She is currently performing in Las Vegas with the lounge act "May & Murray" and we are very honored to have Mariellen as part of the Starbound Staff.

Michael Schwandt Michael is the Creative Director of his own performance company, FUSION Entertainment. With a theatrical background to support lighting, costume, and make up designs, as well as extensive knowledge of music editing and production. Michael's company has become one of the most sought after for live entertainment/industrial events. Both Michael Schwandt and FUSION Entertainment are represented by the choreography department of MSA.

Michael has created original stage concepts for live events all over the United States and Australia. He has created special event performances for Mya, Craig Davids, Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees, Sharon T. Angela Velez, Rachel Alejandro, The LA Philharmonic and for the opening of the movie "Chicago". Michael is also the Creative Director for a host of dance events across the country.

We are very pleased to have Michael join the Starbound panel of judges.

Aaron Pomeroy
Aaron Pomeroy is a dancer and choreographer who started dancing since the age of four. Since then, he has gone on to perform with The San Diego Civic Light Opera, Moonlight Stage Productions, Christian Community Theater, Lawrence Welk Resort, and in Los Angeles, Reprise! Broadways Best, Musical Theater West, East Los Angeles Classic Theater and the Mark Goodman Tap Company, among numerous others. Some of his favorites roles include Mike in A Chorus Line, Billy in The Goodbye Girl, Bobby in Crazy For You, Hortensio in Kiss Me Kate, Fyedka in Fiddler on the Roof and The Tin Man in The Wizard Of Oz. He has also performed in such hit shows as Cabaret, Footloose, The Hot Mikado, Evita, Phantom, Never Gonna Dance and Honk, among countless others.

Aaron's diverse and eclectic style in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Musical Theater and Lyrical comes from the many instructors Aaron has had the opportunity to study with; instructors like Louis McKay, Cory Finn, Robert Schultz, Keri LaGrand, Mark Goodman and Julie Crawley. A company member with The San Diego Ballet, Aaron has performed as a soloist in shows like A Midsummer's Night Dream, Seasons, Rainbows, Backseats and The Nutcracker, where he has played the Russian Variation for ten consecutive years. Aaron's choreography can be seen by numerous dance companies throughout Southern and Northern California where his students have taken top overall national titles. He is extremely excited to be a part of the NEW YORK DANCE EXPERIENCE STAFF.

Chris Suchan Chris is a well sought after performer, teacher, and choreographer. He has been dancing for 18 years and teaching since the age of 16. He just came off the Broadway National Tour of “Crazy for You”, performing the role of Billy. He has also recently traveled to Moscow, Russia, to perform “42nd Street”. Chris has studied under Ann Reinking at the Broadway Theater Project.

Mr. Suchan, hails from Washington, DC, where he grew up competing in all forms of dance. Through the years, he has received many prestigious awards including, “Mr. Dreamseeker”, “Choreographer of the Year”, and numerous high score titles. He has also been a member of several dance companies including, Dancin’ Unlimited, Stage Crew, and Jazz Dance DC, based in Washington, DC.

Chris has taken master classes from some of the greatest stage performers of all time including Gwen Verdon and Ben Vereen. Chris has performed as a member of the Jean Ann Ryan Company on Norwegian Cruise Lines, as a dancer and singer. He has choreographed productions of “Once Upon a Mattress”, “Grease”, “The Unsinkable Molly Brown”, and “Crazy for You”. He also co-choreographed the production “Bandstand 2000”, which received a Helen Hayes Nomination of Choreography.

We are very pleased to have Chris Suchan, along with his experience and skill as a member of the NEW YORK DANCE EXPERIENCE staff

Veronica Benigni
Veronica graduated from the University of Michigan and studied dance at several premier studios across the country. She worked professionally in the United States and Europe as a choreographer, performer, teacher, judge, make-up artist, and costume designer. She danced with the Switzerland chapter of "Culture Shock" an international hip-hop company that is well rooted in Europe and North America. Veronica has also danced and choreographed for the "New Dance Company" based out of Switzerland. She has recently moved back to the Chicago area and is in the process of founding a cutting-edge, professional dance company ("Gravity") that will base themselves in Chicago.

Her resume includes choreography for New Artist who have performed with LL Cool J, India Arie, Busta Rhymes, Jessica Simpson, Jo-Jo, Ryan Cabrera, Aaron Carter and Jordan Knight.

Culture Shock San Diego, Urban FX, Artistic performances, International winning dance groups, commercials, television, International dance companies, and NBA Dance teams (Detroit Pistons, and Philadelphia 76ers), auto shows and Industrials.

Veronica has spent the past two years working extensively in San Diego teaching and choreographing. Veronica is currently choreographing and directing her own show “Velocity” at the Greektown Casino while conducting dance workshops internationally.

We are very pleased to have Veronica on the New York Dance Experience staff.

Melissa Cybele
Ms. Cybele holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance, cum laude, from Sam Houston State University. She proudly represented SHSU for many years as President professionals across this nation and several others!

Melissa enjoys an exciting and eclectic performance career. Her modern dance resume includes work with numerous dance companies in Houston and surrounding areas, as well as performances in New York, and a guest appearance with Dance Reportory San Francisco. She is honored to have worked with many acclaimed choreographers, including Pat Graney, Brenda Daniels, John Mead, Dana Nicolay, and Kristen O’Shee. Her musical theatre credits include dancing and singing in the Chorus of Jesus Christ Superstar and dancing the part of Nimue in Camelot. She performed the role of Peasblossom in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and has won numerous other stage roles. Other miscellaneous performing jobs include spokes modeling, singing and dancing in television commercials, acting in children’s theater, and performing hundreds of cartoon voice-over roles.

Ms. Cybele’s modern dance education includes extensive training in both Graham and Cunningham techniques, and she has studied with such notables as Bill Evans, Judith Jamison, Sean Curran, Greg Lizenbery, and others. She studied improvisation techniques with Nina Martin and aerial dance with Robert Davidson (of Seattle).

Ms. Cybele studied at the Houston Ballet Academy, with Michael Job of the Dayton Ballet, and with Dana Nicolay of the Royal Winnepeg Ballet, Houston Ballet, and SHSU. Melissa maintains a separate resume of stage management and technical theater credits. She is an extensively experienced stage manager, handling dance concerts, plays, musicals, tours, and more. Her most challenging assignment came while working as Stage Manager in Residence with Main Street Theater in Houston on the production of Schoolhouse Rock Live (a production including a cast of singers, tricky set pieces, hundreds of precisely and elaborately arranged props, and a live rock band). She has also held positions as Company Manager, Production Manager, House Manager, and Sound Designer.

Melissa is currently a resident of Austin, Texas. There, she dances with the Segway Ballet, a project commissioned by First Night Austin and immortalized in a 2006 Emmy nominated documentary film. She is the extremely proud mother of eight-year-old Julian Christopher, football player, philosopher, mosaicist, and all around boy wonder!

Melissa Fagan
Melissa is originally from St. Louis, MO, where she trained at the St. Louis Ballet Center and Conservatory. She spent her summers training at such places as State Ballet of Missouri, Joffrey Ballet and Gus Giorodan’s Jazz Dance Chicago.

Melissa studied dance at Marymount of Manhattan College and Hofstra University, where she received her BA in Dance. Professionally, Melissa has performed in Broadway’s "Dracula", the Broadway national tours of "Chicago" in the roles of June and Mona, and "42nd Street", where she played Lorraine. Her other performing credits in NYC include Radio City Christmas Spectacular and Frank Sinatra: "His Voice, His Word, His Way", as a Rockette, "Can Can" at City Center and "Mack and Mabel" at Lincoln Center. She has performed numerous times on the Today Show, Good Morning America, Rockefeller Tree Lighting, and The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, as a Radio City Rockette. Regionally, she has worked for Royal Caribbean International and at the St. Louis Muny Opera.

Melissa is currently living in New York City and is working as a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall.

Corey Wright
Corey Wright has been dancing since he was 15 years old. He danced previously with “The Louisville Civic Ballet” under the direction of Donald Tolj and Patrick Hinson. With the LCB, he trained under artists such as Bruce Simpson, Helen Star, Elena Filmore, and many other guest instructors including instructors from the Ailey School and Julliard.

Corey has also studied dance on scholarship at Tyler Junior College. After studying at TJC, Corey moved to Indiana where he discovered his love for teaching and helping young talents discover passion and heart while perfecting their gifts as well.

He has previously been apart of “Of Moving Colors Modern Dance Company” and performed with them at the very first Louisiana Dance Festival in 2005. He and his wife just moved to New York City with hopes to further his career.