Erin Drennan, RYT and Artistic Director of Integral Ballet and the FAITH Dance Project, has danced professionally with the New York Dance Theatre and as a freelance dancer for ten years. Performing principal roles as Dew Drop & Snow Queen in NYDT’s The Nutcracker, Frank Ohman’s Pavanne variation, which was set for her, the lead in Ohman’s Fantasia, among dozens of other roles, has come second only to her teaching and choreography career. Erin has choreographed and produced a repertoire of ballet’s including A Midsummer’s Eve, Fantasia, The Firebird, That Awful Cinderella, Stormy Weather, Red House, Birth of the Blues and her upcoming work: Ballet’s Greatest Ghost Stories. She has molded hundreds of students and has had the honor of teaching many upcoming stars of professional dance, including Trenk Kowalik, the Tony award winning star of Billy Elliot, the musical. Erin began teaching dance in the West Islip public school system. Her training began as a dancer and student of master instructor Frank Ohman, former soloist with the New York City Ballet. She received training in the Balanchine and Cecchetti traditions along with tap, jazz and modern dance training from local schools. Erin pursued her BA in Communications at Hofstra University with an emphasis in Dance, and continued her studies at St. John’s University Post Graduate School of Education. Erin became a certified yoga instructor and registered yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance through Into This World Teacher Training, under the guidance of Suzanne Cardinal. Erin is the Artistic Director and resident choreographer of the FAITH Dance Project, a professional/student collaboration that donates performance proceeds to various charities including the American Lung Association and Autism Speaks, through annual performances and educational programs.
Allison Klein, Tap Instructor received her MA in Dance/Movement Therapy from Drexel University. She is currently working as a dance/movement therapist at a psychiatric facility. Her greatest joy includes sharing dance with others by teaching and by using it as a therapeutic means of expression. Allison received her BA in Dance from Hofstra University where she performed the choreography of Anna Sokolow, Robin Becker, Lance Westergard, Amy Marshall, Maxine Steinmen, Rachel List, Stormy Brandenberger, Anita Feldman and Gloria McLean. After graduating from Hofstra, she went on to perform in various dance companies including: Notes in Motion, FAITH Dance Project, and Dance Visions. Allison began dancing at a very young age and has trained in modern, ballet, tap and jazz. She has won numerous awards as a competitive dancer and soloist.
Lauren Loschiavo, Ballet and Early Childhood Instructor started dancing at the early age of two. After studying all forms of dance and dancing competitively, Lauren decided to focus on her love of ballet. She began training at the Ohman School of Ballet with Frank Ohman and Diane Lichtenberger. She has danced in numerous performances with New York Dance Theater, including NYDT’s annual production of The Nutcracker. After high school, she began teaching beginner-level classes at the Ohman School of Ballet, as she continued her training. Lauren’s love for teaching and children compelled her to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary and Special Education with a concentration in Psychology from St. Joseph’s College, as well as a Master’s Degree in Literacy Education from Dowling College. After working as a preschool special education teacher for two years, Lauren is currently a Reading Specialist at Great Neck North High School. Lauren continues to appear as a member of the corps de ballet in The Nutcracker, and she also rehearses the children in the production.
Jamie Speigel, Recreational Dance Instructor, has been dancing since the age of two. She is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and modern. She began teaching as an assistant teacher when she was thirteen and as she continued her dance training she began teaching her own classes. Her love of dance inspired her dream to become a teacher. Currently, Jamie is studying at Adelphi University where she is working towards a degree with a double major in Psychology and Education and a minor in dance. She dances with The FAITH Dance Project, Integral's in-house performing ballet company with both the pre-professionals and professionals. Jamies goal, no matter her future career, is to continue teaching dance to children and inspire love and passion for the art.