Staff | Board of Directors | Partners & Funders

STAFF

 

Craig Gabrian

 

 

Executive Director

craig@youngdancersinrep.org

 

A founding Director of Young Dancers in Repertory.  Craig holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and a B.F.A. in Dance.  The combination of his two degrees, coupled with over 30 years of experience, has led him to develop comprehensive educational and artistic programs for YDR.

Craig has 10 years of experience working to develop professional training and integrity in dance into students programming for the NYC Department of Education, TASC, PASE and private schools.

 

June December

Deputy Director

ydr@youngdancersinrep.org

YDR Deputy Director, with YDR since October 2000, where she handles the day to day operations of the Young Dancers organization in addition to student enrollment and Human Resource functions.  June has sixteen years of experience in the corporate world as an Insurance Broker with a large New York firm. In conjunction with her corporate experience, June assisted in the running of the Brooklyn College Preparatory Center for the Performing Arts office which provided dance, music and theater classes for children of ages 3 to 18 years old. June holds a Bachelor Degree in Performing Arts specializing in Dance from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York.

Andrew Tan

Program Director

compass.sonyc@youngdancersinrep.org

SONYC program at JHS201 has been in operation since 2013.

 

 

Katherine Ponce

Program Director

Compass127

Katherine Ponce has been a Program Director for one year and eight months at PS 127 Mckinley School, and formerly worked as a group leader since 2012. Katherine graduated from CUNY York College in January 2015 with a degree in Psychology and a Health Education minor.

 
 
 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
Michael Spinner

 

 

Chairperson

President, Spinner Industries

Brooklyn, NY 11232

Michael Spinner has been a board member since 2007 and became Chairperson for Young Dancers in Repertory, Inc. in 2009. Mr. Spinner also serves on the Boards of The Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation and of the Society of Old Brooklynites.

Michael Spinner has been a board member since 2007 and became Chairperson for Young Dancers in Repertory, Inc. in 2009.  Mr. Spinner also serves on the Boards of The Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation and of the Society of Old Brooklynites.

 

Dr. Christina Matone

 

 

Secretary

Christina Matone was lucky enough to be trained as a dancer from a young age by Carol Mezzacappa and Craig Gabrian, and was one of the founding members of the Young Dancers in Repertory ensemble. She went on to get her doctorate in Classics, and is currently homeschooling two of her four children, teaching Latin, and running a religious education program in Brooklyn.

 

Aviva Laurenti

Treasurer

Project Manager

Sam Schwartz Engineering

Aviva is an alumnus of YDR, dancing with Carol and Craig in the repertory company from 1993 to 1999. She is currently the Deputy Director of the traffic engineering department at Sam Schwartz Engineering. Aviva is also an avid cyclist, getting around everywhere by bike. However, she continues to follow her passion for dancing and takes classes twice a week.

 

Craig Gabrian

 

 

Non Voting Board Member

Executive Director, Young Dancers in Repertory

Brooklyn, NY

 

PARTNERS & FUNDERS

Young Dancers in Repertory is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. We rely on the generous contributions of individuals like you to hire wonderful teachers, bring free dance classes to NYC public schools, and provide scholarships to deserving young dancers.

BECOME A YOUNG DANCERS SUPPORTER TODAY!

Young Dancers in Repertory gratefully acknowledges the support of our programs through:

 

New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, National Guild for Community Arts Education, New York City Department of Youth and Community Development, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and the New York City Council.