INSTRUCTORS

MARLA HIROKAWA Ballet, Modern Miss Marla, who is also artistic director and choreographer for Covenant Ballet Theatre of Brooklyn (CBTB), received her BA in dance (Cum Laude) at the University of California, Irvine. She trained and performed professionally in Hawaii, California and New York. She has taught at Broadway Dance Center, the Brooklyn Academy for the Performing Arts, and she is the modern dance instructor at Kingsborough Community College. She was a Teaching Artist for the New York City Ballet Education Department and she currently creates and manages all CBTB’s educational programs.	MARI MORI Ballet, Pointe Ms. Mari is originally from Kyoto, Japan where she began her ballet training and studied under Hideo Fukagawa. She also studied in France under Madam Nora Kiss and in 1982 came to NY and trained under Finis Jhung. She has performed professionally in California, New York and Japan. Most recently, she is a guest artist with the San Pedro City Ballet in Los Angeles and the City Of Angeles Ballet. She danced for the Dig Pointe Ballet Company in Brooklyn 1986 in for Covenant Dane Theatre in 1991. She currently lives in California with her husband Keizo and son Toma and works at the Colburn School of Performing Arts.
BRENDA R. NEVILLE Ballet, Pointe, Flamenco, Character Ms Brenda received her BA (Cum Laude) in Dance Pedagogy at Butler University in Indiana. She trained at Milwaukee Ballet School, the Ailey School, American Ballet Theatre School, and others. She has spent the last 15 years performing, choreographing and teaching ballet and ethnic dance in over 18 different countries with various companies. She is a principal dancer with CBTB and also Founder/Director of Neville Dance Theatre.	REBECCAH HOPE BRANN Modern, Conditioning/Stretch Ms Rebeccah trained at Covenant Dance Studio, is a principal dancer with CBTB and is an Alvin Ailey Certificate of Dance graduate. She is the founder and artistic director of Hope Dance NYC, a dance company that offers summer workshops and performances in Oregon. She is a certified personal trainer and aerobics instructor, and teaches at other exercise and dance studios in Brooklyn.
MATTHEW WESTERBY Tap, Theater Jazz, Modern, Composition Mr. Matthew trained at the Laban Centre, London. He has taught in a variety of professional and community settings, and to all ages and abilities. His teaching credits include Laban, Random Dance Company, Smallpetitklein, the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance, Stagecoach Theatre Arts (all UK), for Silesian Dance Theatre (Poland), and since moving to New York, for Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company and for CBTB's Dance Academy and arts-in-education programs.	LILLIAN CONCEPCION Hip Hop Miss Lillian began dancing at Covenant Dance Studio. She was showcased on MTV, has choreographed for an R & B girl group named Dynasty, choreographed and danced at the Nike Rockstar Dance Hall, Latin America and New York City Hip Hop to name a few. She is the founder and artistic director of Rockstarz Hip Hop Company.
LAURA ASSANTE Ballet, Pointe Miss Laura trained at Covenant Dance Studio and is currently a BFA ballet major at Marymount College. She attended the American Ballet Theatre summer program and the Joffrey Ballet School. She has performed and taught for the Hope NYC dance company workshops in Oregon, performed with Neville Dance Theatre and is a soloist with CBTB.