About Us

Ballet Syllabus
Although ballet has become more International through the years and many
instructors come from different ballet backgrounds, the main training structure of
our ballet program follows the syllabus of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD).

Tap From classic tap to the cutting edge rhythms of todays hoofer's, our
tap courses will focus on percussion, improvisation, clarity, terminology,
and tap history.

Jazz Dance courses will be a study of all the styles from the great classical jazz
masters, Cole, Mattox, Luigi, Forella, Fosse, and more!

Ballroom Dance classes, will focus on the Latin style and rhythms.
Direct from Guatemala, Edwin will be teaching the Salsa, Meringue,
Samba, Rumba, Cha Cha, and the newest and hottest dance craze ...
The Bachata.

Modern dance classes are based on classical and contemporary techniques.

BELLY DANCING !!!
Discover and enjoy the woman's
dance that emphasizes your
connection to yourself and the
Earth. While listening to
hypnotic dance rhythms, you
will have fun exploring and
creating through your body the
natural patterns and rhythms of
the earth: Circles, Figure 8's,
Spirals, Pulses, Waves and
Shimmy's.

FENCING !!!
Students who plan to train
in the competitive level of
fencing will need to become
members of the USFA
(United States Fencing
Association). All pertaining
paper work will handed out
at registration. Or visit
www.usfencing.org

HIP - HOP FUNK !!!
NEW YORK STYLE
The latest influences in
the hip hop and Latin
dance scene come
together in Edwin's fun
and energetic classes.
You will be dancing to
your favorite hip-hop,
pop, and R & B radio hits.
If you want to feel
electrified, don't miss this
chance to dance with
Edwin!

YOGA !!!
Kripalu is creating itself
anew. New leadership is
focused on bringing you,
our guests and customers,
the world’s best yoga
curriculum in an
environment that
nurtures, inspires and
uplifts. Come and
discover the new Kripalu!

Director - Michele Ribble
Award winning choreographer, Master instructor, producer, dancer, and coach has spent a lifetime working in classical ballet,
tap dance, musical theater, and jazz. She has choreographed for both stage and screen including: assistant choreographer
for the film "Beetlejuice", several Off Broadway shows, and has choreographed numerous “gag” acts for the Garden
Brothers, Right Bros. and Bentley Bros. Circuses. Other credits include work for Jacob's Pillow, HBO, Miramax, Circuit
Productions, Hanna-Barbera and MTV. As lead dancer and choreographer for the Tommy Sands Revue she has played every
town from NY to WA and has had the privilege of sharing the stage with: with Count Basie, James Brown, Charo, Sammy
Davis, Jr., Savion Glover, Gregory Hines, Jack Jones, Shirley Maclaine, Juliet Prowse, Red Skelton, Ben Vereen, Dianne Walker,
to mention a few.an amazing roster of talented individuals. Michele has danced as a member of the NYC Company, Ronn
Forella and the Second Century Dancers, is a featured soloist at Tap City, the New York City Tap Festival and is known as
dance partner to Charles Goddertz and Harold Cromer. Exciting adventures found her performing in the star-studded
performance of "From the Horses Mouth" with Brenda Bufalino, Tina Croll, Jamie Cunningham, Edwin Fion, Martine Van
Hamel, Peter Naumann, and teaching as Master Instructor to the CSA (Community School of the Arts) students, in Marion
Indiana where she taught the Bill Bojangles Robinson Stair Dance. Michele is a faculty member of the American Tap Dance
Foundation, an instructor at Steps on Broadway, Director of Youth Programs for Tap City, the NYC Tap Festival, a columnist
for the International Tap Association Newsletter, director of the Metro-Gnomes Youth Tap Ensemble, and founder of the
Roya Curie Dance Scholarship Foundation. Most recent performances were: Tap All Stars at the Joyce Theater, and at
Battery Park NYC, for the Joyce Theater’s River to River Festival, and at the Duke on 42nd Street Theater on Broadway, NYC.
Michele was on the summer staff at Kaatsbaan International Dance Center as an instructor and choreographer for the
Extreme Ballet Pre-professional Intensive Summer Program, a Master Instructor for Omega Institute’s summer intensives, is
an adjudicator and adjunct professor of dance at S.U.N.Y. New Paltz College, currently adjudicator for “Starbound” and
“Olympia Miss Dance” Competitions, and Master Instructor for NADAA (National Association of Dancers and Affiliated Arts)
Member of: AFTRA, Kaatsbaan International Dance Center, Dance Theater Workshop, International Tap Association,
American Ballet Theater, Ulster Performing Arts Center, American Tap Dance Foundation, Dutchess and Ulster Co. Arts
Alliances, and the National Association of Dancers and Affiliated Arts. Michele has a ten year affiliation with the American
Academy of Ballet, an eighteen year affiliation with the American Tap Dance Foundation, , a life long affiliation with members
of the Royal Academy of Ballet , and is the Founder of the Roya Curie Dance Scholarship Foundation, which has funded over
$15,000 to dancers in need since 1998.

Teacher BIOS

Erin Daniels - Miss Erin Daniels - began her love for ballet, tap and jazz dance at the early age of five. In competition dance, and for the following
7 years, she quickly moved on to being an award winning dancer and was named for high honors, and trophies too numerous to mention. Upon
entering High School, Erin found a welcome challenge in the Color Guard. As Captain of the guard, she began choreographing in preparation for
her career, and eventually touring to Arizona, Ohio and Canada, along with other U.S. cities, spinning rifles, sabers, and flags while continuing
her love for dancing and performing alongside the exciting live music of the marching band. While attending college she assisted with the
Mahopac High School Color Guard, and then quickly moved on to becoming their Director, and soon after became the Director for the famed
Arlington High School Color Guard. She has toured with the Annie Galle Ballet Troupe, traveling to Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland for
performances, and performed at the Ulster Performing Arts Centre. Miss Erin is a sixth grade teacher at Haviland Middle School in Hyde Park.
This will be Erin’s second year with the RDC family and she is looking forward to another amazing year.

Brenda Hicks (a.k.a. at RDC as Brenda the GREAT!) Certified Kripalu Yoga Instructor has been teaching Yoga classes in the Dutchess and
Ulster County areas since 1993. She has educated her students in the art of Kripalu Yoga at: Marist College, the Nubin Directions Health Center,
the Linden Tree Center, Casperkill Country Club, Sunrise Jo Path in Fishkill, and the YWCA and YMCA in Pok. Brenda keeps on top of the Yoga
scene with her on-going and continual education in the field. She has completed the Certified Facilitated Stretching Program which assists in
the Teachers Certification Training at the Kripalu Yoga Center, in Lenox, Mass. She is currently the instructor for Yoga lessons at both All Sport
Centers in Poughkeepsie and Ulster County, and has been rated Dutchess Counties most favorite Yoga instructor by three of the area’s most
well established and prestigious dancing schools. She is warm, caring, positive, and takes the time to work with each student on an individual
basis. With Brenda’s excellent reputation and immense popularity, the Rhinebeck Dance Centre is thrilled to have her join our staff. We
guarantee that you will walk away from your lesson feeling just wonderful.

Ariella Jaffe - Has been studying under the direction of Michele Ribble for 15 years, has completed her RDC STIT Programming (Student
Teacher In Training) and is now in her 7th year as an instructor with the RDC staff. Her credits include studies with many tap masters such as:
Tony Waag, Brenda Bufalino and Margaret Morrison of the American Tap Dance Foundation, and several workshops under the direction of such
great hoofers as Harold “Stumpy” Cromer, Avi Miller and Ofer Ben the Israeli Hoofers, Rhythm Kaneko of Japan, Savion Glover, Ayodele Casel,
and Jason Samuals Smith. . As an assistant to Michele Ribble she has worked at the Vanaver Caravan Dance Camp, Tap City, the New York
City Tap Festival, and the ATDF Winter Tap Intensives, and has choreographed several tap routines for the RDC annual performance. Her
students recently won a Gold Medal at competition with her choreography. Ariella has also trained with the fab David Rider, and was also happy
to teach alongside him, so she could easily steal some of his good steps. Ariella is thrilled to be returning to the RDC staff 2008, and can’t wait
to share some great new tap steps with you.

Todd Li - began his tap dance training with RDC since the early 50's .... more precisely, HIS early 50's. He has studied and trained under the
direction of Michele Ribble, and in Master classes with David Rider and Brenda Bufalino. He plays the saxophone, and has performed at area
venues with the Big Blue Big Band, the Lions Club Band, and Switch-in-Time, just to mention a few. His objective for his students will be to i)
provide fundamentals and techniques that will build towards some popular steps, ii) provide the confidence for them to devise their own steps
and practice routines, and iii) have fun.
Todd is honored to have this opportunity to share his love of tapping with others.

Krista Nichols - Text TK

Gale Ann Murphy (a.k.a. Miss Gale) was originally trained by Roya Curie and has been a member of the RCDC, and RDC family since she was
12 years old when she took her first dance class at the Roya Curie Dance Centre in Poughkeepsie. She has taught for the Roya Curie Dance
Centre, the Community Dance Center, Blanches Off Broadway, the Ulster Community College, Ulster BOCES, and has been assisting Michele
Ribble for most of her dancing life. She has performed at hundreds of dance concerts too numerous to mention, and was a principle dancer with
the Poughkeepsie Civic Ballet Company. Gale has performed On Broadway at the Duke on 42nd St. Theater with the Rhinebeck Taps Dance
Company in a star studded opening number in Tap All Stars, at Tap City, the New York City Tap Festival 2001. Gale is proud to have brought
dance into the workplace by holding classes and performing at employee functions and working with people who were never introduced to the
art of dance as a child but always wanted to learn. Miss Gale believes that “with the drive......you can achieve anything.”

Guest Artists

Edwin Fion Professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer is currently working as an exclusive talent for one of the Top NYC Talent Agencies,
the Clear Talent Group. Edwin's professional theater career spans from having the leading roles in plays such as: West Side Story, Grease,
Godspell, Jesus Christ Super Star, and other shows to include: the Tina Croll and Jamie Cunningham’s show “From the Horses Mouth” where
he also shared the stage with Martine Van Hammel, Michele Ribble, Brenda Bufalino, and famed Hip-Hop duo Kwik and Rokafella. His awards
as dancer and choreographer include: the prestigious Silver Medal Award at the World Championship of Performing Arts for dance E.E.U.U.,
and Coach of the Year Award for La Copa de las Americas, Mexico. His performing and dance training background in Theater and Dance Arts
are: Jazz &Tap dance, Hip-Hop, Clogging, Modern, Ballet, World Dance, Latin, Swing, Musical Theater, and his own style of “BPT” (Body
Percussion & Tap). Edwin is currently working with the Dance Company CWDT (Calvin Wiley Dance Theatre ) based in NYC. His most recent
credits Include: an appearance on the popular ABC network Soap Opera “One Life to Live”, guest choreographer for an Off-Broadway Production
of Arabia Nights directed by Amira More, and performing with CWDT at the Alvin Ailey Theater in the production “Tapas”.

Serpentessa (Gretchen Brown) has been teaching and performing Temple Belly Dance for several years. She has a background in theatre
including jazz, African, contact improv and modern. Her Middle Eastern dance education includes study under Serena, the late Ibrahim Farrah
and others, and she is currently studying and performing with Jehan Kamal. In 1993 she co-founded the Freestyle Frolic, a thriving cooperatively
volunteer run social dance that is a member of Dance New England, and she is a graduate of Priestess Path Apprenticeship under ALisa
Starkweather, a visionary healer and ceremonialist. Most recent collaboration in theatre can be seen in Jehan’s GODDESSDANCE which
features Gretchen dancing as a Snake Priestess (a Serpentess) in the temple. This Off-Broadway show has been quoted as a "Middle Eastern
Riverdance" by the Village Voice. For more information, references and testimonials please visit her web site at: www.TempleBellyDance.com.

Tara Somerville Returns to RDC Text TK

Eric Soyka Returns to RDC this fall. Eric is the director and owner of the Phoenix Center in Poughkeepsie NY, and has been involved with the
sport of fencing since the age of ten. In addition to managing The Phoenix Center, he currently works as an Assistant Coach for the Vassar
College Men's and Women's Fencing teams. His students compete at the divisional, sectional, and national levels. Eric has also competed at
the divisional, sectional, and national levels and has two students currently on the National Points List. He has completed Level 1 Foil at
Coaches College and is SST certified for both children and adults. He is a nationally rated referee earning his level 6 referee in Foil and Epee,
and a level 9 in Saber, and is working towards certification as a Moniteur d'Escrime.
Eric is excited to meet and share her skills with her new RDC students.

Joel Hanna began his training in Irish Dance at the age of 11 in Vancouver B.C. under renowned teacher Tony Comerford. He has toured as a
dancer and lead soloist with such amazing productions as: Riverdance, Dancing on Dangerous Ground, and Fire of Dance playing the West
End of London to Radio City Music Hall in NY. Quote: “Joel Hanna is one of the most talented performers I’ve ever worked with” - Colin Dunne.
Joel currently teaches Irish Dance, Tap, and Flamenco and has been teaching both experienced and inexperienced tap dancers his style of
percussive dance since the age of 16, and most recently teaching at various tap festival along side such notables as Van Porter, Dianne Walker,
Jimmy Slyde, Robert Reed and Jeni LeGon. Joel also has extensive skill and experience in the Martial art of Kung Fu. In addition to numerous
regional championship titles, Joel has competitively achieved success all over the world winning various titles including: 1st place Australian
National Championship, 1st place North American Senior Belt ranking 4th in the world and has won several overseas and world
championships. Special skills are: Spanish Guitar and percussion.

Kendrick Jones II began his dancing career at the age of five out of Flint, MI. There, he began his training with tap dance artists Alde Lewis, Jr.,
and Alfred Bruce Bradley of Creative Expressions. In his years of study he has shared the stage with some of the finest of tap dancers including
Fayard Nicholas, Dianne Walker, Van Porter, Gregory Hines, and many more. Kendrick has performed at the Chicago Human Rhythm Tap
Project, the St. Louis Tap Festival -as a scholarship student, and Showtime at the Apollo where he won and was named “King of The Hill” as the
“Apollo Kids Grand Champion” for its 1999-00 season. He also danced alongside the great Gregory Hines at the Whiting Auditorium, Flint,
during Hines’s National Tour in 2000, and later appeared in Ebony Magazine with him. Since 2001, he has performed at Tap City, in New York
City and on tour, danced at the National Black Sports & Entertainment Hall of Fame Awards ceremony live on NBC, he also work-shopped in
Lisbon, Portugal where he also danced before the Ambassador to the country. He recently appeared in the revival production of Bubblin’ Brown
Sugar starring Diahann Carroll, and just finished performing nightly, in a week long run at the Joyce Theater in Manhattan for Tap City 2005.
Photo credits: Tony Waag, Lois Greenfield and Debi Field.

Claudia Rahardjanoto was born and raised in Germany, where she received extensive training in Tap, Ballet, Jazz & Hip Hop. She has had the
pleasure to dance with Dianne Walker, Andrew J. Nemr, Michelle Dorrance, Roxane Butterfly, Jared Grimes, Susan Hebach and many others.
Claudia was a dancer in many Tap dance shows in Europe (Germany, Austria, Sweden, Belgium,) and was on tour with "Magic of the Dance",
"Dancing Feet" and "Dancing On Common Ground". Claudia was most recently seen dancing alongside the fabulous Miss Mable Lee In "Tap &
Song" at the Duke on 42nd Street Theater during Tap City, the New York City Tap Festival.
Now based in New York City since 2003, Claudia is excited to be teaching at Rhinebeck Dance Centre.

Artistic Director
MICHELE RIBBLE