Directors
Artistic Director, Samuel Pott
Samuel Pott founded Nimbus in 2005 drawing on a deeply held personal belief in the value that the arts can play in bringing together people and communities. Under his direction the organization has grown each year adding performances, new repertory and new community initiatives and projects. Known for creating structured and musical dances that evoke deep-rooted emotional connection, Mr. Pott’s choreography has been shown in New York City, throughout New Jersey, and across the country at venues including the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM Fisher), New Jersey Performing Arts Center, and the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. His collaborations have included work with many esteemed contemporary artists working in new music, including composers Daniel Bernard Roumain, Samson Young, Judd Greenstein, Aaron Parks, and Qasim Naqvi; visual artists Nicola Lopez and Trudy Miller; and video artists Isabelle Duverger and Laia Cabrera.
A highly sought after master teacher, Mr. Pott has taught dance at the elementary, high school, college, and professional levels and has served on the faculty of Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. He was named to the New Jersey State Council on the Arts’ Arts in Education roster of artists. In 2012, he founded the School of Nimbus, grounded in the belief that dance can serve as a meeting point for diverse communities for growth towards common values and goals. The School makes high-quality dance training available to youth throughout Jersey City regardless of financial background. Mr. Pott founded and directs NimbusPRESENTS, a Jersey City performance series featuring local and national performers. Mr. Pott has received Choreography Fellowships from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts in 2008 and 2017 and was named a Distinguished Teaching Artist by the Council in 2012. Mr. Pott was one of 25 arts leaders nationally selected for the Association of Performing Arts Presenters’ (APAP) inaugural Leadership Fellows Program. He serves on the Dance Advisory Council for New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for ArtPride NJ and is a co-founder of the Jersey City Arts Council.
(He/Him)
Victoria Santaguida
Interim Lead, Curriculum & Instruction; Junior Youth Ensemble Director; Ballet IIIA
Victoria Santaguida, from Toronto, Canada, began choreographing at the age of 15. She received her first commissioned work in 2010 for Cawthra Park Secondary School’s Repertoire Company. Since 2010, Ms. Santaguida has assisted choreographers Davis Robertson, Roger C. Jeffrey, Gabrielle Lamb, Mindy Conto, and Dani Matte across Canada and the United States. Victoria currently is choreographing and teaching at The Dance Class in Ontario, Canada as well as teaching at Steps Ahead Dance Studio in Queens. Ms. Santaguida was awarded Teaching Artist of the Year for The School of Nimbus in the Spring of 2018. Ms. Santaguida is currently serving her fifth year as The School of Nimbus’ Junior Youth Ensemble Director, along with teaching numerous ballet and creative movement classes throughout Jersey City.
Ana Robelo
School Administrator
Ana (She/They) joined the School of Nimbus in the Fall of 2023 as the School Administrator, bridging her experience in community engagement and the arts. She received her dance and fine arts training in Southern California at the Maple Conservatory of Dance and the Orange County School of the Arts in the Classical & Contemporary Dance and the Visual Arts program. She went on to graduate with a degree in Latin American Studies at Oberlin College and pursued her passion for community organizing on immigrant rights issues. Originally from Nicaragua, she is a long-time Spanish/English community interpreter and works with a variety of grassroots and non-profit organizations, unions, and foundations, with work spanning from labor rights to housing, LGBTQ+ issues, and abolition work.
Faculty
Alyssa Acciavatti
Ballet/Tap | Acro | Jazz | Hip Hop
Alyssa Acciavatti (She/Her) is a NJ/ NYC based dancer from Jersey City, NJ. Originally a competitive gymnast, she began training in dance to help with alignment and technique, and fell in love with the art form. She has trained in Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Jazz, Acro, and Hip-Hop. After graduating from County Prep High School as a dance major, she continued her studies at Peridance Center in New York where she trained under many incredible artists and educators, such as Igal Perry and Nikki Holck. In June, 2022, she graduated from the Certificate Program at Peridance in the Ballet/Contemporary Track. Alyssa has performed on stages in New York and New Jersey such as KnJ Theater, Memorial Auditorium, Centenary Stage, and St. Mark’s Church. She has done collaborations with Danspace Project and Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers. Alyssa performed with Nimbus2. She is also a member of the National Arts Society for Dance Arts. Alyssa has been teaching artist at The School of Nimbus for 3 years.
Sarah Barragán
Ballet | Pointe | Yoga
Sarah Barragán was born in Ohio where she started her dance training with the Dayton Ballet School, and received the Josephine and Hermene Schwarz Award as a member of DBII. She later continued her studies at the School of American Ballet, the official school of the New York City Ballet. Sarah has performed with the Dayton Ballet, Dayton Opera, Chautauqua Festival Ballet and Colorado Ballet. Sarah holds a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of California, Irvine and a B.S. in Ballet Performance from Indiana University. She has 20 years of teaching experience with students going on to dance in major companies internationally as well as in broadway productions. Sarah is thrilled to continue teaching at the School of Nimbus because she believes that movement sciences play a significant role in development by empowering learners of all ages, and high-quality interdisciplinary education should be accessible to all learners. Sarah is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 7 and Partnering of the ABT® National Training Curriculum, and received Affiliate Teacher awards from 2010-2020. Sarah has completed 500 hours of yoga training and is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique.
LeighAnn Curd
Pre-Professional & Nimbus Youth Ensemble Director | Acro | Contemporary | NimbusDance
LeighAnn Curd, (she/her) is from Orange County, New York, began teaching and choreographing at the age of 16, working with young children in ballet, tap, and jazz at The Marya Kennett Dance Center. Ms. Curd went on to the Boston Conservatory to take classes in pedagogy and choreography, further expanding her teaching and creative abilities. Since joining Nimbus Dance in 2017, Ms. Curd has taught classes at every single level, from Mama, Papa and Me to Adult, at the School of Nimbus. She has also had the opportunity to teach and set work in many schools throughout Jersey City through Nimbus’ outreach programs. This is LeighAnn’s 8th year as a Teaching Artist with Nimbus and currently teaches Acro, Contemporary, Nimbus Dance, Nimbus Repertory, and Improvisation and is the Director of the Nimbus Youth Ensemble and Pre-Professional Program. Ms. Curd also serves as Company Dancer and Rehearsal Director of Nimbus Dance.
Porshia Derival
Hip Hop
Porshia A. Derival (she/her/hers) is a first-generation Caribbean American who was born in New York City. (Brooklyn). She started her training at H+ | The Hip-Hop Dance Conservatory in 2011, where she trained in the foundations of Hip-Hop dance (Party/ Social Dance, Popping, Boogaloo, Locking, Rocking, and Breaking), and studied cultural & social anthropology, critical thinking, biomechanics, and more. In addition to her extensive training at H+, she has also learned and trained with Hip-Hop leaders and legends Excel Garner, Robin Dunn, Kim Holmes, Lisette Bustamante & Chonique Sneed, Akira Armstrong, Mr. Wiggles, Spex, A-lexx Benard, Tweetie, Elite Force Crew, and more.
Just two years into her training, Porshia was appointed to the esteemed position of Executive Director at H+. Since being hired, she has attentively overseen the organization's creative affiliations with corporations which include Coca-Cola, Target, Scotch Porter, and many others. In conjunction with her legendary contributions to H+, she also represents H+ at the UN Economic and Social Council, sits on the selection committee for the New York Dance and Performance Awards/The Bessies and was the honorary host for the 2022 Bessies Reception, is a member of the Board of Trustees for Ladies of Hip-Hop, and is the NYC ambassador for the #SHE_BUILDS Global Initiative.
Porshia has shared her expansive knowledge of dance and leadership in numerous publications like, The Dance Enthusiast, and “Own Your Vulnerability” by Elizabeth Barry in 2016. Her goal as a Haitian-Trinidadian woman is to guarantee Black women throughout the Hip-Hop dance discipline a place where they can be authentically themselves. To act, live, and love unencumbered by restraint, fear, or criticism from others.
Catherine Escueta
Ballet | Pilates
Catherine is a dance artist and teacher from New Jersey. She trained at the Academy of Dance Arts under Nick & Shayne Mishoe before furthering her studies at SUNY Purchase College, graduating summa cum laude with degrees in Dance Performance and Arts Management. She has worked with choreographers such as Rosalind Newman, Lamine Thiam, Peter Leung, Sung Hoon Kim, Autumn Eckman, and Jenelle Figgins. Catherine has taught and choreographed for studios and high schools in central Jersey, as well as numerous Nimbus community outreach programs in Jersey City. She has also explored dance as a form of outreach with JUNTOS Collective and researched it as a tool to rebuild with Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA). She has completed 600 hours of training and is a certified classical Pilates instructor through RealPilates.
Rose Fair
Modern
Rose Fair began training at the Joel Hall Dancers & Center then later joined the Chicago Urban Jazz-based company, the Joel Hall Dancers. Other dance studies include Luigi Jazz Dance Centre, Academy of Music & Movement, Katherine Dunham Technique Seminar, and Deeply Rooted Community Ensemble program. She recently graduated from the Two-Year Certificate and Teacher Training Programs at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. Rose has also performed with Duwane Pendarvis & Company Dance Theatre (Horton-based), Tamboula Ethnic Dance Company (Haitian Folklore), Khalidah Kali’s North African Bellydance Experience, and various freelance projects. She has taught dance in programs and schools across Chicago and NYC. Rose is ecstatic to share her passion for dance with youth and strives to inspire her students to explore their potentials.
Mika Greene
Ballet/Tap | Nimbus Dance
Mika Greene (she/they) is originally from Portland, OR. Growing up she trained in ballet, jazz, tap, and acro. She attended Marymount Manhattan College where she received her BFA in Dance with a concentration in Modern. Over the years at School of Nimbus, Mika has taught Ballet I, Modern II-III, Tap I-V, and Acro II/V. Mika is the director of the JC SummerArts, the School of Nimbus’ Performing Arts Summer Camp, is Nimbus’ Community Programs Manager, and is the Associate Director of Nimbus2.
Violet Hartman
Ma, Pa & Me
Violet Hartman is a graduate of the DeSales University where she earned her B.A. in dance. Upon graduation Violet has taught and performed various styles of dance including ballet, modern, ballroom and contemporary dance, as well as creative movement for children and beginner tap. Violet is a current scholarship student at the Taylor School, where she attends morning classes and studies the Taylor style and repertory. Violet has performed as a guest artist with Alison Cook Beatty Dance and continues to perform freelance with other Artists in the greater NYC area. Violet is thrilled to be returning to the Nimbus Teaching Staff!
Shayla Hutton
Ballet & Pre-Pointe | Modern | Jazz
Shayla Hutton is a dancer and teacher from British Columbia, Canada. Ms. Hutton became an Assistant Teacher to multiple classes at the young age of 16 at the Canadian School of Ballet. In 2012, Ms. Hutton moved to New York City to further her training at the Joffrey Ballet School. Shortly after, she joined the Joffrey Ballet Concert Group and began to assist Artistic Director, Davis Robertson with multiple classes and choreographic processes throughout North America. In 2017, Ms. Hutton began teaching at the School of Nimbus, La Prima Dance Academy (Long Island, NY), as well as multiple outreach programs that Nimbus Dance offers throughout New Jersey. Over the years at the School of Nimbus, Ms. Hutton has taught Ballet levels I-V, Tap levels II-IV and Mama, Papa & Me. She also has taught creative movement, Zumba and hip hop classes for various outreach programs throughout New Jersey. Ms. Hutton is excited to be back teaching at the School of Nimbus this year.
Youran Lee
Hip Hop
Youran Lee is a Korean-American dancer, choreographer, and educator that specializes in Hip Hop/Street Styles-based choreography. Her training started at 9 years old in various genres, including Jazz, Ballet, Tap, and Contemporary. Her professional journey, however, started in 2019, when she was a student with Broadway Dance Center’s Professional Semester program. Since then, Youran has danced on stage with K-pop boy band BTS, choreographed for Nickelodeon show “Show Me How You Batman”, danced for a Virgin Voyages cruise ship, performed at the Lincoln Center, worked as an associate choreographer for a music video for Broadway’s The Wiz, and more. She is currently represented by CESD Talent Agency.
Youran is a faculty member at several professional studios in NYC, including Broadway Dance Center, Peridance, PMT House of Dance, Modega, and PJM Studio. She is excited to be back teaching at Nimbus after 2 years away and hopes to spread her love for dance & choreography to the students!
Audrey Lipson
Ballet / Tap
Audrey Lipson, from New Jersey, began her training at The Ballet Barre under Suzanne Sarlitt. When she was 13, she began training at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of American Ballet Theatre with Franco De Vita, where she performed ABT repertoire and works by Alexei Ratmanksy. A graduate of the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program, where she studied ballet, Horton, Graham, West African, jazz, and contemporary techniques, Audrey had the opportunity to dance works by Pedro Ruiz, Natalie Lamonte, Brice Mousset, Joanna Kotze, and Phil Orsano. Her performances and projects have included a short dance film by Wilma Casal with Wolf and Swan Company, shows with Doubletake Dance Company from Spring '22 - Summer '23, and a work by Jainil Mehta in Roxey Ballet's 2023 River Dance Festival. She was Brice Mousset's rehearsal assistant for the 2023 Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive, and currently assists his classes at Peridance and the Ailey School. Audrey is a Company Member with Nimbus2. This is her 2nd year at the School of Nimbus and is the 2024 recipient of the School of Nimbus Teacher of the Year Award.
Madison Meredith
Tap
Madison Meredith is a dance educator, performing artist, choreographer, and Registered Yoga School (RYS) 200 certified yoga teacher in the greater New Jersey area. Madison received a Master of Education in Dance Education with a K-12 Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS) at Rutgers Graduate School of Education. She also received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University with minors in Psychology and Education as a Social Science. Madison's full-time student teaching was completed at Union City High School under the mentorship of Emma Russo and Cristen Pennello. She has trained extensively in tap, modern/contemporary, hip hop, jazz, ballet, and musical theater. Madison has performed works by Tony award winner John Heginbotham, Emmy nominated choreographer Chloe Arnold, and other acclaimed artists such as Opus One Contemporary Dance, Chuck Wilt of UNA Productions, Lynn Neuman of Artichoke Dance Company, Caitlin Casson, John Evans, Reggie Oliver, Robin Passmore, and Marissa Stahl. She has performed at the 92Y Future Dance Festival 2023, White Wave Dance Festival, Mark Morris Dance Center, the Hudson Guild, CHI Movement Arts Center of Kun-Yang Lin Dance in Philadelphia, PA, New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, and University of the District of Columbia in the 2017 DC Tap Festival Showcase. Madison’s professional choreographic works have been presented at Triskelion Arts in Brooklyn, NY, the Adrienne Theater in Philadelphia, PA, and the Koresh Artist Showcase in Philadelphia, PA. She has also set choreographic works for MOVE Central Jersey, Gloucester County Institute of Technology dance department, Union City High School dance department, Swedesboro-Woolwich Little Theater. In addition to teaching at the School of Nimbus and for Nimbus's Community Programs, Madison in on staff at Mark Morris Dance Center, Be You Dance Center, Washington Rock Dance, All For Dance, and has teaching partnerships with Gloucester County Institute of Technology, Fresh Theater Arts, and BOLD Arts.
Caleb Mansor
Ballet
Caleb Mansor grew up in Hatboro PA first training in ballet, modern, and contemporary at Metropolitan Ballet Academy in Jenkintown PA before attending the School of Dance at George Mason University where he got a BFA in dance with a minor in Early Childhood Education. In addition to dance performance, Caleb was able to study pedagogy, explore choreography, and begin teaching young students ballet and modern. He is excited to be joining The School of Nimbus in his first year as a teaching artist for the early levels of ballet as well as teaching creative movement classes at schools in Jersey City through the outreach programs of Nimbus.
Saphire Oshun
Acting | Jersey City Nutcracker Youth Liason
Saphire Oshun grew up in Bayonne, New Jersey, and began performing on stage at just 5 years old. Musical Theatre quickly became her passion, and in addition to singing, acting, and dancing, Saphire has released original songs on Apple Music and Spotify. Her play Club Chakra was featured in a staged reading at the Jersey City Theater Center. She has also written several plays for JC Summer Arts and was part of the NJ Play Lab’s Storyteller Studio Cohort (2023-2024). Saphire studied Musical Theatre at High Tech High School in NJ and earned her BFA in Musical Theatre at the University of Miami.
She started teaching Drama at 17 while working at Camp Liberty in Jersey City and now teaches theatre in Brooklyn through Treehouse Shakers’ Branching OUT program. Sharing her experiences and knowledge in theatre is heart-fulfilling work, and she is thrilled to be teaching Acting at Nimbus for both the fall and spring semesters this year.
Marie Zvosec
Modern
Marie Zvosec is a graduate of The Juilliard School under the direction of Benjamin Harkarvy and Lawrence Rhodes (B.F.A.), the Dancers’ Studio at Oberlin, the North Carolina School of the Arts, and, most recently, Sarah Lawrence College under the direction of John Jasperse (M.F.A.). She has been seen performing with Buglisi Dance Theatre, TAKE, Dance, Bennyroyce Dance, Hilary Easton + Company, Douglas Dunn and Dancers, Juri Onuki, Doug Elkins + Friends, Mary Seidman and Dancers, Regina Nejman and Company, Shannon Gillan and Elisabeth Motley’s DOORKNOB Company, Elizabeth Keen, and with the Metropolitan Opera in productions by Zhang Yimou and Mark Morris.
Ms. Zvosec was a Fellow at BAM’s Professional Development Program and was a full scholarship awardee for the Teaching Artist Training at the National Dance Institute.While on faculty, she served as Chair of the Dance Department at Brooklyn Music School. She served as Chair of the Department of Dance at Randolph College while also coordinating the 2022 American College Dance Association’s Mid-Atlantic South Conference. Most recently, she was Director of the Helen McGehee Visiting Artist in Dance Program. Ms. Zvosec is on the faculty of the Dance Department at Adelphi University.