Guest Teachers

Julie Berardi

Julie Berardi is the Owner and Artistic Director of Synergy Dance, as well as the Head Coach of the Penn State Lionettes Dance Team. Julie assisted with national's choreography for the Lionettes from 2011-2015 until August of 2015 when she was hired as the first ever coach for the program. Julie started dancing at a young age and received a highly technical and ballet-centered training at Oxford Center for Dance (PA) under the direction of Dina Gazzero and at Mid-Atlantic Ballet Company (DE) under the direction of Sara Taylor Neal. Julie is also trained in jazz, contemporary, lyrical, modern, tap, pom, kick and hip-hop. In 2001, along with the Blue Lake International Ballet Ensemble, Julie toured Europe starring in an original piece by Jefferson Baum and was chosen to perform the pas de duex from Don Quixote. Since graduating from Penn State where she earned a B.A. in Public Relations/Advertising, Julie was able to turn her passion for dance into a career in choreography and coaching for dance teams and studios across the country. She has choreographed for over 50 dance teams and studios over the past 10 years and earned multiple titles, top 5 finishes and choreography awards. Julie is the Owner/Artistic Director at Synergy Dance, a choreography company that specializes in competition choreography for high school, college teams and studios. It gives Julie great joy to work with dancers, helping them to reach their full potential and experience success! ​

Christie Delaney

​Christie Delaney is a performer, choreographer, director, and instructor originally from Orchard Park, NY. She started dancing at the age of 2 at Mary Alice’s Dance Studio. She then contin- ued her training at the University at Buffalo where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance. At UB, Christie was a member of Zodiaque Dance Company, Tap Teaching Assistant, Director of Dancer’s Workshop, recipient of the Amanda Occhino scholarship award, among many other credits. Upon graduation, Christie moved to Williamsburg, VA to be the Dance Su- pervisor at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. During her time at BGW she performed in numerous shows as the swing performer, mastering up to 20 tracks at one time, rehearsal technician, and assistant choreographer. In addition to performing in over 15 shows at BGW, her other perform- ing credits include Six Flags, Spirit Productions, and Darien Lake Theme Park Resort. Christie has taught tap workshops and master classes up and down the East Coast, sharing her love of dancing. She has choreographed productions for Opera in Williamsburg and ShowStoppers. She travels across the country and adjudicates dance competitions at the regional and national level and is a member of the prescreened group of judges of Impact Dance Adjudicators. While in Virginia, Christie was the Assistant Artistic Director of SI Dance, LLC, where she instructed and choreographed for their company, SIDanCo. Her choreography has won top awards at competitions including Best Choreography, Critics Choice, Highest Scoring, and special judges awards. Christie is thrilled to be back home in Buffalo with her husband, Evan, three beautiful children, and their dog, Rosie. Currently, she is on faculty with Mary Alice’s Dance Studio and Steppin’ Out Dance Academy and is the choreographer for America’s Rock Illusionist: Leon Eti- enne. She loves sharing her passion for dance with Pauline Baker Rodgers School of Dance!

Mari Sugawa

Mari Sugawa was born in Washington D.C. and grew up in Japan where she received her training. She started Ballet training with Mariko Yamamura at her home town, Matsusaka, Mie and continued to study with renowned Ballerina Yoko Morishita and Ballet Master Tetsutaro Shimizu as an apprentice in Matsuyama Ballet Company in Tokyo. She also worked privately with Prima ballerina assoluta, Eva Evdokimova when she came back to the US. Her repertoire includes in such classics as Giselle, Odette in Swan Lake, Kitri in Don Quixote, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Nikiya in La Bayadère to among others. Especially her Giselle and Juliet have met high critical praise. She has performed with New Jersey Ballet, Ballet Austin, Eglevsky Ballet, New York Theatre Ballet and Matsuyama Ballet Company. Currently, She performs as a guest principal artist including the Gala of 24th Varna International Ballet Competition. She is also a certified pilates mat and reformer instructor by Pilates Academy International.

Humberto Teixeira

Humberto Teixeira originally began his dance training as a teenager in his native country-Brazil, to improve his advanced martial arts skills. He studied with renowned ballet master Pablo Moret and Cristina Helena. In 1998 Humberto joined Dance Companhia Sesi Minas and was promoted to soloist in 2000. He has been a laureate in numerous dance competitions including Festival Internacional De Danca de Joinville. Humberto has performed numerous soloist and principal roles in the Classical Repertoire with Companhia Sesi Minas in Brazil, Columbia Classic Ballet in South Carolina, Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe in Germany, New Jersey Ballet and Metropolitan Opera Ballet. Humberto is also a Choreographer, Winner of the Walter-Fink Prize as the best project of 2009 in Karlsruhe, Germany. Humberto has been appointed as Assistant Artistic Director with Ballet Forte, NJ for the 2019-2020 season.