Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month
Each May, Steps celebrates Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage month by illuminating vibrant voices within our dance community. Immerse yourself in both in-person and virtual classes led by leading AAPI artists. Steps is committed to bringing the best AAPI performers, educators, and choreographers, who have shaped the dance world into the inclusive and diverse tapestry we cherish, into our studios.
Spotlight • Friday, May 1 • 8:00-10:00pm
AKINA KITAZAWA • Int/Adv Theater Jazz
- Dance Captain in the Tony Award Winning Broadway production of “New York, New York”
- Associate Choreographer for a new musical “Bull Durham” (choreographed by Josh Bergasse)
- Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall
Spotlight • Saturday, May 2 • 5:30-7:00pm
LAINIE SAKAKURA • Adv/Int Theater Jazz
- Recipient of the 2015 Joe A. Callaway Award for Outstanding Choreography
- Broadway: SUFFS (co-producer), CABARET (co-producer), FOSSE 1999 Tony Award Best Musical (dance reconstruction & dance captain), and more
- Co-Founder: Rockettes of Color Alumnae and Sakachez®
Spotlight • Saturday, May 2 • 6:00-8:00pm
GREGORY LAU • Int/Adv Contemporary
- Dancing for Nederlands Dans Theater 1 since 2016-2019
- Recipient of the NFAA YoungArts Level 1 Award in Modern Dance and Ballet
- Created and performed works by Jiri Kylian, Crystal Pite, Ohad Naharin, Sharon Eyal, Marco Goecke, Paul Lightfoot & Sol Leon, among others
Spotlight • Sunday, May 3 • 5:30-7:00pm
JONATHAN LEE • Int/Adv Hip Hop
- Backup singer, dancer, and choreographer for Madonna, Gloria Estefan, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Pitbull, among others
- Theatre credits include Once On This Island, The Wiz, West Side Story, The King & I, and Miss Saigon
- Film/TV credits include The Detour, Chapelle’s Show, Good Morning America, ABC News Now, The View, and more
Guest • Thursday, 5/7, 5/21 • 10:30am-12:00pm
TAMII SAKURAI • Beg Tap
- Tap City Youth Ensemble
- New York City cast for the long-running Off-Broadway show STOMP
- Worked with numerous leading tap dancers including Barbara Duffy, Derick K. Grant and Caleb Teicher, and more
Guest • Thursday, 5/7, 5/21 • 12:00-1:30pm
TAMII SAKURAI • Int Tap
- Tap City Youth Ensemble
- New York City cast for the long-running Off-Broadway show STOMP
- Worked with numerous leading tap dancers including Barbara Duffy, Derick K. Grant and Caleb Teicher, and more
Spotlight • Sunday, May 10 • 5:30-7:30pm
MIKE ESPERANZA • Adv/Int Contemporary
- Danced for Ariana Grande at the 2024 Met Gala as well as her music video “Yes, and?”
- Choreographed for renowned educational programs and companies such as WhimW’him, Noble Motion, LACDC, Urbanity, Dark Circles Contemporary Dance
- Presented on prestigious stages including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Sergerstrom Center for the Arts, among others
Spotlight • Sunday, May 17 • 5:30-7:00pm
CHRISTINE FLORES • Int/Adv Contemporary
- One of Dance Magazine‘s 2021 “25 to Watch”
- Original Broadway cast of Illinoise
- Has had the privilege of performing with Pam Tanowitz Dance, Dance Heginbotham, Company XIV, Keigwin + Company,among othes
Guest • Tuesday, May 19 • 5:30-7:00pm
RAMITA RAVI • Add/Int Commercial Jazz
- So You Think You Can Dance (Season 14)
- One of the first South Asians in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Ensemble
- Other credits include feature film Spinning Gold, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, TNT’s “I Am The Night” Premier, and more
Guest • Saturday, May 23 • 2:45-4:15pm
MILES YEUNG • Int/Adv Contemporary
- Reggie Wilson/Fist and Heel Performance Group
- Credits include Stacey Tookey’s Still Motion, Helen Simoneau Danse, national tours with Brian Sander’s JUNK, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and more
- Seen in music videos with Tierra Whack and Sapphira Cristál
More about Miles Yeung →
Registration coming soon.
Spotlight • Saturday, May 23 • 5:30-7:30pm
NORBERT DE LA CRUZ III • Adv/Int Contemporary
- Former soloist with Ballet Torino, Aszure Barton & Artists, Metropolitan Opera, and Complexions
- Created original works for Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, New York City Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Hubbard Street II, BalletX, among others
- Awards and accolades include a Princess Grace Foundation-USA award in choreography, Alvin Ailey New Directions Choreography Lab, Joffrey Academy of Dance’s Winning Works
Spotlight • Saturday, May 23 • 6:00-8:00pm
BO PARK • Int/Adv Street Jazz
- Danced under world renowned choreographers Keone and Mari, Brian Friedman, Kyle Hanagami, and more.
- Founded Shinsa the Collective
- Received a residency from ArtX in New York City to extend Shinsa’s latest show called “LIMBO: The Echo”
Guest • Tuesday, 26 • 5:30-7:00pm
RAMITA RAVI • Add/Int Commercial Jazz
- So You Think You Can Dance (Season 14)
- One of the first South Asians in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Ensemble
- Other credits include feature film Spinning Gold, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, TNT’s “I Am The Night” Premier, and more
Spotlight • Thursday, May 28 • 8:00-10:0pm
KARLA PUNO GARCIA • Int/Adv Jazz
- Choreographed the 76th Annual Tony Awards Opening number and tribute to John Kander
- Choreographer of the Starz Network series Power Book III: Raising Kanaan
- Favorite choreography credits include scenes in the Netflix film Tick, Tick … BOOM! (Lin Manuel Miranda); ENCORES Off-Center production of GONE MISSING; Somewhere, the new Duncan Sheik musical Noir, among others
Guest • Friday, May 29 • 4:00-5:30pm
MILES YEUNG • Int/Adv Contemporary
- Reggie Wilson/Fist and Heel Performance Group
- Credits include Stacey Tookey’s Still Motion, Helen Simoneau Danse, national tours with Brian Sander’s JUNK, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and more
- Seen in music videos with Tierra Whack and Sapphira Cristál
More about Miles Yeung →
Registration coming soon.
Guest • Thursdays, 5/29 • 1:00-3:00pm
CHRISTINE SIENICKI • Int/Adv Jazz
- Dance with the Radio City Rockettes for 21 seasons
- Film appearances include, Tick, Tick… Boom!, Isn’t It Romantic, Better Nate Than Ever, The Kitchen
- Appeared on late night shows such as, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and has been seen on every major morning show in NY
Past teachers have included
YUE YIN
ALEX WONG
AKINA KITAZAWA
KARLA PUNO GARCIA
PETER CHU
MILES YEUNG
PLU SAYAMPOL
BO PARK
BOBBY AMAMIZU
JARYD FARCON
JONATHAN LEE
YUKA KAMEDA
NORIKO HARA
HITO STAR
VIVE KHAMSINGSAVATH
JoANN M HUNTER
RAMITA RAVI
NORBERT DE LA CRUZ III
CHRISTINE FLORES
AMANDA LINDAMOOD
LAINIE SAKAKURA