Our Dedicated Educators

Jennifer Wiesner was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. At the age of 7, she began studying ballet at the National Institute “Raymond Mauge Thoniel” under the direction of her teachers, Geoconda Minervini and Ivonne Hidalgo. At the age of 18, she earned a BFA in Dance from the same institute. She also studied ballet with her sister, Ana Wiesner 

Jennifer Wiesner was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. At the age of 7, she began studying ballet at the National Institute “Raymond Mauge Thoniel” under the direction of her teachers, Geoconda Minervini and Ivonne Hidalgo. At the age of 18, she earned a BFA in Dance from the same institute. She also studied ballet with her sister, Ana Wiesner de Tamrazov, who studied in Kiev, Ukraine. Soon after that, her teaching career began as she developed after-school dance programs for several different educational institutions in Ecuador. 

Ms. Wiesner has directed many youth programs and has participated in numerous performances in Ecuador and The United States. Such as Coppelia, The Nutcracker, Celebration of the Dance, La Bayadere, La Fille Mal Gardee and many more. In 2001, Jennifer decided to take up a permanent residence in the United States. In 2003, she founded Jennifer Wiesner Dance in Stamford, CT and has since extended her influence by developing dance programs throughout Fairfield County. One being in the town of Easton, CT where she still continues teaching ballet and jazz. In 2013, she opened Studio Arte offering not only dance instruction but also expanding to art education in music and visual arts. Ms. Wiesner also served as the Artistic Director at Hall Neighborhood House Inc. in Bridgeport, CT. where she helped to bring the arts to underprivileged children. Jennifer has received recognition from the government of Ecuador for her hard work and dedication to the community. Ms. Wiesner has also been recognized as one of the top 40 under 40 community contributors in the Fairfield County, CT area. Ms. Wiesner continues her education under the renowned jazz dance master Stephen Harding at the Manhattan Movement and Art center in NYC. Ms. Wiesner also works at Building One Community, a center for immigrants as its Case manager.

Yohanna Escamilla began her dance training at the age of 11 in Bogota, Colombia under the instruction of professional dancer, Janeth Cifuentes. In 2002, she was accepted into the Substitute Company at the Ballet Folklorico Tierra Colombiana where she studied ballet, jazz and Latin-American Folklore dance and performed with that company du

Yohanna Escamilla began her dance training at the age of 11 in Bogota, Colombia under the instruction of professional dancer, Janeth Cifuentes. In 2002, she was accepted into the Substitute Company at the Ballet Folklorico Tierra Colombiana where she studied ballet, jazz and Latin-American Folklore dance and performed with that company during that year. In 2003, she joined the Ballet Folklorico at the Universidad Autónoma de Colombia where she became the first dancer. During the same year, she received her initial flamenco dance training performing with the group "Aires de España" directed by Julio Cesar Roman and later on she studied with Junny Zarate "La Yunna". After moving to the United States, her interest for flamenco dance led her to continue her training under the instruction of Melinda Marquez at the Melinda Marquez Flamenco Dance Center, and taking Flamenco dance workshops in New York with Flamenco dancers Rosario Toledo, Fanny Ara, and a special Flamenco choreography/Stage workshop by Soledad Barrio Company director Martin Santangelo, and canto/structure with the Flamenco singer Alfonso Cid.  She is currently teaching Flamenco and Latin dance to children and adults and is the director of the Jr. Flamenco Dance Company at Studio Arte. She is pursuing an A.A degree in Visual and Performing Arts in Dance at Naugatuck Valley Community college. Yohanna is looking to bring more Flamenco to Connecticut and open a path for the currently young students of the area. She also encourages the community to support this art form and to support our young artist.