Our Dedicated Educators
Jennifer Wiesner - Director, Creative Dance, Ballet & Jazz
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 - Flamenco
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.
Ivan Castillo - Hip Hop
Born and raised in Danbury, CT Ivans passion for music and dance has started at a young age. He was influenced by dancers he has seen in video and in person, which inspired him to train and study dance as a fulltime career. He has performed/trained with several dancers and teachers around CT/NY/LA to help him require the right tools to pursue his dreams. Doing so gave him the opportunity to train with teachers such as Rhapsody James, Fatima Johnson,Doubleup Company,United outkast. Ivan has also booked and worked professionaly with GoodMorning America,Reebok,Nike,SNL,Lil wayne, Swizz beatz, and Flo-rida. Ivan pursues to Believing in his dream to be the best version of himself and to share his love/Knowledge for the arts with others, so they can also have the tools to do so.
Steven Lopez - Salsa
Steven Lopez was born in Norwalk, CT. He began Latin Folkloric dancing at the age of 8. At the age of 12, he commenced his Latin Ballroom Dance Training under the direction of Juliet Tibodeaux, where he discovered his love and passion for Salsa. With desires to further his Latin Dance experience, he began taking classes such as Salsa Caleña, Merengue, Pasodoble & Flamenco alongside Yohanna Escamilla. Currently, Steven dances for Huracán Dance Company in CT under the instruction of 2x CHaChaCha World Champions, Jeff Taveras and Julie Aponte.
Shirley Diego Ochoa - Hiphop/Jazz Combo
Shirley’s dance career started at 11 years old in Stamford CT where she grew up. She started with Jazz and Hiphop classes and later explored all the styles of dance that the studio had to offer. Under the wings of Jennifer Wiesner she started to assist in clases and later learned the skills to begin teaching creative movement and pre ballet classes. Today she runs her own choreography business called Once in a Lifetime Dance where she focuses on wedding and quinceañera dances. This 2024 year she is proud to be celebrating 10 years of hard work and dedication to her business. Shirley currently works full time at an elementary school with special education students while also dedicating her time to her passion of teaching at Studio Arte and for families in private class settings. Shirley hopes to continue teaching with the studio arte family and taking the next steps to grow the once in a lifetime dance business.