Our Faculty & Facility
Our Mission Statement
Our mission here at Gina Marie'z Academy of Performing Arts, LLC is to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice and increase support for high quality, comprehensive physical education and dance. In addition to this mission, we believe that creating a vision of purpose is critical to defining and building a strong, efficient organization.
Gina envisions a society where all individuals have the knowledge, skills and confidence to participate in physical activity and dance and can do so in a manner that promotes healthy lifestyles. We will accomplish this by establishing professional standards that define high quality and sustainable programs that contribute to the development of healthy lives for students of all ages.
Learn more about our owner, Gina Marie Zambito-Grote, and and the dedicated faculty at Gina Marie'z Academy of Performing Arts LLC.
Contact us today to tour our state-of-the-art facility in Highland, NY.
Gina Marie Zambito-Grote
Studio Owner / Director
Gina Marie Zambito-Grote was destined to dance! She knew from the age of four that dancing was her passion, and she always envisioned sharing that passion with others. Gina was born and raised in Highland, New York, and knew she wanted to build a business in her hometown. Her mother and father gave her the opportunity to follow her dreams when they signed her up for dance. The death of her father was a pivotal point in her life. The memory of his unconditional support is a constant source of inspiration for her daily drive in all that she does. She has a degree in performing arts with a concentration in dance.
In the summer of 2010, she proudly announced the opening of her own studio, Gina Marie’z Academy of Performing Arts, LLC. In November of 2017, Gina Marie’z relocated to a new 6,000- square foot state-of-the-art facility! GMZ has a wonderful, safe, and family friendly atmosphere. By providing four large, beautiful studios, GMZ can accommodate many different ages and levels of ability where students can be inspired to learn. She believes anyone, anywhere, any age…can dance!
Throughout her teaching career, Gina’s unique staging and style of choreography has been recognized regionally and nationally. Her students have earned Regional Title awards and ranked in the top percentile of prestigious dance competitions.
Gina continues to give back to the community that has watched her grow and supported her for the past 30+ years. Her Performing Company Members have showcases at local events and fundraisers for charitable causes.
Cassie Masterson
Assistant Director, Dance Educator & GMZ Company Office Administrator
Cassie Masterson has been a part of the dance world since the age of three. She danced for 21 years and has been teaching for over 13. Cassie has had the privilege of learning from award winning teachers and choreographers during her dance career. Thanks to their teaching, encouragement, and support, she has achieved overall special and high score awards in multiple dance competitions.
Cassie has had the privilege to perform at Hershey Park, Eisenhower Hall, Disney’s Magic Kingdom, and the Special Olympics Opening Ceremony. Cassie graduated from Dutchess Community College in 2014 with an Associate’s Degree in Performing Arts.
She always loved helping the little ones and started assisting dance classes in 2007. She loved thinking outside the box to help them learn moves in a way that was fun and easy to understand. Now, Cassie is so proud to have watched some of her students become assistants themselves, and then teachers! Watching her students grow, transform, and develop their own styles of teaching makes her job mean even more.
Kristy Levandoski
Dance Educator
Originally from Marlboro, NY, Kristy grew up dancing for a competition dance team. After graduating High School, she attended Montclair State University receiving a bachelor of Arts degree in psychology with a minor in dance. Kristy also attended New York University graduating with her master of arts in dance education with a New York State Certification PreK-12.
She founded the full-time school day dance program at Frederick Douglass Academy VIII Middle School in East New York, Brooklyn. After getting married in 2016, Kristy and her husband decided to move back into the Hudson Valley to be closer to family and friends. She joined Monticello High School as their dance educator, developing that program to new levels. After her time in Monticello, Kristy decided to leave her position and move on to new adventures receiving her 200 hour yoga certification, teaching dance at GMZ and taking care of her two sweet children at home.
Kristy believes that guiding her students to find their true identity and self confidence is just as important as having beautiful technique. She has developed a dance curriculum that encompasses all levels of learning with a focus on self expressions, creativity, tenacity and educating the whole person. Kristy teaches jazz, ballet, hip hop, and contemporary with focus and attention to detail along with cross training through yoga.
Aubrey Contini
Dance Educator
Aubrey began dancing when she was 3 years old. Growing up, she attended numerous auditions and summer intensives run by New York City Ballet. She has trained at Saugertes Ballet Center for most of her life, and has dedicated over 15 years as a principal dancer performing with the Ulster Ballet Company and their annual production of A Christmas Carol at UPAC.
After completing the Performing Arts Program at DCC, she went on to dance with Tina Thompson’s SKIN dance company based out of Brooklyn NY before moving back upstate to have a family and dance locally.
Now a proud mama of 2, she is passionate about sharing her lifelong training with the next generation of dancers. She has experience teaching ballet to children and adults of all ages and skill levels; as well as Lyrical, Jazz, and Modern, and Contemporary Dance. She is thrilled to begin another season with Gina Marie’z and can’t wait to share her passion with you all!
Dana Soto
Dance Educator
Dana Soto was born and raised in Bronx, NY. Dana began dancing at the age of 7 at The Columbus Boys and Girls Club and continued her training throughout New York State. Dana has studied many styles of dance, including Modern, Jazz, Salsa and Hip Hop, hip hop being Dana's specialty. Dana has studied different urban styles of hip hop including Breaking, Tutting, Popping and Locking. After relocating to Newburgh New York, she joined her local dance/step-team, "Newburgh Allstars," where she learned the fundamental backgrounds of hip hop. She competed throughout New York State at competitions including Ritz Theatre, BET's Blaze the Stage and America's Got Talent.
Dana has a degree in Performing Arts from Dutchess Community College with a concentration in Dance. She continued her education at SUNY-New Paltz and later received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. While in college, Dana continued with her love for dance by dancing and performing with SUNY New Paltz's hip hop dance team,"Culture Shock". Prior to graduating, Dana was hired as the main hip hop teacher at Gina Marie'z Academy of Performing Arts, LLC where she choreographed countless award winning competitive dances. She also taught many years of recreational hip hop classes to children and adults of all ages. Dana now focuses on her career in Social Work and Mental Health services by serving the families within her community. Despite this change in career, her love for the hip hop culture will always be a predominante part of her life.
Warren Curtis
Dance Educator
Warren’s career as a performer has included the Broadway 1st National Tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, numerous companies of West Side Story, 42nd Street, and A Chorus Line. Regional credits include North Shore Music Theatre, The Berkshire Theatre Festival, The Maltz-Jupiter Theatre, Maine State Music Theatre, Opera North, The Fulton Theatre, Westchester Broadway Theatre, and The Cape Playhouse. Off-Broadway, he originated roles in Hazel Flagg at Theatre Row, The Reluctant Royal at the National Opera Company, and The Poisons for the International Fringe Festival. He has also performed in numerous concerts and industrials for ABC Daytime and Mac.
He received his dance training as a scholarship student at Steps in New York City, studying under Peff Modelski, Michael Vernon, Tony Stevens, Charles Goddertz, and Derick Grant, among others.
Warren teaches throughout the Tri-State area and adjudicates for national competitions. His teaching philosophy is to impart a solid technical foundation in order to give students the capability of full artistic expression. Emphasis is placed on correct alignment,
proper use of turn-out, principle of forward motion, movement efficiency, musicality, and oppositional energy.
Warren is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association.
Grace Volpe
Dance Educator
Grace Volpe started dancing the age of 5 and soon after, she fell in love with it. Since then, she has been continuously training in Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip-Hop-, and Tumbling. Grace started competitively dancing at 7 years old. Throughout the years, Grace has received many awards for her performances, including overall high score and special awards. Recently, she has completed the Independent Training Program at Broadway Dance Center and has also received her certification for Personal Training with the National Association of Sports Medicine.
From a very young age, Grace knew she wanted to be a dance teacher. She has spent many years assisting and learning how to run her own classroom in a fun and productive way. Grace has a strong passion for fostering a love of dance and artistic expression in her students of all ages. She prioritizes creating positive and inclusive learning environments that promote growth and confidence. She is so grateful to be a part of each of her students journeys as dancers. Currently, she is not only teaching dance, she is attending SUNY New Paltz for her degree in Psychology.
Kala Rizzo
Dance Educator
Kala found dance at the age of 12, and has just never stopped from then on! She danced and competed all throughout high school and is now finished with that journey. Kala has high hopes of going to college for dance education and achieving a job teaching dance in the future! She started in tumbling and has branched out to various different styles including Lyrical, Contemporary, Ballet, Jazz, and more.
Teaching dance and helping kids express them selves while learning to do amazing things is the absolute best feeling in the world for her, and is exactly what was done for her and it truly has made her into the person she is today. To Kala...friendship, love and community have always been important to her and all of those factors are exactly what makes-up GMZ and she is so excited to keep supporting this wonderful inspiring family in more ways than ever.
Cameryn Dutra
Dance Educator
Cameryn has been a competitive dancer and performer since she was 2 years old, training in contemporary, lyrical, jazz, ballet and acro dance styles. Cameryn has danced with various companies such as Russian Ballet Company for their Nutcracker, NYAB, AAB, and the Dance Conservatory. Cameryn participated in a dance video, filmed right in Central Park, NYC. She has done numerous performances at Barclays Center, halftime, and prime time performance for the Brooklyn Nets. She has also worked with many instructors, including Brian Friedman, Gianna Martello, Shannon Atkins, Lacey Shwimmer, Jaclyn Walsh, and Sheila Barker.
Several teachers and choreographers have praised Cameryn for being easy and exciting to work with. Her dedication, love for dance, and ability to communicate well, make her a joy to be around. Cameryn dreams of a thriving career in the entertainment world, which includes acting for television or movies, modeling, and performing on Broadway. Her ability to share a story through movement is like no other. Her determination, joyful nature, and strong work ethic give her the confidence to turn her aspirations into reality.
Kerstin Cheesman
Dance Educator
Kerstin is excited to join the team here at GMZ. Growing up a competitive dancer in the Hudson Valley, Kerstin started dancing at the age of 5, earning numerous scholarships, titles and special awards from a variety of competitions and conventions. Miss Kerstin has performed at many festivals, nursing homes, West Point Cadets Ceremony, Walt Disney World, the NYS Special Olympics and invited to dance at the 2004 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She has studied under Mignon Furman with the American Academy of Ballet and was a Radio Disney Player Performer in her youth.
Her love for teaching took over and she has spent the last 15 years sharing her expertise across the east coast as an Instructor, Choreographer and Co-Director. Kerstin’s choreography has been recognized regionally and nationally. She is a well-known adjudicator and convention instructor for numerous event producers and continues to share her dance expertise with students who have pursued dance as a profession.
Aside from dance, Kerstin has a Bachelor's Degree in social work, NYSLPN, and has a TCI certification. Kerstin is also BLS/CPR/First Aid certified. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, spending time with her dog and teaching her UPK students.
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