Michael Guzman, owner and teacher, a native of Puerto Rico, grew up in New York City. While attending Syracuse University, he began his ballroom dance instruction teaching for Walt Medicis. A former teacher at Fayetteville-Manlius High School, he gained further experiences as a choreographer for the school musicals as the instructor for the Ballroom Dance Club. His performance credits include Pepe in West Side Story and Pedro in Man of la Mancha. Mike is a regular guest instructor in many school districts throughout the area.
- Marisa Guzman-Colegrove, owner and our artistic director, is a lifetime member of the CNY dance community. She specializes in Flamenco and is one of the only teachers of this dance style in Upstate New York. She also teaches jazz, creative movement, ballet, modern and is trained in Stott Pilates. She is an award-winning choreographer whose credits include the Syracuse Contemporary Dance Company, Syracuse Opera, Syracuse Symphony, Fayetteville-Manlius High School musicals, Town of Manlius summer shows and most recently a SALT award winner for her choreography in CNY Playhouses’ “Adams Family.” She has performed with Alegre Flamenco throughout the Upstate Region. She recently got her certification to teach Rhythm Works Integrative Dance classes for children with special needs.
Lauren Puente is a dancer, singer and actress who graduated with a B.A. in Musical Theater from SUNY Cortland. She has performed for almost every theater company in Upstate NY and has added choreography credits to her list of accomplishments including CNY Playhouse, Fabius Pompey musicals,FM high school musical and Manlius summer shows. You can also find her as one of her many characters at the interactive Museum of Intrigue, Destiny USA.
Janna Pokrenkowski holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Nazareth University (previously Nazareth College). She has studied ballet, pointe, musical theater, and jazz since age 4. Janna performed with The Rev on Tour (formerly Merry-Go-Round Youth Tour) from 2018-2020. She then received her MS in School Librarianship from SUNY Buffalo and is now the Library Media Specialist at Solvay Elementary School. Janna remains heavily involved in the theater and dance community of Syracuse. She has performed with The Redhouse and Baldwinsville Theater Guild, serves on the board of directors for BTG, co-directs and choreographs the Wellwood Middle School spring musical, and is involved with the New York State Theater Education Association (NYSTEA).
Sasha Baneshkevich started her dance career at the age of 6 in Saint-Petersburg, Russia. She took part in many competitions in different European countries. In 2012 Sasha became the winner of the Finnish championship. She also was a finalist of many championships in Europe and Saint-Petersburg, Russia. In 2016 she was a candidate master of sport. Sasha also trained many dancers, individual and group, varying in all ages. She is ready to help anyone whether new or experienced. Sasha teaches different styles of dancing such as: Ballroom Dancing, Bachata, Salsa, High-Heels, Reggaeton. Sasha can also assist with choreography, stretching. Sasha’s main goal is to ensure you leave your session happy and a better dancer.
Andreia Krantz has been dancing since she was 5 years old. She began her studies with Deborah Boughton before her retirement. From ages 7-18 Andreia danced at the Ballet and Dance Center, studying every style they offered. She also studied ballet at Nazareth University before her graduation in May 2024. Before COVID, Andreia organized a Creative Movement group for homeschoolers that ran for two sessions before lockdown. She is so excited to be back teaching and incredibly proud to be a part of the faculty at Guzmán’s.
Abi Stewart was born in Jackson, Mississippi and began her dance training at age three with the Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet. After relocating to N.Y. in 2005, she began training with Ballet and Dance of Upstate, N.Y. Under the artistic direction of Kathleen Rathbun, Ms. Stewart performed in the Syracuse City Ballet's first Nutcracker, and was featured as a soloist in productions of Snow White, Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake. In addition to attending summer intensives with The Nutmeg Conservatory of Ballet and The Rock School for Dance Education, she attended the pre-professional division of The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia, P.A. from 2017-2019. Under the artistic direction of Bo and Stephanie Spassoff, she competed in the Youth American Grand Prix, performing variations for La Esmeralda and Aurora Act I, and was awarded as a top 25 finalist in the Philadelphia competitions. In 2018, Ms. Stewart trained with IBStage in Barcelona, Spain. At the IB Stage Gales, she was featured in performances of Absence of Light, Defile, and Le Corsaire under the artistic direction of Elias Garcia and Luis Arias. During the 2019-2020 season, she trained with BalletMet, performing in Giselle, Le Corsaire, and the Nutcracker, under the artistic direction of Edwaard Liang. In August 2020, Ms. Stewart became a corps de ballet member of the Columbia Classical Ballet under the artistic direction of Radenko Pavlovich. Abigail Stewart danced as a soloist professionally with Syracuse City Ballet for three seasons from 2021-2023. Abigail now is very proud to dance for Central New York Ballet .
Jonathan Benn is a dancer born and raised in Cazenovia. He has a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Minor in Piano from Nazareth University in Rochester. He has relocated back to Cazenovia, where he will live while teaching General Music at Solvay Elementary School. Jonathan was a latecomer to dance, starting at the age of 13, but when he began to dance, he dug his teeth right into the art form and now continues to show his love for it through teaching dance and choreographing for different production companies. His work has been performed in Poland in Rzeszów and Kraków and locally in CNY in Syracuse and Rochester. Choreography credits: Heathers the Musical (2023 Broadway World Central New York Best Choreographer Nominee), Catch Me If You Can, Disenchanted!, Thank You For The Music: ABBA’s Greatest Hits, an ABBA tribute concert, 35MM: A Musical Exhibition, and Judith Ranaletta’s ROC City Singers: Rochester’s Premier High School Performing Group. Music direction credits: Frozen Jr., Moana Jr., and Lion King Jr. One of his dance philosophies is that dance is for anyone and everyone. He believes that in the dance world, fostering supportive, inclusive, and accepting communities in each class and rehearsal through mutual respect, empathy, and understanding is important.
Briana Caver has opened for Justin Bieber, Waka flocka Jacquees and recently Usher and Chris Brown! She also trained in California with Aaliyah Janel and Royal G and Neesh nyc! She also danced for Rosie Perez for a hiv aids event.
Ava Jeffers began dancing at just two years old, and has been dancing ever since. She eventually became a competitive dancer at around the age of 10, and performed at many competitions throughout the CNY area, as well as on a national stage. She has trained in a variety of styles including jazz, tap, hip hop, ballet, contemporary, and modern, and had the opportunity to perform in the school musical at FM High School, as well as its dance team. She is a part of Le Moyne Dance Company. She began teaching in 2022 and has enjoyed the privilege of teaching styles such as jazz and tap to dancers ages 3-12. She is so excited to share her love of dance at Guzman’s, and can’t wait to teach jazz, tap, and creative movement this year!
Sasha Baneshkevich started her dance career at the age of 6 in Saint-Petersburg, Russia. She took part in many competitions in different European countries. In 2012 Sasha became the winner of the Finnish championship. She also was a finalist of many championships in Europe and Saint-Petersburg, Russia. In 2016 she was a candidate master of sport. Sasha also trained many dancers, individual and group, varying in all ages. She is ready to help anyone whether new or experienced. Sasha teaches different styles of dancing such as: Ballroom Dancing, Bachata, Salsa, High-Heels, Reggaeton. Sasha can also assist with choreography, stretching. Sasha’s main goal is to ensure you leave your session happy and a better dancer.
Andreia Krantz has been dancing since she was 5 years old. She began her studies with Deborah Boughton before her retirement. From ages 7-18 Andreia danced at the Ballet and Dance Center, studying every style they offered. She also studied ballet at Nazareth University before her graduation in May 2024. Before COVID, Andreia organized a Creative Movement group for homeschoolers that ran for two sessions before lockdown. She is so excited to be back teaching and incredibly proud to be a part of the faculty at Guzmán’s.
Abi Stewart was born in Jackson, Mississippi and began her dance training at age three with the Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet. After relocating to N.Y. in 2005, she began training with Ballet and Dance of Upstate, N.Y. Under the artistic direction of Kathleen Rathbun, Ms. Stewart performed in the Syracuse City Ballet's first Nutcracker, and was featured as a soloist in productions of Snow White, Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake. In addition to attending summer intensives with The Nutmeg Conservatory of Ballet and The Rock School for Dance Education, she attended the pre-professional division of The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia, P.A. from 2017-2019. Under the artistic direction of Bo and Stephanie Spassoff, she competed in the Youth American Grand Prix, performing variations for La Esmeralda and Aurora Act I, and was awarded as a top 25 finalist in the Philadelphia competitions. In 2018, Ms. Stewart trained with IBStage in Barcelona, Spain. At the IB Stage Gales, she was featured in performances of Absence of Light, Defile, and Le Corsaire under the artistic direction of Elias Garcia and Luis Arias. During the 2019-2020 season, she trained with BalletMet, performing in Giselle, Le Corsaire, and the Nutcracker, under the artistic direction of Edwaard Liang. In August 2020, Ms. Stewart became a corps de ballet member of the Columbia Classical Ballet under the artistic direction of Radenko Pavlovich. Abigail Stewart danced as a soloist professionally with Syracuse City Ballet for three seasons from 2021-2023. Abigail now is very proud to dance for Central New York Ballet .
Jonathan Benn is a dancer born and raised in Cazenovia. He has a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Minor in Piano from Nazareth University in Rochester. He has relocated back to Cazenovia, where he will live while teaching General Music at Solvay Elementary School. Jonathan was a latecomer to dance, starting at the age of 13, but when he began to dance, he dug his teeth right into the art form and now continues to show his love for it through teaching dance and choreographing for different production companies. His work has been performed in Poland in Rzeszów and Kraków and locally in CNY in Syracuse and Rochester. Choreography credits: Heathers the Musical (2023 Broadway World Central New York Best Choreographer Nominee), Catch Me If You Can, Disenchanted!, Thank You For The Music: ABBA’s Greatest Hits, an ABBA tribute concert, 35MM: A Musical Exhibition, and Judith Ranaletta’s ROC City Singers: Rochester’s Premier High School Performing Group. Music direction credits: Frozen Jr., Moana Jr., and Lion King Jr. One of his dance philosophies is that dance is for anyone and everyone. He believes that in the dance world, fostering supportive, inclusive, and accepting communities in each class and rehearsal through mutual respect, empathy, and understanding is important.
Briana Caver has opened for Justin Bieber, Waka flocka Jacquees and recently Usher and Chris Brown! She also trained in California with Aaliyah Janel and Royal G and Neesh nyc! She also danced for Rosie Perez for a hiv aids event.
Ava Jeffers began dancing at just two years old, and has been dancing ever since. She eventually became a competitive dancer at around the age of 10, and performed at many competitions throughout the CNY area, as well as on a national stage. She has trained in a variety of styles including jazz, tap, hip hop, ballet, contemporary, and modern, and had the opportunity to perform in the school musical at FM High School, as well as its dance team. She is a part of Le Moyne Dance Company. She began teaching in 2022 and has enjoyed the privilege of teaching styles such as jazz and tap to dancers ages 3-12. She is so excited to share her love of dance at Guzman’s, and can’t wait to teach jazz, tap, and creative movement this year!