About the Faculty
Faculty Bio's
Faculty Teacher
Nicole Flor
Nicole Flor is a dancer and choreographer born in New Jersey to a Colombian family. After years of training, Nicole received her BFA in Dance in 2023 from the University of the Arts under the direction of Donna Faye Burchfield. There, she co-founded a contemporary fusion club with Brianna Izquierdo called CHAOS where members starred in curated music videos and performed Nicole’s original choreography live. Additionally, after training under Uwazi Zamani, Nicole was selected to be in the House of Keith Haring where she competed in Vogue battles across Philadelphia. Nicole also had the honor of dancing in Philly Fashion Week 2022 under Kevin Parker’s direction. She also performed alongside Justina Valentine in VH1’s “Fuhgeddabout Christmas” (2022). After graduating, Nicole pursued ballroom dancing with her partner Ilia Dronov where they placed in the top 4 of NYC’s World-O-Rama Professional Ballroom Category. Nicole looks forward to furthering her commercial dance career and continuing her choreographic journey.
Faculty Teacher
Diarra Grace
Diarra Grace was immersed in music education from a very young age, where she was exposed to the soulful work and cultural impact of brilliant artists such as Aretha Franklin, John Coltrane, Mahalia Jackson, etc. Through bounds of further discovery and admiration, she grew to understand music as a primary source to her creative process. Prior to receiving her BFA in Dance Theatre at the American Musical & Dramatic Academy, she indulged intently into her fascination with movement, spending her earlier years performing as a soloist and ensemble dancer in fundraisers to uplift her local communities, all while competing on regional, national and international stages. She trained fiercely before delving deeper into her passion of movement creation. Since beginning this path, she has received numerous choreography, overall judications, and special awards for the repertoire of work she’s set, and looks forward to soon meeting what she comes to discover.
Faculty Teacher
Lexie Deluca
Lexie DeLuca is a dancer, dance choreographer, and teacher with one ultimate goal in mind: dancing differently.
Lexie was raised in NJ and started dancing at the age of 5. She trained in styles such as ballet, contemporary, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, modern and pointe. She has won 4+ national titles and has worked under talented artists including Victor Smalley, Angel Armas, Marinda Davis, Chelsea Accardi, Carla Montecchi, and Corie Zodda. She was recently accepted and attended this year's esteemed Storytellers Intensive in NYC.
Breaking boundaries wherever she can, Lexie attended Cornell University and received cum laude in her Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering. At Cornell, she was on the dance team and was President of Pandora Dance Troupe. She currently works as both an Engineer at Tiffany and Co., and a Dancer/Dance Choreographer.
Lexie has choreographed over 30+ dances and taught classes for over 4 years across 5+ studios. She has been recognized multiple times for excellence in choreography at national finals.
Lexie prides herself in her motto of "dancing differently". She continues to brand her choreography as "ChoreobyLexie" and keeps inspiring as many talented dancers as she can. She's eager to work with these incredible dancers and to motivate them to unlock their best selves.
Brianna Izquierdo Artist Statement
I create art the same way I live- with my heart on my sleeve and impulsively. I put all of myself into whatever I create and usually decide what is needed in the studio right before I begin. I am a chameleon; I shift, change, and adapt as needed. I work primarily with sound and receiving music in different ways. My current research involves how to interpret what is being heard. How does one compute and emote sound in and out of their body and would new sound scores change their go-to way to move or simply add a layer to their movement? I work with vulnerability and true expression of the heart and soul. I am committed to making dancers feel their best and helping them feel comfortable in themselves to truly share who they are while performing my works.
Kayla America Roberntini Artist Statement
Kayla finds performing, dancing and sharing amongst a community to be a raw and unmatched feeling. Dancing and choreographing is her love language and source of communication. Creating movement embodies emotions greater than words can speak. It is her dream to be the female role model for young women that I wish I had growing up. To influence that foundation is important, training is important and community is important.
Nicole Flor
Artist Statement
As a first-generation American with Colombian roots, I recognize that dance is familiar in my body because of my ancestors and the fact that movement has served as a celebration for my community for centuries. When music guides itself into my mind and body, I feel an inclination to marry sound and movement. I hear a song and visualize a production to go along with it, paying attention to lyrics, syllables, and inflections, miming at times. I look forward to continuing my passion for choreography!
Diarra Grace
Artist Statement
I am a Contemporary-based Choreographer and movement artist with an intense connection to improvisation. My passion stems directly from the profound fascination I carry to examine meticulously crafted basslines, along with the desire to establish an affiliation between them, and the expression of my movement. My work reflects an abstractly depicted quality of ethereality, grit, and contrasting dynamics through earnest emotional and spiritual connection. Through my art, I consistently aim to create a collective celebration of the music investigated, engulfing all who encounter it in solidarity and understanding.
Lexie Deluca
Artist Statement
For me, it all boils down to authenticity.
Dance is not just an art form but a mirror to one's deepest emotions and true self, resonating most powerfully when it reflects the raw, unfiltered self. My approach intertwines artistry, athleticism, and technique, coupling them seamlessly within the beats of the music.
You'll often find me grooving to Frank Ocean, 070 Shake, Billie Eilish, or Tate McRae. Dance is the heartbeat of my existence, and this passion shines through in each movement. Pouring my soul into choreography, teaching, and performance ignites a profound fire within me, driving everything I do. There is no me without dance.