Dani Hannah Bensky
NYC,NY
Summary
Experienced in ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, and musical theater dance styles. Possesses a natural ability to overcome obstacles effortlessly. Highly developed problem-solving skills and a proactive mindset when approaching new tasks. Recognized for adaptability, creativity, and results-driven approach. Dedicated to making meaningful contributions that propel organizational goals forward.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Teaching Artist
Disney Theatrical Group
NYC, NY
01.2018 - Current
- Facilitates Broadway workshops with original show content from The Lion King, Aladdin and Frozen, supports audience engagement programs, participates in professional development workshops, participates in developing lesson plans and collaborates on curriculum, represents and creates content for Disney Musicals in Schools, facilitates talkbacks with cast and crew of Disney Musicals on Broadway.
Contemporary Dance Teacher
Hawaii Ballet Theater
Oahu, HI
06.2023 - 02.2024
- Taught ballet based contemporary dance techniques at an intermediate and advanced level to students 13-20, created weekly choreography and in class combinations, developed workshop choreography.
Choreographer for Peace on Your Wings- A musical about Sadako Sasaki and the Thousand Paper Cranes
Ohana Arts
Oahu, HI
06.2023 - 12.2023
- Reimagined and created new show content
- Choreographed new works for the latest iteration of the script
- Toured with the cast to maintain and preserve work while on tour
- Collaborated closely with design and artistic teams
- Participated in press events.
Middle and Upper School Dance Program Director and Educator
Rye Country Day School
Rye, NY
09.2021 - 06.2023
- Taught 4 sections of Upper School Dance (Advanced, Intermediate, and Dance for P.E.), advised and oversaw Independent Studies (course topics: Dance as Propaganda/ Dance in the Media, and Storytelling through Movement/ Choreographic Composition), taught one section of Middle School Dance (Ballet, Jazz, Modern and Improv techniques - open to all levels), ran and choreographed the Cedar Street Dance Company (a repertoire company comprised of the most advanced Upper School Students), served as an advisor to eight Middles School Students and their families, choreographed 12+ concert pieces in a wide range of genres, communicated regularly with parents, colleagues, students and collaborators, was responsible for maintaining the yearly dance budget, built relationships with master teachers and cultivated partnerships with well-known dance companies
- Was responsible for purchasing all costuming and props, choreographed the Upper School and Middle School musical productions
- Attended all department and division meetings, participates in all professional development.
Director of Upper School Dance
Poly Prep Country Day School
Brooklyn, NY
09.2019 - 08.2021
- Teaches 4 sections of Upper School Dance (3 mixed level and 1 Advanced), choreographs 12+ concert pieces in a wide range of genres, communicates regularly with parents, colleagues, students and collaborators, advises the dance and step teams, responsible for maintaining the yearly dance budget, builds relationships with master teachers and cultivates partnerships with well-known dance companies, is responsible for purchasing all costuming and props, choreographs the Upper School musical production, attends all department and division meetings, participates in all professional development.
Dance Educator and Choreographer
Ohana Arts Summer Festival
Honolulu, Hawaii
09.2014 - 10.2020
- Teaches daily classes in various genres of dance to grades 5-6, 7-8, 9-12
- Genres included: Ballet, Jazz, Musical Theater, Musical Theater History, Acro, Street Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Lyrical, Beginner Tap and Movement exploration through contact improv, partner work and guided improv
- Continues to develop weekly curriculum
- Teachings include an emphasis on storytelling and collaboration
- Choreography of showcase material catered to each class
- Creates costuming for each showcase piece, Choreography of summer intensive musicals: Little Shop of Horrors, Spring Awakening, Peter Pan, 13 The Musical, In the Heights, Rent, School of Rock and The Lion King
Teaching Artist
City Center Encores
NYC, NY
09.2018 - 09.2020
- Facilitates Encores! workshops in public, private and charter schools
- Within a residency setting, creates classroom and performance content in correlation with current City Center Encores! season
- Develops and collaborates on curriculum that focuses on relatable and accessible content as it pertains to classical musical theatre pieces.
Choreographer/Assistant Director
Ohana Arts Youth Touring Company
Based in Honolulu, HI
09.2014 - 10.2019
- Collaborates with composer Jenny Taira and a live orchestra on original material
- Creates and maintains, choreography for the original production 'Peace on Your Wings' written by Laurie Rubin and Jenny Taira (the story of Sadako Sasaki and the thousand paper cranes) which toured the neighbor islands, performed at Hawaii Theater (HI), The Aratani Theater (LA), The Gerald Lynch Theatre (NYC), The Cowell Theatre (San Francisco), The Hammer Theater (San Jose) and the Benvenuti Performing Arts Center in Sacramento
- Directed all technical elements and maintained show assets in NYC
- Assists in directing rewrites
- Consistently collaborates with all technical elements and tech team
- Runs all facets of dance rehearsals
- Collaborated with casting on 2nd touring company.
Maternity Leave Replacement: Musical Choreographer/Dance Instructor
Rye Country Day School
Rye, NY
11.2018 - 04.2019
- Choreographed and collaborated with the artistic team on all technical aspects of Seussical Jr
- (Middle School production), taught Middle and Upper School dance classes (beg-adv) in a variety of styles including ballet, jazz, modern, musical theatre, guided improv and more exploratory work, choreographed for the 'The Cedar Street Dance Company'.
Maternity Leave Replacement: Director of Upper School Dance
Poly Prep Country Day School
Brooklyn, NY
10.2017 - 06.2018
- Teaches 4 dance classes daily exposing students to a variety of styles including ballet, jazz, contemporary, pointe, lyrical, street jazz, musical theatre, musical theatre history, guided improv and more exploratory work
- Created 10 original works for spring dance concert
- Created a piece in collaboration with the Diversity Department in regards to Social Justice
- Runs all facets of organizing and producing the Spring Dance Concert from choreography, to costuming, to programming, to scheduling and tech rehearsals
- Guided and directed students for the Afternoon of Student Choreography in January 2017.
Upper School Musical Choreographer/Director
Poly Prep Country Day School
Brooklyn, NY
11.2016 - 03.2018
- Directed/Choreographed Into the Woods (2018 Upper School Musical) directed and choreographed full production, collaborated with scenic, costume and lighting design, worked alongside musical director and live orchestra created rehearsal and tech schedules Choreographed/Adapted Pippin (2017 Upper School Musical) under the direction of Sonya Baehr
- Ran all facets of dance rehearsals
- Collaborated with Aerial arts choreographer
- Created original Fosse inspired movement and dance
- Collaborated with scenic design, musical director and live orchestra.
Dance Teaching Artist
Liberate Artists Teaching Artists Placement Program
Tri-state area, NY
09.2015 - 05.2017
- TnT Dance Studio- Brewster NY - Taught 12, 90 minute dance classes per week
- Classes were a variety of levels in Jazz, Fosse, Lyrical, Contemporary, Contemporary Pointe, Street Jazz, Ballet, Classical Pointe, Acro, Ethnic fusion and Dancing through the ages (a musical theater based class with emphasis on dance history)Collaborated with graduating senior students on generating an organic showcase piece Constructed two, 16 minute dance production numbers with narrative arches
- Conceived the music, storyline, light plot, all costuming and prop elements ran all elements of casting for production numbers ran all elements of weekly 4 hour rehearsal including scheduling Dance Mgt - Norwood NJ- Taught 5, 60 minute classes weekly
- Classes were intermediate and advanced levels of Ballet technique,,Jazz, Lyrical and Modern (emphasis on Horton Technique).Created workshop choreography, costuming and overall esthetic for each class
- Devised solo works for competitive dancers and taught private lessons.
Touring Convention Master Class Teaching Artist
Liberate Artists
NYC, NY
08.2015 - 05.2017
- Teaches master classes to studio dancers across the U.S with headlining teachers from 'So You Think You Can Dance', 'The Rockettes' and other members of the Broadway community
- Teaches a variety of styles with focus on Contemporary, Classic Jazz, Fosse, Contemporary Pointe, Ballet and Jazz Funk
- Holds improv workshops teaching high school students how to cultivate their own pieces through the art of storytelling and connecting movement to emotional content
- Creates, costumed and cleaned workshop performance pieces curates and edits music as well creating a run order for workshop performances.
Choreographer/Dance Instructor
Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Center
Loch Sheldrake, NY
05.2013 - 08.2015
- Choreographed a full scale musical production every 3 weeks (works include: Carousel, Oliver, All Shook up, Once on This Island, Les Miserables, Rent and Blood Brother
- Taught 3 classes daily- beginner - advanced in Musical Theater, Ballet, Jazz and Master Dance choreographed showcase pieces
- Worked closely with Director, Musical Director and Tech Teams
- Participated in all camp events.
Dance Educator
The Harbor Conservatory
NYC, NY
09.2013 - 05.2014
- Taught 9-12 grade ballet and musical theater dance
- Taught 4 classes weekly to grades 4, 5 & 6 featuring classes in creative movement and building the story through movement at Mosaic Elementary
- Taught an inner-city youth outreach class with direction toward storytelling an honoring ethnicity in musical theater to 6-8th grades
- Was responsible for collaborating with writers and live musicians at Museo Del Barrio for end of year culminating performance.
Mainstage Choreographer
York College - The City University of New York
Queens, NY
12.2012 - 05.2014
- Choreographed the mainstage spring musical production of 'Dreamgirls'
- Consulted on movement and created work for the fall drama 'Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme'
- Attended all production meetings and worked closely with the director, musical director, costuming, scenic & lighting designers
- Ran all aspects of rehearsal
- Taught Ballet and Jazz dance technique
- Reviewed student choreography works and gave constructive feedback prior to performances.
Performer
Disney Cruise Line
Toronto, Canada
09.2011 - 08.2012
- Inaugural cast aboard the Disney Fantasy
- Worked closely with a variety of directors, choreographers and puppeteers on new productions and original material
- Worked closely with imagineers on the conception of new material and animation
- Performed 13 shows a week in multiple roles
- Maintained guest experience
- Participated in media coverage as well as the christening of the ship with Mariah Carey and Neil Patrick Harris.
Education
Trainee Program -
The Joffrey Ballet School
NYC, NYProfessional training program -
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
New York, NYProfessional training program and Junior Company Member -
New Jersey Ballet School and Company
Livingston, NJ200 Hr RYT - Hatha Vinyasa & Yin Yoga
All Yoga
Jungutbatu, Bali08.2024
Meisner Technique and Musical Theater Certificate in Acting -
The Neighborhood Playhouse
New York, NY12.2010
Major: Dance -
Professional Performing Arts School
New York, NY12.2010
Skills
- Belief in storytelling and collaboration through movement/dance
- Highly collaborative and organized
- Approachable, motivated and highly energetic
- Passionate about dancers finding confidence and an emotional voice through movement
- Strong technical background with professional performing and concert dance experience
- Quick thinker and problem solver
- Enthusiastic about pushing dancers/performers to their fullest potential
- Personal Survival Techniques (PST) certification
- Certified in CPR, and have a valid STCW 95
- DOE fingerprinting has been completed and eligible to work in NYC Schools
- Certified Hatha Vinyasa & Yin Yoga instructor (200 hr RYT)
Choreographic credits
- Peace On Your Wings 2014-2023
- Mean Girls (Ohana Arts Summer Festival, July 2023)
- Newsies (Rye Country Day, April 2023)
- 12th Night (Rye Country Day, February 2022)
- Matilda (Rye Country Day, April 2022)
- Songs for a New World (Poly Prep Performing Arts Dept, March 2021)
- Grease (Poly Prep Performing Arts Dept, March 2020)
- Seussical (Rye Country Day School Performing Arts, April 2019)
- Urinetown (Poly Prep Performing Arts Dept, March 2019)
- Spring Awakening (Ohana Arts, July 2018)
- Into the Woods (Poly Prep Performing Arts Dept, March 2018)
- School of Rock (Ohana Arts, Honolulu, HI: July 2017)
- Lion King Jr. (Ohana Arts, July 2017)
- Pippin (Poly Prep Performing Arts Dept, March 2017)
- Rent (Ohana Arts, July 2016)
- In the Heights (Ohana Arts, July 2016)
- Blood Brothers (Stagedoor Manor, August 2015)
- Little Shop of Horrors (Ohana Arts, July 2015)
- Once on this Island (Stagedoor Manor, 2014)
- Salute! (El Teatro: Museo Del Barrio, 2014)
- Peter Pan (Ohana Arts, July 2015)
- 13 the Musical (Ohana Arts, July 2015)
- All Shook Up (Stagedoor Manor, July 2014)
- Rent (Stagedoor Manor, 2014)
- Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (14th st. Y, 2014)
- Dreamgirls (York College Arts Department, CUNY, 2013)
- Bourgeois Gentilhomme (York College Arts Department, CUNY 2013)
- Les Miserables (Stagedoor Manor, 2013)
- Carousel (Stagedoor Manor, 2013)
- Nine (Shetler Studios, 2011)
- Legally Blonde (Rita Morganthau Theater, 2011)
- Into the Woods (Rita Morganthau Theater 2011)
- Oliver (Stagedoor Manor, 2013)
- Cocaine The Band: The Musical: Starring Tony Winner Lena Hall (New York Musical Theater Festival, NYMF, Urban Stages 2010)
- Hairspray! The Musical (Shetler Studios, Theater 54, 2010)
- NunSense (The Rita Morganthau Theater, 2010)
- Grease (The Rita Morganthau Theater, 2010)
- Cabaret (The Rita Morganthau Theater, 2010)
- Mamma Mia (Rita Morganthau Theater, 2010)
- Spring Awakening (The Rita Morganthau Theater, 2010)
Timeline
Contemporary Dance Teacher
Hawaii Ballet Theater
06.2023 - 02.2024
Choreographer for Peace on Your Wings- A musical about Sadako Sasaki and the Thousand Paper Cranes
Ohana Arts
06.2023 - 12.2023
Middle and Upper School Dance Program Director and Educator
Rye Country Day School
09.2021 - 06.2023
Director of Upper School Dance
Poly Prep Country Day School
09.2019 - 08.2021
Maternity Leave Replacement: Musical Choreographer/Dance Instructor
Rye Country Day School
11.2018 - 04.2019
Teaching Artist
City Center Encores
09.2018 - 09.2020
Teaching Artist
Disney Theatrical Group
01.2018 - Current
Maternity Leave Replacement: Director of Upper School Dance
Poly Prep Country Day School
10.2017 - 06.2018
Upper School Musical Choreographer/Director
Poly Prep Country Day School
11.2016 - 03.2018
Dance Teaching Artist
Liberate Artists Teaching Artists Placement Program
09.2015 - 05.2017
Touring Convention Master Class Teaching Artist
Liberate Artists
08.2015 - 05.2017
Dance Educator and Choreographer
Ohana Arts Summer Festival
09.2014 - 10.2020
Choreographer/Assistant Director
Ohana Arts Youth Touring Company
09.2014 - 10.2019
Dance Educator
The Harbor Conservatory
09.2013 - 05.2014
Choreographer/Dance Instructor
Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Center
05.2013 - 08.2015
Mainstage Choreographer
York College - The City University of New York
12.2012 - 05.2014
Performer
Disney Cruise Line
09.2011 - 08.2012
Trainee Program -
The Joffrey Ballet School
Professional training program -
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Professional training program and Junior Company Member -
New Jersey Ballet School and Company
200 Hr RYT - Hatha Vinyasa & Yin Yoga
All Yoga
Meisner Technique and Musical Theater Certificate in Acting -
The Neighborhood Playhouse
Major: Dance -
Professional Performing Arts School