Dedicated dance educator of 30 years, Michelle Manzanales, is a co-founder of the Latinx Dance Educators Alliance and Director of Ballet Hispánico’s School of Dance in New York City. Ms. Manzanales is committed to creating an environment where all students are inspired to explore movement, feel supported in their individual dance journeys, and draw meaningful connections between dance and their lives. 

 

Manzanales has co-presented for the New York State Dance Educators Association, ARTs + Change, and the National Dance Education Organization conferences, Questioning TODO: A Latinx Inquiry of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, a direct response to the historical and continued exclusion of Latinx contributions and experiences in the dance field.

 

Michelle has served on the faculties of the University of Houston and Rice University, as well as numerous studios including the Lou Conte Dance Studio (former Home of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago), Houston Metropolitan Dance Center, and Jenny’s Dance Centre. She has been a guest artist for the Professional Work Sessions at STEPS on Broadway, the Joyce Master Class Series at Gibney, the Taylor School, New Orleans Ballet Association, the Puerto Rican Classical Dance Competition, Generation Dance Festival Houston, Artisan Ballet Company, Regional Dance America, Festival de Danza Cordoba-Youth America Grand Prix, Houston’s Kinder High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, along with numerous other dance studios, schools, and college dance programs nationwide and abroad.