Theresa Academy Faculty and Staff
Susan S. Russo, Director
At the age of 18,Susan decided that she wanted to bring the joy of movement and the excitement of creativity to young people of every ability.It was while teaching danceto a young man with cerebral palsy that she made that life-changing decision.
To follow that dream she obtained a BS in Dance Education from UNC-Greensboro and a Masters in Dance Education from Teacher'sCollege at Columbia University.
Having taught in both public and private venues for over 35 years, Ms Russo recently obtained another Masters in Special Education and dedicates her life's work to her four children, in particular her special angel, Theresa. for whom the Academy is named.
Recognizing the need for quality afterschool programs in the arts for students with special needs, and wishing to combine her experiences working with both typically developing and special needs children “under one roof”, she petitioned the Board of Directors of the Theresa Foundation to expand their consumer base.
Now, in addition to the wonderful recreational opportunities provided by Theresa’s Fun Place (a park and playground) at UCP-Nassau in Roosevelt,children will have the opportunity to act, dance, sing and create their own art at TAPA, the Theresa Academy of Performing Arts.
TAPA is open to the siblings, parents and caregivers of our students so that they may also participate in classes with their loved one who has special needs. Everyone benefits…everyone creates…everyone has fun!
Jamie Cohen
Jamie Tedesco Cohen is a self-taught artist born and raised in New York. She lives with her husband, three children and two Labradors in Lido Beach New York.
Her chosen medium is acrylics.Her original work can be heavily textured having many layers or a mixed media piece. Her painting technique is extremely unconventional and she enjoys the freedom that large canvases afford her. Her style and inspiration come largely from nature and the beach where she feels very lucky to live with her family.
Jamie has been teaching at TAPA for two years. Though we can all say that her favorite classes are her adult students, she thoroughly enjoys working with the younger students, especially during our Sunday Afternoon Workshops.
We enjoy her passion for her genre and are appreciative for her ability to inspire young people with her enthusiasm for working with those with special needs in our community. She brings to TAPA many interested and wonderful volunteers….for whom we are truly grateful.
Amy Dolan-Fletcher
Amy has been sharing her love of dance with students of all ages for the last 20 years, most recently as an artist in residence for the Port Jefferson school district and at the Stewart School in Garden City.
Amy's latest accomplishment is her recently sold out show "Come on-a My House - The Songs of Rosemary Clooney". She is also the driving force behind Midtown Productions which produces world class entertainment for corporate and private events, seminars and workshops for theatre professionals and future professionals alike. She graduated Magna cum Laude from Fordham University.
Lisa Glickman Bio
Lisa Glickman-Music
Lisa comes to us by way of the The Hebrew Academy for Special Children, where she is a part time music teacher. We are fortunate to have Lisa on our TAPA faculty! Her philosophy is strongly aligned with that of TAPA. Lisa believes that:"Music works wonders... it's a great way for anyone to express themselves. While having fun participating in a music class, students can also increase their attention span, improve cognitive development, physical coordination and have a great time socially. I always try to make my classes a fun and nurturing experience."
Lisa holds a B.A. in Music Therapy and Piano from SUNY New Paltz and a Masters in Music Education from C.W. Post.
Debi Holmes-Mucci
Debi Holmes-Mucci has been teaching dance and theater to children and adults for many years.
Currently relocated to Long Beach , Debi holds a degree in Dance Movement Therapy, has trained as a dancer with choreography greats such as Twyla Tharp and Merce Cunningham and is an Interpreter for the Deaf. She has owned and managed her own dance school in East Hampton,"100 Miles Off- Broadway" and worked as an Arts enrichment teacher for 12 years at a Charter School built for Special Needs children, The Child Development Center of the Hamptons.
Debi is happy to be part of TAPA where she will continue to enjoy teaching the arts she loves - dance, drama and sign language to the wonderful children here.
Sabrina Jacob
Sabrina Jacob is a choreographer, director, performer, and educator who has worked throughout the US and in Europe. She is a graduate of Emerson College, where her choreography for *Alice* won an IRNE (Independent Reviews of New England) Award in 2002.
Her original dance theatre work and choreography has been seen at Dixon Place, Joe’s Pub, Dance New Amsterdam, Triskelion Arts, The American Theatre of Actors, Vital Theatre Company, and The Ohio Theatre, among others. Her choreography is also featured in Wiener & Wiener, a new web-series in which she can also be seen as an actor (www.wienerandwiener.com).
Sabrina is the theatre director for The American School in Switzerland’s summer program and earned a master’s degree in Educational Theatre from NYU Steinhardt.
Heather Olsen
Heather Olsen is a certfied music teacher (grades K-12). She holds both a Bachelor of Science in music education and a Masters degree in Elementary Education from Hofstra University. Heather is an experienced teacher who uses the Orff-Schulwerk philosophy of teaching music, which is child-centered and child-oriented. She holds Level 1,2, and 3 certificates as well as Master Class in this philosophy. Heather is a mezzo-soprano and performs vocally. She is a member of the Babylon Chorale as well as her church choir.
Heather loves working at TAPA and sharing her gift and love of music.
Lindsay Rogan
Lindsay Rogan earned her BFA in Music Theatre from University at Buffalo where she began the production company "From the Wings". Since then, Lindsay has gone on to pursue her love of teaching and recently graduated from New York University with an MA in Educational Theatre and English Education. Lindsay has traveled to Greece and Italy with the World Congress of Theatre to present her papers on Theatre in University settings and is a part of The Dance Theatre Company on Long Island. Some of her favorite professional performance credits include "A Chorus Line", "Oklahoma", and "The King and I".
Micah Shepard
Micah Shepard has traveled the country with Disney's High School Musical as a dancer, is a member of the International Hip-Hop Dance Company DANCE 2XS, and is now an NYC based choreographer. Choreography credits include the off-broadway show "Street Lights", San Francisco production of the new musical "Lost and Found", and a music video for the web series "Weiner and Weiner".