Our Staff

Jennifer Marie Napolitano

Jennifer Napolitano was an international dance champion and as a teen was chosen to represent the state of NY as a lead dance scholar at "Dance Excellence of America" in LA. Jennifer was awarded "American Tap Dancer of the Year". Jennifer competed internationally at "Dance Excellence of America", and was awarded 1 of 5 international dance scholarships, including "The Gregory Hines Award". Jennifer was a principle dancer in the New York premier of George M., The Carnegie Hall Christmas Spectacular, The International Dance Festival, and has spent time as a Disney Dancer.

Jennifer was a principle dancer in Queer Eye For The Straight Guy's music video "All Things Just Keep Getting Better". Jennifer was cast as a principle dancer in Sacha on Broadway directed by "Miami Vice" star Phillip Michael Thomas. She starred in the lead role as Gina Bocce as well as choreographer in the NY world premier of "Bocce Balls". Jennifer was cast as Cha Cha in the national production of "Grease". Jennifer recently performed on Broadway at the The New Amsterdam Theater in "Gypsy of the Year", and previously played the roles of Vera Merinelli and Connie Scuccifuffio in the Off-Broadway smash hit "My Big Gay Italian Wedding" produced by the Real Housewives of New Jersey's Dina Manzo. She was a dancer in Spice Girl Mel B's "Dance Your Ass Off" promo event in NYC.

Jennifer was a personal talent manager in NYC and coached Broadway performers. She is still currently a talent manager for all JNPA Company dancers. She was awared TOP TEACHER and TOP CHOREOGRAPHER. Her clients were on Broadway in "Gypsy" w/Patti Lupone, "Billy Elliot", "Beauty and the Beast" national tour, and are Showtime At The Apollo and Madison Square Garden talent show champions, as well as a Tony Award winner. Jennifer was also a national dance and talent judge for "Bravo! National Dance & Talent Competition" and Star Quest.

Katie Napolitano

Katie Napolitano has been a competitive dancer since the age of three years old. She was a member of the Jennifer Napolitano dance company years before Jennifer opened her own studio and then continued to attend local dance studios while Jennifer continued her own dancing career. Katie has won numerous awards at a young age including 'Miss Petite Dance' at Kids Artistic Revue along with many top overall placements and special judge's awards including 'Little Miss Firecracker' throughout her years of dance. Katie graduated Seaford High School in 2012 and was academically honored to be in the Top 25 out of 220 students of her graduating class. She was then awarded an academic scholarship to attend Long Island University (C.W. Post) in Brookville, New York where she joined the college Dance Team. She attended a dance training camp while on the team and performed at all of the football games for the school while receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Business Finance.

While attending college, Katie began teaching, choreographing and working as a receptionist at Jennifer Napolitano's School of Performing Arts. Katie graduated college in 2016 and was honored to be 1 out of 3 students in the class to receive the 'Academic Excellence in Finance' award. After college, Katie continued to work for Jennifer as a full-time teacher, choreographer and receptionist. Although Katie teaches all ages, she specializes in teaching the 12 & under competitive teams in the following dance styles: Jazz, Lyrical and Musical Theatre. Katie's students have won numerous awards each and every year including 1st Place overall high score, overall placements, special judge's awards, choreography awards, entertainment awards and title awards at both regional and national competitions across the world. It is currently Katie's 7th year teaching and choreographing for JNPA.

She was honored the position as Assistant Director in the winter of 2017 and currently manages the business' finances. Katie not only loves what she does but she loves the kids she gets to work with on a daily basis and creates special bonds with them that are forever irreplaceable.

Claudia Marinescu

An accomplished ballet teacher, having received the highest level of credentials in the Vaganova Training Syllabus and she also received her Master 's Degree from the Academy of Music Gh Dima, Department of Dance, Cluj, Romania.

Originally from Romania, Ms Marinescu taught for 13 years at the National School of Ballet in Cluj, Romania and she colaborated with the Romanian Opera House and Hungarian Opera House. Ms Marinescu taught and colaborated with schools in Europe :Austria, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, Moldavia.She has been teaching in New York for the last 12 years , since she has moved to the United States for Dance Masters Of America , Ballet Hispanico, Long Island Ballet Company, Westchester Ballet Company , etc , staging ballets as Coppelia , Swan Lake, The Nutcraker and Sleeping Beauty.Her students were the recipients of many awards at National and International Ballet Competitions in Europe and in USA, some of them becoming soloists with the greatest Ballet Companies in Germany, England,Italy, etc.

Ms Marinescu had been teaching ballet, pointe, variations, at JNPA for the past 5 years.

Monica Bottari

Monica has been dancing at JNPA since her junior year in high school and has been teaching and choreographing there ever since. She has won several prestigious titles while competing at JNPA. Monica was a member of the UAlbany Dance Team and was named captain after her freshman year in college. While competing with her college dance team, she was awarded All American 3 years in a row from the National Dance Alliance (NDA), along with the honor of becoming a member of the NDA staff. Monica graduated with her Bachelor of Arts and will be going for her masters for Occupational Therapy this upcoming year. Dancing will always be her passion and she plans to continue choreographing and being a part of the JNPA family forever.

Caitlyn Tamayo

Caitlyn Tamayo started dancing at the age of four. At the age of seven, she wanted to further her training and started competitive dance. She is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, and acro. What started as a hobby soon became a lifestyle for Caitlyn.

When entering freshman year of high school, Caitlyn became a part of the JNPA Company. At JNPA she won numerous first place overalls, Teen Miss Edge, Senior Miss Edge, and Miss Dance at United States Tournament of Dance. Not only is she an exceptional dancer, Caitlyn is also a remarkable teacher/choreographer. Her kids have won platinum at Access Broadway and runner up for Miss Petite Dance at KAR.

Currently Caitlyn is training at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre where she is working towards her Certificate in Dance. She loves performing and plans on pursuing a career in professional dance.

Caitlyn also loves teaching and is excited to be a part of the JNPA staff and excited for the upcoming competition season!

Alexa Sahagian

Alexa "Lexie" Sahagian is originally from Long Island, NY, where she grew up training in various styles of dance. After competing for many years, Lexie moved on to teaching. She has taught at multiple studios as well as coached many high school and college dance teams. After graduating, she was accepted onto AbstraKT Beings: The Company directed by Theresa Stone. Within the last few years, Lexie came to NYC to continue her training. She completed the Professional Semester at Broadway Dance Center, where she worked with and assisted many well known choreographers such as Hannah Frederick, Theresa Stone, Neil Schwartz, Keenan Cooks, David Thomas etc. Since then, Lexie has moved to NYC to continue working and training as a Professional Dancer. Credits include America's Got Talent, "Z" ft. Fetty Wap Music Video, Good Morning America, Pushing Progress, Carnival, Run the Night, etc. Lexie looks forward to continuing to grow and learn while sharing everything she has learned along the way!

Brit Hay

Brit Hay (Dancer) would say she could dance before she could walk. She was born and raised in Warwick, Rhode Island and began performing and training in ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop in her earlier competition years. She flourished as a performer winning numerous titles and convention scholarships through in her high school. Her aspiring teacher, Kristin Loughlin, was her light, inspiration and motivation.

Upon high school graduation, Brit then pursued Dance at Dean College receiving her A.A. In Fine Arts. There, she was classically trained in ballet, modern, various styles of hip-hop, tap, and Jazz. Working with Kelly Peters, Gregory King, Nailah Randall-Bellinger, Jeremy Hughes, Jill Silverman and many more. After receiving her A.A., she moved to New York City almost a year later. She immediately linked with Kelly Peters, from there she became a part of 'Generation X', hip-hop crew, and also Mr. Peters Assistant. Along with 'X', she became a part of the company, Dancers Unlimited, contemporary styles fused with street styles, Directed by Linda Kuo, and partner choreographer, Amanda Spilinga.

Since living in NY, Brit has worked with Joey Bada$$, Kieza, Wyclef Jean, Cary Nokey, Fox 5 and more. Brit has no limit with dance. She would like to build her name and share her love for dance with others and inspire the world to accept the power of Art.