Staff
Hanne Larsen
Co-Founder and Artistic Director
BA (Hons – Music/Theatre), AISTD (Ballet), AATOD (Jazz), AMusA, LMusA
Hanne is the founding principal of Sydney-based dance school, The Jazz Factory. She has brought her extensive training in classical ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern dance, theatrical dance, character dance, hip hop and gymnastics, as well as theatre and music, to thousands of students over a twenty year teaching career. Having established her own school, The Jazz Factory in 1993, she has seen it grow into one of Sydney’s premier dance schools with over 500 students, offering classes in jazz, ballet, contemporary and hip hop for students aged three through to adults. Students are continually placed at State and National dance competitions and former students are have qualified for many college dance courses and have danced professionally within Australia and internationally for such companies as Sydney Dance Company, Australian Dance Theatre, Bondi Ballet, TasDance and Compania Nacional de Danza in Madrid, Spain.
Hanne oversees the artistic programming of Downtown Dance Factory, and also teaches many of the Jazz/Hip Hop Fusion and preschool classes.
Melanie Zrihen
Co-Founder and Business Director
MBA (University of Toronto, Canada), BComm (McGill, Montreal, Canada)
Melanie has extensive experience in management, marketing and operations, having spent the better part of her career as a management consultant with global management consultancy, A.T. Kearney, New York. Prior to this she worked in both advertising and investment banking in her native Canada. She has also provided consulting services in Internet marketing and operations to small New York City businesses, such as The Warm Biscuit Bedding Co. and Tribeca Language, both based in the downtown area.
Melanie also has long-term experience in the dance school environment, having studied ballet at the Mount Royal Ballet Company in Montreal for thirteen years and she looks forward to bringing her love of dance to her role as Business Director of Downtown Dance Factory!
Tech
Downtown Dance Factory's very own Tech heads up the Street Hip Hop and Boys Programs. Tech has been featured in music videos by Beyonce, Shaggy and Sting, has toured with Salt-N-Pepa, Ginuwine and Ray J and can be seen in MTV's "Making the Band 4" assisting famed choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson. In addition to his impeccable hip hop credentials, Tech also brings his expertise in martial arts and his professional personal training credentials to the classroom to ensure a safe, fun-filled class.
Renuka Hines
Renuka Hines is a professional dancer and dance teacher here in NYC. She graduated from Columbia University with both a BA in Dance and a New York State teaching certificate in elementary education. In 2008 Renuka received the Louis Sudler Prize for the Arts and was also nominated for the ACDFA/Dance Magazine award for Best Student Performer. Currently, Renuka is a performer with David Dorfman Dance, a nationally and internationally touring modern dance company, as well as other NYC companies. On tour and in New York she teaches dance classes to students of all ages. Renuka is passionate about both working with children and the art of dance and is happy to be a part of the Downtown Dance Factory Family.
Jessica Flynn
Jessica began dancing at three, and continued on to study at the New Jersey School of Ballet where she performed in numerous productions with the company. She moved to New York City at age 15 to attend the School of American Ballet in the Lincoln Center while simultaneously attending LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, where she studied modern dance and dance composition. Jessica was invited to join the New York City Ballet company as an apprentice in 2002, and quickly became a member of the corps de ballet. During her six seasons with the New York City Ballet, Jessica toured Russia, Japan, Denmark, and the U.S, and danced roles in over fifty ballets. Since her departure from the company, Jessica has taught ballet, art, and gym to children of all ages and spends her morning s teaching preschoolers. She is thrilled to be a part of Downtown Dance Factory.
Andrea Leith
Andrea, a native of St. Charles, IL, has been dancing and performing since she was in elementary school. She received her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2005. Since then she has performed with Royal Caribbean International on the Grandeur of the Seas, and Jump Rhythm Jazz Project in Chicago, IL. Since moving to New York City, Andrea has been dancing on the giant piano at FAO Schwarz and has received her Personal Training Certification from National Academy of Sports Medicine. She also has started her own jazz company, Undefined Dance, with the talented Vicki Burns. In addition to performing, Andrea has been teaching since high school and has choreographed for six musicals. She loves working with young children, and is always amazed at how creative and imaginative kids can be!
Vicki Burns
Vicki Burns is a native Texan who has trained in all aspects of performance. She has performed in such shows as Chicago, West Side Story, Death of a Salesman, The Medeas, Taming of the Shrew and Hair to name a few. She has been seen in numerous showcases throughout the South & North East, including national television spots for ESPN and the Atlanta Olympics. Her choreography credits include Lei, Instinct, Silver Thread, Grease, Chicago and Die Fledermaus and she is now the Choreographer in Residence with Opera Manhattan Repertory Theatre. She has started her own dance company, Undefined Dance Co. with Andrea Leith. She loves sharing her passion with kids and has taught throughout Texas and New York. Vicki is proud to be a part of the DDF family!
TADA! Youth Theater
TADA! Youth Theater provides two dedicated professional Teaching Artists, a Writer/Director, a Composer/Music Director, both of whom are always in the classroom for their Musical Theater classes. This signature approach models ensemble values and fosters cooperation. Children learn not only through the making of ensemble theater, but also through observing the successful collaboration between the Teaching Artists. Team teaching also enables more individualized attention tailored to students’ learning strengths and diverse learning styles. Check back soon for details of our Teaching Artists!
