Robyn is a choreographer, director, and writer. She grew up in the proverbial theater trunk, beginning her professional performing career at the ripe age of six. Her work as a director, choreographer, and dancer has been seen throughout the US, Europe, and Japan, in a variety of renowned venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, multiple Off-Broadway and regional theaters, NYC’s Blue Note and the White House. She was a founding member of the American Tap Dance Orchestra, and has performed extensively with many legendary rhythm tappers, including Honi Coles and the Copesetics, Gregory, Hines, and Savion Glover. Robyn has also taught thousands of children through National Dance Institutes in NYC, LA, NM, and Celebrate the Beat in CO. In addition to her theatrical/dance work, Robyn is the Director of Alexander Technique teacher training programs in New Mexico, Oregon and Italy; and is the creator of Living in a Body™. She offers workshops throughout the US, Canada, Europe and Japan.

Tomas Fujiwara - Musician and Accompanist

Tomas Fujiwara was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. At seven, he fell in love with music listening to the classic drum battle record, Rich vs. Roach. Three years later he began an eight year course of study with legendary drummer and educator, Alan Dawson. Tomas has worked as a leader of and composer for various ensembles, as a sideman, as a composer for theatre, film, and dance, and as a teacher and clinician with a broad spectrum of artists in a wide range of styles and settings. He has performed at venues across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, France, Ireland, England, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Korea, Russia, Turkey, and Japan. He has appeared on over a dozen recordings to date. In 1999, Tomas joined the cast of the Off Broadway hit STOMP. He is a composer of original music for theatre including "Stray Cats" by Tony Award winning playwright Warren Leight. His current activities as a leader / co-leader include Tomas Fujiwara's The Hook Up, the Taylor Ho Bynum / Tomas Fujiwara (True Events, 2007), and The Thirteenth Assembly (Spring 2008 release).

As a teacher, Tomas has taught workshops, master classes, and drum clinics throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia as well as private instruction for over 10 years. Tomas has worked with Tracy Straus for nearly 10 years and is thrilled to be a first year member of CTB!

Gemtria St Clair - Guest Instructor

Gemtria grew up in El Paso, Texas and began studying ballet at the age of three. She danced as a member of the corps and a demi-soloist with the University Civic Ballet Company under the direction of Ingeborg Heuser for 5 years. Gemtria attended UTEP, and later The University of Utah, on full ballet scholarships. She raised four children before resurrecting her dance background to become an instructor for the National Dance Institute of New Mexico (NDI-NM) in 1998. She spent several years as the North Artistic Director for NDI-NM, co-choreographing the End-of-the-Year Event, directing the North Show, overseeing staff, and training apprentices. In 2004, NDI-NM was asked to assist with establishing an independent organization in El Paso, using the NDI teaching techniques. Gemtria acted as an artistic and administrative consultant and was a founding member of the Kid's Excel El Paso Board of Directors. Her interest in the success of the organization inspired her to move to El Paso to fill the position of Artistic/Executive Director for the budding program in 2005. Since then, the organization has experienced meteoric growth and serves over 1400 children with its innovative weekly dance program.

Jennifer Box-Guest Instructor

Jennifer began training with the National Dance Institute (NDI) under Jacques d' Amboise in 1999 where she taught NDI classes in the NYC public schools, assisted in Teacher Training Workshops, and directed NDI residencies in colleges and universities.  Jennifer left NYC to work with National Dance Institute New Mexico as their Teaching Excellence Associate Director, training teachers and developing In-School curriculum.  Promoted to Associate Artistic Director, Jennifer directed their annual Event performances that culminated in a two-week Theatre performance with 1000 dancers.

Jennifer has also consulted for Sesame Street Workshops, creating lesson plans and informational web pages for their 'Dancing with Zoe Video' and has presented at the National Dance Education Organization Conference.  In the summer of 2005, Jennifer's first educational dance book on choreographer Jose Limon was published by Rosen Publishing Group.  Jennifer has performed and choreographed in Modern, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theater, Hip Hop and West African performances for nine years in NYC with many prestigious choreographers/producers in various companies. Jennifer Box holds an M.A. in Dance Education, Teaching in Higher Education and a B.S. in Dance Education, K-12, both from The Steinhardt School of Education at New York University.  She also received an A. A. in Dance Performance from Dean College and attended The Alvin Ailey American Dance Certificate Program.

Currently Jennifer serves as an independent NDI Dance Educator working only with NDI Affiliated Programs such as National Dance Institute (NYC), Kids Excel (TX), California Dance Institute and Celebrate the Beat (CO).  With 10 years experience in the NDI methodology she assists Directors in creating Teacher Training Programs, In-School Residencies and/or choreography for these NDI Affiliated Programs.

 Heather Kratz Malcuit-Teaching Artist/Program Developer

Heather grew up in a small town in western Kentucky, where music and education were huge influences on her life, growing up with teachers and musicians as parents.  As a young girl she dreamed of expanding her musical studies into dance, but instead focused on the environment when she received a BA in Natural Resource Conservation Management as she studied Wildlife Ecology at the University of Kentucky.  After her studies she moved to the small mountain town of Crested Butte, Colorado where she continued her education at Western State College, earning a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies in Science and licensure as an elementary school teacher.  Crested Butte offered Heather the opportunity to combine her various passions for the environment and education, living among the beauty of the mountains and teaching young children at a progressive and creative pre-school.  It was during this time that she was surprisingly opened up to the world of African dance.  Once she discovered her particular love for West African dance, she traveled throughout the state and country to study under various teachers.  Her studies eventually took her to the source when she traveled to Guinea, West Africa where she lived and studied dance, song, drumming, and culture with master teacher and choreographer Mustapha Bangoura.  Since her travels, Heather has danced, drummed, and choreographed for the percussion and dance ensemble Ballet Fote Kan, as well as taught African dance classes for children and adults in her community.  In October 2007, Heather had the amazing opportunity to serve as teaching assistant to Tracy Straus during the CTB residency in her home town of Crested Butte.  She discovered the rarest of opportunities, to merge her greatest passions, teaching children and dance in the setting of the Colorado mountains.  In August 2008 she accepted the position of Teaching Artist/Program Developer of CTB and is thrilled for the opportunity to share joyful dance with children throughout the state of Colorado.  She is grateful to her husband, family, friends, teachers and mentors, the community of Crested Butte, and the children she has taught for their never ending support, encouragement, and inspiration to follow her dreams.