Meet our Faculty

Jessica Caradonna

Director

Jessica Caradonna is the proud Director of this vibrant dance studio. With 30 years of experience at the studio—20 years as a dedicated dancer and 10 years as an instructor—she is deeply passionate about nurturing the next generation of dancers. Throughout her career, Jessica has been honored with numerous awards for her choreography, including entertainment and costume awards, as well as many overall awards and first-place trophies. She specializes in Tap and Jazz, where she focuses on helping students excel and discover their unique dance voice. She is also a proud member of Dance Educators of America and holds a Tap Roots certification, which further enhances her expertise and dedication to the art of tap dance. What drives Jessica most is witnessing the transformation in her students—from the moment they struggle with a step to the joy of finally mastering it. She finds it incredibly rewarding to see them grow both as dancers and as individuals. When she is not at the studio, Jessica loves spending time with family and friends and indulging in a good book. She is excited to share her passion for dance with every student and to help them achieve their fullest potential.

Jaymie Rehberger (she/her) is from Queens, New York. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a BFA in Dance. Jaymie also attended Frank Sinatra School of the Arts where she worked with different choreographers such as Kelby Brown. Throughout her dance career she had the pleasure of working with Isaac Lerner, Frank Augustyn, Orion Duckstein, Marie Zvosec, Sam Baker, Maggie Joy, Larry Keigwin, Maleek Washington, Doug Varone, and Brandon Coleman. Jaymie also has been training and assisting at Broadway Dance Center with a popular faculty member, Michelle Barber. Jaymie choreographed her own piece for the Young People’s Concert at the New York Philharmonic. While she had studied and trained here at Queens Dance Academy for 15 years she has now shifted to the role of choreographer. She has won multiple choreography awards including Choreographer of the Year at Journey Nationals 2026. Jaymie is very excited to continue her role as Assistant Director this upcoming season and can’t wait to see how the studio grows as the years go on.

Jaymie Rehberger

Assistant Director / Choreographer

Gary McCall

Choreographer

Gary McCall (he/him) graduated with a B.F.A. in Dance from New York University in 2023. He has taught dance to a wide range of students in the NYC and Jersey City area, and is a certified mat Pilates instructor through Gramercy Pilates. His performance credits include being a company dancer for Nimbus Dance, under the direction of Samuel Pott, as well as works by Trisha Brown, Bill T. Jones, and Sidra Bell. He has participated in several choreographic residencies/showcases including “Digging In Group” at Green Space, Steps Beyond Foundation Choreography Lab, and “Studio to Stage” at Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company. What Gary loves most of about teaching dance is connecting with his students and seeing their growth; not as only as artists, but as humans.

Emma Simons is a dance artist and personal trainer based in New York City. She grew up in Charlotte, NC, as a competitive dancer, assisting and touring nationally with various conventions. In 2026, Emma graduated summa cum laude from George Mason University with a BFA in Dance and Performance and a minor in Arts Management, studying under the direction of Susan Shields. During her time at Mason, she performed works by Robert Battle, Robyn Mineko Williams, Christopher D’Amboise, Kyle Abraham, Andrea Miller, Doug Varone, Branndi Lewis, and Shaun D’Arcy, among others. Her artistic practice has been further developed through programs including Springboard Danse Pittsburgh, Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Program, Ballets Jazz Montréal, Dance Kaleidoscope, and Dance West Fest. Most recently, Emma joined Banyan Dance Company in West Palm Beach, performing in a world premiere by Sean Aaron Carmon for the inaugural Banyan Dance Festival.
In addition to her dance practice, Emma is passionate about health and wellness. She is a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and has worked with a wide range of individuals—from those living with chronic illness to fellow dancers seeking supplemental training. Her goal is to help others define and achieve their own version of true health through movement, strength, and mindful support.

Emma Simons

Choreographer

Wendolyn Grullon

Choreographer

Wendolyn Grullon was a dedicated competition dancer for 12 years at Queens Dance Academy before transitioning into teaching. She now teaches recreational ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop, as well as competition classes in Hip-hop and Jazz. Wendolyn also coaches solos across various dance styles, including Lyrical, Hip-hop, and Jazz. Her choreography for the platinum award-winning hip-hop routine “Let It Go” earned her crowd-pleaser and choreography awards in the 2023-2024 dance season. In the previous season, she played a key role along with fellow teachers in winning the Outstanding Entertainment award for the routine “Jaw Drop.” Wendolyn has a strong passion for teaching and is committed to inspiring her students. She takes pride in helping dancers refine their skills and reach their full potential, whether they're in recreational classes or preparing for competitions.​

Orit Hirsch is a NYC-based dance educator, professional tap dancer and choreographer. Orit has been teaching for 15 years, trained in Tap, Ballet and Contemporary Lyrical. Orit studied under the guidance of Mandy Kol, Sharon Lavi, Zvia Brumer and Yuval Beck, was a member of TEMPO group, performed in the show Time2Tap (Artistic Director: Yuval Beck) and worked with leading theaters - 'Cameri' and 'Habima' as a Tap coach for the productions of Funny Girl, My Fair Lady and Singin' In The Rain. Currently on faculty at Broadway Dance Center NYC. Her classes focus on technical skills, musicality, clarity of sound, finding the breath in the movement, and most importantly creating a safe space and a supportive community.

Orit Hirsch

Choreographer

Juliana Yaniz

Choreographer

Juli Yaniz is a Miami native and a recent graduate of Washington University in St. Louis. There, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Chemistry and trained under former Alvin Ailey principal dancers Antonio and Kirven Douthit-Boyd. Before attending college, she trained at Patricia Penenori Dance Center in Miami, Florida for 15 years in ballet, modern, jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop. She also attended Gulliver Preparatory School and was Co-Captain of their dance team during her senior year. She has attended summer intensives with companies, such as Ballet Hispanico and Peridance, in New York City, and she trains in commercial dance styles with working professionals in the NYC dance industry. Currently, she is a professional dancer based in New York City, and she recently performed in the Macy’s Day Parade with Huntrix in the K-POP Demon Hunters Performance.

Laura is the Co-Owner and Studio Manager here at Queens Dance Academy. With over 25 years of experience as a dance Mom at QDA, Laura has been deeply involved in the dance community and is passionate about ensuring the studio runs smoothly. Her role includes handling phone calls, scheduling, bookkeeping, and managing payments. Laura’s love for dance began long before she became a studio manager. Once her daughters started to dance, she knew it was something special, and being a part of their journey fueled her desire to dive deeper into the world of dance. This involvement has given Laura valuable insights into the business and has enriched her appreciation for the art form.

Laura Rehberger

Co-Owner and Studio Manager
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