Meet the Dream Team

Lara Ganz is the founder and artistic director of Dream Studio Dance in Red Hook, NY and has been teaching dance for 20+ years. Lara began her dance training in Miami, Florida where she attended New World School of the Arts, training under Freddick Bratcher, Allegra Kent, Ted Kivitt, Daniel Lewis, Cuca Martinez, and Risa Steinberg. As a young dancer, Lara spent summers at training programs including UNCSA, Ballet Concerto, and the Jose Limon Company Intensive. 

Lara went on to attend Bard College, where she continued dancing while earning her BA in Organic Chemistry. She then went on to earn her JD from Vermont Law School with a concentration in environmental law, and after practicing for five years Lara decided to return to her passion of dance full time. In 2004, she opened Dream Studio Dance and Movement LLC in Rhinebeck and founded Veritas Dance Company in 2005.  

Over the past two decades, Lara has created 30+ original evening length works and produced over 25 live performances within the school and the Veritas Dance Company. The Veritas Dance company has presented work at local theaters including the LUMA Theater at the Richard B. Fisher Center for Performing Arts and UPAC, and have been invited to perform at the Vanaver Caravan Dance Fest, the Summer Wellness Festival, and Mohonk Mountain House. 

In addition to teaching and directing at Dream, Lara has taught as an adjunct professor in ballet at Vassar College and completed the first degree of the ABT National Training Curriculum. Dream Studio students and alumni have gone on to attend college dance programs at universities such as Barnard College of Columbia University and SUNY Purchase, and many have been accepted to prestigious summer programs including ABT, NYSSA, UNCSA, AAB, Hubbard Street Chicago, Kaatsban, Boston Ballet, Harid Conservatory, Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey, Mark Morris Dance Group, The Martha Graham School, David Dorfman Dance, the Cunningham Trust, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Bates Dance Festival, and more.

As Dream Studio enters its 20th Anniversary Year, Lara looks forward to continuing to teach and inspire the next generation of dancers, including those who wish to pursue dance as a career and those who simply dance for the love of it.

Patty McNulty is the Studio Manager at Dream Studio and has been part of our team since 2021.

With a BFA in Painting from the School of Visual Arts and a short stint in film and television, Patty later became a licensed RN and spent years working in critical care and emergency rooms throughout Westchester and NYC.

Her Dream Studio story began when she brought her daughter Anna to the studio—and eventually, all three of her daughters danced here! What started as a dance school for her family grew into a place she now helps make special for so many others.

We’re so lucky to have Patty as part of the Dream family!

Aaron Barela was born and raised in Phoenix and got his BFA in Choreography from Arizona State University. His eclectic taste and unique flair for combining genres has earned him opportunities to teach and choreograph for organizations such as the 92nd St Y, Broadway Dance Center, Ballet Hispanico, Gibney Dance, and Aerial Dance Chicago. Aaron McGloin Dance, his professional company, operated for 10 years and their work reached thousands of students and audience members throughout the country. He recently relocated to the Hudson Valley from NYC and is excited to join the Dream Studio family.

Susan has taught dance for 30+ years including at Dream Studio since it opened. She specializes in ballet, pointe, and jazz. Her favorite class is teaching company class Saturday mornings, because everyone comes to class fresh and ready to start the day!

Paris is an alumna of Dream Studio. She was also a member of Veritas Dance Company for 3 years. Paris has been teaching since 2021 and teaches Jazz, Hip Hop, Ballet, and Jazz Competition Team. She especially loves teaching the youngest dancers as she is able to introduce them to a love of the art of dance. Paris holds a degree in Psychology from SUNY New Paltz and she is currently working on her masters in School Counseling.

Miriam Mahdaviani danced with the New York City Ballet after training at the School of American Ballet under George Balanchine. She performed featured roles in ballets including Serenade, Jewels, The Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker, and worked with renowned choreographers including Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and Twyla Tharp.

Miriam began her choreographic career at NYCB and has created ballets for companies and colleges across the country. She is currently Lecturer and Chair of Dance at Vassar College and teaches Balanchine technique at the American Academy of Ballet summer intensive.

Miriam is looking forward to teaching advanced ballet at Dream this year.

Cindy is new to the Dream Studio faculty and the Hudson Valley. She has 40 years of professional experience in dance, direction and choreography, and education. Cindy’s resume includes working with ballet companies and Broadway legends, performing on Broadway, teaching ballet, tap and jazz at all levels in schools and university settings. Cindy’s first love is dance, and she can’t wait to share the joy of technique and creativity. 

(Photo Credit: Deborah Lopez)

Erika has been dancing for more than 25 years, she began training with Lara and Susan in Ballet and modern in her youth at a local dance studio. She has been teaching at Dream Studio for over 12 years. She currently teaches ballet and jazz as well as jazz team. Her repertoire encompasses knowledge and training in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, hip hop, and modern/contemporary. Erika attended American Academy of Ballet summer intensive, and was accepted to Joffrey Ballet School summer programs. She was a member of the Ithaca College Dance Team which competed at the national level and performed in multiple Dance Companies at Ithaca College. She loves teaching dance and being a mentor.

Lisa Brown is a dynamic and experienced dance instructor with a passion for teaching and inspiring others through movement. With over 20 years of teaching experience in the Hudson Valley, nationally, and internationally, Lisa has become a trusted name in the dance community.

Lisa's love for dance began at a young age when she participated in an art showcase in her Staten Island community. From that moment, she knew that dance was her calling. Throughout her career, Lisa has honed her skills and expanded her repertoire, teaching children of all ages as well as adult group fitness classes and hosting hip hop dance workshops.

In Lisa's classes, participants can expect a fun, energetic, and supportive environment that fosters growth and self-expression. She believes in nurturing coordination, body awareness, self-esteem, and confidence in her students, helping them reach their full potential. Lisa's positive teaching style ensures that every individual feels encouraged and motivated to excel.

Miranda has been dancing for over ten years and was thrilled to have the opportunity to begin teaching hip hop. Hip hop has always felt like home to her—a place where she can let go, tell a story, and fully be herself. Dance has brought Miranda confidence, connection, and immense joy, and her favorite part is sharing that energy with others and watching them light up when they move.

Madison Winters is an alumni of Dream Studio. She started dancing when she was 3 years old and has studied the styles of ballet, contemporary, modern, hip hop, tap, jazz, pointe, kick line and Irish step. Maddie has attended Rhinebeck Dance Center, Solas An Lae, The D’amby Project, and Dream Studio. She has had the opportunity to dance at Tap City and was a member of Veritas Dance Company from 2017-2018. Maddie received her dual bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood/Childhood Education at SUNY Oneonta. While getting her degree, she performed with the Terpsichorean Dance Company, a student-run company, for all four years of college, training in hip hop, contemporary, jazz, kick line, and tap. Maddie loves working at dream studio because she gets to do what she loves and help other students do what they love.

Alayna’s love of dance began at just 2 years old at Dream Studio where she danced through age 14 and was a part of the Veritas Dance Company. She went on to attend the University of North Carolina School of the Arts High School, concentrating in ballet, before earning her BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase College. During her time at Purchase, she also became a certified Pilates instructor, integrating her passion for movement and body awareness into her teaching.

She has had the privilege of working with renowned artists including Susan Jaffe, Christopher Rudd, Jared Redick, Doug Varone, and many more. Her performance experience spans a wide range of repertoire, from original contemporary, and contemporary ballet works to beloved classical and Balanchine ballets.

Now pursuing her Master’s in Education at SUNY Cortland, Alayna is passionate about creating, inspiring, and helping young dancers discover their own magic through movement.

She teaches Little Dreamers, Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and Hip Hop Competition Team! 

Aubrey has been teaching aerial silks at Dream Studio for 6 years ranging from absolute beginners to advanced students preparing for college and adults who are intrigued. Her training began in NYC 10 years ago and she fell in love with the art form, studied under several masters, and began teaching. Aubrey has performed for various companies throughout the years across the east coast aiming to bring the circus arts to as many people as she can. Aubrey has a BFA in Musical Theater with a focus of vocal performance and Acro movement. She decided to continue her education in Physical Therapy as a licensed PTA and is currently working towards her Doctorate degree (DPT). She has a background in teaching through Rondout Valley School district and Highland Central Schools teaching various subjects, music, and other skills to students and other teachers. Performance, music, and movement has always been part of her life. Aubrey loves to show her students how to defy gravity, know their anatomy, and perform with confidence. Onward and upward!

Lily has been dancing at Dream Studio for nearly 10 years, and dance has been a huge part of her life ever since. Lily is a current member of Veritas Dance Company has been training to be a dance instructor under mentorship of Dream Studio Facility over the last years. 

Lily loves helping dancers build confidence, have fun, and feel comfortable being themselves while they learn and grow. Lily will be teaching Tap A for her second year and she can’t wait to meet everyone and share an amazing year of dancing together!