Meet the Mentors

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Amandy Fernandez hails from New York City, a place that has always fueled her with its genuine and unfiltered vibe. Raised by traditional parents, she grew up to be a determined and resilient woman, pursuing her creative and artistic passions. Amandy has honed her skills in various street styles like house, popping, and waving just to name a few. She also trained in diverse choreography styles with companies such as Kr3Ts, Monsters of Hip Hop, and Motivating Excellence.

Her love for music and dance has led her to tour and collaborate with top celebrities like Beyonce, Rihanna, Madonna, Jlo, Chris Brown, Miss Elliot, and many others.

She has also contributed to campaigns, fashion shows, commercials, and movies (Movies: Step up 3, Vox Lox, In the Heights, and Marry Me), showcasing her talent and versatility.

Currently, Amandy is exploring different creative outlets, including photography, editing, creative direction, styling, makeup, and choreography, pushing boundaries and inspiring others to chase their dreams, regardless of their circumstances.

Brandy Blaha is an accomplished choreographer, dance teacher, and dancer. Born in Detroit, MI she graduated from Wayne State University with her Bachelor's Degree of Fine Arts in Dance and her Masters in Teaching Artistry. Brandy has had the honor of working with many acclaimed choreographers such as: Brenda Bufalino, Michelle Dorrance, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Derick K. Grant, Jared Grimes, and Jason Samuels-Smith. While living in New York, Brandy was a member of Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards “Sophisticated Ladies” who performed weekly at the legendary Cotton Club. Brandy spent 3 years in Washington DC teaching and performing with "SoleDefined", a Percussive Dance Company.  

Dennis Rivera Lopez, raised in the heart of West Harlem, is a dynamic force in the world of dance, movement, and artistic expression. At 30 years old, he has carved out a reputation as a professional dancer, pushing boundaries with his versatility, athleticism, and raw passion for the craft.

Beyond the stage, Dennis is a Gymnastics Coach specializing in Trampoline and Tumbling, channeling his expertise into shaping the next generation of athletes. His passion extends to photography and personal training, where he continues to explore and refine his artistic and physical disciplines.

With an unyielding drive, a deep love for movement, and an ever-evolving skill set, Dennis Rivera Lopez stands as a true embodiment of artistry, strength, and resilience—a performer, mentor, and visionary who continues to leave an indelible mark on every stage he steps onto.

Erik Chocianowski is an artist educator.  He loves both the world of theatre and the world of film and he is lucky enough to share the work that he does professionally with the next generation of artists.  Whether he is making a documentary, building a set, or creating a prop, he has a story to tell and enjoys sharing his work with any audience. 

Frida joined the Music Video Program in 2018 as a participant, and has steadily worked her way up as a Production Assistant, Contributing Choreographer, Teacher, and Mentor!  Frida is extremely talented and sets an excellent example for her peers, other professionals, and youth!

Mike Carroll is a graduate of the Park School of Communications at Ithaca College and holds a MA in Communications from the College of Saint Rose. Mike is currently the Communications Manager at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI), a non-profit affiliate of Cornell University. In this role, he focuses on both internal and external communications: producing multiple newsletters, creating videos, editing web pages, managing social media, and much more. Prior to BTI, Mike worked for the Marketing and Communications team at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Mike’s videos and photos have been featured on Animal Planet, the Discovery Channel, CNN, BBC, CBS Evening News, The Dodo, and other networks.

Muriel "Murri-Lynette" Peterson began performing at age 4 with the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company in Syracuse, New York. In 2010, she performed with Dancing In The Streets: Hip-Hop Generation Next ’10 at Lincoln Center. She has also had the honor to perform with tap legends Marshall Davis Jr. and Ted Louis Levy. Most recently, Ms. Peterson was casted in Bill T. Jones’, Deep Blue Sea. Currently, she is a member of the Ladies of Hip-Hop Dance Collective training company. Muriel has a BA in Dance & Urban Studies, with a minor in Spanish language from Queens College—City University of New York, as well as a MFA in dance from Temple University.

Rob Gutierrez says “When I’m presented with challenges I always ask, what would it take to make this possible? My goal is to help others do the same.” Rob is a Health Teacher who holds a B. S. in Physical/Health Education and M.S. in Nutrition and Exercise Science. Rob coaches Strength & Conditioning, Lacrosse, Football, Basketball, Soccer. He is also the co-owner of RADD CrossFit in NY.

 Traci Hinton Peterson is a performer, choreographer and Dance Educator with a wealth of experience.  She has received an Educational Administration Certification from the College of St. Rose and is a graduate of  New York University and Columbia University respectively.  Additionally, she has trained at such notable schools as Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Martha Graham Contemporary School of Dance, and the Canadian National School of Ballet, Toronto, Canada.

Xonik is a professional dancer who is deeply driven by creating and nurturing a sense of community.  He is constantly working on his progress while inspiring and igniting the progress of his peers, fellow artists, and his students.  Xonik joined the Spring 36 team in 2023, as a Choreographer, Dance Educator, and Assistant Director. Xonik has sparked our group’s Freestyling, Dancing, and Creativity!