Team Fitness
Stephanie Mancuso
Owner and Pole Instructor, born and raised in Brooklyn; Stephanie Mancuso is not your average entrepreneur. The 26 year old Pole Dancing Instructor/Owner of ECP has been dancing since the age of 7. With a BA in English from CSI, Stephanie has accomplished her life long goal of owning and running her own dance studio. Amazed at how pole dancing has changed her life in the past two years, Stephanie felt compelled to open a studio of her own a bit closer to home. Facing challenges, pushing her boundaries, and overcoming fears, Stephanie has mastered moves she never imagined she could accomplish. As one of ECP’s most requested beginner Pole Instructors, she really knows how to break down each step and make each class a fun, fit, learning experience. She is a fierce believer in pole dancing as a sport, art form and an avenue of self expression. Certified Zumba Instructor, X-Pert Pole Fitness Certified. steph@exoticcurvespolefitness.
Tanya
Tanya, a life-long lover of fitness, was thrilled when Stephanie presented her with the opportunity to teach at ECP. She has been pole dancing for over two years and is completely addicted! She lives for anything pole related and is now able to share her healthy addiction with South Brooklyn. She loves having a pole studio so close to home and enjoys teaching in such a warm, nurturing environment. Tanya takes much delight in watching her students conquer moves they never thought imaginable, but she has the most joy playing pole hostess for Birthday, Bachelorette and Girls Night Out parties. You want to guarantee a good time? Book Tanya — she makes house calls. CPR/AED Certified. NASM Certified Personal Trainer. X-Pert Pole Fitness Certification. tanya@exoticcurvespolefitness.
Jessica Mari
Jessica began dancing at the age of 3. She has studied jazz, ballet, contemporary and Latin Ballroom and is now reaping the benefits of adding her dance training to her pole training. Jessica has been able to express herself through her pole dancing and is best known for creating a story using the pole as her apparatus. Since discovering pole she has quickly excelled in the art and is delighted to be teaching at ECP! Come check out her Level ll Class Thursdays at 7:45. jess@exoticcurvespolefitness.
Noelle Joseph
ZUMBA instructor, Noelle Joseph, from Staten Island, has been dancing since the age of 3. She is a 27 year old Middle School Science Teacher whose passion has always been dance. Growing up, she studied ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, modern, and contemporary dance. Throughout the years, she has taught ballet, tap, and jazz at her former dance studio, as well as choreographed a wide variety of routines for middle school and high school plays and shows. As a teacher, she also ran an after-school aerobics program. Annually, she runs a dance club, choreographs several routines for the students and teachers, and coordinates the annual Student and Staff Talent Show. Noelle developed a love for Zumba from the moment she started taking classes. She loves how it incorporates different rhythms from all around the world – salsa, merengue, cumbia, reggaton, flamenco, etc. Teaching and doing Zumba allows her to become more physically fit, continue her passion for dance, learn new styles of dance, and most of all, share her amazing experience with other people! Zumba gives her indescribable happiness that everyone deserves to feel. Noelle can’t wait to meet you to share all of this with you! Her classes are Monday 5:45 & 6:45pm. Favorite Quote: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” — Les Brown
Jackie
Zumba instructor, Jackie, has been dancing since the age of 3. She has been competing in dance competitions for about 10 years, as well as danced on the dance team in high school. This 26 year old Zumba instructor and second grade elementary teacher at PS102 has had a passion for dancing and teaching since she was a little girl. Her Zumba classes are fun, easy to follow, and include a lot of upper/mid/lower body strengthening moves. Jackie strongly believes that exercising/dancing is the way to get and stay healthy. She was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma at 19 years old and went through chemotherapy. This wasn’t enough for Jackie. She began going to the gym and exercising everyday since her diagnosis so that she could fight back, beat this cancer and build her body back to its original strength. And she did! Having gone through this experience, Jackie has learned the importance of exercising and hopes to influence her Zumba students and show them that nothing should hold you back from doing what you want to do! Jackie teaches Wednesday 6:30pm, Thursday 6:45pm, and Sunday 11:00am. Favorite quote: “A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by other.” — The Wizard of Oz
Juliana Estrella
Zumba instructor, Juliana, can really make you sweat! Juliana is a Zumba certified and Zumbatomic certified instructor. Her Zumba classes are Tuesday 8:45pm and Saturday at noon. Juliana feels like it is a privilege to be able to teach Zumba because of the unity it creates among people of all cultures and sizes! She feels the music is infectious and it serves as a confidence booster for everyone. Juliana wants everyone to have lots of positive energy and fun so come join her and the party! Favorite Quote: “Love will find a way. Indifference will find an excuse.” — Unknown
Khlood Zanta
Khlood is a Marketing student at New York City College of Technology and has been dancing for several years. She breathes, eats and LIVES for dance. This passionate dancer teaches our belly dancing (and I is available for private hip hop classes) She has danced along side recording artists such as Ne-Yo, Kat DeLuna, Lumidee, Lady Sovereign, Cesar, and more. In Khlood’s belly dancing class you will learn everything from isolations to hip shimmys. Her class is broken down and she is very patient with each and every student. Her music varies from traditional Arabic music to up beat fitness songs so you will not only learn technique, you will also get the work out with out even realizing it. Come take Khlood’s belly dancing class on Sundays at 10:15 am. Favorite Quote: “Dance like no one is watching…” — William W. Purkey
Elaina Royter
Elaina is a professional aerialist who has performed throughout the US and internationally for a number of years. Her background is in Rhythmic Gymnastics where she has over a decade of experience both competing and coaching. She is proud to be a part of Phoenix Entertainment NYC and the nonprofit aerial dance company AERA. She also loves cheese, hugs and old people. Elaina is a native of Bay Ridge and is excited to come back and spread aerial awesomeness to her hometown!
Jenn James
Originally from Arizona, Jen James moved to NYC after graduating from Washington University in St. Louis with a B.A. in psychology and marketing. Her credits span all areas of the entertainment industry and she has danced and choreographed for recording artists, fashion shows, videos, commercials, TV and film in addition to Off-Broadway, stage and club performances all over the US. In 2006 she started MIXT Dance, a dance-based entertainment company that provides customized choreography, dancers and specialty performers for special events and productions. Jen’s recent endeavors involve the integration of aerial techniques with contemporary dance and she believes she has found her niche. With Kyra Johannesen, Kyle McBeth and Ya-Roo Yang, she founded AERA, a non-profit aerial dance company, with which they seek to create and share ground breaking projects combining aerial dance and multimedia installations.
Sadie Wilhelmi
Sadie is a dancer and aerialist, hailing originally from Portland, Oregon. She is trained in a diverse range of disciplines from Classical Ballet, modern dance and aerial acrobatics on silks, hammock, hoop, harness and bungee. She is a graduate of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Fordham University’s BFA program. She recently returned from Italy where she was performing in the critically acclaimed Venice Biennale. She currently teaches and performs with her aerial company, silk, in New York City.
Autumn Burnette
Autumn trained at the Alvin School earning her BFA in dance. She has been performing as an aerialist since 2006, with a specialty in silks, hammock, lyra and pole. Autumn was featured in the Tropicana Casino, Atlantic City as an ensemble member of Footloose. Her performance career has taken her to venues as far as Brazil, Greece and Istanbul. Currently, she is performing with MOMIX Dance Theater.
Stefanie LaMacchia
Stefanie is the first smiling face you see as you walk into ECP. All of our clients love her and her sweet demeanor. She is very helpful and can answer any question you have about the studio that she takes pride working in working. Stefanie started off as a Zumba student in ECP. She loved Zumba and was immediately addicted! She began dancing at the studio everyday and lost 20 pounds. Shortly after becoming a member at ECP Fitness Studio she was hired to work the Front Desk, she is the Front Desk Manager and Event Coordinator, and in charge of e-mail marketing for this one of a kind studio. Stefanie is an active part of events for the studio such as the Third Avenue Festival, Girls Night Out, and the Breast Cancer Zumbathon. She is also one of the hostesses at private parties and makes sure that you have a great time whether you are celebrating a divorce, birthday, or any other occasion. Stefanie loves working at ECP Fitness and values all the great friends she has made along the way. Favorite Quote: “Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” — Marilyn Monroe
Tiffany Moy
Tiffany has been a student at ECP for over a year. She was here when the studio opened for the day and was the last one to leave at night. If she wasn’t at school she was at ECP and her dedication and love for the studio landed her a position working the Front Desk. When she isn’t answering the phones you can find her on the pole perfecting her craft. Favorite Quote: “Someday everything will all make perfect sense so for now, laugh at the confusion, smile through the years, and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason.” – Anonymous
