My commitment to teaching dance and choreography is strong, as is evidenced by my 35 years of work in diverse communities in Argentina, Chile, Italy and the United States.
My background affords me a unique perspective in teaching and administrating in a multicultural and multiracial environment.
My areas of artistic specialization are Choreography/Composition, Dance-Theater, Ballet, Modern Dance, Argentinean Tango, Methodology of Teaching Dance, Dance History and Dance Criticism.
I have significant administrative experience, including being the Founder/Director/Choreographer of three dance companies and one dance school in Argentina. Anabella Lenzu/DanceDrama (2006-present in NYC), Anabella Lenzu Dance Company (2002-2004 in Italy, which performed and toured Italy sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Culture), and L'Atelier Ballet Contemporaneo (1996-2000, performing nationally in Argentina and two international tours in Chile).
I have managed both administrative staffs and dance companies, and have a broad range of experience including development, budgeting, publicity/marketing/social media, artist and tour management, and board relations.
As artistic director, I founded L’Atelier: Centro Creativo de Danza in 1994, and directed the school until 2001. L’Atelier was established as a center for dance where students develop a sensibility for art and where ethical and aesthetic knowledge are combined with the joy of creating through a holistic and humanistic approach. I established and refurbished a 4,000 sq. ft. rehearsal and performance space with two studios, a monthly performance series, and community outreach programs; handling all publicity and studio bookings. Furthermore, I managed and produced successful fundraising and benefit events. I developed the curriculum for the entire school, which gives dance instructor certification. I selected and coordinated 5 full-time faculty members and administrative assistants. I planned and developed a certificate program in experimental performance, recruited over 350 students, designed full-time curriculum, taught classes in dance, advised student projects & choreographed work on students. Curriculum Development : In addition to developing the curriculum for L’Atelier, in Italy I collaborated with the dance schools DanzArte, Movimento Danza, and Projetto Arte to develop their Modern Dance and Ballet curriculum. I have also been a consultant for various dance schools and Universities addressing curriculum and programming issues.
As a dancer, I have maintained a strong technique in both Ballet and Modern Dance from my early training. I trained in Ballet at the renowned Teatro Colón in Bs. As. (Argentina), with CuBallet (Cuban School of Ballet in Argentina), Modern Dance as guest student at the Juilliard School in 1999, at Limón Institute, Martha Graham School, Merce Cunnigham Studio, with Anna Sokolow Company and Mary Anthony Studio in NYC. I have also studied Tango in depth, as well as the folk and traditional dances of Argentina, Spain and Italy.
As a choreographer, I have been commissioned all over the world, for opera, TV programs, theatre productions, and by many dance companies, such as Anna Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble (New York) and Movimento Danza (Naples, Italy). (see resume for details). I have been performing and teaching in Argentina, Italy, England, Chile and the US, showing my own work and collaborating with other dance companies as a free-lance choreographer. My experience also includes organizing and coordinating schedules for artist and staff, as well as organizing performances, dance festivals and tours.
I produced and directed several award-winning short dance films and screened the work in over 200 festivals both nationally and internationally, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, London, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States & Venezuela (see CV document for details).
Teaching is a passion for me. I founded her own dance school L’Atelier Centro Creativo de Danza in 1994 in Argentina, and as an educator for more than 30 years, she has been teaching in more than 50 institutions, including universities, professional dance studios, companies, festivals, and symposiums in the USA, Canada, Ireland, Egypt, Australia, Panamá, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, London, and Italy.
I am a dedicated educator and truly enjoy guiding my students to make discoveries and find their own voices through movement. Regular classes, workshops, and residencies both in-person and online include Dance-Theater, Ballet, Modern, Argentinean Tango, Choreography/Composition, Repertory, Dance History, Dance Criticism, Anatomy, and Methodology of Teaching. I have been teaching in higher education since 2005 (see CV document for details). From 2020 to the present, I created and directed the Online Choreographic Mentorship Program.
Since 2005, I have lived and worked in in New York City, and currently conduct regular classes in Dance-Theater, Barre-a-Terre, Anatomy, Dance History, and Dance Criticism at NYU Gallatin, School of Visual Arts, Wagner College, Joffrey Ballet School, and Peridance Center. I have also served on the faculty at Lehman College (CUNY), Sarah Lawrence College, California State University Fullerton, Mark Morris Dance Center, Dance New Amsterdam, and New Dance Group. Aside from a regular performance schedule for my own company, I routinely choreograph and direct student performances at the institutions where I teach. (see CV document for details)
In 2023, I received the National Award for Outstanding Leadership in the Independent Sector by NDEO (National Dance Education Organization) and in 2022, the Innovative Dance Educator Award by NYSDEA (New York State Dance Education Association), acknowledging my work as a dance educator who develops innovative pedagogy in the dance field, groundbreaking teachings that have a significant impact on dance, as well as an established record of exemplary leadership on the state and national level in USA.
As a writer, I am the Author of the Book: UNVEILING MOTION AND EMOTION, A bilingual book (Spanish/English) about the importance of dance, community, choreography, and dance pedagogy. MY second book, Teaching Dance through Meaningful Gestures, is expected in 2025, and explores how technique is a philosophy and a theory, and how the body is an instrument for expression.
During 1998 –2001, I was the Editor in Chief of Nexos de la Cultura Bahiense Magazine (Argentina). I have given lectures and classes on the World History of Dance at colleges, universities and other institutions, including New York University Tisch BFA and MFA Dance, Columbia University, Temple University, Fordham University, Sarah Lawrence College, Wagner College, LeftForum/ John Jay College, La Sapienza (Rome, Italy), Centro Cultural Borges (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Universidad Nacional del Sur (Bs. As, Argentina). I am a Member of the Dance Critics Association (New York) and author of articles, interviews, and reviews in Attitude: The Dancers Magazine (New York), The Dance Enthusiast (New York), Danza en Español (USA), Viceverza Magazine (NYC), NDEO (National Dance Education Organization) Behind the Curtain Blog (USA), Fluir Revista Mexicana de Danza Contemporánea (Mexico), Danzaria (Spain), Revista ODÁ (Iberoamérica), The Dance Citizen (USA), Paso a Paso (Colombia), La Luciernaga (Argentina) & Danza & Ballet (Spain).
Board Member: In October 2024, I was appointed president of the American Dance Guild, dedicated to supporting artists and bringing the dance community together since 1956. I have also been a board member of the Pioneers Go East Collective since 2021. In the past, I was an advisory board member of Peridance Center, The Brick Theater, and IDACO (Italian Dance Connections Festival) in New York, as well as part of the Host Committee for New Yorkers for Culture and Arts (NY4CA). I served on the Selection Committee for the Bessie’s Awards from 2020-2024.
Adjudicating: She regularly serves on selection panels for national and international grants, residencies, festivals, and other funding organizations.