Yolanda Daelemans, Chair: Ms. Daelemans has been on the faculty of the Dancing Arts Center since 1991. She holds her undergraduate degree in dance from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She currently teaches movement experiences, creative movement, pre-modern and pre-ballet. She has taught jazz, modern, and ballet, reaching nearly every dance genre of Western dance.  Ms. Daelemans' jazz style is derived from intensive training with reknown artists such as Matt Mattox, Richard Jones, Jimmy Viera, Eva von Gemsy, Jeanette Neil, and Danny Buraczeski. Her modern training includes coursework with Andrea Watkins, Ann Marie Forsythe, Terese Freedman, and her ballet training includes studies with Gary Schaff of Milwaukee Ballet, Andrea Watkins, Chris Beckwith, and numerous Massachusetts-based dance centers.

Brittany Delany, Volunteer Coordinator: Brittany holds her undergraduate degrees in Dance:Choreography & Performance and in French Studies from Wesleyan University. She communicates enthusiastic curiosity and a strong work ethic. Brittany dances with Tribe, the Dance Company, Unyted Stylz Crew and Pedro Alejandro Dance & Dancers. She works as Associate Editor of the Dance section at Hot Stepz Magazine. Committed to a love of the performing arts, Brittany seeks creative ways to connect dance/movement/community/embodiment/engagement/education. She acts as Dance Company Liaison and Volunteer Coordinator for the Massachusetts Dance Festival.

Karyn Edison, Literature, Dance Education and Programs Director: Ms. Edison founded the Dancing Arts Center in 1979. She holds her undergraduates degree in dance from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She has also earned the title of "Expert" certified exercise trainer. Ms. Edison's extensive directing and teaching includes teaching and overseeing classes in creative movement, pre-ballet, classical ballet, modern and jazz. She plans and coordinates all classes, workshops, performances, and events at and from DAC. Her students have for many years participated in Little Night Dancing Festival, Charles River Dance Festival, and several others.  Ms. Edison brings 15 years of experience as founding committee member of the Boston Children’s Dance Festival to the development of the Massachusetts Dance Festival. 

Lisa Leake, Development/Marketing Director: Ms. Leake holds an MBA, M.Ed., and Massachusetts dance teacher’s license.  She has trained internationally, and currently performs African dance/drumming, and contemporary dance throughout New England, while teaching in public and private high schools and colleges. She is a member of the Agbekor Drum and Dance Society (ADDS), under Professor David Locke, co-founder of BodyGrooves world dance and music organization, with Jerry Leake, and dancer with Silimbo Senegalese company. She is an active member of MAASH, Artists Under the Dome, Artists for Humanity, and other social action groups. For nearly two decades, Ms. Leake has written grants, developed curriculum, and created marketing and public relations platforms for arts and health programs.

Erica Sigal, Dance, Volunteers and Program Director: Erica coordinates Dance in the Schools in Cambridge, MA.  She is the Volunteer Co-coordinator for the annual  Boston Children’s Dance Festival.  She has been on the committee for the Massachusetts Dance Festival since its inception.  Erica presents workshops on the BrainDance, and on integrating movement and dance into the classroom.  Erica also teaches Creative Movement to children and families around Greater Boston - in classrooms, community centers, studios, libraries and outdoors.

H. Pinar Zengingonul, Ph.D. Director of IT and Technology: H. Pinar Zengingonul, a native of Antalya, Turkey, studied dance abroad, then at the University of Illinois, where she was elected director of the Turkish Folk Dance Group. From 1997-2002 she was a dancer, assistant director and manager with Collage Dance Ensemble, under the direction of Ahmet Luleci. She studied with international artists such as: Kieran Jordan, Ramon de los Reyes and Clara Ramon, Ksusha Melyukhina, Regina Hancher, and Sheila Skitnevsky-Finger.  In 2002 Ms. Zengingonul founded MAVI DANCE, and in 2005 her work was commissioned by World Music/Crash Arts to be presented in the “Dance Straight Up” dance performance series.  She was a finalist in Massachusetts Cultural Council’s 2008 statewide choreography competition, and currently choreographs for Boston Int’l Dance Learning Group, Boston Chinese Dance Group, and Mavi Dance.