Ballaro Dance
see, move, share
Ballaro Dance builds community through the creation and presentation of modern dance while inviting its audience, often first-time dance viewers, to SEE, MOVE, & SHARE with the Company in an approachable, welcoming environment. Adhering to its mission, the Company takes pride in skillfully connecting with various communities inviting them to SEE dance in formal and informal settings, to MOVE while participating in the art, and to SHARE while gathering for conversation enabling deep connections. Founded in 2014, Ballaro Dance is proud to call New York City its home. We dance to engage with people; we choreograph to tell stories; we produce art to build community.
Meet The Team
Marisa f. Ballaro
A proud Buffalo, NY native, Marisa f. Ballaro (Choreographer; Dancer) is a curious learner and an avid community builder. With dual degrees in Dance and Interdisciplinary Arts for Children, she is a summa cum laude graduate of SUNY College at Brockport where she received prestigious honors including the Marion Schrank Student Leadership Award and the Outstanding Scholar in the School of Arts & Performance. Marisa is on dance faculty at The Brearley School in Manhattan; she performed for over a decade with the American Dance Legacy Initiative’s repertory ensemble, Dancing Legacy. Passionate about service, Marisa is on the Board of Directors for the SUNY Brockport Alumni Association, and she is the Endurance Chair for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Tomorrow's Leaders. She was recognized as an Outstanding Educator by The University of Chicago in October 2019 and is the recipient of two honors awarded by The Brearley School: the Margaret Riker Harding Lower School Fellowship and the Serena Marshall Weld Award. Marisa is currently pursuing her Masters of Fine Arts in Dance at Montclair State University. She is the Founding Artistic Director of Ballaro Dance.
Hannah Kearney
Hannah Kearney (Company Dancer) is a dancer and Pilates teacher based in Brooklyn, NY. She graduated summa cum laude from George Mason University with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Arts Management. She also received her Accelerated Studies certificate from the Martha Graham School of Dance. Hannah has performed works by Francisco Gella, Robert Battle, Martha Graham, and Donald Byrd. Hannah has danced with JKing Dance Company and Philadanco Second Company, and is excited to be in her fourth season with Ballaro Dance. Hannah teaches Pilates virtually and in-person in Brooklyn. She loves walking her dog in Fort Greene Park and recently fulfilled her dream of traveling to Spain.
Hannah Dillenbeck
Hannah Dillenbeck (Company Dancer, Rehearsal Assistant) is a performer and Pilates instructor based in NYC. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Oklahoma with a BFA in Modern Dance and a BS in Biology/Neurobiology. Hannah has studied and performed abroad at International Dance Conferences in Beijing, China and in Barcelona, Spain. Hannah has also danced with MUMOS Dance and continues to work/perform with Forza Dance Company and visual artist, Reza Farkondeh. Hannah grew up in Rochester, NY and has a lifetime love of dogs, hiking, and spending time outdoors. While in University, she loved volunteering for Dance for Parkinson’s classes. Hannah began working with Ballaro Dance virtually as a Community MOVER in Oklahoma while finishing her degree in fall of 2020. She joined the Company in 2021.
Marina Vianello
Marina Vianello (Company Dancer) is an NYC-based dance artist from Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from George Mason University with a BFA in Dance & a Global Systems Minor where she performed works by Alejandro Cerrudo, Robert Battle, Lar Lubovitch, and Christopher d’Amboise. Past professional credits include the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and Yoo & Dancers. She teaches dance and does administrative work for Moulin/Belle, an artist residency center in France, and for Pony Box Dance Theatre. In addition to Ballaro Dance, she currently dances with Mari Meade Dance Collective, Arsenal Movement Dance Project, and Terre Dance Collective. She is fluent in French, and a lover of animals and pasta.
Maitlin Jordan
Maitlin Jordan (Guest Performer) is a graduate of the University of South Florida and the Limón Professional Studies program; she was hand-picked to perform as a guest artist during the Limon Dance Company’s 2018-2019 season. Maitlin has performed at venues such as: The Joyce Theatre, Aaron Davis Hall, Dance Theatre of Harlem, The Tank, Triskelion Arts, among many others. She currently dances for Saraika Movement Collective, Forza Dance Company, Becky Brown Dance and various freelance projects. Maitlin has a passion for choreographing and wishes to start a dance company of her own one day. Aside from dance, Maitlin loves to crochet and watch Law and Order!