BROADWAYBOUND

Maureen Cavanaugh Kastl began her professional career at the age of 18 when she earned her Equity card in the “Unsinkable Molly Brown.”  Many musicals followed, “Kiss Me Kate,” “Guys and Dolls,” “West Side Story,” and Promises, Promises.”  At the age of 20 she was asked to stage the Bus and Truck company of “Promises, Promises” in Michael Bennett’s absence (Produced by David Merrick.) 

Her talent for choreography and direction took her down the path of Industrial Producer.  She and her husband Paul formed Fourmost Productions and produced Industrial Musical Shows for Kinney Shoes, John Deere, and Lady Footlocker  to name only a few.  In 1989 she and her husband started the Broadway Bound Workshop and the rest is history.  Maureen has written, directed, and choreographed 16 original musicals.  Her version of the “Snow Queen” was named one of the top 10 new musicals in the International “Musical of the Year” contest in 1996.  As the director of “Broadway Bound” she brings a wealth of experience, wisdom, and love to all her students.

Alanna  Espinal is 19 years old and has been dancing for 17 years. She is trained in all stage styles including ballet, jazz, tap, pointed acrobatics, commercial hip hop  and many more. Alanna is currently under a full scholarship and just completed her first year as a BFA Dance Major at Rutgers Newbrunswick. About a year ago Alanna opened up her own dance company where she has the freedom to explore and enhance her teaching skills. Alanna  has worked with and taught people ranging from ages 3-30 years old, and one she hopes to open up her own dance studio!

Marcos J Velasquez is born and raised in Clifton Nj, he started dancing at the age of 10 from the moment he was inspired by a church hip hop group performance. All Marcos wanted to do was take Hip Hop classes unfortunately, his parents weren't able to afford to put him into classes. He grew up as a self-taught dancer watching YouTube videos of other dance performances and How To videos. He didn’t stop there, his passion for dance grew and he wanted to expand in dance styles. He joined his churches dance group where he learned Liturgical dance. From his experience from the group and Hip Hop knowledge he worked with the children's ministry "Dream Place" and gave dance classes.  He then went to Bergen Community College and studied under Janette Dishuk where he learned Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary and Ballroom which resulted in him joining Tribute Dance Project and Synergy Arts & Wellness in 2014. From there he has participated in TDP/SAW summers creative arts camp at EVA's Village in 2015. He didn’t stop there his love for children continued to grow which caused him to become a dance instructor for different dance studios in many areas. He is now currently working with The Boys and Girls Club of Passaic as a counselor/mentor/dance instructor. His goal is to reach children's hearts through his art and to help them continue their desires in the arts at a young age in a way that wasn't offered to him as a child. "To touch, to move, to inspire. This is the true gift of dance." - Aubrey Lynch and there's no better group to inspire than the children of the future.

Adam Kastl began his professional dancing career at 17 when he was cast as a featured dancer in an Allen Alberts production of, "The American Beat" in Hershey Park PA.  From then on he began touring nationally and regionally with shows that include, "The Wizard of Oz," 42nd St," and "Crazy for You."  Despite dancing Adam has been seen on TV in many commercials and various ABC productions including "The View."  Most recently Adam starred in "Affectations" off Broadway in NYC.

Dahiana Payano always loved to dance since the moment she learned to walk.  She began to train at the age of 8 years old when she took her first Jazz class.  As the years went on her passion for dance flourished and she began to train in Tap, Ballet, Modern, Lyrical and Musical Theater.  She graduated from Passaic County Technical Institute with a concentration in Performing Arts and began her college career at Montclair State University as a Dance Education Major.  There she was introduced to Graham, Hoton, and Limon technique.  Now she studies at Bergen Community College as an Education major and is thrilled to be teaching at Broadway Bound.

V, as she is affectionately called, was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. She attended her mother’s dance school, another dance school, some sports, and actively performed before graduating with high honors from the National School of Dance Art-Bulgaria, and the Vienna State Opera Ballet School in Austria where she was a scholarship student. V has been invited to represent Bulgaria at the Royal Festival of Arts in Jordan among a number of international ballet events. She has extensively toured the United States, dancing as a guest artist or with a company, and was invited to dance at the International Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, and the Opera and Ballet Festival in St.Petersburg, Russia. Her career has afforded her the opportunity to work with some of the finest professionals in the world. The companies she has performed with include The Vienna State Opera Ballet, Volksoper-Vienna, Ballet Internationale, The New Jersey Ballet, The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, as guest with the National Ballet of Bulgaria, Eglevsky Ballet, Ballet Metropolitan, California Ballet, Ballet Minnesota and many others.

     Her varied repertoire, over seventy ballets, includes the title roles and leading roles in storytelling classics - The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, La Bayadere, Coppelia, Esmeralda, Cinderella, et al.; as well as many Balanchine ballets, among them -  Serenade, Agon, Concerto Barocco, Valse Fantasie, La Sonnambula,  Sonatine, Apollo, Divertimento No.15, Walpurgisnacht ballet, La Source, Stars & Stripes, Allegro Brillante, Monumentum pro Gesualdo & Movements for Piano & Orchestra; one act and miniature works, such as The Dying Swan by Fokine; and classical and modern pieces by contemporary choreographers in Europe, and the United States. 

Born and raised in northern New Jersey, Ginny started her dance training at a young age, studying tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, hip hop and voice. She furthered her education for over two years, participating in the Dance Department at Bergen Community College, where she pioneered many endeavors, including captaining the college’s inaugural Bulldogs Dance Team. Continuing her training in New York City, at the famous Broadway Dance Center, opened many doors and introduced the knowledge of a vast range of styles—contemporary floorwork, street jazz, and Latin Fusion to name a few. She has had the pleasure of receiving high-caliber instruction from many of the dance industry's finest. Lately, Ginny has been focusing her creative efforts towards video choreography and live performance. Most recently, she has had the pleasure to present her work—trademarked as #GinGerChoreo with her select company—at the Melrose Ballroom in New York City and The Trocadero Theatre in Philadelphia for “RAW: Natural Born Artists”, as well as at the Holi Hai Festival: “Colors of Diversity” on Governor’s Island. Her television credits include MTV’s TRL, The US Open and The Columbus Day Parade on ABC. Ginny has performed at Symphony Space, Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theatre and Madison Theatre, Carnival NYC, and The Prudential Center. She has been featured in Fright Fest’s “Dead Man’s Party” at Six Flags Great Adventure, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and in music videos for Kings Of Leon, Beats by DRE Headphones, Ricky Jarman, and DJ Meetch [which she choreographed as well]. Ginny continues to push herself as hard as she can through dance in order to further her knowledge and pass on as much of her own experience as possible. 

     John Schmidt received his Bachelor's of Music Education with a concentration in Voice from Nyack College in NY and his Master of Arts in Educational Administration from Caldwell College in NJ.  He received his Vocal Training under Esther Hinds, renowned Metropolitan Opera singer and Broadway performer, Dana Talley, and Terrance Kennedy.

     He has performed ensemble and solo work in Venues such as Carnegie Hall, Alice Tulley Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, New York City Opera House, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and has sung with Choirs throughout Germany, Poland, Holland, Canada and across the United States.  He is the former Director of Music at the Brookdale Baptist Church in Bloomfielf, NJ, is active in his Church Music Ministry, and sings at many churches throughout North Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

     Jenna Rose Ravenda is a graduate of New Jersey City University with a degree in Music Education and a concentration in classical and musical theater voice.

     She is a private voice and piano instructor in North Jersey.  She is an active performer in NJ/NY.  Some favorite credits include Urinetown (Little Sally), Spelling Bee (Olive/Logainne), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), Les Miserables (Cosette), The Secret Garden (Lily), and Little Women (Jo March)

      She is currently performing in NYSOM, The Music of Billy Joel and has spent countless hours in the recording studio doing original music but also in collaboration with GKM, Sony Records, and the Metropolitan Opera.