Meet the Team
Owner & Creative Director
LNXdance Podcast Co-Host
MA, New York University
BBA, Baruch College, CUNY
ABT® Certified Teacher
Latinx Dance Educators Alliance
CORPS de Ballet Inter, Member
Dance USA, NYC Member
NDEO, NYU Member
Mari Vasconez
Mari began her training at the Academia de Artes Franceschi in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. Her family relocated to Texas where she continued her training in competitive dance, Latin dance, and Classical Ballet at Act One Dance Studio under the instruction of Janet Schenk and Marina Almayeva. Her teaching experience began at this same studio at just 16 years of age.
Mari went to college at Texas A&M University, where she studied Dance Sciences at the TAMU Dance Department. Here she developed her teaching style and understanding of the human anatomy as a dancer. At A&M she also began to teach Salsa, Bachata, and technique to a student-run organization called Salsa Fusion Latin Dance Company. After Texas A&M, Mari continued her teaching and performing career throughout the country at events such as Los Angeles Salsa Congress, Houston Salsa Congress, BIG Salsa Congress, Dallas Bachata Festival, Dallas Salsa Congress, Unity Dance Festival, Atlanta Bachata Festival, New York City Bachata Weekender and Aventura Dance Cruise. Mari was awarded a student internship at Arthur Murray Dance Studio of Houston, owned & directed by the former choreographer for So You Think You Can Dance, Maria Johnson. She Co-Directed and paved the way for a professional Dallas-based performance team called SeduXion alongside the nationally acclaimed instructor, Roberto Lay. There she developed the team’s skills with her technique background. She taught at dance studios and events throughout Texas.
Mari also performed at prestigious events such as the Texas Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance Convention in 2009 and the American College Dance Festival Association (2009, 2010). She recently trained under the direction of Melanie Castillo and Jose Luis Gomez as part of their performance-based team called Corillo Dance Company.
Currently, Mari is the proud owner of MotionScoop Dance Academy where she hopes to build a haven for students who wish to explore dance with no limits. Mari holds a Masters in Dance Education from New York University and is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 7 and Partnering of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.
Latin & Events Instructor
LNXdance Podcast Co-Host
Latinx Dance Educators Alliance
Mambo On2 Technique
Professional Performer
International Experience
Marcus Valentin
Marcus Valentin began dancing in Texas with Mambo Dallas Dance Company in 2012 under the direction of Katie Mambo. He was inspired to continue his development and training as a dancer. This led him to move to New York City in 2013 to pursue his dancing career. When he arrived in New York City, his main focus was Salsa On 2. He studied and danced with Yamulee Dance Company under the direction of Osmar Perrones and Karel Flores. He later transitioned his focus and style and began training with Balmir Latin Dance Studios owned and operated by Eric Balmir and with its artistic director, Anya Katsevman. During his time at Balmir, he has grown on an individual level by learning, training, and performing several different Latin dance styles. Marcus has performed at nationally acclaimed events such as Hawaii Salsa Congress, DR Salsa Congress, Dallas Salsa Congress, Atlanta Bachata Festival, Dallas Salsa Congress, Houston Salsa Congress, International Hustle-Salsa Congress, BIG Salsa Festival, Paris Salsa Congress, Amsterdam Salsa Congress, Toronto Salsa Congress and many dance socials and events in the NYC and tri-state area. He started his teaching experience in Texas at Mambo Dallas Dance Studio and Alpha Midway Dance Studio and has continued to teach in New York City through private instruction. Currently, Marcus also trained under the direction of Melanie Castillo and Jose Luis Gomez as part of their performance-based team called Corillo Dance Company.
Marcus teaches various Latin styles of dance to adults in the NYC area and you will catch him at any MotionScoop events and adult lessons.
Teaching Artist
Joffrey Ballet School, NYC
Peridance Center, NYC
Lyndsey Arorash
Lyndsey Arorash is a professional dancer from Bermuda. She has trained in many styles and is known to be a well-rounded dancer. At the age of 14, she decided to showcase herself to prestigious schools in the states. She was accepted into Joffrey Ballet School, in the Jazz and Contemporary 4-year program in New York City. Lyndsey then also studied at the Peridance Center under the direction of Igal Perry.
Lyndsey has been privileged to have worked with many choreographers and have roles that showcase her talent, both on film and stage. She has been featured in an award-winning film Uprooted: The Journey of Jazz Dance, IMPERFECT at Lincoln Center, and performed in the Choreographers Carnival. She has also had the opportunity to work with companies such as Humans Collective (Lauren Cox) and XY Dance Project (Nijawwon Matthews) to name a few.
Lyndsey is a gifted choreographer and teacher and has also had a chance to teach in New York and her hometown Bermuda. Her teaching credits include The Joffrey Ballet School, MotionScoop Dance Corp., and InMotion School of Dance. Some of her choreography credits include choreographing for the Young Choreographers Festival performed at Symphony Space, Uptown Rising Performance Series at Bridge For Dance, and Industry Night at The Sultan Room. Lyndsey has also recently been featured in publishing sources such as NY Glamour Magazine and Voyage ATL.
Brook Lyn began their dance training at the age of 3 at a small dance studio in Ridgewood, Queens. They have over 15 years of studio and performance training in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theater, and hip-hop. At the age of 12, they entered the world of competitive dance, where they were able to expand their performance and technique experience.
They earned an Associate in Dance at Queensborough Community College, continuing to grow their technique in Ballet and Modern under the diverse talented faculty on campus. During that time, they performed in workshop concerts with modern choreographers Maria Bauman, Aviva Geismar, Joya Powell, and Nicole McClam.
They are currently continuing their education at Hunter College as a double major in Education and Dance.
Teaching Artist
Dance Associate, QCC
Currently at Hunter College:
Double Major in Education & Dance
Brook Lyn Gonzalez
Having always had a love for media and how it shapes culture, Kelly has learned about music production, film, photography, and social media content.
Kelly is currently channeling her creativity through being a Media Studies major at Queens College, acquiring tools like analytic research, mass communication, and production skills through this interdisciplinary track in order to develop digital content effectively.
Kelly is currently the Marketing & Social Media Intern with MotionScoop Dance Academy for the Spring and Summer of 2024.
Teaching Artist
Currently at Queens College:
Major in Media Studies
Kelly Reddy
Guest Teaching Artist
MA, New York University
BA, Hunter College, CUNY
NYS Cert, Teaching Dance (K-12)
NYSDEA, Graduate Student Award
DEiP, Published Author
NDEO, 20-21 Graduate Student Rep
Deanna Martinez
Deanna Lynn Martinez holds an MA (summa cum laude) and New York State Initial Certification in Teaching Dance, All Grades (Pre-K–12) from NYU Steinhardt’s Dance Education Program. She previously received a BA (summa cum laude) in Dance and Africana & Puerto Rican/Latinx Studies from Hunter College, as a Macaulay Honors Scholar. Deanna is a recipient of the New York State Dance Education Association (NYSDEA) Graduate Student Award, a published author in Dance Education in Practice (DEiP), and the 2020-2021 Graduate Student Representative to the Advisory Board of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO).
She has studied, performed, and taught in New York City, Italy, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uganda, throughout the private, pre-K–12, and higher education sectors. In addition, she has completed education administrative roles at the Joyce Theater Foundation and the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in partnership with the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Deanna is currently creating the inaugural dance program at Flushing International High School, working with English Language Learners and students who are immigrants to promote the use of dance as a cultural and diplomatic tool of soft power. She is also writing an article entitled “Redefining American Dance: A Conglomeration of Cultures and Identities” to be published in 2022.
Guest Teaching Artist
BA/BS, Marymount Manhattan College
Natalia Arauz
Nati has been training in dance since the age of 3 in her hometown of Pembroke Pines, Fl. She has over 15 years of studio and performance training in Classical Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Jazz, Tap and Musical Theater. At 15 she branched out into the world of Contemporary and Competitive Dance with TAME Dance Academy where she excelled as part of their Pre-Professional Company. Her teaching and studio administration experience began at this same studio.
Nati moved to New York City in 2021 and is currently attending Marymount Manhattan College, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a concentration in Body, Science, and Motion, with a double major in Bio-Med. After arriving in New York, Nati has trained in May’O Donnell, Nikolai, Umfumdala, Afro-Cuban, Afro Latin, Acogny, and Ballet. Her passion is in the unique anatomy of the performer to become a Physical Therapist specialized for Dancers and other performers that may not fit the traditional Sports Medicine experience.
She is currently serves as a Guest Teaching Artist.
Guest Teaching Artist
Bachelors, St. Francis College
Co-Direcor @somos_candela
World Latin Dance Champion
Featured Dancer in Shine
Featured Dancer In The Heights
Brianna Rios
Based out of NYC with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from St. Francis College, and dancing since the age of 4, Brianna has continued to follow her passion through performing, teaching, and competing internationally.
At 18 years old, she became the youngest professional World Champion in the Salsa On2 division. Since then, Brianna has gained 9 additional World Titles, traveled to 18 countries, judged international competitions, and has had the honor to represent the USA in the 2017 World Games in Poland. Aside from stages in the salsa community,
Brianna has found a love for theatre as she played multiple roles in New York’s immersive show Carmen, To Havana & Back, and can be found on the big screen as a featured dancer in movies such as Shine and Warner Bros.’ In The Heights.
She is currently the Co-Director of Somos Candela NYC with her dance partner Charlie Garcia and travels all over the globe sharing her love and passion for Latin Dance.