About Us | LICSB

LICSB was founded in 2006 and is recognized today as one of the foremost dance programs in Queens, New York. We focus on developing strong technique and physical conditioning in our students while fostering an appreciation for the performing arts. Our curriculum is based on the classical ballet training of Cecchetti with aspects of Vaganova for strength and Balanchine for speed.

LICSB students learn the value of hard work, attention to detail, experience the pride of accomplishment and the joy of performing.

Eric Ragan

Founder and Artistic Director of LICB LICSB

Eric Ragan has danced professionally for over 30 years. Early in his career he studied with Flemming Flindt at Dallas Ballet in the Bournonville style. He also worked with Natasha Krassovska from the Ballet Russe.
In 1989, Eric was selected by Frederic Franklin of the Ballet Russe to dance the role of Johnny in Ruth Page Center’s Frankie and Johnny. It was the ‘kickoff’ to an impressive career. To this day, Mr. Ragan credits much of his success to Franklin. “He was my most important coach and my mentor.”

Eric joined the Tulsa Ballet Theatre in 1988, during his second year with the company he was promoted to soloist. “That’s where I danced in Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo for the first time”. It became one of Eric’s signature performances.

Eric would also dance with Ballet Austin and the Eugene Ballet where he worked with renowned choreographer, Tony Pimble, dancing Mercutio in her Romeo and Juliet.

Once again, Mr. Ragan found a new audience in Switzerland where he danced at the famed Stadttheatre StGallen before returning to Eugene Ballet.
With 15 years of training and performing under his belt, he was on his way to New York. “In New York I performed as a soloist with Dances Patrelle, Ballet for Young Audiences and with the Suzanne Farrell Ballet at Kennedy Center for 8 years as well as many guest performances; most notably with the American Ballet Theatre dancing the Roper in Rodeo. Mr. Ragan founded LICSB and LICB.

A superb dancer, choreographer and producer, Eric is founder and artistic director of the Long Island City Ballet — and an arts activist with an eye to the artistic encouragement of ballet.

Katie Lohiya

Instructor

Originally from Chicago Illinois, holds a BFA in dance from Marymount Manhattan College. She is currently a principle dancer with Lydia Johnson Dance and has been with the company for 8 years. She also teaches company class and serves as rehearsal director. Additionally, Katie has served as the Assistant Director for the Lydia Johnson Dance Camp and is currently on faculty at the Steps Youth Program at Steps on Broadway and the Play Area Association. Katie has always had a passion for teaching and brings her positive spirit, nurturing energy, and enthusiasm to the classroom. She is thrilled to be back at Long Island City School of Ballet.

Marissa Frey

Instructor

Born in Pennsylvania, Marissa Frey began training at Greater York Youth Ballet under the direction of Lori Garling. She studied on scholarship at Pennsylvania Regional Ballet. She has studied under renowned teachers: Laszlo Berdo, Sandra Carlino, Richard Cook, and Cherie Noble. As a former member of Regional Dance America, she has earned numerous scholarships. In 2009, she graduated from SUNY Purchase New York, achieving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance. She has worked with choreographers: Luis Fuentes, Marilyn Klaus, Jessica Lang, Rodney Rivera and Andrei Vassiliev. Marissa has performed works in premiere venues: including The Beacon Theatre, Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, Stage 48, Bucks County Playhouse, Cleveland Playhouse Square, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, The Tenth Anniversary Dumbo Dance Festival: Finale, along with many more. She has been a company dance member with Ballets with a Twist, Connecticut Theatre Dance Company, Brooklyn Ballet, Neville Dance Theatre, The Eglevsky Ballet, DeMaDance Company, Yesid Lopez Contemporary Dance : The Collective, and Janusphere Dance Company. Marissa was a former ballet teacher at Callina’s School of Dance, Studio E School of Dance, Chrystie Street Ballet Academy, Ballet Academy East, and Long Island City School of Ballet. She has taught for two consecutive summers at the Conservatory of Music in Paris, France. Marissa is currently the principal instructor, choreographer, and rehearsal director at The Ballet Institute of New York.

Elena Madrigal

Assistant Director/Instructor LICB LICSB

Elena Madrigal, Born in Costa Rica, Elena began her studies in classical ballet under the supervision of Mrs. Flor Montalban and Ingrid Cruz. Her partenerting skills are based on the superior training of teachers from The Cuban Ballet, Pedro Martin and Anya Boza.

She graduated in character and classical dance from the British Academy of Dancing and received two honorary diplomas with the highest grades. She has been fortunate enough to work with Ms. Gelsey Kirkland and Mr. David Howard.

Winner of the gold medal in the 1994 Latin and Central America Ballet competition, a program created by Dame Margot Fonteyn.

Principal roles:

Don Quixote, Le Corsaire, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Le Sylphide, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo And Juiet, Manon, Carmen, Le Petite Mort, and several original contemporary pieces from choreographer Felix from the Cuban Ballet.

She has also choreographed two full ballets for The American Ballet Arts Company.

Teaching And Coaching Skills:

Her class focuses primarily on the use of rhythm and the importance of style and alignment for each movement. Many professional dancers have come to her to understand this better and the results have been incredibly well received.

Cristina Tummillo

Instructor

“Originally from Ridgewood, NJ, began her training with Eugene Petrov at Irine Fokine School of Ballet and Petrov Ballet School. She then continued her dance education at Marymount Manhattan College under the direction of Katie Langan and graduated with a BFA in Dance, concentration in ballet. While at Marymount, she had the opportunity to perform works by David Parker, Megan Williams and Nancy Lushington. She has since performed in an original work by Sheena Annalise, Director of Arch Contemporary Ballet as well works choreographed by Dannon O’Brien and Kerry McManus. She is grateful and excited that she’s able to share her love and passion for ballet with the students of LICSB!”

Kylie Brown

Instructor

Kylie Brown began training in her hometown Commerce Township, Michigan. Kylie spent her senior year of high school at North Carolina School of the Arts and earned a BFA from University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. Kylie joined the Ajkun Ballet Theatre as a Junior Artist in 2016 and was promoted to Senior Artist the following season. Under the direction of Chiara Ajkun, she has performed lead roles in The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Coppelia and in the original cast of Chiara Ajkun’s Dracula (Lincoln Center premiere 2016). For Ajkun Ballet Theatre, Kylie coordinates the New York Winter Festival, an international platform for all talents held each January in the heart of New York City. Kylie is also a coordinator and teacher for Ajkun Ballet Theatre’s Young Dancers Program.

Jillian Rosner

Instructor

Originally from Red Bank, NJ began her training at the Academy of Dance Arts in Red Bank, NJ and later the Dance Stop Dance Education Center in Parlin, NJ. She graduated with honors from Marymount Manhattan College where she earned her BFA in Dance with a Ballet concentration. During her time at Marymount she had the opportunity to perform works by a number of esteemed choreographers including Megan Williams and Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish. She has received additional training from Kaatsbaan Extreme Ballet and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Since graduating, she has performed with several dance companies throughout NYC/NJ including: Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Theatre, Keiko Fujii Dance Company, and ARIM Dance. Jillian is thrilled to share her passion for dance and movement with her students!