Founded in 2006 by Eric Ragan, at LICSB, we focus on developing strong technique and physical conditioning in our students while fostering a lifelong appreciation for the performing arts. Through the rigors of ballet training, we seek to instill not only self discipline and a strong work ethic, but also engage a sense of empathy, community and personal responsibility. LICSB students learn the value of hard work, attention to detail, teamwork, and experience the pride of accomplishment and the joy of performing.
We are entering our 20th year at 44-02 23rd Street. We started with 25 students in one studio. Over the past 20 years, our students have been accepted into all NYC public performing arts and specialized high schools, as well as top ballet training programs and professional dance companies. Many have gone on to competitive colleges, universities and postgraduate programs while continuing to dance for the pure love of moving to music. We want our students to know they will always find joy and community in a ballet class, wherever they may go.
Eric Ragan
Founder
Eric Ragan, a seasoned professional with over 30 years of dance experience, is an inspirational force in the world of motivational speaking. His journey began under the guidance of dance legends, including Flemming Flindt at Dallas Ballet and Natasha Krassovska of the Ballet Russe. In a pivotal moment, he was handpicked by Frederic Franklin to portray Johnny in Ruth Page Center’s Frankie and Johnny, launching a remarkable career that owes much of its brilliance to Franklin, his cherished mentor.
Eric’s ascent continued as he joined the Tulsa Ballet Theatre in 1988. He swiftly rose to the position of soloist and delivered unforgettable performances, including the roper in Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo. His artistic pursuits next took him to Ballet Austin, then to the Eugene Ballet, where he collaborated with renowned choreographer Tony Pimble, leaving an indelible mark as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet.
Venturing to Switzerland’s Stadttheatre StGallen, Eric enchanted a new international audience before returning to the Eugene Ballet, bringing with him 15 years of honed expertise. New York beckoned, and he embraced it with soloist roles in prestigious companies like Dances Patrelle, Ballet for Young Audiences, and the Suzanne Farrell Ballet at the illustrious Kennedy Center. Eric’s guest performances, most notably with the American Ballet Theatre, where he portrayed the Roper in Rodeo, solidified his status as a dance luminary.
Beyond his remarkable dance career, Eric Ragan is the visionary founder and artistic director of the Long Island City Ballet, a platform where he champions the arts with unwavering passion. As a choreographer and producer, he has demonstrated his exceptional talents, enriching the world of dance. Eric’s commitment to ballet’s artistic evolution is unparalleled.
Furthermore, Eric is a co-founder of Ragan Pilates, alongside his beloved wife Bootsie Ragan, where he pioneered
ART:
Assisted
Restorative
Therapy
positively impacting thousands by enhancing their physical and mental well-being. Currently, he is diligently crafting a video biography and authoring a book titled “The Last Grotesque,” showcasing his multifaceted talents and unwavering dedication to the arts. Eric Ragan is not only a motivational speaker but a true inspiration in every facet of his extraordinary journey.
Meltem Tekeli
Instructor
Born and raised in Queens, Meltem is thrilled to share her love of ballet with the next generation of dancers at LICSB. Meltem was first trained in the Vaganova method at Ballet Academy in Forest Hills, the training ground for renowned dancers such as Maria Calegari of NYC Ballet, Lynne Charles of Hamburg Ballet and Maurice Choukrane of Basel Ballet. She became a scholarship student at the School of American Ballet at 15, where she learned the rigors of Balanchine technique under Stanley Williams and Suki Schorer and later went on to train with former NYC Ballet principal Melissa Hayden at Skidmore College. In NYC Meltem studied with well-known instructors such as Valentina Pereyeslavic, Bobby Blankshine, Jack Hertzog and master teacher Nadine Revene, who became her mentor. Inspired by Nadine’s teaching, Meltem joined the LICSB faculty in 2009, teaching technique, pointe and barre classes and coaching students on variations from Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia and Swan Lake. In 2016 she moved to CA, continuing her teaching, and rejoined the LICSB family when she moved back to NY in 2023. Meltem’s teaching focuses on classical technique, body mechanics and musicality to help her students master difficult steps and realize their own potential in new and exciting ways. With a long career as a corporate executive, Meltem also emphasizes critical skills such as focus, discipline, confidence and resilience to help ballet students of all ages excel in business and in life.
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!
Hanna Tsao
Instructor
Hanna Tsao received her dance education from The JKO School at
American Ballet Theatre, Gelsey Kirkland Academy, Cincinnati Ballet,
English National Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet and SLK Ballet School in
New York City.
As an active professional dancer, Hanna has performed with Chevalier
Ballet, Long Island Ballet Theatre, The 36th Annual Battery Dance
Festival, The Queensborough Dance Festival and Cork City Ballet in
Ireland in numerous classical ballets as well as new works by
contemporary and modern dance choreographers. She was also
featured in British pop singer Chad Valley’s official music video for his
North America Tour “Arms Away”.
Hanna specializes in teaching classical ballet, pointe, contemporary,
variations/repertoire, floor barre and stretch/strength to dancers of
all ages and levels from young children to pre-professional students
to beginner adults. She has worked as a rehearsal director and Ballet
Mistress, overseeing, organizing and running rehearsals involving
over 50 cast members for school performances and professional
productions. Hanna has also conducted outreach workshops and
performances at hospitals and schools in New York City and England.
Her teaching credentials include; Long Island City School of Ballet,
Dance Theatre of New Jersey, The Tate Academy, SLK Ballet School,
HeArt in Motion Dance Studio and Huntington Center of Performing Arts.
Marrisa Frey
Director
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.
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 Fox
Instructor
Kylie‘s dance training includes full scholarships with: Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Basil Thompson, Jeffrey Bullock, and Jim Vincent; years of private training with Karin Averty; and company classes by private invitation with Ballet Hispanico. Over Kylie’s career, she has danced as a Principal and Soloist artist for multiple full-time and freelance companies. Her career highlights include being the first African American Sugarplum Fairy in Iowa Dance Theater34-year history of presenting, The Nutcracker (2019) and being featured as a ballerina in the iconic The New Yorker magazine for an illustrated series by Jenny Kroik (2022). Most recently, Kylie’s been a full-time Company Artist with Minnesota Dance Theatre. Previously, she danced with companies including: Eglevsky Ballet, Ballet des Ameriques (Carole Alexis Ballet Theatre), Iowa Dance Theater, City Dance NY, Swan Ballet, Encounters Dance, Neville Dance Theater, Armada Dance, and String Dance (The Christy Walsh Projects).
Dorothea Garland
Instructor
Dorothea Garland is from Framingham, MA and trained at New England Ballet, Boston Ballet Center for Dance Education, and later Mercyhurst College, where she danced various roles including Elegy Lead in Serenade and Myrtha in Giselle. She then danced with Columbia Classical Ballet in South Carolina and Jose Mateo’s Ballet Theater of Boston before moving to New York City, where she has spent the last 18 years working with various choreographers and companies. She currently dances for Ballets with a Twist and East Coast Contemporary Ballet. Ms. Garland is an instructor of the Gyrotonic® and Gyrokiniesis® methods as well and teaches at various studios around the city. She has taught ballet for Ballets with a Twist, New England Ballet, the Ballet Institute, and American Theater Dance Workshop among other schools and is excited to be joining Long Island City School of Ballet this year.
Lizzie Clackson
Instructor
Lizzie Clackson (they/she) is a mixed Filipinx multidisciplinary educator, dancer, and creative currently based in Brooklyn, NY. Originally from Lexington, MA, Lizzie was introduced to dance socially through her Mother and Uncle. They learned introductory Hip-Hop from their family and eventually honed in on Waving and Popping. Lizzie began their studio dance education as a child at Lexington School of Ballet in Lexington, MA through to the Pre-professional Ballet program, with additional Jazz and Modern (Horton/Limóne) classes. For high school they attended The Cambridge School of Weston, studying under Dance Department Chair Nailah Randall-Bellinger with a focus on Modern (Horton) and Contemporary technique. At CSW, they explored Hip-Hop, Fossey, Classical Indian, Caribbean, and West African dance styles, combining their love of socio-history and dance through combined academic/movement courses. Lizzie developed their choreographic process and style through choreographic seminars, creating for and performing in the annual Dance Concert throughout their tenure. During summers, they attended programs at Boston Ballet, Lexington School of Ballet, Boston Arts Academy, and Bates Dance Festival. Additionally, they attended Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts, performing in pieces by Fredrick Earl Mosely, Meredith Rainey, Jesse Obremski, and Alexander Diaz. Unfortunately early on in their undergraduate degree, Lizzie had to severely limit their movement due to severe illness. Though they could no longer train or perform professionally, they joined Boston University’s Filipino Student Association where they learned traditional dances such as Tachok (Lumagen), Tarektek, Bendayan (Bendian), Subli, Cariñosa, and Tinikling. Lizzie graduated from Boston University with B.A. in Political Science and minoring in Sociology. After graduating and finding treatment for their illness, Lizzie slowly began moving again. Their reintroduction to dance focused on the connection between mind and body, drawing on somatic dance practices and meditation alongside technique. Lizzie joined Roots Uprising Dance Company as an apprentice and rehearsal assistant for the Who We Say We Are 2023 Project. They performed in the title piece choreographed by Nailah Randall-Bellinger accompanied by Regie Gibson at the Cambridge Multicultural Center. Lizzie is elated to join the faculty of Long Island City School of Ballet, sharing what their teachers gifted them to the next generation of dancers.
Fall 2026
September 14 – January 30
All new students aged 9 and above require placement before registration
Call 717-781-5779 to RSVP