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Our Team

ANGELO RUGGIERI DIRECTOR OF RDA RUGGIERI DANCE ACADEMY LONDON

Angelo Ruggieri
Principal / Artist Director

Angelo Ruggieri

Angelo’s brilliant career started when he graduated from the renowned dance academy Accademia Napoletana di Danza Lyceum of Mara Fusco and from the Teatro Massimo Dance School in Palermo, where he excelled in Ballet, Lyrical Jazz, Contemporary Dance, Pas de Deux and Repertory.

Angelo danced in Italy and abroad as a principal and soloist in a variety of productions, and with recognised companies and industry professionals such as the European Ballet (‘Coppelia’), Password Company (‘Sea Inside’, ‘Michelangelo’), I due Golfi Ballet (‘Cats’, ‘Chicago’, ‘Moulin Rouge’), Balletto di Napoli (‘America’), Teatro Massimo in Palermo (‘The seven deadly sins’ with Ute Lemper, choreography by Micha Van Hoecke, also in ‘Les Contes d’Hoffman’ by Jérôme Savary -Director of Théâtre National de l'Opéra-Comique- and with Opera singer Vincenzo La Scola, then in ‘Shalom’ with Amii Stewart), and Hamburg Ballet (‘The Lady of the Camellias’),TATE Britain (Festival 2010).

He took part in many TV productions for RAI,  SKY, BBC.

He was a choreographer, teacher and the principal for Teatro Bellini in Naples (‘Chicago’, ‘Moulin Rouge’) Teatro Diana in Naples (‘High School Musical’ in 2005), Teatro Delle Palme.

He acted as a judge for IDTA Award Ballet Dance Festival in 2014 and 2015 (IDTA South East Theatre area in Addlestone).

Angelo is an active member and an IDTA (International Dance Teacher Association) Fellow qualified teacher, CID Unesco member (International Dance Council), NDTA (National Dance Teacher Association), ARBTA (Association of Russian Ballet and Theatre Arts)  and currently studying to upgrade his teaching skills at The Royal Ballet School.

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Susanna Sastro 

Susanna Sastro

Susanna is an established dancer and teacher of contemporary and classical dance. As a choreographer she was officially recognized and awarded by critics as a researcher of taste, elegant and sophisticated. Winner of numerous prizes such as VII Competition "City of Salerno" 1st Prize for Pas de deux. The Critics Award in the 5th National Dance Competition "City of Salerno" and in the IX International Dance Competition Florence 09 Opus Ballet with the 1st Prize as Choreographic Composition and the Leonardo Special Prize. Susanna has over two decades of experience in the field of dance.

She began her career as a dancer in Italian and foreign dance companies such as Balletto di Napoli, Balletto di Spoleto, Amusia Danza, Euregio Tanz Forum.

In 1990 Susanna joined the Béjart Ballet Lausanne the historical company of the great choreographer Maurice Béjart, who created for her the role of "La Mort" in the new creation La Tour dated 1991. She danced alongside Sylvie Guillem, Jorge Donn, Ute Lemper, Annie Chaplin, Peter Schaufuss, Michael Denard. With the Béjart Ballet Lausanne he performed the entire repertoire of the great choreographer Maurice Béjart dancing in the most prestigious theaters in the world in Japan, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Scandinavia, Holland, Germany.

Back in Italy, she continued her activity as a dance teacher, performer and choreographer dedicating herself to the study of contemporary dance, strengthening her studies in Italy, with international choreographers. In the UK she attended courses at The Place and participated in choreography projects at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

In 2013 Susanna began her collaboration with the Körper dance company working for a project on Klimt's Women of which she is choreographer and interpreter.

In 2014 she was Maìtre de ballet and assistant to the choreography for the creation Eduardo Artefice Magico, choreographed by Francesco Nappa staged at the San Ferdinando theater and later at the San Carlo Theater, a tribute to the great Eduardo de Filippo, danced by the ballet San Carlo Theater.

Since 2016 she has been working as coordinator of the Abballamm 'special project, a research and training project for dancers, which takes place every year in Ravello for the Ravello Foundation in the dance sector alongside artists such as Dimitris Papaioannou, Marie Chouinard and Bill T. Jones.

He recently curated the choreography of the Diptych Ehi Gio '/ Le Villi directed by Francesco Saponaro danced by the Nuovo Balletto di Toscana Company for the inauguration of the 2018/2019 Opera Season of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.

Lecturer in the Master of Theater, pedagogy and teaching, methods, techniques and practices of the performing arts at the University of Suor Orsola Benincasa.

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Cindy Corinne Ciunfrini

Cindy Corinne Ciunfrini

Cindy was born in Italy of an English mother and Italian father. She studied dance in her mother’s ballet school in Italy until the age of 18 and then went to London to continue her studies at London Studio Centre, graduating in 2007.

Cindy toured with Images of Dance in Don Quixote, Matthew Hart’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra and Matthew Bourne’s Infernal Galop.

After graduating, Cindy joined European Ballet, performing in Coppelia in a UK tour.  She also worked with London College of Fashion in Interface between the body, costume and performance for a Marie – Gabrielle production.

Cindy went on to dance in Matthew Bourne’s Edward Scissorhands at Sydney Opera House in May 2008 followed by the European tour.

She took part as a professional dancer in these movies  Street Dance, Walking on Sunshine and The little stranger and also performed on the P&O ship “Oriana” around Europe and the Caribbean. She later danced in New York and then in Europe with Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake and performed in the 3D film version of the work.

Cindy performed in the Phantom of the Opera UK tour 2012/2013. She then went back to perform in “Edward Scissorhands” with Matthew Bourne in a UK tour ending in 2018. In the last few years, Cindy has been part of “Incandescence circus company” performing during the Christmas period as a dance captain in the UK.

After a bad injury Cindy took full-time teaching, she gained her RAD teaching qualifications, PBT and many other teaching courses and she is a full practitioner workshop for New Adventures Matthew Bourne company.

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Alex Forster 

Alex Forster

Alex Forster has worked closely with Andrew Lloyd Webber as a performer and dance captain in London's West End for over 15 years. Join us, and learn real Broadway audition pieces!

Alex was born and raised in London, England. His first job was at the age of 12 working with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber on a show called Young Apollo. He went on to train at the prestigious Arts Educational School in London where he was awarded the Andrew Lloyd Webber Scholarship for Musical Theatre.

During his time at college, Alex performed at the Royal Variety Performance and the Brit Awards working for Arlene Phillips. After graduating, Alex went straight into work. His first job was Sir Andrew Lloyd Webbers 'Sunset Boulevard', working with Sir Trevor Nunn and the legendary Bob Avion. Alex was the youngest cast member in the history of the show.

His next show was 'Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,' teaming up with Andrew Lloyd Webber and again becoming the youngest person in the history of the show to play the title role of Joseph on stage.

Many shows followed including 'LES MISERABLES' 'RENT' and 'WE WILL ROCK YOU' which he made his home for 6 years. Alex performed and acted as Dance Captain, working alongside Ben Elton, the legendary Brian May, and again with Arlene Phillips.

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Valeria Famularo

Valeria Famularo

Valeria started her dance training in Napoli, where she studied ballet, contemporary and modern techniques at the academy ‘Lyceum’ directed by Mara Fusco.

In 2008, Valeria decided to deepen her contemporary dance training by joining ‘Modem Studio Atelier’, a professional training directed by Roberto Zappalà. Here she studied and performed in works by Loris Petrillo, Roberto Zappalà, Giannalberto de Filippis & Michal Mualem, and Matteo Moles.

From 2009 to 2011, she worked for the dance theatre company ‘Borderline Danza’, directed by Claudio Malangone, touring the productions ‘Legami’, ‘Variazioni Barocche’, ‘Rach-Party’ and ‘Brainstorming’.

In 2014, Valeria achieved a First Class Honours degree in Contemporary Dance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London. During her years at Laban, she performed at the Brighton Festival in the installation ‘On Balance’ with the choreographies of Charles Linehan, and at the Deal Festival in ‘Morriña’ by Tony Tathcher.

Since then, her piece ‘Study of Hands #1’ has been performed at Echo Echo Festival (Derry), The Friday League (London) and Under 25 Festival/Teatro Studio Uno (Rome). Valeria joined LAM dance theatre for the R&D with the piece ‘Sick and Tired’ and she performed choreographies by Kristine Simmerlade; ‘The Infinite Bridge’ - a multi-disciplinary performance at the Royal College of Music.

Sandra Corsini

Sandra Corsini

Sandra Soeiro Corsini started her studies in São Paulo with Halina Biernacka, her formation was completed in Rio de Janeiro with Evgenia Fedorova, a Russian teacher who contributed to finding the 1st School to represent the Bolshoi Ballet in Brazil. her career, she danced as a guest ballerina in a number of festivals e dance receiving multiple awards. She was also a soloist of the following companies: Halina Bernarcka Cia. Jovem, Cia. Ismael Guizer, Grupo Troika of the Russian Community in Brazil ( with Coppelia, La Bayedère, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, The Carnival of Venice, White Swan). Sandra holds a Medical Sciences degree in Physiotherapy with a specialization on Posturology, working with the prevention of injuries in Ballet dancers.

Sandra Corsini

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Johana  Morançais

Her education started with AICOM Paris, Musical Theatre Full Time course, 3 years, 2009-2012. 

After graduating Johana started straightaway her brilliant career with Musical, Ensemble, PARIS BROADWAY - PARIS, by Pierre Yves Duchesne; ANNE, LE MUSICAL - PARIS, by Jean-Pierre Hadide; Dorothy, WIZARD OF OZ - PARIS, by Julie Desmet; Sophie, PLUS BELLE LA VIE - MARSEILLE, France 3; Florine, FLORINE ET LE PRINCE CHARMANT - PARIS, by Swany Jaquet.

Commercial, Lead, HEAD&SHOULDERS, Procter & Gamble.

Johana is a multilingual singer (French, English, Portuguese) and she is specialised in 5Rhythms, A Cappella, Cabaret Singing, Harmony Singing, Mezzo-Soprano, 

Johana has been part of the ECD team for 3 years and she is the Head of Singing Department that manages par-time during her busy career.

Johana Morançais

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Luciana Capone

Luciana was born in Bari and started dancing ballet at the age of 4. 

She subsequently started studying lyrical jazz and contemporary.  

 

Luciana studied and passed RAD and ISTD exams. Specifically, she passed ISTD Advanced 2 Modern Lyrical Jazz and Intermediate Ballet exams.

 

Luciana moved to London in 2011 and joined ECD in 2014 as a student, continuing her training on the above disciplines and experimenting new styles, such as commercial heels, flamenco and hip-hop. She has been teaching beginners and intermediate ballet classes at ECD since 2022.

Luciana Capone

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Kaitlin Nelson 

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Stephanie Lil'Camou Lovstrand

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