Get to Know Us...
"Iron sharpens iron; So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend."
- Proverbs 27:17 (KJV)
Epiphany Cruz
Owner and Director
Epiphany Cruz (Queens, NY) started her dance and gymnastics training at the age of two at local studios. With her home studio Genesis Dance, she has participated and won awards at the I Love Dance competition in numerous cities. This included, but not limited to, the Sweetheart Award where she was solely selected to attend workshops by various choreographers and gain exposure. With the trust of the studio director, Mrs. Kysha Barnett, she was given the opportunity to teach and choreograph for competitions as well as recitals. It is also with the guidance of her director that she envisioned opening her own performing arts studio one day.
Epiphany attended the Professional Performing Arts High School in Manhattan, New York, where she studied under the curriculum of the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation. Upon graduation, she attended Queensborough Community College as a Dance major. This gave her an opportunity to perform repertoire by Robert Battle, Urban Bush Women and Emily Berry. Throughout her years of studies, Epiphany found her passion of teaching children the discipline of dance that became so benefitting factor in her own life. As a devout Christian, she has added praise/worship dance in her teachings along with ballet and modern technique.
The importance of teaching the younger generation has been such a goal of hers that Epiphany has been teaching at the Bay Ridge Christian Academy for 10 years. Her combined experience with dance and the Department of Education has led to her thrilling vision of creating a safe space where school-aged children can learn, explore, express and dive into a part of themselves that they’ve never known. Epiphany’s mission of creating a familial environment is already in motion as she continues to devote herself to her community and strives for nothing less than the best for the next generation.
Sebastiana Moorer
Director of Administration
Sebastiana is a New York native, born in Brooklyn moving to Staten Island at the age of 8. Growing up in a hispanic household, dancing was second nature. She always had a love for music and arts. She loved drawing, painting, pottery, singing and dancing. She was raised by her mother, who introduced her to her walk with Christ in a non-denomination church where she fell in love with Worship and Praise dancing.
Sebastiana was a Performing Arts student Freshman year of high school, taking beginners tap and ballet, until she switched her major to business. Her favorite subject in school was math, and with many different career paths she chose, she is now an accountant with over 10 years of bookkeeping experience, personal and business taxes and administrative work. She obtained her Associates Degree from ASA College in NYC. Sebastiana is now a stay at home wife and a mother of two teens, working part time for an engineering company.
Selena Andino Lopez
Business Operation Consultant & Dance Teacher
Selena Andino Lopez is a New York native and identifies as an Afro Latina with roots in Puerto Rico and Panama. She began her dance training at the age of 10 at Genesis Dance School in Queens, where she found her love of ballet, modern and jazz.
Selena attended Benjamin Cardozo High School as a dance major and went on to Queensborough Community College where she performed repertoire by Urban Bush Woman, Robert Battle and Emily Berry. Upon graduation, she was given the Muriel Manning Dance Award along with her Associate's Degree. After taking a break from dance to study finance, she continued her studies of dance at Hunter College where she found her love for choreography and teaching. Immediately after receiving her Bachelor's Degree in 2018, Selena went on tour for two years as the Assistant Company Manager for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
With her work in Production her passion in working backstage grew, the importance of how the show gets put together and runs smoothly. She hopes to see more women and people of color excel in theater production and fully believes in sharing all opportunities with her peers and students. Selena is now a happy wife and mother of twin girls, Siena and Amaya.
Sabrina Sanchez-Perez
Vocal Teacher
Sabrina Sanchez-Perez was born in Sunset Park, Brooklyn NY, where she discovered her love of music. Growing up around her father Jack Sanchez and grandfather Jose ‘Tuffy ‘Sanchez, who were already embedded in the music industry and working with RMM Records, Sabrina’s early exposure to music was only the beginning. In her early years, Sabrina was part of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir where she began her walk with the Lord. Her path also included starring on the television produced Sesame Street Show and working with Interscope Records, where she heard the Lord’s voice remind her, “It's time to sing for Me again”.
Being the great granddaughter of the late Rev. Manuel T. Sanchez founder of Antioch Pentecostal Church in Brooklyn NY, who served as Senior Pastor for 56 years, Sabrina had seeds planted early in her life and therefore returned to her walk with God and newfound purpose. Proceeding in the calling and the gifts God had instilled in her, she picked up her mantle as Senior Pastor and founder of Body Of One Ministries NYC. She is a worshiper, singer, song writer and worship artist. Sabrina is excited to see the fruit that only God can produce and honored to serve Christ and growing God's Kingdom.
Ethan Maldonado
Guitar Teacher
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Ethan Maldonado took guitar serious at the age of 17. He is a progressive metal, jazz, fusion, and classical guitarist,who graduated Nyack College in 2019 with a BA in music. Ethan has learned classical guitar under Carlos Cuestas and Leo Brouwer, jazz harmony and ensemble with Chris Hughes, and classical performance with Margrit Zimmerman. He has played guitar in Lincoln Center for two years for jazz ensemble, and has played at Liberty, Trinity, and currently plays at Crossroads Christian church since 2019. Ethan composes music such as progressive metal instrumental, jazz, neoclassical, LoFi, Christian contemporary, rap beats, anime, and video game OSTs, and much more.
Ethan loves all types of music, and some of his favorite guitarists are Tosin Abasi, Jason Becker, John Petrucci, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Jeff Loomis. His biggest life influence is his father and his encouragement with pursuing music, and his exposure to his Puerto Rican heritage music. Ethan is an experienced instructor for acoustic, electric, classical guitar, bass, ukulele, and loves teaching all ages.
“It is most gratifying to teach the future generation to be more innovative than the last generation.”
Amanda Franco
Drama Teacher
Amanda Franco was born in Newburgh, New York and developed a love of theater at a very young age. She was blessed to have a family that frequently took her to local performances and into New York City for Broadway shows, where she fell head over heels for this art form. Throughout grade school, she participated in school musicals and plays as well as her church’s pageants. While very passionate about performing arts and trying to participate in as many activities of this nature as possible, Amanda found that the best way to align her talents with her passion was through writing, teaching, and directing.
While studying at Adelphi University, where she received her Bachelors in English Language Arts and Masters in Adolescent Education, she was able to study and practice the craft of playwriting as well as observe acting and dance classes. She also frequently got to see behind-the-scenes of whatever current production the theater department was working on through her close friendships with the Theater Tech majors. After completing both degrees, she moved to Queens in 2016 and began working closely with her church to put on small children’s pageants each year. Amanda helped write, organize, and direct these shows. She also was Assistant Director to the church’s full summer production of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
After a few years of working at Bay Ridge Christian Academy, Amanda was approached by Epiphany Cruz to begin a Drama club at the school to accompany the Dance and Worship clubs. She was thrilled and jumped at the opportunity. Over the past 5 years, Amanda has been working with her students to put on skits and plays for BRCA’s Christmas Chapel and Worship Concert. She is extremely excited to begin her journey as a Drama teacher with Ephesians 320!