Our Directors
Julie Garofalo
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER
Julie McDonald
MANAGING DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER
Julie Garofalo is a Co-Founder of Rockland Competitive Dance. The inception of this dance team was especially meaningful to her because many of her fondest memories in childhood were made during her competitive dance years at Tina Marie School of Dance in Michigan. Ms. Garofalo holds a degree in Dance from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. There she was President of the WSU Dance Company and also an adjunct faculty member. Julie moved to New York City in 2001 after performing the role of Ernie in Sesame Street Live for two seasons. Other performances include The Elan Awards (honoring Rob Marshall), Nickelodeon's Halloween Fright Night, Good Morning America, The WB Morning Show & BET”s 106th and Park (featuring Usher), The Dr. OZ Show and for Glamour Magazine in New York’s Fashion Week at Bryant Park. Through the years, she has had the privilege to work with great choreographers such as Twyla Tharp, Garth Fagan and has performed and choreographed for Dancers Responding to AIDS charity events in New York City. Julie was a Richard Ellner Scholarship Recipient at Broadway Dance Center, in New York City. This led her to be on faculty for Broadway Dance Center’s Children and Teen Program. Ms. Garofalo has taught open classes in Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, Jumps and Turns at BDC. Julie has worked for The Pulse Dance Convention and has judged as well as taught for numerous conventions. She has been on faculty at Coupe Theatre Dance Studio in Nanuet, New York for the past 20 years. Julie is certified in Acrobatic Arts and has enjoyed teaching and choreographing multiple acro/ballet pieces for Rockland Youth Dance Ensemble’s Nutcracker the past few seasons. Julie’s motto is “Focus and Determination, leads to a standing ovation.” And her goal is to instill this and her passion and love of the arts in her students.
Julie McDonald, managing director and co-founder of Rockland Competitive Dance, was born and raised in the midwest. She grew up as an accomplished competitive gymnast until the age of thirteen, with a State Championship under her belt. Her focus shifted to dance in her teenage years and after graduating quite early from high school, moved to Chicago to further her studies in dance. By the age of 19, Julie was dancing professionally throughout the United States and abroad. Her numerous performance credits range from Paper Mill Playhouse to Holland America Cruise Lines to Tokyo Disneyland. Eventually she moved to New York City where she began dancing as a Radio City Rockette at Radio City Music Hall. Her career as a Rockette lasted for almost a decade. In 2005, Julie joined the staff of Coupe Theatre Studio located just north of Manhattan. She teaches tap, jazz and acro to all levels and ages. Julie is also a certified Rhythm Works Integrative Dance instructor for students with challenges and special needs. Julie takes particular pride in nurturing the younger dancers' passion for movement, music and dance. Julie is a proud mother of two children, and currently lives in Rockland County just north of New York City.
2026 Guest Choreographers
Elena Gimenez
Elena Gimenez, born and raised in Madison, Alabama, began her dance training at The Dance Company, Inc., where she trained in a wide variety of styles. She then graduated with her BFA in Contemporary Dance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. While in school, she performed works by Aszure Barton, Robert Battle, José Limón, Merce Cunningham, Larry Keigwin, and Yue Yin, among others. She received further training at intensives with companies such as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, NW Dance Project, the Limón Company at Perry-Mansfield, and Orsolina28. In these programs, she worked closely alongside people such as Dante Puleio, Ihsan Rustem, and FLOCK. After graduation, Elena joined SALT Contemporary Dance’s sister company, SALT2, in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she stayed for two years. In addition to concert work, Elena also has a passion for musical theatre, commercial dance, and choreography, having traveled to teach and choreograph around the country for the past eight years. She has won numerous awards for her choreography over the years. In 2023, Elena moved to New York City and joined Peridance Contemporary Dance Company as a company dancer. Under the direction of Igal Perry, Elena has originated roles in new works, and toured across the country with Peridance.
Homeria Lubin
Homeria Lubin is an artist based in New York. She majored in Dance at the University at Buffalo and has continued to choreograph and perform in freelance projects in the NY/NJ area. Homeria has presented work at DUMBO NYC and Arts on Site NYC. Homeria has studied with many artists such as Tom Ralabate, Emily Greenwell, and Bo Park. Lubin is currently a member of the company Cross the Line in NYC. Homeria’s goal in class is to give students the space to take risks and grow their artistry. Homeria aims to create a space that challenges and inspires artist, while also bringing fun and creativity to dance. In her class you can expect discussion, improvisation, and choreography based on the fusion of her training. Homeria believes dance informs our human experience through mind-body connection and hope artist can cultivate it in her classroom.
Whitney G-Bowley
Whitney G-Bowley is a New York-based choreographer, teacher, performer and producer. From the start, her career has been laid out on a foundation of teaching. Since receiving a B.A in Musical Theatre Performance at Wagner College, she has worked with students throughout the US and as far as Macau, China. Her work exists in an exciting space between contemporary jazz and theatre dance, with an emphasis on collaboration and self-expression. In that spirit, she started her own fiscally-sponsored performance company, GIG, choreographing and directing music videos and concerts for vocal artists including Suzanna Choffel, Jenna Nicholls, Caleb Hawley, Rebecca Haviland and Lohai in NYC venues like GKArts Center, University Settlement, Joe’s Pub and Steps On Broadway. Whitney has worked off-Broadway and regionally as an Associate Choreographer and Associate Director to Lorin Latarro ("Merrily We Roll Along" – Off-B’way w/ Fiasco Theatre and Roundabout – nominated for a Chita Rivera Award, "The Heart of Rock ‘n’ Roll" – B’way Lab at New 42 Studios, "Guys & Dolls" at The MUNY), Associate Choreographer to Will Davis ("Road Show" at New York City Center, ENCORES!) and Associate Director/Choreographer to Hunter Foster ("The Other Josh Cohen," Westside Theatre (Off-B’way) and "Million Dollar Quartet" at Geva Theatre (Rochester, NY.) While co-creating as an associate, she continued to work as an independent choreographer in New York City, devising movement with experimental theatre company, Little Lord, at New York Theatre Workshop ("Skinnamarink" - NYTimes Critics Pick) and Abron’s Art Center ("Now Is the Time…"), Project Broadway’s, "Kicking and Screaming," at Symphony Space as well as a developmental workshop at Theatre Row entitled, "Rewind." Regionally, she choreographed a co-production of the musical, "Once" at Geva Theatre and Syracuse Stages as well as the premiere of a new musical by Dan Lipton & David Rossmer called, “The Perfect Mate,” at Pittsburgh CLO.
Maria Citarella
Maria Citarella is a dancer, teacher and choreographer from Long Island, NY. She graduated from Sacred Heart University in May of 2019 with a liberal arts degree and minors in dance, psychology, social work, and human rights. Her training has accumulated over time to include studios across Long Island and Connecticut, along with intensive programs held by well established professionals in the industry, such as Galen Hooks, Candace Brown, Theresa Stone and many more. Her work includes performances with Garet&co dance company and artist Ali Berke, as well as music videos for Pianos become the Teeth and artist Michael Minelli. Maria currently resides in Milford, CT and continues to teach and perform throughout the community. As an educator, she works to create a safe space for students to express themselves fully and as a performer she aims to forge an authentic connection with the audience.
Bernadette Foth
Bernadette Foth is an accomplished dancer with a diverse performance background, as well as, being a board certified instructor, award winning choreographer, master class instructor and sought after competition adjudicator. She is a certified member of Dance Educators of America, Dance Masters of Michigan, Universal Dance Association and Dance Masters of America. She has performed with Enrique Iglesias, Sesame Street Live, West Side Story, The Wiz, and also was a principal dancer for Detroit Talent. Bernadette is the co-owner of Tina Marie School of Dance in which she operates two successful dance studios in Michigan. Her dancers have received extensive nation-wide accolades for their technique and performances, and many have gone on to dance on Broadway, Cruise Lines, Commercials, Music Videos and for the Radio City Rockettes. She currently travels throughout the country teaching on conventions & intensive programs, along with judging for many competitions such as Lifetime Hit Show, "Dance Moms". She also choreographs the opening routines, television appearances and various floats for the Hobble Gobble and Thanksgiving Day Parade, along with a performance with Kenichi Ebina the Season 8 Winner from "America's Got Talent". In addition, she is the director of her own in-studio workshop, DanzJam, and has worked side-by-side with numerous highly acclaimed master teachers and choreographers for stage, television and film. Bernadette has dedicated her entire life to cultivating talent and enabling her students to reach their fullest potential.
Susannah Jacaruso
Susannah Jacaruso began studying dance at Coupé Theatre Studio at the age of 9 and continued until her high school graduation at the age of 18. While a student, she performed many roles in RYDE’s production of The Nutcracker. As a student at Purchase College she majored in ballet and performed in their Nutcracker as well. She danced with the Indianapolis Ballet under the direction of Victoria Lyras and while there was the first runner-up at the annual National Arts and Letters competition in Bloomington. Susannah returned to New York to complete her bachelor’s degree at Purchase College.