Dancers
Principal Members
Diane
Lachtrupp, co-director, principal
Diane is a prize winning Tango, Salsa and Swing Dancer. She
holds a BA in Theatre from the University of Vermont and a
Masters from NYU in Musical Theater in Musical Theater
Choreography. Diane has choreographed and performed for
stage, video, television and film, including working with
Meryl Streep, Merv Griffin, and film director Whit
Stillman.
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Johnny
Martinez, co-director, principal
Johnny holds a BME
in engineering from Pratt Institute and before joining
forces with Diane, was a concert dance and musical theater
performer. He performed in the National and European tours
of West Side Story, Damn Yankees, and Fiddler on the Roof.
He was a member of the Nanette Bearden Contemporary Dance
Theater and the associate choreographer of the Annabella
Gonzalez Dance Theater.
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Liesl
Bailey, principal
While growing up in the North Country of New York State,
Liesl enjoyed lessons in Jazz, Ballet, and piano. She
has acted in productions of Quilters, Self Torture and
Strenuous Exercise, and Guys and Dolls. After a decade of
dancing Salsa, Swing, Country, Tango, and Ballroom just for
the fun of it, Liesl is now delighted to see how her love
of Social Dance can translate into Tango Fusion Dance
Company productions.
Julie Gale,
principal
Julie trained with Fred Danieli at the Newark
Ballet Academy, joining his company, The Garden State
Ballet, at the age of 13. She performed with the American
Ballet Theater and The River Ballet of Lambertville. Julie
studied ballroom dancing with Angelo Calia and Jerry Paris
and has appeared at the Marc Ballroom in Manhattan,
Fandango's Night Club, Ceasar's Palace Resort and numerous
other ballroom exhibitions. Julie is currently on staff at
the Dance Experience and The Guilderland Ballet.
Christopher
Kilkenny, principal
Christopher’s love of dancing began with several styles of
swing dance, and he has placed in numerous lindy hop and
west coast swing competitions at national dance events. He
has also been dancing tango socially for years and is
thrilled with the opportunity to work with the dancers in
Tango Fusion Dance Company. His experience in the
performing arts includes over a decade of performances as a
guitarist and percussionist in musical genres such as
classical, jazz, blues, Broadway, rock, and
bluegrass.
Patricia
Zeccola, principal
Patricia began dancing Salsa at a very young age and has
since danced in Mexico, Puerto Rico, New York City, and
Chicago. At the age of 13 she performed in The Pied Piper
of Hamlet and Fiddler on the Roof in Albany’s Egg Theater.
Patricia currently teaches and performs salsa in New York
City and Arthur Murray’s in Saratoga Springs.