MEET OUR TEAM

Karissa is thrilled to have returned to North Fork Academy of Dance. She began her dance training at Ballet Austin at the age of nine and later studied with renowned dance masters including Harry Precht, Dorrit Koppel, Kat Wildish, Frank Hatchett, Germaine Goodson, and Debbie Wilson.

Karissa’s professional experiences include working with Jammin’ with the JETS, Ballet Long Island, Broadway Dance Center, You Should Be Dancing, and The Lion King on Broadway. She attended Baruch College where she studied Arts Administration and also spent time working behind the scenes with several of New York’s most well-known talent agencies, gaining valuable insight into the professional dance industry.

As a teacher, Karissa brings energy, enthusiasm, and passion to every class. She focuses on building strong technical foundations while encouraging dancers to develop their own personality and love of movement. Her teaching emphasizes discipline, classroom etiquette, and performance quality, drawing from her years of professional training and audition experience.

Karissa is also very active in the local community. She and her dancers regularly participate in local events, parades, and community performances. In addition, she choreographs for local high school productions and is proud to have choreographed for Greenport, Southold, and Mattituck High School productions for the past two consecutive years.