Nancy Raffa

was born in Brooklyn and received her early training with the renowned Madame Gabriela Darvash.  In 1980, Ms. Raffa became the youngest and first American female to win the Gold at the Prix do Lausanne in Switzerland.  She subsequently joined "Makarova and Company"  on Broadway and at age 16, she became a member of ABT.  She later became principal dancer with Ballet de Santiago and Ballet National Francaise de Nancy.  Ms. Raffa has twice been awarded a special teacher's recognition from the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts and won a grant from the United States Information Services to act as a cultural ambassador and teacher in Honduras.