SPOTLIGHT PERFORMING ARTS
'At Steeltoes Dance'
At Spotlight Performing Arts we are dedicated to the cultivation of all aspects of the Performing Arts Field by offering students the opportunity to recieve personalized training in both the creative process and fundamentals of the business. We believe in offering a versatile and dynamic curriculum that allows each student to embrace the spirit of imagination while developing their creative self.
Based in Garnerville NY, Spotlight is a Performing Arts School that encourages all ages and levels of experience to attend. Whether you are here to kickstart your Performing Arts Career or are simply here to have some fun, Spotlight is the place for you! We offer Group Classes and Private Lessons as well!
We hope to see you in the Spotlight!
ABOUT
Madi Di
Music & Voice
Maria Di Cara (Madi Di) graduated with High Honors (Dean's List, Phi Theta Kappa, Phi Sigma Omicron) from SUNY Rockland with an Associate's Degree in Performing Arts with a concentration in Theatre. When she was 18 years old she moved to Florence Italy where she earned her certificates in Canto-Lirico better known as Opera, at Istituto Europeo and the 'Cherubini Conservatorio' where Andrea Bocelli studied. In Florence she also studied Pop Singing, Breakdance, and the Italian Language. Maria has been performing since the age of 3 and participated mostly in school choirs, church choir, and extracurriculr shows and productions. Throughout her schooling she studied music theory, theater, choral/solo singing, and foreign languages. Always fascinated with the arts, Maria also indulged in fashion, drawing, painting, and any type of art form she could explore. Maria was the only student accepted into NYSSMA All-State Choir from her high school. Maria has performed at various events, concerts, festivals, parades, ceremonies, memoriums, galas, charities, and multiple stadiums including First Energy Park and Rockland Boulder's. Maria has participated in various workshops with Broadways Industry Professionals such as JamiBeth Margolis, Sheri Sanders, Jodie Langel, and Sarah Seltzer. She has also collaborated with Rita Harvey star of Phantom of the Opera, composer Neil Berg, and Musical Director David Pepin of Wicked Rent & Bring it on.
Maria has been the Musical Director herself for the past three years at SUNY Rockland Community Colleges summer performing arts program for children. She also was nominated her senior year in high school to direct a select acapella group of 8 part harmony composition. Maria also worked as a choral instructor for 3 years at the 'Arts Alliance of Haverstraw.' Maria has worked for the well known 'AMDA' (American Musical Dramatic Academy) a Performing arts college just a block from Lincoln Center as an Admission's Advisor for students. Maria has also worked in areas of TV, Film, Commercials, Print, Modelling, Voice-Overs, Professional Dance gigs, and for different Talent Agencies. .Although Maria has explored various avenues of the Performing Arts field in music, theatre, media, dance and arts education, she is currently pursuing a solo career in the Music Industry. Over the years she has overall spent most of her time in recording studios doing songwriting, vocal recording, production, and song composition.
Madi Di's music video 'Inside His Eyes' was officially released on June 28th 2014.
She is thrilled to be exploring yet another avenue with Spotlight Performing Arts!
Xiomara Forman
Dance
Xiomara Forman graduated from CUNY Hunter College with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance. She began her dance training at Broadway Dance Center in New York City at the early age of 5 where she studied everything from ballet to theatre dance, hip hop to street jazz, dancehall and breaking. Throughout her training, Xiomara discovered her passion for choreography and teaching. She went on to study and teach both Latin and ballroom dance at NY DanceSport in New City, New York. Outside of the studio, Ms. Forman performs as a lead dancer in a Michael Jackson Tribute show which recently allowed her to travel to Bermuda where she performed for the Prime Minister. One of her most memorable accomplishments was being featured in the New York City Village Halloween Parade and New York City Dance Parade, where she choreographed a Michael Jackson Dance Tribute to "Beat It" and "The Drill" consisting of over 100 dancers. Her work was also featured in a two-page spread in the NY Daily News, Metro Newspaper and seen live on NY1. Xiomara's biggest and most recent accomplishment was being chosen as a featured dancer for world renowned photographer Jordan Matter's nationwide project "Dancer's Among Us"; an ongoing photography project that began in the spring of 2009, featuring top professional dancers in everyday situations throughout America. The book went on to become a New York Times Best Seller, an Oprah Magazine Favorite Read and landed a spot on the Barnes and Noble Best Books of 2012 list among others. Xiomara has studied with many top teachers and choreographers such as but not limited to Jim Coony, Diane Lauerson, Brian Friedman and Jermaine Brown. Ms. Forman has been the Dance Director for the past 2 years at SUNY Rockland Community Colleges summer performing arts program for children where she teaches students a variety of different dance styles for stage performance and musicals.
Xiomara cannot wait to share her talents with students of Spotlight!
Meet The Team
Spotlight Performing Arts Inc