Staff Bios
Founder & Executive Director, Yasemin Wasserman has been a student and lover of the arts her entire life. Inspired by her work with chilren in other non-profit organizations, Ms Wasserman aspired to create a program that not only offerd the best possible training in the arts, but one that was accessible to all individuals regardless of their circumstances. The end result of her efforts was MUSE and along with an incredible wealth of teachers from around the world Ms Wasserman continues to provide outstanding Arts education to her community.
Dance Department
Lara Tinari is a graduate of The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. She launched her professional career as a principal dancer with The River North Chicago Dance Theatre. Thereafter, she was asked by Twyla Tharp to join her elite group of seven dancers, Twyla Tharp Dance. Lara has danced for an array of artists including Bill T. Jones and his internationally acclaimed Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Nacho Duato, Randy Duncan, Body Vox, and Daniel Ezralow.
As a choreographer, Tinari has collaborated with Daniel Ezralow, setting works on Philadanco Dance, The Amici Artists in Rome, Italy and on the major motion film Across The Universe.
Ms.Tinari served as Professor of Modern Dance as well as guest choreographer at École Superieure de Ballet Contemporain, home of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal. She served as Ballet Master for Le Jeune Ballet du Quebec and for the world renowned LaLaLa Human Steps.
Since her recent move to South Florida, Ms Tinari has instructed master classes at The New World School of the Arts, as well as set her choreography at various institutions including SOBE School of the Arts and Dreyfoos School of the Arts.
Ms Tinari is currently teaching Ballet and Modern dance at MUSE and is the Artistic Director of the professional Contemporary Ballet Company, Sojourn Performance Group.
Leah Parkinson began dancing at the age of four in Manchester, England. Her training includes Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz, Pointe, Lyrical and Greek. She has been awarded numerous trophies and medals through dance competitions all over England. She was awarded two Bursaries from the United Teachers of Dance and was placed 1st in England with her exam results.Ms. Leah began her professional dance career at the age of seven, performing each Christmas season with both British and American celebrities at the Manchester Palace Theater. She won the leading role of Annie at the age of eleven at Wigan Theatre. She went on to study dance teaching at Preston College, England, where she graduated with teaching associates in both ISTD Tap and Modern/Jazz dance.
Ms Parkinson is currently teaching all levels of Tap and Jazz at MUSE.
Theater/ Music Department
Michelle Riu is a multi-lingual actress, singer-songwriter and poet. She speaks, reads, writes- and sings!- in Spanish, French and English. A native of South Florida where she is currently based she earned a B.A. in Performing Arts from American University in Washington, DC. Acting credits include principal film work with Disney’s Touchstone films, national and local TV commercials, and a lead role with NYC’s Spanish Repertory Theatre, Off Broadway. For the past seven years, Michelle has worked with Arts for Learning Miami as a Theatre teaching-artist and mentor. While there she created and implemented artist residencies and professional development workshops for teachers, as well as provided hands-on support for other teaching-artists. Under her independent Gritty Girl label, she conducts arts-integrated self-expression workshops for girls and young women.
Ms Riu is currently teaching Acting Technique and Musical Theatre in the children's program at MUSE.
Mary Gundlach been preforming since the age of 7. Her training as a young vocalist and actress brought her to study at the School of Theatre at Florida State University from 2005-2009 where she earned a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Theatre with extensive training in vocal performance. She studied under the acting instruction of Kris Salata, Rob Ek, George Judy and Guy William Molnar and under the vocal instruction and direction of Karen Esquivel, Barbara Ford and Matthew Lata. Mary specializes in Stage Combat, Mask Characterization and other forms of physical theatre as well as in the development of classical works. Ms Gundlach continues to pursue her professional acting career in South Florida and is currently a member of the Slow Burn Theatre Company.
Ms Gundlach is currently directing shows for the MUSE Theatre Company.
Barbara Schaap has performed professionally since childhood. She is a Juilliard trained musician in piano, theory and composition and was a voice major at the American Theatre Wing. Ms Schaap and her husband owned and operated a live theater in the NY metro area for 25 years during which time she wrote 38 original musicals which she produced in addition to various Broadway revivals. She has written several text books for acting students as well as a book for monologue study, song study and scene study. She is a member of the Florida State and Broward County Music Teachers Association.
Ms Schaap is currently teaching private piano and voice lessons and is the Music Director for all Musical Theater pieces produced at MUSE.
Sara Jameson.... coming soon.
Ms Jameson is currently teaching vocal lessons and Glee Club at MUSE.
Nick Ramliak
Bio coming soon...
Mr. Ramliak is currently teaching all levels of guitar at MUSE.
Shannon MacKinnon started her training in Ballet at the age of three. As a ballet student,Shannon had the opportunity to train at some of Canada's top schools including The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, and Alberta Ballet. As a young teen, Shannon began training at Shelley's Dance Company as a competitive dancer while continuing her focus on classical training and aquiring her R.A.D certifications and Stepping Tones International Tap acreditation. Her training includes a vast repetoire of Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Modern techniques, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, and Ballroom.
As a dancer, Shannon has performed across Canada, the U.S., Europe, South America, and all parts of the Caribbean. Her credits include dancing for international recording artists ,Ballet and Contemporary Companies, Cruise Lines, television commercials,Gala performances, and Internationally televisied sporting events such as the 2001 World Games and the 2010 Winter Olympics. Shannon has also taken part in many international workshops such as World Dance Movement, Barcelona Dance Awards, NYCDA, Young Choreographer's Festival and Toronto's first International Dance Day. As a Master Class Instructor and budding Choreographer, Shannon has won countless competitive awards at both North American and International dance competitions.
Ms MacKinnon is currently training and choreographing for the competative dance team at MUSE.
Shari Little was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She developed her love of ballet from the age of 7, and by the age of 12 she was studying at American Ballet Theatre School and School of American Ballet in the summers for many years. Ms. Little went on
to become a professional ballerina with Ohio Ballet, Dallas Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Miami City Ballet. She performed roles varying from the cowgirl in Rodeo to Giselle. After retiring from performing, Ms. Little taught full time for the Miami City
Ballet School and ran their Educational Program.
Ms Little is currently teaching Ballet levels II - Advanced at MUSE.
Hayley Linder....Coming Soon
Crystal Acavedo