Dance Sensation Dance Academy

*ARTISTIC DIRECTOR*

Miss Susan Nachtrab

Ballet • Pointe • Tap • Theater Jazz

             With a remarkable career spanning over five decades, Susan Nachtrab is a beloved and revered figure in the dance world. She began here began her teaching journey in New York, where she studied at numerous prestigious schools and honed her craft. For the past forty years, she has dedicated herself to the dance community on Long Island, shaping generations of dancers with her passion, expertise, and unwavering commitment.

               Susan's influence extends well beyond her studio walls. She has been a distinguished member of The Professional Dance Teachers Association, The National Association of Dance and Affiliated Arts, The Brookhaven Arts and Humanities Council, and The Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council. Through these affiliations, she has contributed to the broader arts landscape, advocating for the enrichment and accessibility of dance education.

               At Dance Sensation, the school she leads, Susan has cultivated a nurturing environment where students flourish. Her dancers have competed at both regional and national levels, achieving accolades ranging from gold and platinum awards to diamond and special "reputation" honors. These awards recognize not just technical excellence but the enthusiasm and potential she instills in her students.

               Her students have graced the stage in beloved classics like “The Nutcracker,” “Sleeping Beauty,” and “Peter and the Wolf,” as well as a variety of local theatrical productions. Many have earned scholarships to some of the nation’s most prestigious summer intensives, including programs at the Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts, Brigham Young University, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, The Rock School, American Ballet Theatre, the Joffrey Ballet, the Kirov Academy, Chautauqua Dance, and more.

               In addition to summer programs, Susan's students have been accepted into elite college dance and theater programs. Alumni have attended institutions like the University of Hartford, University of the Arts, Indiana University, SUNY Buffalo, SUNY New Paltz, Adelphi University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Belhaven University, La Roche University, and Mercyhurst University. Many have gone on to secure apprenticeships, trainee positions, and professional careers in the arts, attributing much of their success to Susan’s unwavering support and mentorship.

               In 2008, Susan founded the Elite Corps de Ballet of Long Island, a not-for-profit ballet organization that has become a cornerstone of the local dance community. Each year, she produces and directs a grand Nutcracker production, an event that showcases the talents and dedication of her students, parents, and staff. This annual performance has become a cherished tradition, reflecting Susan's passion for dance education and community enrichment.

               Above all, Susan's legacy is defined by the love, encouragement, and friendship she shares with her students. Her impact is evident in the gratitude expressed by both past and present dancers, who carry forward her teachings and inspiration into their own artistic journeys.

Christopher B. Nachtrab

Ballet • Pointe • Contemporary • Repetiteur

          Christopher began his dance training under the tutelage and guidance of his mother, Susan Nachtrab, in his native New York. He continued his dance studies at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music with Violette Verdy, and Virginia & Jacques Cesbron; where he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Ballet and Comparative Literature. 

          Some of his most memorable principal performance roles have been in George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments (Melancholic), Tarantella, Who Cares?, Western Symphony, Rubies, Stars & Stripes (El Capitan); Ron Cunningham’s Carmina Burana (Beige Soloist/Blue Soloist/ Red Soloist), Romeo & Juliet (Mercutio/ Tybalt), The Great Gatsby (Tom Buchanan), Peter Pan (Capt. Hook); Trey McIntyre’s Second Before the Ground, Wild Sweet Love, Ma Cong’s Blood Rush (First Pas de Deux) & Amy Seiwert’s It’s Not A Cry. Most notably he has portrayed the role of Albrecht in Giselle & as the title character in Stephen Mills’ Hamlet. In 2019 he made his San Francisco debut as the soloist is Rusalka and is now a tenured artist with the organization performing seasonally in many of the opera’s celebrated works, while also sharing his time as a featured artist with The Metropolitan Opera, where he will be performing again in The Magic Flute for the 2026 holiday season.

          For his many accomplishments, Mr. Nachtrab has been the recipient of various performance awards including The Marina Svetlova Memorial Award and The Verdy Award for Ballet Excellence. Christopher is also an accomplished and award-winning choreographer, having created many works for professional/pre-professional companies throughout the nation, while also developing and directing multiple artistic education and outreach programs.