Carissa Fodera, native New Yorker, is an Arts Administrator with over 10 years experience in managing dance studios.  She is a graduate of the Arnhold Graduate Dance Education Program at Hunter College, where she received her Master of Arts in Dance Education and became certified to teach dance in New York State Public Schools (grades K-12).  She has also received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Hunter College and her Associate of Arts in Dance from Nassau Community College. 

Currently, she works at the internationally acclaimed dance school, Peridance Center, as their Program Manager.  There she runs the renowned Open Class Program with over 200 weekly dance classes, intensives, and workshops.  In addition to her full time career, she is also a national audition tour scout/student recruiter, has done accreditation work for the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), and had a key role in planning the Center’s 40th Anniversary Season which included being the Gala Event Planner, Ticketing Coordinator, and Festival Curator.  She strives to offer diverse programming for the dance community in her work, as well as maintaining the overall success of the Center. 

She has previously worked with companies such as Dance/NYC, Stephen Petronio Company, and INSITU Dance Festival. 

In addition to her administrative experience, she has taught dance to all ages at numerous private and public schools across the Tri-state area.  Currently, she is on faculty at the School at Peridance and the Peridance Certificate Program.