Founder & Artistic Director

As a child, Nydia Padilla-Rodriguez dreamt of being a dancer. She began to take lessons from Joan Grabell in ballet, point, jazz and tap dance from the age of 10. As a high school student, Nydia received her big break as a member of the “Bottom of the Bucket,” Dance Company, where she studied under internationally known Garth Fagan who won a Tony Award for his choreography of Lion King. As a member of the troupe, Nydia has performed in and outside of the United States.

Her love of dance drove her to persue a Bachelor’s degree in Dance and Elementary Education, a Masters degree in Science and Education and a Certificate of Administration. In 1984, Nydia began teaching Caribbean Dance at the David Hochstein Memorial Music School and currently works as an Administrator with the Rochester City School District. She is one of a handful of experts on the tradition of dance within Latin culture.