About Hubbard Hall Projects

Executive Director Position

With the upcoming retirement of the founding director in 2014, Hubbard Hall Projects, Inc. (HHP) seeks a new Executive Director:

Hubbard Hall Projects, founded in 1977, a dynamic, leading arts center in the Capital Region of upstate New York….home of critically acclaimed theater and opera companies, a chamber music series, classes in visual and performing arts programs for all ages, is seeking an inspiring, creative individual with proven management and fund raising experience to bring new leadership to this well established non-profit organization.

For more information go to: Career Opportunities, Executive Director Position

Our Staff

Executive Director, Benjie White

Benjie White, Executive Director.  Tel. 518-677-2495 ext. 313

Theatre Company Artistic Director, John Hadden

John Hadden, Artistic Director.  Tel. 518-677-2495 ext. 314

Opera Theater Artistic Director, Alexina Jones

Alix Jones, Artistic Director

Marketing Director, Debra Foster

Deb Foster, Marketing Director. Tel. 518-677-2495 ext. 317

Program Director, Gina Mammone Deibel

Gina Mammone Deibel, Program Director. Tel. 518-677-2495 ext. 304

Bookkeeper, Anne Dambrowski

Anne Dambrowski, Bookkeeper. Tel. 518-677-2495 ext. 303

Receptionist, Darcy May

Darcy May, Receptionist. Tel. 518-677-2495 ext. 319

Village Store Manager, Roberta Bosak

Roberta Bosak,  Village Store Manager. Tel. 518-677-2495 ext. 311

Our Instructors

Zaidee Bliss (Yoga) Considering her early interest in ballet and figure skating, it is not surprising that Zaidee Bliss found her way to yoga as an adult. That first class was so reminiscent of her ballet years that it felt like coming home. Her natural inclination, skill and experience as a teacher led her along the path to becoming a yoga instructor. Zaidee is certified as a Kripalu yoga teacher and has since completed the 200-hour Anusara teacher training as well as a certification as a Yoga Ed teacher. Her classes are designed to suit the needs and levels of her students. She pays special attention to correct alignment in order to more safely enhance her student’s practice.

Sylvia Bloom (Eenie Meenie Music) first observed performance as a two-year old, which was booty-shaking during her parents' folk-dancing group.  Many years later she went on to receive a B.M. in voice from Oberlin Conservatory, and an M.A. in Counseling specializing in Expressive Arts Therapy.  Her performing experience ranges from the sublime—recent member of the San Francisco Opera Chorus, former cast member in the San Francisco production of Phantom of the Opera, soloist with the Erie Philharmonic (PA) and Springfield Symphony (MO)—to the sublimely ridiculous—singing “Carmen” at a Burger King in West Virginia and shrieking as the voice of the evil Tooth Fairy in a really bad major motion picture.  Her combined love of the arts and of learning about the development of the human mind led her to the Music Together program, which she's taught for the past 3 years.  She's the proud mom of four-year-old Eli, and is excited to bring the world of Music Together^® to the community!

Scott Carrino (Tai Ji) has studied Taoism and Tai Ji as a method of centering and as a metaphor for life for the past 31 years. Teaching Yang Style solo, two-
person, sabre and sword forms since 1986, he has cultivated an integrated understanding of chi (vital energy) and the mysteries and power of the Tao. He is a teaching member of the Living Tao Foundation for the past fifteen years, and published their newsletter for 10 years. Scott is a founding member of Pompanuck Farm.

Richard Cherry (Foil) is a pupil of Herb Cohen who fenced on three US Olympic teams. Richard has been teaching sword-fencing in the local area since 1999.

Otha Day is a Drum Circle Facilitator who leads fun and lively Rhythm Events from the deep belief that rhythm has the power to build communities, promote well-being, and bring incredible joy. Otha leads drum and rhythm events for corporate functions, conferences, schools-libraries, hospital-health groups, religious and private events. Some of his many clients have included the US Naval Air Systems Command Leadership Development Program in Washington, D.C., the multi-national SABIC Innovative Plastics, Burr and Burton Academy, and Williams College. More info at www.drumtothebeat.com.

Gina Mammone Deibel (Creative Movement & Dances of India) studied classical Indian dance (Odissi style) and various folk traditions for 10 years with guru Ranjanaa Devi and performed with Nataraj Performing Arts based in Hadley, MA. Her background in dance also includes jazz, modern, tap, ballet, flamenco, Middle Eastern, lindy-hop, and yoga. She is a member of daCi (Dance and the Child International), holds degrees in Childhood Education and Television/Film Studies from Boston University, has taught in the US and the UK, and has performed throughout the Northeast.

Alan Epstein (Bluegrass Jamming, Mandolin) has played mandolin and sung in bluegrass bands in Colorado, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Aside from private teaching, he’s taught workshops and at camps in Michigan and at Bluegrass Week at Augusta (WV). Alan excels at helping students master fundamentals and giving them the confidence to enjoy a broad range of musical experiences. Listen to Alan's holiday CD at: http://www.cdbaby.com/abepstein

Jacquie West Farbman (Gyrokinesis)

John Hadden (TCHH artistic director, Monday Night Shakespeare)

Jill Hahn (String Program, Woodwind & String Ensemble)

Alan Haskell (Karate) has studied martial arts since 1983 and has seen first-hand the many benefits of proper martial arts training for both young and older students. Sensei Haskell holds the rank of Sandan (3rd Degree Black Belt) and has placed multiple times in competitions of Kata (forms) and Sparring. He has taught in the Cambridge area for many years and Hubbard Hall is honored to welcome Sensei Haskell to our faculty.

Natasha Judson, MEd, RYT  (Yoga)  started teaching yoga in the Berkshires in 1999. She has studied with many teachers, including with the Iyengar yoga and Buddhist meditation communities. Currently a student and teacher of Anusara yoga, Ms Judson studies several times a year with John Friend, founder of Anusara yoga.

Carolyn Kibbe (Oil Painting) was born in Oneonta (Fly Creek) NY and moved back to New York five years ago. She has degrees from UC Berkeley, RI College, and Boston University. She taught painting for several years in a small gallery in East Providence RI. A former teacher, reporter, editor and editorial cartoonist, she now paints professionally full time. Carolyn is a member of the Beekman Artists’ Coop in Saratoga Springs,Valley Artisans Market in Cambridge, the Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council (LARAC) in Glens Falls, the Saratoga Arts Council (SAC), the North Country Arts Council (NCAC), and Fine Arts America. Her work is represented by VAM and the Ginofor Gallery in Cambridge, and Beekman Artists’ Studios in Saratoga Springs. She also has three cartoons in the current brochure for the National Park Service (Western Division). Her commissioned portraits and other paintings are in private collections in this country and in Ireland.

Heidi Knecht-Seegers (Hip Hop and Jazz) has taught, choreographed, and performed for many years in NYC as well as in the Capital/Saratoga region. She was a guest choreographer and dancer for Margaret Wagner and Dancers, and has also performed with Ellen Sinopoli, Laura Gates Carlson, John Passifiume, Moving Images, Jamie Stiller, and the Non-Canonical Ensemble. She has been on the faculty at Russell Sage and has guest taught at Union College, Skidmore College, Berkshire Ballet, and at Ballet Regent School.

Jennetta Lorman (Tiny Tap) has studied tap since 1989 and brings a wealth of dance team & competition experience to her teaching, for both young and older students.

Darcy May (Irish Step) is a 1985 graduate of the University of the Arts, Philadelphia. She studied Irish Dance as a child at Fay and O’Connell School of Irish Dance in Pearl River, NY, and danced with Wild Irish Acres of Saratoga Springs. Darcy has taught at Hubbard Hall since 2004. She also illustrates children’s books.

Bliss McIntosh (Arts of Ireland, Basketmaking, Instrumental Tune Jam) has a BA in Ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University and has been a musician/ craftsperson/ dancer/ gardener/ cook  for her whole life, passing on her knowledge along the way to anyone who will come along for the ride. 

Tess Meyer (Movement for Riders & Dance Vanguard Curator) graduated from Bennington College in 2008 with a B.A. in dance and visual art. Over the past five years she has danced with a variety of dancers and choreographers, and recently spent nine months living in New York City where she studied Klein/Mahler Technique and the Alexander Technique. Tess began her training in classical dressage and natural horsemanship at five years old, and continues to specify and hone both her teaching and training practice through exploring bodywork in conjunction with riding. Tess currently trains horses and people, makes sculptures, and curates the Dance Vanguard Series at Hubbard Hall.

Gabi Moore (Visual Art)

Beth Oakley (Pre-Ballet & Ballet) grew up in New Jersey, where she trained as a dancer at the New Jersey School of Ballet from age 7 to age 16. After leaving the New Jersey Ballet Company, Beth studied the Merce Cunningham method of modern dance for a summer at Montclair State University. Since then she has expanded her dance horizons to include Tap, Jazz, Contras, Swing, and Afro-Carribean. Beth graduated from Bennington College in 2008. She now works as an assistant teacher at the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs, and is pursuing a Masters in Waldorf education. She happily lives in Shushan with her cats, chickens, and husband.

Bonnie Ross (Arts of Ireland, Journey Into Music) is a homeschooled student musician who will be starting college in the Fall and pursuing a degree in Music.  Bonnie sings and plays the cello, violin & piano, and likes to mess around with the viola, African bow harp and anything “stringed.”  She holds the principal cellist position in the Green Mountain Youth Orchestra, takes private cello lessons & plays cello in her Church’s contemporary Christian band.  In 2010, Bonnie directed and co-taught  “Sound Waves: Totally off the Scale,” an intro-to-music course at the Greenwich Free Library.

Carol Serrotta (Puppet Club) has been attending, volunteering, teaching, exhibiting, and serving Hubbard Hall's mission to make art and community happen for many years. Carol claims she does it for "fun" but it has been her understanding of how the "fun" of making art does build community that has helped shape Hubbard Hall's mission and resultant programming. Carol is a retired art teacher and although her art exudes the "fun" that motivates her, it also impresses one with the level of skill and talent it incorporates. The intergenerational Puppet Club that Carol and her daughter, Lisa Carrino, turns our visual arts studio into a bee hive of puppet makers ranging from elementary students to retirees, cutting, gluing, painting, tying, and chuckling with delight at the life that springs from their creations.

John and Keturah Trembley (Playing Socially) are co-founders and directors of Growing Words Speech and Language Therapy in Cambridge, NY. They are most importantly proud parents of two young sons who keep them both entertained and full of joy. Keturah and John's goal of helping young children better understand social language starts very close to home. In developing the Playing Socially program, they have applied their experience and understanding of the importance of physical activity, body-space awareness, and self-regulation in effective social interactions among young children.

Vicki Webberley (American Belly Dance) Vicki Webberley has been on the staff at Hubbard Hall since 2006 teaching Belly Dance for fitness & fun. Vicki has taught & performed both as a soloist in Greece, Italy, Australia, Japan, & New York and as a company member of the Anahid Sofian Middle Eastern Dance and The Saz Dance Theatre. She is an ACE certified Personal Trainer and holds an AS degree in Exercise Science.  As an International flight attendant for American Airlines, Vicki has the opportunity to practice with and learn from World Class Orientale Dancers in Belgium, France, Argentina, & Switzerland, as well as New York City.  She regularly brings back new moves, concepts, and applications to her students at Hubbard Hall. Belly Dance no longer belongs solely to the Middle East.  Women all over the world have claimed this dance as a way to express their emotions and celebrate the many aspects of womanhood.   This dance form continues to evolve and develop yet maintains authenticity by remaining true to the more than 25 rhythms that inspire its movements. Many women find Belly Dance healthful, fun, & empowering!  It's but one of the many & diverse art forms that Hubbard Hall brings to the community.