Our Teachers






Diane Dragone
Diane Dragone is the founding director/choreographer /teacher for the Kennedy Dancers Repertory Company and the Kennedy Dancers School since 1977.
The Kennedy Dancers is a non-profit corp. Diane Dragone created the Dance curriculum for the Hudson County Schools of Technology. She taught the gifted and talented and special education dance programs at Hudson County High Tech and Hudson County prep schools as well as classes at the Hudson County Juvenile Detention center. She was also a returning guest teacher of dance at Hudson County Community College. Ms Dragone is a certified teacher of dance in the state of New Jersey. During her career she has performed and created countless choreographies for many regional dance, theater and opera companies The Kennedy Dancers have performed in over 400 grammar, high schools and universities and performed in theaters up and down the eastern seaboard including the White House as well as U.S.O. tours. The Kennedy Dancers are 6 time award winners of Citations of excellence from New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Diane is the executive producer of the 8 time award winning cable television program “Dance Vista” seen on assorted cable television systems throughout and beyond 22 states.


Kat Reese
Kathryn “Kat” Reese is a member and Co-Director of the Kennedy Dancers Professional Dance Company and Director of our Teen Inner City Youth Dance Company. She grew up in Eatontown, NJ, & began dancing at the age of 3. For 15 years, Kat studied & performed a range of styles, including modern, ballet, tap, lyrical, jazz, hip hop, & musical theatre. From there, Kat went on to attend Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. In 2014, she graduated summa cum Laude with her BFA in dance, after working with numerous renowned teachers & guest artists including Doug Elkins, Stefanie Batten Bland, Brian Brooks, & Manuel Vignoulle. She is currently a member of The Equus Projects, directed by JoAnna Mendl Shaw, & is in her Third year teaching for The Kennedy Dancers, Inc.


Eli Cano
Eli Cano is a member and Co-Director of the Kennedy Dancers Professional Dance Company and holds a BFA in Ballet from Texas Christian University & has studied with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre & The American Dance Festival in Duke University. He has performed choreography by Robert Battle, Mark Dendy, & Dance China NY. Eli is active as a dancer & teacher with The Kennedy Dancers, Inc. & the Calpulli Dance Company. His film & television experience include “Gossip Girl,” “Law & Order SVU”, & the original HBO movie “The Normal Heart.” Eli lives in New York City.


Lorraine Mendoza
Lorraine Mendoza is an experienced dancer with 14 years of classical ballet training at Yolanda’s Academy of Music and Dance in West New York, New Jersey, and 4 years (8 Showcases) as part of the Rider Dance Ensemble at Rider University. She is disciplined in Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Contemporary, Jazz, and Modern. She is an experienced choreographer. She choreographed 3 showcases for the Rider Dance Ensemble and Hudson Catholic High School’s Production of “Annie.”


Ebo-ne Green
Ebo-ne Green is an Assistant Teacher. Ebony has been a member of the Inner City Youth Perfor-mance and Competition Team for the past three years. She continues to hone her dance skills while performing and training at The Kennedy Dancers, Inc. Ebony is a multi-gold medal winner at the Starbound Competition.

