Aimee German has taught Gymnastics and Circus to over 10,000 children for over 20 years.  She performs as a physical comedienne and clown at many NYC venues.  She studied dance and movement at the American Academy of Dance & Stanley Holden's in Los Angeles, then moved to London to complete her graduate degree in classical theatre. 

She performed the award-winning Bouffon version of Tennessee Williams’ "The Glass Menagerie" in the US and internationally.  She is currently performing in Canarsie Suite - featuring the LeRoy Sisters.  She wrote and created this work with Jenny Sargent and toured the show in Prague and England!

Mary Ellen Carafice is a Brooklyn based dance and teaching professional. Hailing from Rochester NY, Carafice holds an AS in Social and Behavioral Science & a BA Dance from Hunter College. Carafice has performed works by Ivy Baldwin, Monica Bill Barnes, Yoshiko Chuma, Mariangela Lopez, Kendra Portier, Alwin Nikolais, The No Collective, and Melissa West. In 2012 she earned a 200 hour registered yoga teacher certificate from Good Yoga. 

She is a Gilman Award Recipient (2012) and was a teaching artist for Council on the Arts and Humanities of Staten Island April 2013 programming at The Curiosity Project. Internationally, Mary Ellen has trained in Australia and Argentina to study with Chunky Move, Lucy Guerin, Al Wunder and Biblioteca Popular Juventud Moderna. She is also founder and artistic director of Elephant Dance-a collective of dancers created in 2014 working to protect and educate people about our last great land giants through art.

Mary Ellen has brought her love of movement and people to Gymstars since 2014. Her classes are all about fun, movement, creativity and safety! Her extensive knowledge of anatomy ensure that kids are learning proper alignment at all times and she encourages kids to be the best humans they can be, in Gymstars and in their own lives.

Keila is a Professional Dancer currently based in NYC. As an Orange County native, Keila is an alumna of the Commercial Dance Department of the Orange County High School of the Arts as well as Chapman University, where she earned a dual Bachelor of Arts degree with Cum Laude Latin Honors in Educational Studies and Dance. In Southern California, she performed for Knott's Berry Farm, Disneyland Resort, Disney California Adventure, and Disney Cruise Line. Her passion for performing inspired a cross-country move to NYC in 2018.  Keila is a recent member of the Actors' Equity Association, performed in the Broadway National Tour of Miss Saigon. She has been teaching dance and movement for 12 years and her experience with children shows in her energetic teaching style. Keila truly loves working with kids and is delighted to be a part of the Gymstars family. 

Eric’s dance training includes a wide variety of techniques including modern, ballet, contemporary, partnering and composition. At Towson University Eric has been fortunate enough to studied with Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Runqiao Du, Catherine Horta-Hayden, Vincent Thomas, Elisa Clark, Tim Veach, Troy Powell and many others. The Towson University faculty has also recognized Eric’s choreography. His solos were hand picked to represent Towson University at the American College Dance Festival in 2011 and 2013

Originally from Perth in Western Australia, Madeline Small (Miss Maddy) has been coaching gymnastics since the age of 14. Since then, she has gained more than 7 years Gymnastics coaching experience on all apparatuses including Floor, Beam, Vault, Bar, and Rings. She is also an avid performer and has studied acting and performance at The Actor Hub in Perth, Western Australia; The London Actors workshop in London, England; and at the Stella Adler Studio here in New York City. Her performance background is very important to her gymnastics coaching at Gymstars.

Ngozi competed competitive gymnastics for 14 years, winning 4 regionals and competing at nationals for region 6. Soon after, she began coaching gymnastics at Chelsea piers, with the addition of trampoline and rock climbing. She is a experienced instructor and coach, having worked with children in a variety of settings ranging from after school programs to competitive gymnastics teams.

Ekaterina Sknarina was born in Pyatigorsk in the Southern Federal District of Russia. She trained as a rhythmic gymnast and became a member of the Russian national team, competing successfully in numerous international championships.

After retiring from competition, she moved to Washington, DC to teach rhythmic gymnastics at the "Rhythmic World" Club. Later she joined the New York-based troupe Anti-Gravity. In addition to her repertoire she has starred in the off Broadway show Maximum Risk, in which the performers sought to break a world record in each performance. Ekaterina's recent projects include obtaining an MA in Art from prestigious Central St. Martins College (London) and appearance in ongoing Matthew Barney's new project 'Guardian of the Veil'.

Jenny McGowan is a physical comedian, character actor and hula hoop artist who has been performing for over 15 years and has become a mainstay in NYC's top vaudeville and cabaret scene. Performing original work that combines vaudeville antics, audience interaction, impeccable timing, costumes, music and quite often hula hooping with up to 75 hula hoops at one time, 

Jenny was trained in acting at Otterbein College and has studied clown with David Shiner, Sue Morrison, Giovanni Fusetti, Matt Chapman, Avner Eisenberg and Julie Goella.  Jenny also is on track for a degree in Occupational Therapy!

Alexandra is a highly skilled teacher and helps students achieve their potential. She received a Bachelors degree in Dance Performance, Teaching and Choreography from Belarusian State University as well as an Associates degree as an Organizer of Leisure Activity and Dance Teaching from the Folk Dance Department at Minsk College of Arts.  She is well versed in Developmental Gymnastics and Rhythmic Gymnastics.  She has worked for Gymstars, Midwood Martial Arts Gymnastics Program, Nova Gymnastics and as a teaching artist for various schools through out NYC.  Other interests include Contact (Dance) Improv, Acro-Yoga, Puppeteering, Clowning and being Adventurous!  

Grace is a Brooklyn-based dancer, teacher, and choreographer. She received her BFA in Dance Performance from SMU in Dallas, TX where she discovered her love for theatre, clowning, and collaboration. Her training also includes summers at the School of American Ballet, Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. She loves working with children and is very excited to have found Gymstars where she can use her dance background to inspire and motivate young movers! Above all, Grace believes in creating a safe and structured environment in which students feel comfortable to reach their full potential and fly! Grace is currently a member of Obelus Movement and since moving to NY has interned with MUSE Brooklyn, circus arts training facility, and Gibney, dance and social activism organization.

Miss Jessica’s love for gymnastics began as a Pop Warner cheerleader and went on to be a member of The Georgia All-Star competition squad. As captain, she won two 1st place choreography awards.  Currently, she spends a lot of time handstanding with her 13 year old daughter! Handstands are a lifelong practice! Jessica feels privileged to train, support & encourage young athletes.  Being a small part of their movement journey, giving them tools to succeed challenging skills and cheering them on through the until they discover they are stronger than they imagined, is a dream come true! 

Ella Wasserman-Smith is a dancer, choreographer, arts administrator, and instructor based in Brooklyn. She graduated from the New School, Eugene Lang College with a major in Dance and a minor in Philosophy. Her life long love of movement was sparked by her early experience with competitive gymnastics. She competed through Level 5 at Classic City Gymnastics Academy in Athens, Georgia (Go Gymdogs!). She has taught at Little Gym of Brooklyn Heights and Chelsea Piers Field House. She is excited to be on the GymStars team!

Born in Yerevan, Armenia, and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Coach Martuni is a passionate instructor with 3 years of gymnastics instructional experience and more than a year of children’s instruction. He has history as a NYC PSAL gymnastics competitor and individual finalist in the floor, vault, and high-bar events. He was the captain of the Stuyvesant boy’s gymnastics team, where he helped develop the skills of his peers and a sense of camaraderie through coaching. He immensely enjoys instructing for Gymstars and continues to pursue self-improvement through noble movement arts such as gymnastics and kick-boxing.

Gina Mayers started her early training in Ballet and Jazz at The Dance Place Barbados under the tutelage of Mrs. Elizabeth Bailey and Mrs. Adonia Evelyn. She completed her BFA in Dance and Film with Honors at The University of the West Indies Barbados, where she studied Caribbean Contemporary, Dunham, Modern and Ballet and performed with The EBCCI Dance Ensemble. In 2011, she attended The Official School of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York. Gina is also an accomplished teacher in dance, having tutored Modern Dance at The University of the West Indies Barbados. She was a Teaching Assistant at The Ailey School in New York and a Dance Specialist with South Asian Youth Action (SAYA) program. Gina is the recipient of the US Embassy’s Cultural Visitor Exchange program and has won many awards including The Royal Academy of Dance advanced graded examinations in Ballet  with Distinctions. Gina teaches Ballet, Hip-Hop and Gymnastics at Gymstars!

Elizabeth Wellman is a dancer, choreographer and dance educator with a B.F.A. in Musical Theater from Wright State University. She has 6 years experience in dance education in New York, specializing in early childhood. Beyond learning skills her teaching focus is in artistic and emotional expression through movement. She is thrilled to be part of the Gymstars team!

Recently relocated to New York City, Arden Harris is from Chicago, IL.  She acquired a BA in Contemporary, pop, and Urban music from Columbia College Chicago. She is proficient in many dance styles including hip-hop, contemporary, modern, jazz, and African. As a professional dancer, Arden has worked with a variety of artists such as Chance the Rapper, Wyclef Jean, and Saba. 

Rachel Clark comes to Gymstars with a wide range of skills from competitive cheerleading and gymnastics to being a multi-media artist. “My art practice as well as my work ethic started when I began doing gymnastics at age four. I learned what it meant to motivate myself and strive to be the best I could be. Being a part of a team forever impacted my life.” She brings what she has learned through her 15 years of competitive cheerleading and gymnastics to each one of her classes.