President

Alessandra is proud to be a founding member of Matthew Westerby Dance Company, as a dancer from 2008-2015, and of its Board of Directors.  She was a professional dancer in New York City until 2017.  Alessandra has 20 years of arts administration experience in publicity, producing, and development with numerous independent dance artists and leading dance presenting organizations.  She has worked as a dance educator with students of all ages.  Alessandra holds undergraduate degrees in dance and psychology from Washington University in St. Louis, and a masters in Peace Education/International Education Development from Teachers College/Columbia.  She lives between Astoria and upstate New York with her family, and works at the Fisher Center at Bard College.

Board Member

Inara was fortunate to be introduced to music and dance early through her mother Camilla de Leon who was a composer and accompanist for many of the leading lights in the modern dance world of the 1940s and 50s. Martha Graham, Pearl Lang, Jose Limon, Katherine Dunham, and Pearl Primus are just a few.

Inara has studied dance throughout her life and to say that it has greatly enriched her world and perspective is a vast understatement.

She supported her dance habit in a long career at NBC News, WNBC and Consumer Reports as a writer and producer.

She is delighted to be on the Board of the MWC. She also serves on the Boards of the Chappaqua Summer Scholarship Program and Family-to-Family, a hunger relief program.

Board Member Emeritus

John worked in publishing at Oxford University Press, selling The Oxford English Dictionary and Grove Dictionaries of Music and Art. He also worked at Nature Publishing selling scientific journals to universities and research institutions. John was a founding member of the MWC board and passed away in November 2025.

Tasha is a theatre teacher, playwright, and performer, Tasha Partee has delighted in working with thespians of all ages in New York City and throughout Virginia since 2001. She holds an M.A. in Educational Theatre and English from NYU and a B.F.A. in Theatre Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her plays have been produced by the New York International Fringe Festival, The Hudson Guild Theatre Company under the artistic direction of Jim Furlong, Manhattan Repertory Theatre, and The New York New Works Theatre Festival. Awards include the 2019 Inspiring Teacher Award, presented by the Broadway League, Wells Fargo, and The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (also known as The Jimmy Awards). Tasha is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild and currently serves as an Upper School Theatre teacher at Léman Manhattan Preparatory School. Affiliations: DGA, ICWP & EDTA.

Vice President

Nikki Penfold trained at The Laban Centre for Movement and Dance gaining a BA Hons in Dance Theatre in 2000. In 2001 she co- founded Influx Dance Company with choreographer Joanne Willmott. Concurrent to the company creating and touring work, she earned her teaching qualifications through Bath Spa University in 2003, and taught on a variety of courses before Program Managing both BTEC and A Level Dance at Bridgwater College in the U.K. Nikki moved to NYC in 2010 and continued teaching in both studio and school settings enjoying time working with Dance Wave and the Dreamyard Project. Nikki has two children who she is currently giving her full time (and dance moves) to, while keeping her passion for dance alive as a proud supporter and advocate for MWC.