Cristiana began dancing at the age of 3 in Utica, NY. She graduated in 2014 from the University at Buffalo with a BFA in Dance and a BA in Sociology. While at UB, she spent a summer studying abroad in Madrid, Spain, instilling in her a love for travel and cultural exchange. She is currently a company member and Rehearsal Director with Jon Lehrer Dance Company (JLDC) in NYC. With JLDC, she has performed, taught, and set company repertory all over the U.S. and abroad. She has toured throughout Germany, Austria, and Luxembourg, and to two different regions of Russia through the U.S. State Department as part of their cultural diplomacy initiative.  Through her experience as a professional dancer, educator, and leader, she has seen first hand how dance can change lives and empower individuals, and has made it her goal to facilitate such experiences for people and communities across the globe.

Cristiana is ecstatic to be part of the JUNTOS team, where she is able to combine her love of dance and self-expression with her passion for social change and development.

I have always dreamed of being able to do work that simultaneously helps others, connects communities, facilitates cultural enrichment through travel, and fosters my love of dance. Only at JUNTOS have I found all of these things in one rich and colorful package. JUNTOS provides the kinds of experiences I believe every individual will benefit from, no matter where they come from or where they’re headed. By using the universal language of movement, JUNTOS breaks down the walls between communities and individuals globally, fostering the kind of exchange and understanding that will change our world for the better.