Our Faculty
Alyssa Buenaga
Alyssa studied dance at The Dancer’s Workshop in Wall, NJ from the age of 5 and is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary and acrobatics. Alyssa attended Temple University where she continued her dance career on the dance team Dare to Dance while earning her bachelor’s degree in finance. Alyssa’s passion for dance has never faded and she continues to make it a priority in her life. She cares deeply for her students and provides a fun and safe space in her classroom for both children and adult dancers to express themselves with physical movement.
Alyssa teaches Creative Core, Tap/Jazz/HipHop, Pre-Ballet, and Teen/Adult Ballet and KPop classes.
Maddy Winters
Madeline started her dance training at age three at the Rock School for Dance Education. She joined the School of Philadelphia Ballet in 2016 when she was nine years old, and progressed to the trainee program by 2022. While training with School of Philadelphia Ballet Madeline had group and private coaching sessions with Sun Mi. Madeline placed second in the senior classical division at the 2024 Youth America Grand Prix semi-finals and was invited to compete in the Final Round of Finals at Lincoln Center in New York City. Madeline was invited to Japan International Youth Ballet’s summer residency, and got to perform Angel Corella’s peasant pas de deux, in their production of Giselle. Madeline was promoted to Philadelphia Ballet’s second company in 2024. She will be staying with Philadelphia Ballet II for the 2025/2026 season.
Maddy teaches Toddler Time, Creative Core, Foundations and Adult Ballet classes.
Kathryn Schweingruber
Kathryn Schweingruber is a versatile dancer, teacher and choreographer from Philadelphia, PA. She grew up training at Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center and went on to earn a B.S. in Dance from Drexel University. Kathryn has choreographed works from Drexel’s Dance Ensemble and FreshDance Ensemble, Dancefusion’s fusion2, Penn Dance Company and Philadelphia Dance Academy. Currently, Kathryn is a member of Philadelphia Jazz Tap Ensemble, the assistant choreographer for Gweynedd Mercy Academy High School’s musicals and teaches at several studios and schools in the Philadelphia area.
Kathryn teaches Kids Tap classes.
Whitney El Laisy
Whitney El Laisy holds a Master’s degree in Leadership and Administration, bringing a strategic and organized approach to her role as Studio Manager. She oversees day-to-day operations, coordinates schedules, and ensures that studio projects run smoothly from concept to completion. Whitney excels at building community partnerships and fostering collaborative relationships, helping the studio stay connected, efficient, and future-focused.
Whitney is our Studio Manager.
Mia Conway
Mia Conway is an accomplished marketing strategist with over a decade of experience leading culture-driven campaigns and brand partnerships. She has developed and executed high-impact strategies for global brands, including Condé Nast, where she drove creative direction across Teen Vogue, Vanity Fair, and Them, the company’s groundbreaking queer-focused platform. At Levi’s, Mia spearheaded experiential marketing initiatives and led the brand’s global Levi’s 501® Day celebrations, delivering large-scale activations that connected deeply with worldwide audiences. Mia’s expertise spans experiential, content, social, and e-commerce marketing, with a proven ability to translate cultural insights into scalable strategies that drive growth, build community, and position brands at the forefront of cultural conversation.
Mia is our Marketing Manager.
Teacher’s Assistants
Chanel Walker
High School Student
Performance Team Member
RuiFang Lanza
Moore College Of Art Student
Honors program leadership in the arts
“I am endlessly grateful for the incredible staff and faculty at SunMi Ballet, whose kind demeanors, driven minds and deep commitment to our community uplift and inspire our dancers every day. Their genuine care for all our students’ growth and well-being is inspiring. Our staff members’ dedication and heart are the foundation of everything we do. ”
Director & Founder