Our Team
Lydia Perakis
Founder & Director
Teacher & Trainer
She/her
Lydia Perakis is a dancer, personal trainer and educator from the Greek island of Crete and the founder of ESTIA. A triple Libra at heart, she’s endlessly inspired by art, storytelling, and the magic that happens when people come together.
Her movement practice is rooted in curiosity, care, and a trauma-informed approach. Over the years, Lydia has taught and trained movers of all kinds, from first-timers to professional dancers and athletes, across studios, schools, and fitness spaces in NYC. She holds a BFA in Dance from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, is a certified personal trainer, a registered yoga teacher, and a licensed Kettlebell coach. Her approach is deeply influenced by somatic work, mentorship, and over a decade of experience as a professional dancer and performer herself.
As an artist, Lydia has shared her own work at venues including the Danspace Project, the Gelsey Kirkland Arts Center, the Queens Dance Festival alongside other organizations. She has performed in projects by various choreographers including Jeremy Nelson, Christina Robson, Luis Lara Malvacías, Elizabeth Dishman, DanceAction/Carmen Caceres, and Sarah Mitchell, collaborating on everything from stage works and films to installations and music videos.
Since 2022, she has been producing multidisciplinary art events that create space for connection and collaboration among artists of all backgrounds and have welcomed over 2,000 patrons through their doors.
Beyond the studio, Lydia has spent years working behind the scenes in performance production in spaces like New York Live Arts, Center for Performance Research, and Soho Playhouse, as well as assisting large-scale artists in realizing their visions. She is excited to continue weaving together her love for movement, community, and creation, building a home for all of it here at ESTIA!
Marketing/Operations Manager
Dance Teacher
Alisha Khatwani
She/her
Alisha Khatwani is a creator, educator, digital artist, and dancer from Austin, Texas, now based in New York City. She is passionate about building spaces where artists feel connected to themselves and the world around them. In 2024, she co-founded AGORA, a community-driven initiative that curates performances, film screenings, and collaborative opportunities for emerging artists. She also serves as Marketing Director with Wandering Avian Dance Experience (WADE), leading outreach, designing marketing materials, and engaging audiences through thoughtful communication.
As a performer, Alisha has danced repertory by Sidra Bell, Kyle Abraham, Andrea Miller, and Gallim Dance, with appearances at New York Live Arts, Radio City Music Hall, the Battery Dance Festival, and internationally at B12 Berlin. She is equally dedicated to education, having taught, choreographed, and assisted in schools and community programs across Austin and New York, as well as through an internship with the American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. She values creating inclusive and supportive learning environments where movement empowers students, sparks creativity, and builds confidence.
Alisha earned her BFA in Dance with a minor in Digital Art & Design from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and is excited to begin her journey with ESTIA House of Movement as Marketing & Operations Manager. She is also an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Alisha looks forward to bringing her passions for teaching, community, and creating into her role while supporting ESTIA’s mission of cultivating meaningful and collaborative spaces for artists.
Nick Alselmo
Dance Teacher
He/him
Nick Alselmo is a graduate from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts with a BFA in contemporary dance. He has shown work throughout New York City since 2015. In addition to starting his own company called The Pocket Fuel Groovers in 2020, Nick freelances as a performer and has worked with Abarukas, Johnnie Cruise Mercer/The RED ProjectNYC, Emotions Physical Theatre, Danse Theatre Surreality, Susannah Yugler and The New York City Children’s Theater.
The Pocket Fuel Groovers are a company of New York City based dancers founded by Nick Alselmo in 2020. Their movement is influenced by contemporary, hip-hop, ballet, house, funk dance styles and martial arts. By combining these disciplines with elements of theater, DJ-ing, team sport exercises and ideologies, they aim to push the boundaries of what is possible in a performance and communal setting. They have performed at Arts on Site, Abrons Arts Center, The Brick Theater, Triskelion Arts, Center for Performance Research, The Tank and much more.
Myrtil Demasse
Pilates Instructor
She/her
Myrtil Demasse is a certified Pilates and Group Fitness Instructor based in New York City. Originally from France, she brings to her teaching a unique blend of athletic precision, mindful awareness, and creative flow. With nearly twenty years of experience in Track & Field, Myrtil’s approach to Pilates is deeply rooted in movement efficiency, strength, and body intelligence.
She received her Core Mat I and II certifications from Power Pilates NYC and her Group Fitness Instructor certification from NASM. Currently, she continues to train toward a comprehensive Pilates certification, expanding her understanding of functional movement and mind-body connection.
LOLA
Variety Show Producer
She/her
Lola is a dance theater maker and lover of performing arts. She was the founding member of the ESTIA Variety Show & the ESTIA Day Fest with Lydia in the previous iteration of ESTIA and will now be producing our Variety Shows.
She began her performance career in Orlando, Florida, after training at USF under Michael Foley, Andee Scott, John Parks, & James Kinney.
Upon moving to Orlando, Lola performed at Universal Studios, DRIP, Red Right Return, a few gigs in Puppetry with Heather Henson’s IBEX, a couple music videos for Xcelencia & The Buddy Blues Band, countless teaching classes, camps & workshops, until finding her home at VarieTEASE under Blue Star’s mentorship.
Since moving to NYC, she teaches privates & small workshops, performs in various venues, has choreographed for some short films, & most recently the Off-Broadway Immersive Production of TAMMANY HALL.
In addition to choreography and performance, Lola was the Associate Producer at The SoHo Playhouse for 5 years and she is currently the Head Treasurer at the Westside Theatre for The Little Shop of Horrors. Lola’s background on the stage and her current work in production has allowed her a unique perspective into producing events specifically for artists.
Lola’s passion lies not only on the stage, but in creating opportunities for artists. She believes in giving space to creators and cultivating relationships with movers & makers.
Supporting and Past Contributors
Ziru Wang
Photography & Videography
Camille Bruya
Design & Branding
Artie Ticknor
Grant Writer
Sammy Chapa
Social Media
Sofia Baeta
Marketing & Press Coordinator
Stephanie Lemesianou
Photography & Videography
Aishia Sampson
Social Media
