Emily Hopp, President of the board

Emily is currently Vice President, Corporate Marketing at Morgan Stanley. Prior to Morgan Stanley, she dabbled in documentary film production and served as the assistant to the Chairman of the Board at American Ballet Theatre. Emily is a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College with a special studies degree in arts administration and dance. A recipient of the Dance Award for Excellence in Choreography (F&M), she is also a Venman Community Arts Fellow (UMass-Amherst). Emily loves dancing in unlikely places, continues to have outrageous fun in dance studios around New York and is incredibly excited to be a part of the YSDT family.

Samar Haddad King, Treasurer

Zoe Rabinowitz, Secretary

Kristine Covillo, Director

Kristine Covillo graduated from The Ailey School/Fordham University with honors.  She received a BFA degree in Dance with a minor in Business Management.  Over the past 10 years Kristine has performed nationally and internationally in dance companies, tours, television shows, feature films and broadway productions.  Kristine was a company member with Ballet Hispanico of New York for 3 years, performing principal, soloist and ensemble roles.  She has internationally toured as a guest artist with Tania Perez-Salas Compania de Danza (Mexico and Ireland).  Kristine has also performed at Radio City Music Hall as a Radio City Rockette.  Other performing credits include: The Disney feature film “Enchanted”, “The Radio City Christmas Spectacular”, “Late Show with David Letterman”, “Ace of Cakes”, “MACY’S Thanksgiving Day Parade”, “Amici” television show (Rome, Italy), Teatro all Scala tour of WEST SIDE STORY (Italy, Lebanon, Japan), and various other commercial, film and TV projects.  Most recently, Kristine appeared in the 2009 revival of WEST SIDE STORY on Broadway ["Alicia"].  Kristine is very excited to join the Board of YSDT.

Jeanne Devine, Director

Jeanne Devine is a Counsel with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, specializing in interpretation and application of banking and consumer laws and regulations.  In her spare time, she represents actors, directors and producers in the motion picture, television, and stage industries.  Jeanne received a Bachelor of Arts degree in French from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Arts degree in French and International Trade from Eastern Michigan University.  She earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Texas, where she was Articles Editor of the Texas International Law Journal and a writing instructor for incoming minority law students.  Jeanne has previously been on the Board of Directors of literary organizations, theaters and acting societies.  She has a strong interest in the entertainment field and is proud to support Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre.

Rhoda Kanaaneh, Director

Rhoda Ann Kanaaneh is currently a visiting scholar at New York University’s department of Middle East and Islamic Studies. She has taught anthropology and gender and sexuality studies at NYU and American University in Washington, DC, and has held fellowships at Harvard, the European University Institute and Columbia University. She is the author the award-winning book Birthing the Nation: Strategies of Palestinian Women in Israel (University of California, 2002) and more recently of Surrounded Palestinian Soldiers in the Israeli Military (Stanford University, 2009)

Ryan King, Director

Ryan has been working as a Wall Street professional for almost 10 years.  He is currently Director of ABS trading at Broadpoint Capital, prior to which he served in the same role at Barclays Capital. Ryan attended college at the University of Alabama where he graduated summa cum laude in 2001.  While at the University, Ryan won several honors, including two of the four Premiere Awards that the University bestows upon its students.  In addition to scholastics, Ryan was incredibly active in volunteer programs throughout the city of Tuscaloosa, ranging from tutoring children at the YMCA to volunteering at the local mental institution, Bryce Hospital.  Ryan has always been an avid supporter of the arts, and he is excited with this opportunity to work on the board of Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre.