Pentacle's Staff
Clarissa Soto Josephs
Executive Director
Clarissa Soto Josephs began working at Pentacle in 2011 after earning dual degrees in Dance Performance and Entrepreneurship with a concentration in Legal Studies from Hofstra University. In 2016 she earned an MBA degree from Quinnipiac University, and was named one of the New York Hispanic Coalition’s “40 Under 40 Rising Stars” in the same year. A staff member of Pentacle for over ten years, Clarissa has worked in the Fiscal and Education & Outreach Departments providing direct services to over one hundred artists, training hundreds of interns and fellows in arts administration, and developing innovative ways to effectively serve young artists through Pentacle’s services and programs.
In 2016, Clarissa became Pentacle’s Director of Programs, where she developed and directed the groundbreaking 2.5-yr Administrative Resource Team (ART) Research Study with major support from The Scherman Foundation’s Rosin Fund, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, and governmental funding. In 2019, she was promoted to Associate Director of Pentacle, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, her leadership enabled the organization to move quickly to remote operations, retain all of its staff, on-board two new Arts Management Training Fellows, create the new nextSteps virtual administrative platform, and expand its vital services and programs by providing FREE support to vulnerable performing artists particularly impacted by COVID-19.
In July 2021, Clarissa was appointed Executive Director of Pentacle, the first BIPOC woman and the first non-founder to hold this top leadership role at the organization. As Executive Director, she is excited to continue up-holding the organization’s 45-year mission of helping artists, while also taking a fresh look at how Pentacle can develop new equitable and sustainable business models and practices. Her goals as Executive Director are to remain accessible to the artists, and as a BIPOC woman in a leadership role, to continue the work of Pentacle’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Committee to further create a healthy and safe space for the staff, the artists, and everyone to be seen and valued.
Sandy Garcia
Director of Booking
Sandy Garcia has been Director of Booking at Pentacle since 2016. Prior to joining Pentacle she was a booking representative, international tour coordinator, and director of administration at Rena Shagan Associates, Inc. where she represented artists that included Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, Black Grace, SITI Company and Martha Graham Dance Company among others. She has worked with major U.S. presenting organizations, artist management companies and internationally renowned artists in dance, theater, visual performance art and music including PERFORMA (NYC, NY), MASS MoCA (North Adams, MA), and Cal Performances (Berkeley, CA).
Sandy currently serves as the chair of Pentacle’s DEIA Committee and has been involved in ongoing efforts to advance more equitable practices in national dance touring. She was a member of the Dance/USA Equitable Contracting Joint Working Group, comprised of agents, managers and presenters who worked collectively to advocate for the implementation of equitable compensation and cancellation clauses in engagement contracts between touring dance companies and presenting organizations. She was also a member of Creating New Futures' Contract Working Group and served as an advisor for the Association of Performing Arts Professionals' ArtsForward Grants Program. Sandy was a mentor for Urban Bush Women's Choreographic Center Initiative and most recently worked with Fannie Bellefeuille (Executive Director, RUBBERBAND) to launch The Green Fund, an eco-touring initiative that provides funding to U.S. presenters who support environmentally conscious touring practices.
Quincie Hydock
Director of Programming
Quincie Hydock earned her BFA in dance & choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. In 2013 she moved to New York City and co-founded a duet dance theater company, Q&A Productions. After volunteering as a production assistant at one of Pentacle’s APAP showcases, Quincie joined Pentacle’s staff in 2014. Before becoming Director of Programming, she was Director of the Administrative Support Program, developing the program into what it is today over a 4-year period. During her time at Pentacle, Quincie's excellent management and leadership skills were honed through two successful seasons coordinating and working with the artists of the Pentacle Dance Series at the Rubin Museum; administering Pentacle’s Internship program for three sessions during a period of rapid growth in the program; and serving as one of the program administrators working directly with artists in the ART program. Being a dance artist herself helps inform her work with emerging artists and better understand their administrative needs. In addition to her work at Pentacle, Quincie is a fitness instructor, the development associate of the Brooklyn Americana Music Festival, and a sewing teacher.
Brittany Couch
Education & Outreach Manager
Brittany Couch holds a BA in Entertainment & Media Studies and a certificate in Music Business from The University of Georgia. Prior to working at Pentacle she was the studio manager for Dancefx and then ALDEN MOVES Dance Theater, where she honed her graphic design and arts administration skills. Brittany has multiple years of experience as a post-production assistant for documentary films and as a stage manager for national touring dance competitions and events. In addition to her work at Pentacle, she is NEVILLE Dance Theatre’s Booking Coordinator, a dance instructor, and a media coordinator for Open Call Dance Competition. She brings a fervent enthusiasm to Pentacle for cultivating young leaders and connecting arts organizations with the tools they need to empower their artistry.
Joanna Futral
Booking Representative & Contract Manager
Joanna Futral, though new to Pentacle, has a lifetime connection to dance and dance production. Born into a family of industry professionals and after graduating with a degree in Applied Math from GA Tech, Joanna used math tutoring to financially support her art. She has been a self-starting, multi-hat wearer for years. In 2013 she co-founded The Lovelies, a compositional improvisation dance company that teaches, performs, curates, and produces community focused events. In 2018 she founded Dance in Bushwick, a production company that offered a local spotlight on world class artists and their work which was awarded a Brooklyn Arts Council grant. She has worked as a company manager for ChristinaNoel & the Creature and The Office Arts. As a dancer, she has performed at Lincoln Center, Park Avenue Armory, Judson Church, 92nd St Y, Kaatsbaan Int. Dance Center, and other venues domestic and abroad. She is looking forward to advocating for artists in this new endeavor.
Dan Sandfelder
Fiscal Services Manager
Dan Sandfelder graduated from the University of Kentucky in December of 2021 with a B.A in Arts Administration and Theatre. While studying at the University of Kentucky, Dan served as the President of the Department of Theatre and Dance Studio Season Board where he championed for inclusivity and provided support to student choreographers. Prior to joining Pentacle, Dan worked as a Marketing and Promotions Administrative Assistant for Improvolution, and worked as an Administrative intern for AthensWest Theatre Company, as well as the National Women’s Theatre Festival. Now as a Fiscal Associate at Pentacle, he aims to use his training in Quickbooks and not-for-profit accounting systems to support artists as they tell their stories, impact the communities around them, and inevitably change the world for the better.
Gabby Carmichael
Fiscal Associate
Gabby Carmichael graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 2014 with dual degrees in dance and anthropology, and has enjoyed wearing many hats in the arts since then. As a dancer and choreographer, she has been in residence at Gibney, The Field Center, and The Floor on Atlantic, and her work has been presented at Triskelion Arts, Movement Research at the Judson Church, Center for Performance Research, Dixon Place, BAAD!, Brooklyn Ballet, and more. She collaborates administratively with Ogemdi Ude, has worked in the IT department at Columbia University, and operated as the fiscal co-manager for Tender Loving Coop. She is also a seasoned yoga teacher and teaches throughout the city. As a Fiscal Associate at Pentacle, she brings her experience using Quickbooks and not-for-profit accounting systems to further support performing artists in their creative pursuits.
Maeve Munroe
Fiscal Associate
Originally from Hoboken, New Jersey, Maeve Munroe graduated from Emerson College in May of 2022 with a BFA in Acting. While at Emerson, Maeve participated and held leadership roles in a wide range of activities from literary magazines, to film and theater productions and social clubs. As an actor, she has performed in theatrical productions and films in New Jersey, New York City and the Boston area. Since graduating, she has relocated to Brooklyn and is excited to bring her combined artistic and administrative experiences to her work with Pentacle’s artists.
Julia Asher
Fiscal Associate
Julia Asher was part of the inaugural class of dancers at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University where she received a BFA in Dance and a BA in Natural Sciences with a concentration in Mathematics and Neuroscience. Upon graduation, Julia relocated to New York City where she has been active in multiple facets of the dance community. Most recently, Julia was Operations Associate at Gibney Dance, where she was responsible for tasks related to general operations including providing support to the payroll team and receivables department, and utilized management software such as MindBody, Microsoft Suite and Salesforce. She also has experience as a video editor and community manager at One Day Dance. In her role as Fiscal Associate at Pentacle, Julia is excited to combine her passion for dance and management experience to provide support for performing artists.
Kevin Lo
Fiscal Associate
Kaiching (Kevin) Lo grew up in Taiwan and moved to the United States to pursue an education in 2016. He has a BBA in International Marketing from Baruch College and is currently enrolled in Baruch’s MA Arts Administration program. Kevin developed a passion for the arts by immersing himself in New York’s many museums and art galleries. His newfound interest led him to take a decisive step towards becoming an arts administrator. With his prior experience in sales and marketing, nonprofit bookkeeping, and current graduate coursework in arts administration, Kevin is excited to provide fiscal support to performing artists in his role as fiscal associate at Pentacle.
Brian Sounalath
Fiscal Associate
Brian Sounalath studied Social Economics and Theater at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where he lived before moving to New York. Prior to joining Pentacle, he worked in accounting at the Creative Artists Agency, with responsibilities in accounts payable and expense tracking for agents. He has also worked in television production, managing an office for a writers’ room where he handled all expenses and payroll. Early on in his career, he was a night auditor for a boutique hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Additionally, he has experience working in casting, as a script coordinator for animation shows, and was also a professional actor. As a Fiscal Associate at Pentacle, Brian is excited to put his math skills to good use in supporting artists on their creative journeys.
Mahmuda Razzaque
Administrative Associate
Mahmuda Razzaque graduated from Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business in 2021 with a BBA in Human Resource Management and a minor in Information Technology & Social Responsibility. Since graduating, she has worked remotely as a Coordinator in Marketing at CEO Trust, and as an Executive Assistant at a neighborhood Covid testing center. She has experience maintaining confidential files and audits and helping the testing center run smoothly by sending out hundreds of test results daily. Mahmuda is passionate about administration and HR in nonprofit organizations. As an Administrative Associate at Pentacle, she wants to help performing artists and students achieve their goals and navigate pathways for success.
Brandon Barker
Administrative Associate
Brandon Barker grew up in Harlem, and graduated from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst in 2021 with a Bachelor’s Degree of Independent Concentration in Public Policy in the Arts and a Certificate in Arts Management. He has merged his dance training with his college research towards discovering how to best economically support the arts. Prior to joining Pentacle, he was a Dance Coordinator and a Budget Manager at Trinity Lutheran School and a Camp Program Coordinator at AHRC in New York City. He has experience in Quickbooks and accounting from his time working for Galbraith and Company, a firm who handles the finances for the Broadway show Hamilton. As Administrative Associate at Pentacle working on the Administrative Support Program and nextSteps, Brandon brings his passion for public policy and financial work to allow performing artists to thrive and to also address where they could be better supported.
Owen Burnham
Booking Department Associate,
Administrative Support Program Associate
Owen Burnham, originally from Columbus, Ohio, graduated from New York University in 2022 with a BFA in Dance. Throughout his college career, he combined his budding interest in projection and video design with his contemporary dance training, creating digital elements and films for “traditional” and digital stages. Prior to joining Pentacle, he served as a work-study with the Dance Department at NYU creating and organizing files, providing audition assistance, and operating cameras as a videographer. He also assisted in live streaming and content production for Dance Medicine Education Initiative, founded by Andrea Zujko. As a multidisciplinary artist and arts administrator, Owen seeks to engage the arts community in the exchange of culture, ideas, and open up accessibility to new perspectives. Owen is ecstatic to be working with Pentacle’s Booking department to continue his discovery of new pathways in his passion for supporting and engaging with artists.
Natalie Bonniwell
Administrative Associate
Natalie Bonniwell earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from Pace University NYC, with a focus in Arts & Entertainment Management studies. Before joining the Pentacle team, she gained over 4 years of experience working in the operations and administrative side of the music industry, helping independent artists connect with a team of experts and educational resources at Cari Cole Voice & Music Co. Natalie has developed a strong passion for the arts in both her professional and personal life. After several years of dancing competitively in her hometown of Fort Worth, TX, she moved to NYC in 2013 to attend the Joffrey Ballet School’s Jazz and Contemporary Trainee Program and went on to continue her training at The Broadway Dance Center. She has since expanded her creative pursuits in choreography, singing, songwriting and working on her own music album. As an Administrative Associate at Pentacle, Natalie is eager to support performing artists in their professional endeavors and serve the artistic community.
Mara Greenberg
Comptroller
Mara Greenberg received her MBA in Finance from New York University. She joined Pentacle as Director of Fiscal Operations in 1977, and became co-director with Ivan Sygoda two years later. After 34 years working with Ivan Sygoda behind-the-scenes and quietly managing the business and fiscal side of Pentacle, in 2013 she became the sole director of the organization. Since then she has restructured the management and staffing of the organization, rebuilt Pentacle’s board of directors, and produced a highly successful 40th Anniversary Celebration. For over forty years, through prudent financial management Mara has kept Pentacle deficit-free and maintained a comfortable cash reserve, allowing the organization to weather economic and social changes while investing in new programming and innovative projects of great national impact.
Mara has served as a financial consultant to the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, was a contributing editor to the Poor Dancer’s Almanac, second edition, was a guest speaker and panelist at ART/NY FEDAPT, Dance Theater Workshop, the New School for Social Research, the Cultural Council Foundation and Marymount Manhattan College among others, and a guest on cable television “Eye on Dance” (“Second Careers for Professional Dancers”). She also performed professionally with Rachel Lampert & Dancers and the Nancy Meehan Dance Company. Mara has given her time to the Synagogue for the Arts as a financial consultant as well as organized summer programs for children on the East End.
As Director and alongside ED Clarissa Soto Josephs, Mara helped stabilize the organization so it has the capacity, vision, and flexibility to sustain itself for another 40+ years. Now, she acts as comptroller for the organization.
Anna Brady Marcus
Grant Writing Consultant
Anna Brady Marcus started her career in arts administration at Pentacle in 2001 where she was exposed to many areas of performing arts management and worked with dozens of dance companies and hundreds of performing artists. During her tenure at Pentacle she created a program to facilitate new explorations into media and dance, and founded Kinetic Cinema, a dance film screening series that ran monthly for four years. As a grant writer, she has over a decade of experience developing proposals for private and government institutions, specializing in funding for the arts. She enjoys putting into words the invaluable work that Pentacle does for the dance community and making a strong case for how important the arts are to our society. Anna has her BFA in dance from California Institute of the Arts, and a graduate certificate in Media Management from the New School. She is also a writer of fiction and memoirs; founder of Anchor Your Legacy, a service for recording personal, family and community histories; and a performer and dance filmmaker.
Board of Directors
Robin Carol | Communications Director, Public Art Fund
Ashley Calhoun | Early Childhood Education Consultant
James Pierre-Louis | Private Equity Associate, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Margaret Wagner Dahl | Former Associate VP for Information Technology & Analytics, Georgia Tech
Marilyn Peck Francescon (Chair) | Attorney
Stephane Duret | Founder & Executive Director, Kaiser's Room
Stefi George | Attorney
Mathew Heggem | Founder & CEO, 10kCreators LLC
Clarissa Soto Josephs | Executive Director, Pentacle
Alexandra Knowles | Director of Business Development & HR, DanceBody
Noah Rosenfield | Game Developer