Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Lindsey Croop learned the power of positivity in ballet class with Charla Genn.

“One of the things that sets her apart is she’s so positive and funny. She comes up with rhymes for everything, like ‘Lift your chest in arabesque to be the best!’ She also makes them individualized. When I point my foot, she’ll say, ‘Point your talus to Dallas!’ because I’m from Texas. She really influences my mental game and has just helped me so much as a complete dancer.”

Charla Genn is on faculty at The Juilliard School and Steps on Broadway. In addition to DTH, she teaches company class at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ballet Hispanico and the Metropolitan Opera.