Linsey O’Neal
Director, Brant Lake Dance Camp
“I was hired my first summer, as the tap and Jazz instructor. Who knew that it would be the start of a great relationship!”
From her first summer at Brant Lake Dance Camp Linsey was a great teacher, role model and advocate for our campers. Brant Lake Dance Camp has become part of her heart and soul. We couldn’t be more excited to have such a perfect person for the job. Linsey is now the Director of Dance and focus on all dance class, workshops, teachers, student works, mentoring and mentors and performances. Linsey will also continue to be one of our fabulous dance teachers.
Linsey loves to teach and share her passion with dancers and student worldwide. She has taught across the US, including guest classes for the Dana Foglia Dance Mentorship programs, Steps on Broadway, and at Conventions across the country. In addition, she has taught internationally at Dassain Camp at BlinkNow in Nepal, at Tap Festival UK, and in Montreal, Canada. Linsey is super excited to be back at BLDC this summer and can’t wait to dance with you!
Linsey O’Neal recently moved back to New York City after living in Los Angeles and is currently a performer, teacher and choreographer. Some of her favorite performing credits include the MTV’s Video Music Awards with Ariana Grande, performing with James Corden, Kevin Hart, at Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center and The Javits Center in NYC. She was a company member of Chloe Arnold’s Apt 33 and was a dancer with Dana Foglia Dance. Television credits include: Fox and Friends, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Good Morning America, as well as commercials for Comcast and Crowd Tilt. Linsey’s choreography has been featured at The 2018 Chita Rivera Awards, The Astaire Awards, NYC Festival of Dance, LA County Fair, Broadway Care’s Nothing Like a Dame, and the OC Fair.
Sarah “Sass” Rapkin
Director of Dance Camp
Sarah “Sass” Rapkin has been coming to Brant Lake Dance Camp since she herself started as a camper at 12 years old. Originally from Westchester, New York, Sass grew up with a love of dance and an even bigger love of all things camp. After receiving a BA at Tulane University she continued on and received her MA in Education from NYU. Sass’s summers were all spent at BLDC. Now, a full-time teacher in NYC, Sass lives “ten months for two” as the Director of Brant Lake Dance Camp. Not only a great guidance counselor, leader and communicator, Sass’s love of lip sync battles, across the floor combinations, and “ooey gooey s’mores” can be felt as you hear her enthusiastic voice call out for “9:30 Classes!”. She’s a fantastic role model and advocate for our campers and staff. She’s the most warm and nurturing listener and we’re happy that she calls BLDC home. Brant Lake Dance Camp is part of Sass’ heart and soul. We couldn’t be more excited to have such a perfect person for the job.
Since Sass can’t get enough of being at Brant Lake, once Dance Camp ends, she is also involved at Brant Lake Sports Academy.
Annemiek “Mieks” Gersten
Associate Director of Brant Lake Camp, Advising Director of Dance Camp
Annemiek Gersten has been the Director and /or an Administrator of Brant Lake Dance Camp for over 35 years. She believes that camp is the best summer environment for girls to explore being their best selves.
“Mieks”, as she is known around camp, grew up and went to school in NYC, graduated from the High School of Performing Arts and then NYU. She had been involved in professional theater throughout her youth and has gone to camp since she was two. Having lived and breathed “Camp” her whole life, Brant Lake Dance Camp was a natural fit for her from the beginning. Mieks oversees and advises the Dance Camp’s directors and program as well as the Arts and Theater and media parts of Brant Lake Camp. Mieks married into the Brant Lake Camp for Boys family. The camps have been in her husband, Richie Gersten’s family since BLC started in 1916 and BLDC started in 1980. Their son, Max Gersten is a fourth generation Director of Brant Lake Camp. Their daughter, Thea Gersten, loves coming up to camp to visit her family, help out at camp and is on their Board of Directors. (She is an attorney in NYC). When not at camp, Mieks enjoys doing photography, biking in Central Park, going to live theater, dance, music and other events in NYC, traveling and spending lots of time with family.