Kierstyn Zaykoski

Director of Operations

Kierstyn Zaykoski Director of Operations for the New York Institute of Dance & Education, the New York Dance Festival, Reaching for Higher Ground Consulting, and part of the Executive Implementation team for the Global Dance Initiative. She works as a certified personality for the American Master Class Tour. As a designer and information manager, she is well versed in graphic and video design, as well as marketing and advertising and leads the NYIDE Media Production division for the Institute’s Global and National footprint.

As a facilitator, Kierstyn has led many political and corporate forums and was the Chair of IGNITE – Cayuga County’s Young Professionals Organization as part of the Chamber of Commerce. She has hosted Republican and Democratic Debates, Political Town Halls, and facilitated training and Panel Discussions. Kierstyn has taught and tutored all ages Internationally for over a decade both in person and online, She co-founded the Kid Land University Language Company and specialized in global teaching of English as a second language.

Ms. Zaykoski is also a Ballet and Modern Soloist with the Kaleidoscope Dance Theatre having just returned from a recent European Tour that had her premier a new choreographic work for Pointe in the Dora Stratou Theatre in Athens Greece created by African American Choreographer and Director, Sean McLeod, and composed by Emmy Nominated Composer Ryan Chase. Kierstyn is a McLeod Technique and Reinforced Motor Function ® Certified Master Teacher and a graduate of State University of New York at Potsdam with a degree in Early Childhood/Childhood Education and minor in Dance.

Ms. Zaykoski has an extensive background in both dance, gymnastics, cheerleading and early childhood development. She has coached gymnastics, cheerleading, and teaching dance for more than 17 years, and has helped direct After School programs using Emotional Development Through Movement at Community Centers and for YMCA dance programs. Kierstyn has toured the world teaching and performing with the New York Institute of Dance & Education and the professional dance company, the Kaleidoscope Dance Theatre. Kierstyn has taught, presented, and performed internationally in Barbados, Italy, and Canada, Germany, Czech Republic, Greece and many locations around the US. Kierstyn has focused much of her career to learning, performance, and education and is committed to finding ways to help others while on that journey.