about YVONNE GUTIERREZ
“I am an educator who sees excellence in each student while honoring their diverse and individual differences. I teach dance to foster connection — connection to its beauty, connection to possibility, connection to inspiration, and connection to others.”
“I teach dance for community, for clarity and for charity.”
Yvonne Gutierrez is a dance educator of Cuban descent whose teaching philosophy centers on connection — connection to beauty, possibility, inspiration, and community. As an educator, she recognizes the excellence in every student while honoring their individual differences. She teaches dance to foster clarity, creativity, charity, and meaningful human connection.
Ms. Gutierrez holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Pace University. She is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the International Association of Blacks in Dance, Inc., and serves as a core member of the Black Flamenco Network | FUAAD. She is also certified in Mental Health First Aid, CPR, First Aid, and AED, and remains committed to lifelong learning, collaboration, and creating inspiring experiences for future generations.
In 2022, Ms. Gutierrez was honored with the Dance Teacher Award from Dance Teacher Magazine. That same year, she was a featured artist and panelist at the 1st Annual AfroMundo Festival in New Mexico, and also participated as a reader and panelist for the 34th Annual Festival Flamenco Alburquerque’s “New Perspectives in Flamenco History and Research Symposium.”
Ms. Gutierrez began her teaching career at the age of nineteen and has since built an expansive and diverse career working with numerous respected organizations and institutions, including Graham Teens School, Concepts Dance Academy, Ballet Hispánico founded by Tina Ramirez, Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club Performing Arts Program, Cache Dance Studio, Henry Street Settlement, Joffrey Ballet School, The New School, Purelements, Marymount Manhattan College, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, Flamenco Latino, and Educational Alliance.
A veteran faculty member at Henry Street Settlement, Ms. Gutierrez first began teaching at Abrons Arts Center over 20 years ago under the direction of Louis Johnson before returning in 2019. During her tenure, she created and developed a flamenco program on the Lower East Side, including collaborations with students and Carlota Santana’s Flamenco Vivo. She later choreographed flamenco, salsa, and cha-cha inspired works for Nutcracker in the Lower, an original community-centered production that ran for ten years (2002–2011) at the historic Harry De Jur Playhouse.
Although based in New York, Ms. Gutierrez has taught workshops nationally and internationally, including in Orlando, New Orleans, Stamford, and Montreal. In 2015, she received recognition from the Lower East Side community for her years of service supporting HIV/AIDS awareness initiatives, festivals, and underrepresented groups throughout the neighborhood.
Her performance highlights include appearances with Flamenco Latino Dance Company, AllNations International Dance Company, Stringbeans Latin Brazilian Jazz Band directed by Annette Aguilar, and productions under the direction of Luis Montero. Ms. Gutierrez also brings extensive experience as a former salsa dancer and instructor with Eddie Torres.
Alongside her artistic work, her administrative experience in Early Childhood Education allows her to engage in workshops, conferences, and professional development that deepen her understanding of high-quality youth education. Known affectionately as “Ms. Yvonne” by generations of students and colleagues, she continues to evolve her teaching practice with an organic, student-centered approach that celebrates each individual’s uniqueness.
