MEET THE INSTRUCTORS
Raynor Rubel
Founder, Director
Raynor Rubel, the Director and Founder of Carousel of Progress Academy, is an accomplished performer and author. His film roles include appearances in HBO's "The Gilded Age" and "Nurses Station" on YouTube. His theater credits span across notable roles in productions like "West Side Story," "Saturday Night Fever," and "The Music Man" at various esteemed theaters such as Asolo Repertory Theatre, Barrington Stage Company, Goodspeed Opera House, Riverside Theatre, Walnut Street Theatre, and Westchester Broadway Theater. He's also graced the stage in New York Theatre productions: Jerome Robbins' Broadway, American Dance Machine, and Forty Minutes For Lunch. Raynor has performed with the New Jersey Ballet Company in classics including "The Nutcracker" and "Sleeping Beauty." A member of the Actors Equity Association and author of "Till Your Feet Bleed," available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, Raynor founded Carousel of Progress Academy to share his passion for the arts with students of all abilities.
Nicolette Rubel
Artistic Advisor, Instructor
Nicolette Rubel serves as an Artistic Advisor and Instructor at Carousel of Progress Academy. She brings a rich ballet background, having trained at prestigious institutions including New Jersey School of Ballet, Manhattan Youth Ballet, French Academie of Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Gelsey Kirkland Ballet, Steps on Broadway, and the Rockettes Summer Intensive. Nicolette's performance repertoire is extensive, with over 11 seasons at New Jersey Ballet Company's "The Nutcracker," portraying roles such as Arabian, Waltz of the Flowers, Mouse King, and more. Her ballet experiences also include "Giselle," "Sleeping Beauty," "Cinderella," and "Don Quixote," among others. Academically, she holds a degree in Diplomacy and International Relations from Seton Hall University, where she also minored in Chinese. Currently, Nicolette is furthering her education at Seton Hall Law School.