About BAC

Team & Teachers

Artists, teachers and a dedicated team bring different experiences into the BAC community.

Meet the people behind BAC

Armando Braswell

Artistic Director

Lisa Braswell

Administrative Director

Fabio Francisco Freire

Percussionist

Fabio Francisco Freire is a Brazilian-Swiss musician, composer, and percussionist based in Basel. He combines Afro-Brazilian rhythms with European musical influences in his work with the Ignis Quartet. As a longtime Basel resident, he leads percussion and rhythm courses (e.g. “Barracuda Brasileira” at Musik-Akademie Basel) and releases recordings that fuse deep cultural roots with contemporary sound.

Barbara Handschin

Rehabilitation & Prevention Director

Barbara Handschin is a psychologist and Pilates instructor based in Basel. She holds a licentiate in clinical and neuropsychology from the University of Bern, and trained in Pilates in New York and Boston. She founded Pilates Braswell at the Braswell Arts Center and combines her expertise to teach rehabilitation, prenatal/postpartum, and therapeutic Pilates. She is also a co-initiator of the caba center, integrating psychological coaching and movement for health and healing.

Maria Bugova

Pianist

Maria Bugova is a Slovak pianist and long-standing ballet accompanist based in Basel. After graduating from the Bratislava Conservatory, she spent 25 years as a ballet répétiteur in Slovakia before moving to Switzerland in 1996. She served as ballet accompanist for Ballet Basel for 18 years and, since 2015, has been the accompanist at the Braswell Arts Center. Her collaborations span celebrated choreographers such as Jiří Kylián and Johan Inger.

Regula Hohl Trillini

Pianist

Nathalie Guth

Ballet / Pointe

Nathalie Guth is a Swiss ballet teacher whose foundation lies in classical technique and expressive movement. She began her training at the Ballettschule für das Opernhaus Zürich and graduated from the Hamburg Ballet’s school in 2003. She danced for ten years with the Stuttgart Ballet before becoming a soloist with Ballet am Rhein in Düsseldorf. Since returning to Zürich in 2017, she has taught at various schools, offering dynamic and body-aware training that emphasizes musicality and expression.

Janine Walliman

Kids & Teen Ballet

Carlos Kerr

Gyrokinesis / Career Preparation

Carlos Kerr Jr. is a Belizean-American dancer, choreographer, and creative director based in Basel. Trained at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School and The Ailey/Fordham BFA program, he also holds a Master’s Certificate in Dance Science from the University of Bern. He has performed with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, RUBBERBAND, Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company, the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, and Ballett Basel. His choreographic works have been presented internationally, including at Tanzwerks Zürich, Mandalain Ballet Biarritz, and Das Tanzfest Schweiz. Alongside his stage career, he teaches at the Braswell Arts Center, sharing an interdisciplinary approach to movement.

Yael Fankhauser

Beginner Pointe

Yael Fankhauser was born in Basel, Switzerland, and has been dancing for over 16 years. After extensive classical ballet training, she joined the Pre-Professional Program at the Braswell Arts Center to expand her dance vocabulary. There, she has worked with international dancers, teachers, and choreographers. Passionate and dedicated, Yael continues to deepen her artistry with the goal of improving her teaching.

Jenny Clough

Strength Training

Giuseppe Bencivenga

Kids & Teen Jazz / Hip-Hop

Giuseppe Bencivenga is an Italian dancer and teacher trained at MAS in Milan. He has performed with companies including White Dance Theatre in Warsaw, Dart and Gangaray in Budapest, Valencia Dancing Forward, and WDTanztheater in Cologne, appearing in productions such as Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Turandot, and Requiem. Alongside his stage work, he teaches modern and urban dance in Basel and regularly leads workshops and open classes at festivals including Tanzfest.

Tomohiro Iino

Pianist / Percussionist

Tomo Iino is a versatile pianist and percussionist active in contemporary music and performance. He studied at the Musashino University in Japan and now collaborates internationally, performing with ensembles across Europe, including Chamber Academy Basel. His repertoire spans solo works, theater music, and premieres with leading composers, bringing a deep sensitivity to rhythm, texture, and musical expression.

Julian Nicosia

Ballet / Contemporary / Improvisation

Julian Nicosia is a French dancer and choreographer who trained at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et Danse de Lyon and danced with the Lyon Opera Ballet and Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company. He later became Ballet Master and has choreographed for institutions such as Opéra National de Paris and Finnish National Ballet. His work reflects a fusion of technical mastery and choreographic vision rooted in both tradition and experimentation.

Davide Pillera

Lyrical Jazz

Davide Pillera is an Italian dancer and teacher based in Basel. Trained at the National Dance Conservatory in Lyon, he has performed in productions including Roméo et Juliette at the Zurich Opera House and El Barberillo de Lavapiés in Basel. Alongside his stage work, he teaches jazz, hip-hop, and modern dance at SE Studio Basel and the Braswell Arts Center, and regularly leads workshops in contemporary dance.

Kate Menghrani

Yoga

Lorena Phan

Lyrical Jazz

Lorena Phan is a Swiss dancer whose work bridges contemporary, urban, and commercial styles. From 2012 to 2021 she earned top placements in national and international competitions, including World of Dance Switzerland and the Swiss Jazz Dance Competition. She has performed in productions such as the Christmas Tattoo Basel, Theater Basel, and with artists including Stefanie Heinzmann and DJ Bobo. Alongside her stage career, she teaches Lyrical Jazz at the Braswell Arts Center, encouraging students to explore individuality and authenticity through movement.

Alix Dugré

Kids Ballet / Creative Movement

Daniel Mulligan

Ballet / Contemporary

Daniel Mulligan is a British dancer and teacher, trained at the Royal Ballet School. He began his career with Junior Ballett Zürich before joining the main company, and has performed leading roles in works by William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, Crystal Pite, Edward Clug, and Christian Spuck. In 2022, he received the Professional Dancers’ Postgraduate Teaching Certificate with Distinction from the Royal Academy of Dance. Alongside his performing career, he has taught for companies including Grand Théâtre de Genève, Ballet du Rhin, and Bern Ballett, and often works as an assistant and répétiteur for Christian Spuck’s productions.

Julia Takats

Hip-Hop

Max Zachrisson

Ballet

Max Zachrisson is a Swedish dancer, choreographer, composer, and filmmaker. Trained at the Royal Swedish Ballet School, he began his career at Theater Dortmund, spent eight years with Ballet Staatstheater Nürnberg, and has been a member of Ballet Basel since 2016. He has performed works by leading choreographers including Mats Ek, Crystal Pite, Johan Inger, and William Forsythe. A recipient of the Bavarian Cultural Prize and the Wolfram von Eschenbach Cultural Prize, he also develops independent projects through Max Zachrisson Productions, blending dance, film, and music.

Marina Garrigós

Ballet / Nutrition

Marina is a Spanish dancer trained at the Institut del Teatre in Barcelona and the Central School of Ballet in London. She began her career with New English Contemporary Ballet before joining Ballet Staatstheater Nürnberg, where she danced for eight years. Since 2016 she has been a member of Ballet Theater Basel, performing works by choreographers including Mats Ek, Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe, and Ohad Naharin. Alongside her stage career, she is studying Dance Movement Therapy in Switzerland.

Roxanne Heinis

Hip-Hop

Fernando Carrión Caballero

Contemporary / Ballet

Fernando Carrión Caballero trained at the Víctor Ullate School in Madrid and at the National Dance Academies of The Hague and Madrid. He performed internationally as a soloist with Compañía Nacional de Danza and the Lyon Opera Ballet, collaborating with internationally renowned choreographers. He has taught at institutions including the Conservatoire National Supérieur Musique et Danse de Lyon and has an extensive freelance teaching career across Europe. From 2022 to 2025, he served as Ballet Master at Ballet Basel and in 2026 he joins the Braswell Arts Center Team. Saturdays for Contemporary and Advanced Ballet.

Carla Wieden Dobon

Beginner Ballet

Carla Wieden Dobon was a professional ballet dancer with over 15 years of experience as a soloist at institutions such as Ballett Salzburg, Ballett Mainz, and Oper Halle. Alongside her artistic career, she pursued further education in cultural and theater management, completing a a Bachelor’s degree in Ballet Pedagogy (CSDMA, 2021) and Master’s degree in Cultural Management (UOC, 2023). She is currently working as Production Manager and Direction assistant at Ballet Basel.

Dmitry Khamzin

Ballet / Contemporary

Dmitry Khamzin is a choreographer, filmmaker, and former soloist with the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Theatre in Moscow. Trained at the Perm State Choreography School, he has danced with companies including Aalto Ballet Essen and performed at the Zurich Opera House. His work spans over 20 original creations, blending classical and contemporary movement with a distinctive cinematic vision.

Brigitte Pirovano

Front Desk

Catalina Caycedo Esser

Kids Hip-Hop

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Braswell Arts Center

Team & Teachers

Meet the people behind BAC

Armando Braswell

Lisa Braswell

Fabio Francisco Freire

Barbara Handschin

Maria Bugova

Regula Hohl Trillini

Nathalie Guth

Janine Walliman

Carlos Kerr

Yael Fankhauser

Jenny Clough

Giuseppe Bencivenga

Tomohiro Iino

Julian Nicosia

Davide Pillera

Kate Menghrani

Lorena Phan

Alix Dugré

Daniel Mulligan

Julia Takats

Max Zachrisson

Marina Garrigós

Roxanne Heinis

Fernando Carrión Caballero

Carla Wieden Dobon

Dmitry Khamzin

Brigitte Pirovano

Catalina Caycedo Esser

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Braswell Arts Center

Team & Teachers

Meet the people behind BAC

Armando Braswell

Lisa Braswell

Fabio Francisco Freire

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Barbara Handschin

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Maria Bugova

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Regula Hohl Trillini

Nathalie Guth

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Janine Walliman

Carlos Kerr

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Yael Fankhauser

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Jenny Clough

Giuseppe Bencivenga

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Tomohiro Iino

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Julian Nicosia

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Davide Pillera

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Kate Menghrani

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Lorena Phan

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Alix Dugré

Daniel Mulligan

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Julia Takats

Max Zachrisson

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Marina Garrigós

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Roxanne Heinis

Fernando Carrión Caballero

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Carla Wieden Dobon

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Dmitry Khamzin

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Brigitte Pirovano

Catalina Caycedo Esser

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