Our Team

Brandon Ramos, has a degree in culinary arts from Kingsborough College. He is a skilled chef with 20 years of experience in New York City's culinary scene, is passionate about teaching cooking. Specializing in technical cooking, he combines classic techniques with innovative creations, reflecting a blend of tradition and experimentation in each dish.

Beyond his culinary expertise, Brandon has extensive experience working with the neurodiverse community. This has shaped his inclusive teaching approach, adapting to diverse learning styles and creating an empowering environment in the kitchen.

Embracing diversity has enriched Brandon's culinary perspective and brought a deeper sense of understanding to his classes. Join him for a flavorful journey, where every dish has its own story, and classes are collaborative explorations of taste and technique.

Brandon teaches Global Cuisine Discovered in NYC

Isabel Shoukas' lifelong love for food began in her family's Greenwich Village home, where her father's luncheonette influenced their evening meals. After marriage, she continued cooking for her growing family while juggling evening college courses and baking Greek specialties for a local caterer. Her journey into teaching children started with volunteering at her kids' school, leading her to shift her academic focus to education and earn a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education, a Masters Degree in Learning Disabilities, and a Masters Degree in Administration and Supervision. She spent a decade teaching and consulting on learning disabilities before becoming a Principal and Director for 20 years. Upon retiring in 2016, she moved to East Hampton, but her passion for cooking led her back to the kitchen at the Greek Orthodox Church in Southampton. Joining the Luv Michael team allowed her to merge her two passions—teaching and cooking—fulfilling a long-held desire.

Isabel teaches Global Cuisine Discovered

Adam Baranello is a multi- media artist who has been making music and art professionally since 2005 under his own label, AJB Productions which has produced 8 albums, 1 Art Film and 4 Feature Films.
Through the Polaris Art Gallery, his artwork has been shown at the Park Ave Armory, the Wallace show and the Manhattan Vintage show and most recently had his first solo show on Main Street Southampton, NY.
All of this music has a live component with choreography, by the A&G Dance Company, which is performed preferably in alternative spaces where he can also display his art. He curates an annual AJB Art Show which incorporates all things AJB: Music, Movement & Art.
Adam also co-owns the A&G Dance Company with his wife Gail Baranello.
The brand of AJB has spread worldwide reaching fans in over 30 countries, but he thrives on his own community’s support. He is looking forward to many more years of creating and giving back by teaching in his community.

Adam teaches Hip Hop Dance

Gail Baranello is a teaching artist, choreographer and performer. She has trained in many styles of dance since she was 3. In high school, she traveled the east coast on a competition team winning high score medals in jazz, tap and contemporary. While studying Early Childhood ed and working toward her AA degree in Early Childhood and Psychology, she continued her dance education, training and performing in NY at Elite and Variations Dance school. Gail then transferred to SUNY Stony Brook and received her BA. There, she studied Psychology and Dance and was also a student teacher for her dance professor and belonged to the universities internationally traveling dance company. In college is also where she traveled a lot and implemented yoga as a daily practice. Gail then started her masters degree in dance therapy, but soon dropped out to start the A&G Dance Company with her now husband, Adam Baranello.
Her company repertoire since 2005 includes choreographing and performing for AJB Productions’s 8 full length stage shows, 4 full length feature films, 1 short film and many smaller video and stage projects which brought her all around the country and mainly NYC. 

In addition to teaching in schools and community outreach, she has most recently developed a movement workshop for children with disabilities working in inclusion and self contained settings. 

Gail teaches Hip Hop Dance

Loretta Mariella received her Associates Degree in Early Education  at SUNY Cobleskill then completed her BA in Elementary Education at SUNY Oneonta. She attended Adelphi University for her Masters of Art in Reading.
She has extensive teaching experience in private catholic education as well as public education. Teaching is joyful to Loretta, something she shares with her 4 children and 2 grandsons. 

Loretta teaches Language Arts

Dianne Dassa draws from an extensive lifetime experience as a dancer, actress, singer, teacher, yoga practitioner and massage therapist. From early childhood her passion to express her inner spiritual self thru dance was revealed. Her mantra “ Your Body is your Instrument for Life...Dance is Spirit..Life Is Breath” is  the essence in all her work and informs all aspects of her teachings. This passion unfolded into an ability to inspire others helping them to explore, identify, develop and unleash their artistic expression thru their given media. Her choreography encompasses and touches the spiritual essence from within each individual and/or utilizes poems, stories, dreams, visions, to express with music, or silence, and often using natural environment of nature. She utilizes the individual styles of artists to “unveil” their “ spark of light” and promote their unique ability to strive beyond their limitations.

Dianne teaches Art of Expression: Movement Therapy + Other Adventures

David Cooke has a foundation in classical liberal arts education and graduated from Liberty University Online in 2017 with a degree in history. His fervor for imparting knowledge and enthusiasm extends to his role as an educator, where he endeavors to share his passion and expertise with students.

Among his preferred subjects for exploration and instruction are history, board games, mythology, religions, and the realms of science fiction and fantasy literature. In addition, David's interests include outdoor pursuits such as hiking, wildlife observation, travel, and boating. His commitment to fostering a comprehensive educational experience is evidenced by his dedication to cultivating a diverse range of interests and activities within and beyond the academic sphere.

David teaches Game  Night Essentials

John Viscardi, an acclaimed tenor, has captivated global audiences with his exceptional vocal prowess and dramatic performances. His notable appearances include engagements with renowned opera companies such as Santa Fe Opera, Opera Philadelphia, and New York City Opera. A winner of prestigious vocal competitions, including the Gerda Lissner International Vocal Competition, Viscardi has graced esteemed venues like Carnegie Hall and Tokyo Opera City.

In October 2022, he made his tenor debut as Cavaradossi in Puccini's Tosca with Opera Carolina, receiving praise for his heartfelt rendition. The 2022/23 season features Viscardi in various productions, including Pélleas et Mélisande with LA Opera and Die Fledermaus with Opera San Louis Obispo.

Before transitioning to a lyric tenor, Viscardi showcased his talent as a baritone in notable roles such as Cyrano at Michigan Opera Theatre and Erich in Dear Erich at New York City Opera. His repertoire spans from opera roles to orchestral performances, including Carmina Burana with Opera Philadelphia and recitals at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall and Tokyo.

As a 2023 Artist Fellow with the Philadelphia Center of Psychoanalysis, John Viscardi continues to enrich the world of opera with his dynamic artistry.

John teaches Vocal Performance

  Mngxati has been praised for his “rich, fluid and fast developing bass-baritone voice” by The San Diego Union Tribune. Recently he has been featured as a Bass soloist with the Eastern Illinois University Choir and Orchestra for their performance of Handel’s Messiah, as a soloist in Margaret Bond’s The Ballad of the Brown King in the Chimes of Christmas Concert with the Indiana University’s Singing Hoosiers. He has enjoyed performances with the Kwa Zulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra while an undergraduate student at the University of Kwa Zulu-Natal. 

He has performed operatic roles with The Dallas Opera, Fort-Worth Opera, Opera NEO, Tri-Cities Opera and Utah Music Festival Opera and Musical Theater. His awards include First Place in the 7th Festival of Italian Opera Competition, Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in the Houston District, Nathan Ward Memorial Award at Opera NEO’s Inaugural Voice Competition and the Incentive Award in Michael Ballam Voice Competition at Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theater. He currently in the third year of his Doctorate in Voice Performance at Indiana University studying with Bass Peter Volpe. 

Lange teaches Vocal Performance