About Us
Alicia Rivera is the founder and artistic director of Jubilee Dance Studio Inc., and Curriculum Planner of The Worship Academy. Alicia has 41 years of dance experience that includes training in Classical Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Afro Caribbean, and West African dance. She also has over 35 years experience as a dance instructor and choreographer. She has worked with both children and adults of all ages and levels in various schools, YMCA and churches.
Alicia majored in dance liberal arts/dance at Borough of Manhattan Community College where she started a dance club. She served as president of the dance club for 2 years.
In the early 1990’s, Alicia worked professionally with dance companies such as, Forces of Nature, Alpha Omega, Rod Rogers, and Joan Miller Dance Players. During her time with these companies she also worked with individual choreographers Lenny Williams, Fred Benjamin, Frank Hatchett, Eleo Pomare, and Chuck Davis. Some of the works she performed include “Ancestral Earths”, “Blue Soweto”, “Baharini”, “Tabernacle”, and “Essence”.
In 2010, Alicia graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from College of Mount Saint Vincent. Shortly after completing college, God called her to dance for Him. In 2011-2018, Alicia ministered in the production “Nativity” with Dance Ministry Institute. Since then she has remained a minister with Dance Ministry Institute and has also ministered in a variety of settings with her company under Jubilee Dance Studio. She has hosted four and instructed one Dancing for Him conference. Alicia facilitates multiple workshops in various states and has traveled internationally to teach. Alicia has served as a dance minister and instructor/choreographer for international missions companies, Adventures in Missions, Dance Dimensions, and Praise Academy of Dance from 2012-2018.
Alicia is a published Eagle Author of “Dancing In Spirit And Truth” and travels as a speaker for women’s groups. She is a licensed teacher and ordained dance minister with Dancing for Him Ministries and a certified teacher and representative with Living Dance International. Alicia currently serves as a dance artist/instructor at her home church. She has also served as a Sunday school teacher and dance leader for Spirit of Worship Dance Ministry. Alicia served on the Nehemiah Council and as Assistant Artistic Director of Ruach Dance Company. She is on the Board of Directors for Year of Jubilee Corp. and Administrator of Leviticus 25 Financial Ministries. Alicia recently co-founded Spirit of Excellence Arts Institute and Purpose Driven Movement Worship Arts Dancers.
Alicia graduated from The Leadership Center LEAD.NYC program in 2017. Since then she has developed Jubilee Dance Studio Inc. into a theater arts program for Adults and children. Alicia successfully produced and directed Jubilee's 1st and 2nd annual productions "Canvas of Grace" (2018) and "Path of Life" (2019). Productions are held in a theater to bring the production to a wider audience.
Alicia believes that all who come to worship in dance will experience freedom, restoration and healing. She believes in reaching outside of the four walls of the church to minister to all who don't know Christ. Alicia involves her entire family in Jubilee business. She and her husband Carlos Rivera reside in New York with their three children, two dogs and a rabbit. Joshua 24:25
Carlos Rivera Is the Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder of Jubilee Dance Studio Inc. He is a business Entrepreneur and Philanthropist with over 30 years experience in the non-profit and healthcare management sectors in the area of Financial Management. He is currently developing for- profit and non- profit businesses to fund foreign and domestic missionary work. Included in those businesses are Year of Jubilee, Inc and Jubilee Dance.
He holds a Baccalaureate degree in Accountancy and Masters in Business Administration from Baruch College New York. He currently is working towards a Master in Divinity at New Brunswick Theological Seminary. He also serves as a Pastor in his home church.
Christal Pickett is a Special Education Teacher Support Services Provider at St. Benedict’s School, where Christal collaborates with other teachers to educate students in math, reading, and writing for kindergarten to eighth grade scholars, who have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). She also works as a Library Information Assistant at the Hamilton Grange Library, where she creates different reading, S.T.E.M, arts and crafts, and homework programs for children from pre-school to sixth grade. She is currently the choreographer of her church’s praise dance ministry and a Sunday School Teacher for Toddlers (ages 2-5).
Christal was introduced to dance by her mother. Her mother enrolled her into dance classes at the age of five with Dancesations Studio in Bay Shore, NY. The studio was later renamed Kovacs Studio of Dance. She studied jazz, ballet, lyrical, tap, and modern. She was a part of the Kovacs Studio of Dance Company, where she was able to travel and win multiple awards until she graduated high school.
In 2002, as a freshman in high school, Christal became a member of Durham A.M.E Zion Church, Bay Shore, NY. She was then asked to become the choreographer of their praise dance ministry (The Power and Vision Praise Dance Ministry). Once she graduated Bay Shore High School in 2006, she continued dancing by joining the praise dance ministry at SUNY New Paltz. As a second semester freshman, she was asked to be the choreographer of the praise dance group. She held that role until she graduated.
In 2010, Christal received her Bachelor of Science in Childhood Education (1-6) and a Minor in Mathematics and Black Studies at SUNY New Paltz. In 2013, Christal continued her education by getting her Master of Science in Literacy Education (Birth-6) at Queens College. Once out of college, Christal continued to build up her dance craft by attending different workshops. In 2016, she became a part of The Eagle Network (T.E.N). She has also been under the tutelage of Rev. Eyesha Marable, Lynn Hayden, Mickye Castillo, Pat Dyer, Wendy Heagy, Darlene Arrington, and Katrina Jones.
In 2017, Christal wanted to continue strengthening her dance movements and techniques consistently, so she joined the Jubilee Dance Studio. She regained the joy of dance she had as a child under the direction of Alicia Rivera and as a Spirit and Worship (SOW) dancer. When the opportunity came to teach Baby Ballet, she became excited to be able to share her gift of dance with younger dancers!
Christal’s hometown is Bay Shore, NY where she lived with her mom, dad, and two brothers. However, Christal currently lives in the Bronx with her supportive and loving husband. Christal has a passion for dance, travel, children, family, and especially the Lord! Her favorite scripture is “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Christal is a trusted instructor at Jubilee Dance Studio Inc.