After 25 years as Tapestry’s dance educator, Deborah Lipa-Ciotta—lovingly known to her students as Ms. Deborah—retired in June 2026.
In 2026, Deborah received the New York State Dance Educator Award for Outstanding Dance Educator (PreK–12) and Tapestry’s Legacy Award at the school’s 25th Anniversary celebration.
A graduate of Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, where she majored in dance, Deborah went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in dance and a master’s in dance education from SUNY Brockport.
In 2001, Deborah founded the Creative Dance for Children Classes to share her passion and love of dance with the community. She started Pleien Dance Company in 2009 for modern dance students, ages 7-18.
Through her teaching and the dance programs she founded, Deborah helped carry Tapestry’s commitment to arts education into the classroom and the community.
We thank Deborah for 25 years of dance, creativity, and care, and wish her a retirement filled with dance. As Tapestry continues to build arts opportunities for students, we welcome new ideas and partnerships. To connect, contact Ally at [email protected]