For the third biennial Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance Star Award Gala, we are honored to shine the spotlight on a true pillar of the Roosevelt Island community—beloved MSTDA teacher Debra Orenstein, known to generations as Miss Debra.

Through her teaching of movement, acting, and yoga, Miss Debra has brought joy, creativity, and connection to children and adults alike at MSTDA, the Roosevelt Island Day Nursery, PS/IS 217, and the Roosevelt Island Senior Center. Her boundless generosity of spirit and unwavering commitment to nurturing others have touched countless lives. The impact of her years of teaching—and the love she has shared with this community—cannot be measured.

Former Star Award Recipients  
2021 - Dr. Katherine Grimm, long time Roosevelt Island pediatrician and Roosevelt Island resident
2024 - Wendy L. Hersh, President of the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association and founder of the Roosevelt Island Food Pantry

Debra Orenstein has been teaching at MSTDA since the 1990’s educating numerous children and adults in dance, creative movement and acting. Her background is richly steeped in the arts and education as well as health and fitness. At MSTDA she has helped develop and promote classes in dance, movement, yoga and theatre for toddlers – adults. Debra holds a B.S. degree in Interdisciplinary Arts for Children/Dance Emphasis from The State University of New York – College at Brockport and a Master’s Degree in Education (Special Education) from The City College of New York – Hunter College. Her post graduate work includes pre-school and elementary education and dance therapy. Debra is permanently certified in Pre-school, Nursery, Elementary Education and Special Education in New York City, New York State and New Jersey. Debra has been a Special Education classroom teacher, Teacher Trainer and Adaptive Physical Education teacher for The New York City Department of Education. She has been a Creative Arts Specialist and Movement Specialist for nursery schools in New York City and is also an Early Intervention Therapist. 

Debra continues to provide enrichment programs in movement, yoga and theatre through Teaching Artist Residencies in New York City Public Schools. She works with toddlers - young adults with Special Olympics and Expressive Arts Programs. Debra has been on the Dance Faculty at Mason Gross School of the Arts Extension Division at Rutgers University providing dance programs for children and training for dance education undergrads. Debra is a member of The Isadora Duncan International Institute Dancers and is a master teacher of the Isadora Duncan Dance Technique. Combining the joy of natural movement and technique has helped to shape and create classes that are sound physically as well as satisfying creatively for all ages.