About Us
A Message from our President
When I first arrived in Puerto Vallarta, I didn’t expect to start a foundation. I came here as a performer and an educator, but the students I met changed my trajectory. I saw young artists traveling from every corner of Mexico, fueled by a hunger for a level of training they couldn’t find anywhere else. They weren’t just looking for a stage; they were looking for a standard.
My dear friend and Broadway colleague, Bianca Marroquín, once shared with me the story of her first audition for CHICAGO in Mexico City. At the time, she was a young dancer in the ensemble of Phantom of the Opera. When the casting call for CHICAGO went out, it explicitly demanded “famous” stars between the ages of 35 and 47 for the leads. Bianca was neither famous nor the “right” age, but she walked into that room anyway.
She fought through every round, eventually proving to the Broadway creative team that she was Roxie Hart. But it was at her final audition, when everything was said and done, that she made her most powerful plea. Bianca got on her hands and knees and begged the producers to take her to New York. She told them, “I have done everything I can do in Mexico. There is no other place I can learn; there is no other place I can grow. Please, you have to take me.” They did. They cast her as Roxie Hart on Broadway at the age of 26, a move that didn’t just change the course of her career—it inspired countless other young Mexican national performers to believe that the “impossible” was within reach.
The Bella Vox Performing Arts Foundation exists to bridge that gap. We want to ensure that artists don’t have to beg for the chance to grow; we want to provide the sanctuary where that growth happens. While Bianca Marroquín may have been the first Mexican national woman to have a leading role on Broadway, the Bella Vox Foundation exists to ensure that she is not the last.
Our mission has expanded beyond vocal pedagogy to encompass the full spectrum of the Vocal and Performing Arts. To be a “Triple Threat” in Musical Theater, an artist must possess rigorous training in acting and dance alongside their vocal technique. Furthermore, we are dedicated to the unique art of Small Venue Cabaret Performance—an intimate form of storytelling that demands a specific kind of authenticity and audience connection.
This commitment to Cabaret is deeply personal for me, rooted in the academic and artistic standards explored in my book, “So You Want to Sing Cabaret.” We use this work as a foundation to teach our students that Cabaret is the ultimate test of a performer’s truth. By mastering the narrative arc and the specialized technique required for small venues, we empower our students to move beyond “just singing a song.” We turn them into entrepreneurial artists capable of crafting their own stories and commanding any room, from a 50-seat club in Puerto Vallarta to the legendary stages of New York City.
Through our masterclasses and our residencies in New York and Chicago, we provide the tools to ensure that the next generation of talent doesn’t just “get by”—they become undeniable. We are here to provide the technique, the mentorship, and the “excellent” standard that turns a raw talent into a world-class professional. We aren’t just teaching people how to sing; we are teaching them how to command the stage.
David Sabella
Founding President, Bella Vox Performing Arts Foundation
Our Mission
The Bella Vox Foundation is committed to the transformative ability of the “beautiful voice” to open hearts, change minds and inspire lives. In the communities we serve, we offer low-cost, or no-cost, vocal arts education to students of all ages and musical genres, we produce the highest quality vocal entertainment, with stars from both Classical, and Contemporary Music, and provide opportunities for children and families to experience these performances for free. And, we support an open-boarders concept of cultural exchange between singers of all languages, providing the opportunity to both study and/or perform throughout North America, and Europe.
Support Our Mission
At the Bella Vox Performing Arts Foundation (BVPA), we believe that the performing arts transcend physical and cultural borders. Our mission is fueled by the “multi-city momentum” generated from our stages in New York City and Chicago, directly funding our transformative work in Puerto Vallarta.
When you support BVPA, you aren’t just buying a ticket—you are building a bridge between world-class excellence and local artistic growth.
Your Impact: Beyond the Stage
Every contribution helps us provide high-quality education in the performing arts at low or no cost to students in need. Your generosity powers:
* Artist Ambassadors: Bringing Broadway legends and industry experts to Mexico to serve as mentors.
* Masterclasses & Workshops: Providing local performers with technical expertise in voice, acting, and dance that elevates their craft to an international standard.
* Community Access: Making world-class performances available to local school children and their families to inspire the next generation of talent.
Dance Masterclass with Stephanie Pope, Puerto Vallarta, 2026
Ways to Give
* Individual Giving: Support our Annual Fund to power our current season and administrative growth.
* Underwrite a Masterclass: Directly sponsor a workshop session, allowing a student to study with a Broadway veteran.
* Legacy Gifts: Ensure the future of the performing arts in Puerto Vallarta through planned estate giving.
Donate with Confidence: 100% of your donation is tax-deductible in the U.S. through our 501(c)(3) status.
Join the Movement
From the historic Broadway debut of Bianca Marroquín to the quiet, transformative moments in our Puerto Vallarta studios, the Bella Vox Foundation is proving that the performing arts are a universal language of discovery. Your support ensures that this language continues to be spoken, taught, and celebrated across North America.
We invite you to be part of the moments that matter most: every time a light goes on behind a student’s eyes as they finally grasp a complex phrase, every time a performer realizes a deep, personal connection to a lyric they’ve sung a thousand times, and every time an artist breaks through a technical barrier to find their true, authentic voice. These are the quiet victories that build a lifelong legacy of excellence.
Our Team
David Sabella
Founding President/Artistic Director
David Sabella is an award-winning American singer, actor, and voice teacher, best known for his work on Broadway, and as an international countertenor in classical music & opera.
Sabella gained recognition winning the 1995 Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition, when Pavarotti declared him “Excellent, not good, excellent! A few months later he originated the male-soprano role of Mary Sunshine in the 1996 Broadway revival of CHICAGO. He stayed with that show for nearly 10 years and recently made a triumphant return to Broadway, 29 years after opening!
Sabella’s operatic credits include Giulio Cesare, Prince Orlofsky, Ottone, Oberon, and Orfeo, as well as numerous concert appearances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and many years touring in opera houses throughout the US & Europe.
He is also a celebrated concert artist, two-time MAC Award winner, and author of the book “So You Want to Sing Cabaret” (Bloomsbury 2020), and continues to perform internationally in concert and Cabaret performances.
He is the Founding President and Artistic Director of the Bella Vox Foundation, an organization dedicated to the education and development of vocal arts & artists.
Mark Hartman
Music Director/Supervisor
Mark Hartman (he/him) is a New York-based pianist, coach, conductor, arranger and composer working in theater, cabaret, and concerts around the world.
Mark was the Associate Conductor of Sondheim On Sondheim and Avenue Q on Broadway. Off-Broadway, he was the Music Director for The Streets Of New York (2022 Drama Desk Award Nominee, Best Orchestrations), Pageant, Silence! The Musical, Ernest In Love, After The Ball, Finian’s Rainbow, and The Irish…and How They Got That Way (also Nat’l Tour), and played keyboards for Avenue Q (Vineyard) and The Fantasticks (Sullivan St. and Orbach Theater productions). Regional credits include Asolo Rep, Broadway In Chicago, Fifth Avenue (Seattle), Goodspeed, Guthrie Theater, Old Globe, Pasadena Playhouse.
In cabaret, Mark has appeared with Lorna Luft, Chita Rivera, Jennifer Holliday, and many others. He has enjoyed a 25-year working relationship with Natalie Douglas.
Mark is one of the creators of Magic To Do, a Stephen Schwartz revue for Princess Entertainment. He is one of the music directors for the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s Cabaret Conference. Mark is the winner of 3 MAC Awards, a We Are Puerto Vallarta Award, and the Backstage Bistro Award for Music Direction.
Cindy DuChateau
Executive Board Member/Treasurer
Cindy DuChateau is the founder of BNC Tax, a leading tax advisory firm that specializes in services for U.S. expats around the globe. With a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Arizona State University and credentials as an Enrolled Agent (EA), Cindy has built a distinguished career helping individuals navigate the complexities of U.S. tax law.
Before founding BNC Tax in 2002, Cindy had a successful career in several industries. She held key roles in the banking sector and later served as CFO, Controller, and Owner in the construction and real estate development industries, where she honed her financial and strategic expertise. These diverse experiences laid the foundation for her entrepreneurial journey in tax advisory services.
In 2009, Cindy relocated to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where she expanded her practice to serve the growing community of U.S. expats worldwide. Today, under the leadership of her daughter, Christie Hoendervangers DuChateau (CEO), BNC Tax has further expanded, with new headquarters in The Netherlands. Cindy now serves in an advisory role, offering her wealth of experience and insight to guide the firm’s continued success.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Cindy enjoys life in Puerto Vallarta with her husband, Bert, where they explore the stunning Bay of Banderas, travel, and spend quality time with their seven grandchildren.
Ernie Reyes
Executive Board Member/Secretary
Ernie Reyes is a new full-time resident of Puerto Vallarta. His professional background that spans theater, adult education, and healthcare technology, and a very enthusiastic supporter of the local musical and theater community. He frequently attends performances and deeply appreciates the immense talent and dedication of the artists here.
Ernie is eager to become more involved with the local arts scene and to connect with others who share a passion for theater and music in Puerto Vallarta.
Lisa Van Deman
Director of Donor Relations/Fundraising
LISA VAN DEMAN is a visionary arts and cultural leader with more than 25 years of executive experience advancing performing arts education, children’s museums, and interdisciplinary cultural institutions. Her career bridges artistic practice, arts education, and nonprofit leadership, with a consistent focus on expanding access to high-quality arts experiences for children, families, and communities.
Lisa has served in senior executive and artistic leadership roles across the nonprofit cultural sector, including Executive Director of North Carolina Arts in Action, the North Carolina affiliate of the National Dance Institute NYC, providing year-long in-school performing arts residencies serving hundreds of elementary school children each year.
Most recently, Lisa served as Creative Consultant and Chief Experience Officer for La Nube: The Shape of Imagination, a $70 million bilingual cultural and learning center in El Paso, Texas. In this role, she partnered with the CEO on institutional planning, arts-integrated program design, organizational development, and fundraising strategy, helping shape the creative vision and internal culture of a new landmark cultural institution.
Trained as a theatre artist, Lisa holds an M.F.A. in Acting and worked as a professional actor before pivoting to extensive work in arts-integrated learning and performance-based education. Lisa is widely recognized for her commitment to equity and access in arts education, and ability to mentor artists and emerging arts professionals while building financially strong, mission-driven organizations. She currently resides in Durham, North Carolina.
Jana Robbins
Board Member at Large
JANA ROBBINS is a Tony, Olivier, and Drama Desk Award winning producer, as well as actor, director and teacher. Her Broadway producing credits include, COMPANY (Tony Award), THE SHARK IS BROKEN, LITTLE WOMEN, and RAGTIME , as well as holding a financial stake in both WAR HORSE and SOMETHING ROTTEN. Off -Broadway, Jana was the lead producer of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF in Yiddish directed by Joel Grey (Drama Desk Award). Her West End producing credits include COMPANY (Oliver Award) ROSE at The Ambassadors Theater, DEATH NOTE in concert at the London Palladium, YOUR LIE IN APRIL at The Harold Pinter Theater, THIS BITTER EARTH directed by Billy Porter at The Soho Theater and GLORIOUS at The Hope Mill Theater, in Manchester. She’s currently producing a UK Tour of THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY, and the Pre-Broadway tryout of DAMN YANKEES at Arena Stage.
As an actor, Jana has appeared in leading roles on Broadway in GOOD NEWS, I LOVE MY WIFE, CRIMES OF THE HEART, GYPSY (covering Tyne Daly as Mama Rose while playing the “bump it with a trumpet stripper, Mazeppa) and THE TALE OF THE ALLERGIST’S WIFE, along with many Off-Broadway, Regional, and National touring credits. Her Cabaret Shows include a duo show with Haley Swindal titled WE JUST MOVE ONE -The Songs Of Kander and Ebb, and her solo shows ONE HELL OF A RIDE – The Songs Of Cy Coleman, and GYPSY IN MY SOUL, which have played in NY and all across the USA.