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 Susanne returns to the east coast after dancing professionally in New York City and with Broadway touring companies for ten years. Most recently, she was seen all over the country in the Broadway show, Contact, where she had the honor of working closely with Broadway icon Susan Stroman (The Producers, The Music Man, Oklahoma, Contact, Crazy For You, etc...) She has also appeared in the Broadway tours of Victor/Victoria, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and the Pre-Broadway workshop of Flower Drum Song to name a few. She appeared for two seasons in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes and has also shared the stage with well known actors such as Rue McClanahan, Barry Williams, Rip Taylor, Michael Nouri, Tony Roberts and Tony Award winner Debra Yates. On television, she has danced on The Ammy Awards, The Jerry Lewis Telethon and commercials for Contact, Victor/Victoria and Hershey Park. She received her BFA in Performance Dance from Marymount Manhattan College and has studied with Chet Walker of Fosse fame and Maher Benham from the Martha Graham School. Susanne is well known for her vast experience and knowledge in all styles of dance as well as her love for teaching children.
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 Michael has had a career that expands from the Broadway Musical Stage to working both in front and behind the camera on major television shows, commercials and feature films. As a screen actor, he appeared on the legendary soap opera General Hospital for three years as well as a one year stint on the popular sit-com, The King of Queens, where he also worked as the dialogue coach for famous comedic actor, Jerry Stiller of Seinfeld fame. Guest acting appearances also include such hit TV shows as The Young and the Restless, Passions, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Quantum Leap, Murphy Brown, Action and VIP. Michael is the founder of Perfect Reel Productions in Hollywood, California, where he directed, edited and/or produced over 300 films and commercials. As a choreographer he worked on music videos for artist Vicky Shepard, which appeared on MTV and was the choreographer for In Arts LA, a weekly variety show on the Fox network. On the professional stage, he choreographed the National Broadway tours of Gypsy and The Sound of Music to name a couple...And as a dancer/singer has had the honor of performing with such greats as Gene Kelly, Tommy Tune, Joel Grey, Jennifer Grey, Placido Domingo, Sandy Duncan, Marie Osmond and the Broadway cast of Phantom of the Opera, Ragtime and Rent! He has taught dance and acting for 19 years and his passion and professional experience in the arts is well reflected by his students.
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Lisa is a 2005 Graduate of Montclair State University where she earned her BFA in Theatre Studies with Concentration in Production and Design and holds minor degrees in both Musical Theatre and Dance. She has studied under Nancy Lushington, Lonne Morreton, Maxine Steinman, Freespace Dance founder Donna Scro Gentile and Alexdra Bellar to name a few. During her college career she performed with the Montclair State Reparatory Dance Company and at the Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre  Festival in 2004 and 2005, where she also won a Regional Stage Management Award for Outstanding Stage Management both years and has performed in the final rounds of the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition. She has worked and performed at such venues as NJPAC’s Victoria Theatre, The Count Basie, The State Theater, Algonquin Arts Theater, Alexander Kasser Theater, and several Off-Broadway venues. Since graduation she has taken up her love for the arts by teaching, directing and choreographing at numerous schools across New Jersey Her choreography in the past four years in Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre and Modern/Lyrical Dance has won her many Gold, High Gold and Platinum awards at top Dance Conventions such as Dancers Inc, Headliners, Starbound, Star Systems, Nexstar, International Dance Challenge, Cathy Roe, Dance Rave and more. Her choreography has also won Special and Judge’s Choice awards described as “Most Entertaining,” “Terrific Staging,” “Broadway Bound,” “Extra Enthusiasm,” and “Fancy Feet,” and has placed as high as First Place “In Category” and “Overall”. Lisa continues to further her dance education, studying under top teachers in order to pass on top notch technique and fun to her students.
Lisa is also a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer, as well as a Yoga and Zumba (International/Latin Fusion Dance)Fitness Instructor. She has a passion for freedom of human movement, health, and artistic expression.
Additionally, Lisa is the founder and choreographer for the Faith-inspired modern liturgical dance company Movements of Grace residing at Arts YOUniversity, which has been a long-time dream come to life.
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Kacey Burke began her ballet training at age 5, soon adding jazz, tap, modern dance, and theater dance to her repertoire. When she was 11, Kacey attended the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in New York City.
After attending North Carolina School of the Arts for her first year of high school, Kacey began year-round dance studies at The Rock School in Philadelphia. Kacey participated in summer dance programs at Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, The Rock School, and the American Ballet Theatre dance intensive in New York City. Summer 2000, she toured Europe with the Blue Lake International Ballet Ensemble, performing in Germany, France, and Belgium.
When she was 16, she placed first among senior dancers (ages 16-21) at the 2002 Festival of the Maryland Council for Dance. She has won dance scholarships to the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Dance Educators of America Convention, Blue Lake International Ballet Ensemble, North Carolina Dance Theatre DancePlace Summer Dance, North Carolina School of the Arts, Joffrey Ballet School Summer Dance Program, The Rock School, Richmond Ballet School Summer Dance Program, and The Mill Ballet School Summer Performance Workshop.
In addition to her ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and theater dance training, Kacey has taken classes in several styles, including African, character, Irish, and Scottish dance. She performed in a number of classical and contemporary ballet pieces as a student, including the Pennsylvania Ballet The Nutcracker as Tea Corps for three years and The Rock School The Nutcracker, for which she was Dew Drop Fairy. She was one of The Rock School students featured in the January 2003 NBC 10 television production of Degas and the Dance in conjunction with the Degas exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
After completing her dance training at The Rock School, Kacey apprenticed with Roxey Ballet in Lambertville, NJ and was promoted to company member; performed with the contemporary ballet group Contrast Dance Theatre, based in Philadelphia; and began dancing contemporary and classical pieces with The Nest in Bristol, PA, with which she continues to perform.
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 Rachel has studied with the Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey & Martha Graham companies all on scholarship. She has worked with great choreographers including Pearl Lang and Whitney Hunter. In 2000, she became a member of the Martha Graham Dance Ensemble, dancing the "Woman in White" in Diversion of Angels and Ethel Winter's solo in En Dolor. After leaving the Ensemble, she studied and competed in Latin Ballroom Dancing. Recently, she moved from New York City to Bucks County, where she danced with the Roxey Ballet and started her own not-for-profit dance festival and company called, "The Nest".
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DANELLA VECCHIO is an alumna of Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. She has been the recipient of the Turner Prize Award for Choreography and has twice received a scholarship to the Nikolias/Louis Dance Theater Lab in New York City, to study with Murray Louis. Ms. Vecchio has traveled to Europe and South America performing and teaching Master Classes in Modern Dance and Theater Technique.
She has performed in numerous Festivals including Dancenow Downtown Arts Festival, “Sweat” Dance Series, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, the Hungarian American Dance Festival in Hungary and the Nueva Tendencias Festival in Santiago, Chile. It was in Santiago that she received the honorable “Best Actress Award” for her performance in “The Shaft”.
She has performed at Joyce Soho Presents, Dance Theater Workshop’s Fresh Tracks, The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., WAX as part of “In the Company of Women”, and the George Street Playhouse in New Jersey. Ms. Vecchio has worked with diverse choreographers including, Cleo Mack, John Evans and Dancers, Julia Ritter Performance Group, Merian Soto, Don Redlick, Tigger Benford, and Terra Firma Dance Theatre to name a few.
She has been the Dance Director at various schools throughout New Jersey and is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Dance Out Loud Performing Arts Camp. She is currently the Assistant Director of the Washington Rock Youth Modern Company in Dunellen, New Jersey. Ms. Vecchio has worked with Cleo Mack and the Cleo Mack Dance Project for 10 years. Her one-year maternity leave (2004-2005) led her back to the Cleo Mack Dance Project to continue as a core company member. She has since acquired the vital role of Company Manager.
Ms. Vecchio has received critical acclamation for her dancing and theatrical performances. Robert Johnson of The Star Ledger wrote, “Vecchio is a sensitive and sparkling performer…” for her performance in “Big Bang.” Most recently she danced and choreographed for sold out performances of “All Voices In…Being Everything.” This project was funded by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and the New Jersey State Council of the Arts.
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Sergio was born in Guatemala City, where he trained at the National School of Dance, and performed as a Soloist with the Ballet Guatemala.
After moving to New York City, he danced with numerous companies, including Labyrinth Dance Theater, Princeton Ballet and Staten Island Ballet. Mr Molina joined Les Ballets Trockeadero de Monte Carlo as a Principal dancer where he performed the leading roles in "Swan Lake", "Giselle", "Don Quixote", "Paquita", "Stars and Stripes" and "La Vivandiere" to name a few. During his 14 year engagement with Ballet Trockadero he also taught Master Casses in Central America, Europe and Japan.
In 2004 his outstanding career was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to him during the "Grand Pas" Festival at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, Russia.
Manolo retired from performing in 2006, and now lives in Trenton, NJ. He most recently has come out of retirement to join a new show for Les Ballets Trockeadero in August of this year.
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Performer, Choreographer and teacher, hails all the way from Berkeley, CA. She began her dance training at East Bay Dance Center, Oakland Ballet and Berkeley High School. She has received a certificate in Dance Performance from The School of The Hartford Ballet and BFA in Dance from Florida State University.
Ms. Dasi has performed with Pennsylvania Dance Theatre, Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Theatre, Acrodance Theatre, Opera Festival of New Jersey, New Jersey Opera Theatre and has danced five seasons with The Opera Company of Philadelphia.
Additionally she has performed professionally in works by Robert Boross, Ze’Eva Cohen, Jose Limon, Joanna Mendleshaw, Claire Porter, Ronn Pratt, Martial Romain, Mathew Neenan and Kathy Young.
Her choreography credits include ballets for Don Giovanni, L’enfant et les Sortileges, The Marriage of Figaro and Cheruban with New Jersey Opera Theatre.
Jamuna is the creator and director of The Outlet Dance Project which provides a performance opportunity for emerging women choreographers from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York in central New Jersey. She has also taught in public schools and private studios in California, Florida, Central Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. She currently teaches dance at RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness in Hamilton, NJ and The Dance Corner Inc. in West Windsor, NJ.
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 Nicole Farina-Machin is thrilled to be joining the faculty and performers at ArtsYouniversity! Nicole began her dance training at the age of three and continues to learn new techniques and interesting ways to express herself through dance. Nicole has choreographed over 20 shows in NJ and PA, always striving to create something fresh and challenging that will spark the imagination of both the dancers and the audience. She has appeared in over 35 area shows, most recently as Kathy Seldon in Singin’ in the Rain and Doris Walker in Miracle on 34th Street here at Kelsey. Nicole has also performed for five years at the Bucks County Playhouse, appearing as Ziegfeld’s Favorite in Will Roger’s Follies, Miss Mazeppa in Gypsy, among others. Nicole holds a BA from Rider University in Theatre, English, and Secondary Education.
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 Stephanie has a passion for dance and began her training at the age of five and
continues to this day to further her education both as a dancer and a teacher.
She hopes to inspire her students and allow them to have a creative voice
through dance. She has appeared in several local shows, most recently as a
dancer in The Producers, Simon of Le Gree in The King & I,
The Mute in The Fantasticks for which she was nominated for a Perry
Award for Best Ensemble Actress in a Musical, and a featured dancer in
Thoroughly Modern Millie. Stephanie has also been a dedicated worker at
MCCC's Camp College running their dance, hip hop, and Stomp programs. Many have
seen her choreography in shows such as Annie, South
Pacific, Eloise,
Bye Bye
Birdie,
Grease,
The King and
I, Oliver,
Annie Get
Your Gun, and Once On This
Island. She holds a BA from
The College of New Jersey specializing in Elementary Education, English and
works teaching middle school students Reading and Language Arts.
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 Joan Aniano is a 2008 graduate of Westminster Choir College, and holds a Bachelor's of Music in Music Theatre. Some past roles include "Marian Paroo", dance captain (The Music Man), "KC Downing" (My Favorite Year), "Vi Moore" (Footloose), "Robin Gibson" (Smile!), Kim MacAfee (Bye, Bye Birdie) and "Rapunzel" (Into the Woods). Joan is also an accomplished choreographer in New Jersey, having worked on shows such as Beauty and the Beast, Once Upon a Mattress, Gypsy and Anything Goes. She is extremely thrilled to be a part of the ArtsYOU faculty, and is very passionate about teaching! Joan will be attending grad school in the fall of 2010 to pursue a degree in Theatre Education.
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 Karen is very excited to begin her 3rd year of teaching with Susanne and Michael. Her training as a dancer began at the age of two, and continues to this day. She has been a teacher and choreographer for high school performances of Annie and Oklahoma. She has studied with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and with members of the Jose Limon Dance Company: modern dance technique with (Jim Clinton and Martita Goshen), ballet with (Stormy Brandenberger) as well as jazz and improvisation classes with (Tracy Everitt), known for his appearance in Broadway musicals including West Side Story, Bye, Bye Birdie, and his coaching of celebrities like Liza Minnelli. Karen is well known for her love of teaching children dance.
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 PJ Heckman is a 2006 graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ where he received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education. Some past performance roles include Tom Jenkins (Scrooge); Mr. Twimble (How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying); Riff Raff (Rocky Horror Show); Moises Kaufmann (The Laramie Project); John (Baby With the Bathwater); Schroeder (You¹re A Good Man Charlie Brown); Hysterium (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum); Thurio (Two Gentlemen from Verona); and Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (Anything Goes). During his tenure at Westminster. he frequently led Acting classes with the Westminster Conservatory¹s Actors Company and taught Improvisation for the Actor in the Fall of 2005. PJ has hosted and led independent colloquiums on Improv Theatre for Social Justice. In 2007, he joined the faculty of Westminster¹s High School Music Theatre Workshop as an Acting Instructor. He recently taught Middle School General Music and Chorus in Pennsylvania and has now returned to Westminster Choir College to pursue his Masters in Music Education. He currently studies voice with Guy Rothfuss.
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Patricia Bartlett received her Bachelor of Music degree from the North Carolina School of the Arts, her Masters in Music from Manhattan School of Music and has studied opera at The Juilliard School. She was a 1986 semi-finalist in the Pavorotti International Voice competition. Recent local performances include Sally in Follies at Kelsey Theater; Mother Abbess in Sound of Music, Lettice in Lettice and Lovage, and Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd at ActorsNET: Lovett at Haddonfield Plays and Players; and Lady Tiang in The King and I at OAT. She has sung opera with The Opera Ensemble of New York, the Banff Festival in Canada and the Brevard Music Festival in North Carolina. In the musical comedy realm, she has appeared as Joanne in Godspell at The Lamb’s Theater in New York City, done summer stock at the Thomas Playhouse in Maine, and toured with Godspell and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown through the U.S. Virgin Islands. She has taught voice at the Bennett Conservatory in Hudson New York and the Mercer County High School of Performing Arts. Ms. Bartlett works for Young Audiences, presenting the assembly program OperaWorks to children throughout the state.
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 Thomas C. Buckley (Pianist/Countertenor): is a native of Stratford, Connecticut. Thomas is a student at Westminster Choir College concentrating in Sacred Music with a dual emphasis in piano and voice. College credits include the musical direction of YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN and assistant accompanist for WCC's production of OKLAHOMA! (Gigner Thatcher, dir.) As a musical theatre accompanist, he has had the opportunity to accompany such productions as WEST SIDE STORY, MISS SAIGON (the CT High School Premiere), EVITA, and LES MISERABLES, all which were performed at a local high school. In 2006, Buckley was awarded the Frederic Chopin award for accompanying and was given the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall. As an actor he was a member of the Downtown Cabaret Theatre Children's Company 25th Anniversary Season and was apart of the world premiere production of CINDRELLA SKELETON (Bert Bernardi, dir.), along with being a featured actor in the C.A.S.T. production of RAGTIME (Tateh u/s). He is also featured on the cast recording of CINDERELLA SKELETON. As a Countertenor, he has performed the works of Handel, Vivaldi and was the cover for Amahl in AHAMAL AND THE NIGHT VISITOR'S (WestCONN Opera Theatre). An active teacher/accompanist in Connecticut, he has accompanied the middle and high school chorus of local school districts in Connecticut. In the summer of 2008, Buckley took a break from performing and worked with StudyTours International introducing foreign exchange students to American culture.
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 Dan is one of Arts Youniversity's acting teachers with over 20 years of stage and screen experience. He is a member of SAG, AEA, AFTRA and holds a Master Degree in Com-munications and Theatre from East Stroudsburg University. He has performed in several Off-Broadway Productions and has appeared in HBO America Undercover, NBC's Unsolved Mysteries. Dan is owner and Director of Like40 Productions and is a honored member of the Kelsey Theater Faculty at Mercer County Community College.
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 Jillian studied theater at Rutgers University where she also obtained her Masters degree in education. She has been in numerous plays throughout the state and continues to persue a career in acting.
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 Rocco is very excited to begin his first year at Arts YOUniversity, and the launch of the visual arts program. He studied at Pratt institute in Brooklyn, NY where he received his BFA in Fine Art and holds an MFA from the School of Visual Art in New York City. His work has been exhibited throughout the United States and incorporates painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, and video, and he has also curated shows in the Trenton area. He is a member and volunteer at the Trenton Artist Workshop Association and looking forward to sharing his enthusiasm for art with the students of Arts YOUniversity.
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Keith most recently appeared on Broadway in Fiddler on the Roof. He also appeared with Arts Youniversity's Artistic Director, Susanne Trani-McClure in the Broadway production of Contact. Keith has appeared in music videos for Jessica Simpson, Ricki Martin, Cher and appeared in the televised concert, DIVAS.
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Todd Shanks has been teaching and choreographing all over the country for the last 10 years. His travels have also taken him to Canada, Mexico and Columbia. His choreography has been featured on “The View”, ABC Nightly News, The MSG Network, NY1, CW 11, and at NYC’s Carnival, Steps on Broadway’s Faculty in Performance, the 2007 Yankee FanFest and “The Game is in Us” (a Nike spec commercial). He has also choreographed for CityKids, the Cancer Dancers, and numerous award-winning dance studios.
 As a performer Todd has danced in music videos, commercials, industrials and television programs including, “The Electric Company”, Kimberly Clark, “The View”, Sean Kingston, Volvo, Ford Motors, Race for the Cure, Wrigley’s, Paramount Pictures, “Good Day NY”, Pilsen Beer, the United Way, 1010 WINS, Hope and Heroes, and the Lyme Disease Foundation. On stage he has performed with Synthesis Dance Project, Jette Performance Company, The Westchester Philharmonic, SDCF Dance Break, the 2006 Miss Florida Pageant, and Off Broadway Workshops of Halftime and On the Edge. He also co-created and starred in From Tap to Hip Hop, a Brief History, an educational show for teenagers.
Todd has taught for the University of Florida, the Ailey Extension, Ballet Hispanico, Dance Masters of America, Princeton Dance and Theater Studio, Dance New Amsterdam, Florida Dance Masters and many private dance studios throughout the United States. He currently teaches at Steps on Broadway and on tour with Manhattan Dance Project.
For more information please visit, http://www.toddshanks.com
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Carrie Ellmore-Tallitsch is a solo dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company in New York City. She has toured domestically and internationally with the company since 2002. Ms. Ellmore-Tallitsch was promoted to soloist in 2006 performing leading roles in " Lamentation," "Circe," "Appalachian Spring," "Diversion of Angels," "Steps In The Streets," and "Cave the Heart." She has worked with prominent dancers, choreographers and companies, such as Larry Kegwin and Aszure Barton in the "Lamentation Project," Martha Clarke in "Sueno", Pascal Rioult, Lou Diamond Philips and Guy Stroman in the "King and I," and with The Philadelphia Dance Company. Ms. Ellmore-Tallitsch received her BFA in dance from the University Of Cincinnati College - Conservatory of Music. While attending college, she performed with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company's apprentice company, and was hired to choreograph for composer Bright Sheng's opera production of "Song of Majnun," which was performed at the University of Cincinnati.
 Ms. Ellmore-Tallitsch began her career as a dancer and choreographer at age fourteen, creating dance pieces at her home in Virginia, and eventually adapting these early works for her first choreographic production, "Five Dancers." In 2005, Ms. Ellmore-Tallitsch's choreography was performed at the Jacob's Pillow Festival, Inside/Out. Most recently, in April 2008, she performed her collaborative work, "At the Crossroads," in New York, at the 92nd Street Y "Sundays at Three". Other choreographic productions include performances at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Wyoming Seminary Performing Arts Institute, Saint Joseph's University with Opus 1 Contemporary, and Martha Graham School Choreographers' Showcase.
Ms. Ellmore-Tallitsch, a passionate dancer and choreographer, believes that dance is not only a primary means of creative expression, but that it can act as a transformative pathway for personal healing and empowerment. Through years of teaching movement and dance, she has shared her knowledge and belief that people are by-nature creative and that dance is a language common to all. This belief led her to found "Exploratory Dance," a workshop created for non-professionals to explore their own unique movement vocabulary. The workshop encourages exploration of intuitive, guided expression through movement resulting in the creation of an original work of dance. "Exploratory Dance" first premiered at Four Winds Yoga Studio in New Jersey. Ms. Ellmore-Tallitsch also teaches workshops, classes and master classes in the Graham technique, as well as ballet and her own style of dance throughout the United States. In 2007, she set the Martha Graham works "Steps In The Streets" and "Celebration" on the students of Rollin's College and Valencia College in Florida for their annual showcase production.
Ms. Ellmore-Tallitsch continues to choreograph, perform and teach hoping to inspire and encourage others to express their own unique vision through the art of dance. She is currently developing "Crossroads: A Healing Journey Around the Sacred Wheel," a collaborative work about ancient teachings, how they can help us through our current global crisis and transform us personally. Ms. Ellmore-Tallitsch hopes to tour Crossroads internationally and to develop workshops based on the universal message of this powerful work.
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 Jacqueline Briar Baligian began her dance training at the age of 13 in Warwick, R.I. at the Carolyn Dutra Dance Studio. After graduating from California State University, L.A with a degree in Theatre Arts & Dance, she moved to NYC where she became a scholarship student at the Broadway Dance Center. While studying at BDC Jacqueline was hired to co-direct the children's dance program. Since then, Jacqueline has taught around the world including England, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Her students have appeared in commercials, at Disney World , on Broadway, numerous television shows , and as Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. Currently Jacqueline travels all across the country as a master class teacher, choreographer, and competition judge. Her choreography has won numerous awards and cash prizes. In the October issue of Dance Spirit magazine , Jacqueline was voted one of the most popular judges/instructors of 2006. Most notably Jacqueline has recently completed work assisting Sheila Barker on "Invitations to a Dancer", a show starring Savion Glover to be performed at the Joyce Theater in NYC.
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Dylan is excited to be working with Susanne and Michael again at Arts YOUniversity. He holds a BA in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College in NYC. Credits include: Hershey Park , Holland America Cruise Lines, Jubilee! @ Bally's Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, the Japan and National Tours of 42nd st., regional theater productions, various industrials as well as film and television work. Dylan is also a master, instructor, choreographer and judge for both regional and national talent competitions. His next adventure is performing on board a world cruise set to visit 48 countries in six months!
Dylan's Combo Class Description:
Dylan's class beings with a thorough warm up encompassing both stretch, strength and technique. Across the floor work touches on various aspects of jazz, ballet and theatrical genres, which fuse into his own personal style of energy, sharpness and performance. A great deal of the time is spent learning a challenging combination that culminates the entire workings of the class. He strives to bring out the personality and performance quality of the dancer, all the while helping to improve technique and foundation.
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 Julie currently resides in New York City and performs as a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall. She has had the opportunity to dance with the Rockettes on the Today Show, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and at the MSG Theater. Other performing credits include 'Celebrate Broadway' starring John Lithgow and Linda Eder at the Kennedy Center, the National Tour of 'Crazy For You', regional productions of 'Chicago', 'Cabaret', 'Evita', and 'Fiorello', as well as industrials for Sony, Nissan, Absolut Vodka, and Wishbone. She can also be seen as Margie in the ABC TV Movie 'Bye Bye Birdie'. Julie is originally from Vancouver, Canada and has been a guest teacher at the University of Maryland, the National Dance Week Conventions, Capilano College, and for Dance Masters of America. She often teaches for Sheila Barker at Broadway Dance Center and is on faculty at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC.
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 Christina has appeared on Broadway in the original cast of the multi Tony Award Winning The Producers as well as The Red Shoes and Putting it Together with Carol Burnett and George Hearn. She has toured with the National tours of West Side Story and A Chorus Line. Christina has worked with Arts Youniversity Artistic Director, Michael McClure several times and has truly enjoyed being a guest teacher for our students. She is most recently assisting Broadway icon, Susan Stroman in her latest Broadway hit, Young Frankenstein.
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 Mindy appeared on Broadway in Ragtime, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Hello Dolly with Carol Channing, A Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden and in the Broadway touring company of Contact with Arts Youniversity's Artistic Director, Susanne Trani-McClure. Most recently, she appeared in the movies, Stepford Wives and The Producers, as well as on Broadway in Chity Chitty Bang Bang.
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David Kieffer (Owner/Director of Dance Connection in Hillsborough, NJ) has had an extensive and diverse career as a teacher, dancer and choreographer. He has taught students of all ages at various studios throughout the tri-state area. He guest teaches at Peridance center in NYC and is on the faculty at CAP 21 as part of NYU’s musical theatre program. David brings with him an understanding of the professional dance world along with an enthusiasm for children and their boundless energy.
Throughout his career David has worked in many genres including ballet, modern, jazz, hip-hop, and musical theatre. He has performed with both domestic and international companies, such as Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre, Peridance Ensemble, Bat-Dor Dance Company of Israel, The Israeli Opera, Noemi Lafrance, New Jersey Ballet and Ballet Theatre of Scranton. David has also appeared in the feature film “Center Stage”.
David has a degree in Theatre Arts from the State University of New York at New Paltz and has received ballet training from Boston Ballet, Igal Perry and Joseph Albano.
 David has received critical acclaim for his dancing and choreography. Tim Martin of Dance Europe wrote that David’s work “engaged the eye …engaged the mind”. While Roslyn Sulcas of the New York Times says “Mr. Kieffer has an extraordinary ability to move with pantherlike smoothness…” Most recently David has choreographed for the Belle Mead Ballet Company of N.J., which is in residence at The Dance Connection. David is also the director of his own dance company David Kieffer Dance Theatre based in New York City.
David is excited about sharing his experience and his love of dance with all the students of Arts YOUniversity.
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Andrea (Guest Teacher) received her Certificate of Dance from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in NYC, where she subsequently toured the east coast with The Company. She has danced at some of the greatest theaters in the country, such as the Helen Hayes, Amsterdam and Radio City Music Hall. Her choreography has been seen in several productions and she currently teaches ballet, modern, theater dance and pilates workshops throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
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 Kim has been a Radio City Rockette for the past four years and worked with Arts Youniversity's Artistic Director, Susanne Trani-McClure in the National tour of the Broadway production of Contact. She has made several television appearances with the Rockettes, including the Tony Awards, The Today show on NBC, the Oscars and most recently can be seen in the movie, The Producers.
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 Amy comes to Arts Youniversity most recently from the National Broadway Touring Company of Cats, where she played Demeter and understudied Grizabella. As a dancer, some of her favorite professional credits include Peggy Sawyer in 42nd St., Mona in Chicago, Zaneeta in Music Man and Alice in Sweet Charity. She received her BA in Music and Theater from the University of Miami and also studied Musical Theater at Carnegie Mellon University. She has choreographed, assisted or been the dance captain for close to 20 shows and/or concert pieces and has extensive teaching experience for ages 5 through college.
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Stephanie is thrilled to be teaching at ArtsYouniversity this year. Her passion for dance and the theatre began at an early age and she is looking forward to spreading her joy of the arts to her students. Throughout her years of dancing, Stephanie has had the opportunity to train with various acclaimed professionals including Nina Fedorova of the New York City Ballet, Pasha Kambalov of the Kirov School  and First State Ballet Theatre, Lev Assouliak, former Ballet Master of the Russian State Theatre of Classical Ballet, and Olga Kresin of the Olga Kresin Ballet School. Stephanie first began performing professionally at the age of 15 at the Sesame Place Theme Park in Langhorne, PA where she was an actor, character, and dancer for four years. She then went on to Arcadia University where she graduated with a BA in International Business and minors in both Spanish and Theatre Arts. During her four years at Arcadia, she was highly involved in the school's dance team. She served as a general member and large group choreographer for all four years and was elected to be the team's Performance Director her junior year and Vice President her senior year. In the fall of her junior year of college, Stephanie studied abroad at the University of Barcelona in Spain where she took classes in Flamenco and other traditional forms of Spanish dance. Today, Stephanie is still highly active in the dance world. She takes classes regularly at Koresh Dance Company in Philadelphia and Steps on Broadway in New York City. During the summer of 2009, she will also be dancing professionally with Votum Contemporary Dance Company in Fort Worth, TX. Stephanie is also looking forward to training with Kim Abel, formerly of the School of American Ballet, while dancing with Votum this summer. Some of Stephanie's stage credits include: "FAME the Musical" at the Bristol Riverside Theatre, "The Nutcracker" with Step II Productions, and "Romeo and Juliet the Musical" with ArtsYouniversity. Stephanie has also had the opportunity to work one on one with Broadway writer, composer and director, Barry Keating, while playing the lead role in his "Starmites the Musical" revival project.
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Kambi is a street dancer who specializes in popping and waving (two dance forms of the Funk style dance genre). A lifelong performer, Kambi brought his talents to the Juilliard School (as a drama major).
While in New York, Kambi honed his craft as both Actor and dancer immersing himself in New York’s street dance scene seeking to understand its chief aesthetic. He earned the moniker “kinetic” for his energetic style.
As a dancer and choreographer, Kambi performed in and helped stage pieces for PMT seasonal showcases, C.R.O.W.D. theater company, Nitestar theater company, MTV (specials featuring Beyonce and The Neptunes), Lincoln Center, NYU, and NYC slam AIDS benefit.
As an actor, Kambi’s credits include Williamstown: Paul in The Marriage of Bette and Boo,” Hardy in “The Burden of Solitude,” and Oed in “Big Love,” Juilliard: The Three Sisters, Architecture of Loss, The Winter’s Tale, and As You Like it.
As an artist, Kambi’s central mission is create work that has integrity and moves people; he seeks to constantly challenge himself as an artist to step outside his comfort zone and create new work, help propel all forms of urban dance (b-boying, funk style, hip-hop, house, etc) into the next millennium, and educate a new generation of street dancers. Kambi currently teaches at PMT studio, choreographs for its seasonal showcase perform in the studio’s company (PMT Dance Company), dances and choreographs for Streak dance Concept and can be seen in two forthcoming productions: C.R.O.W.D. theater’s production, “One Note,” and the Stemsel Bros. independent film “Conversations with the Man.”
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Brandon joins Arts YOUniversity, a highly talented dancer with extensive experience in the use of movement, gesture and body language to portray a character, situation and abstract concept to an audience, usually to the accompaniment of music; interpreting the work of choreographers, sometimes requiring improvisation; remarkable background in a variety of genres: from classical Hip Hop and West Coast Popping, to contemporary dance and disco. Brandon has over twelve years of experience in dancing and seven years instructing. Performances include NYC Urban Theater Group and choreography for Six Flags Great Adventure. He is thrilled to be on staff at Arts YOUniversity this year!
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 Russell is a graduate of Westminster Choir College, where he received his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Theater and performs in numerous productions. Russell has most currently become a proud member of the Broadway cast of the Tony Award winning Best Musical, Jersey Boys as the stand by for the lead role, Frakie Valie. Stage credits include Jimmy Smith in "Thoroughly Modern Millie" at Plays-In-The-Park, Dominique in "The Baker's Wife", Tommy Djilas in "The Music Man" at Chautauqua Opera, and Billy Kopecki in the '98-'99 national tour of "Big - The Musical". Russell has been accredited with staging musical numbers in Pasek and Paul's "Edges: A Musical Theater Song Cycle," and Westminster Music Theater Ensemble's performances, including a cabaret he conceived and directed entitled "Buzz: A Tribute to Coffee", which premiered at Small World Coffee in Princeton, NJ. As a teacher, he has served as a dance instructor at Westminster Conservatory's "Dance 'Til You Drop" and "Broadway Babies" programs, and recently as a music specialist for Camp Yachad at the JCC of Central NJ in Scotch Plains.
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 Aaron Lenhart is thrilled to be apart of the talented faculty here at Arts YOUniversity. Aaron’s professional credits include: New York: Fairytale (Gemstone) NYMF. Concert: The 12 Irish Tenors (Soloist). Regional: South Pacific (Soldier/ Lt. Cable u/s) Arts Center of Costal Carolina; White Christmas (Ensemble) Cohoes Music Hall; Barefoot in the Park (Paul Bratter), Cabaret (Tenor Solo u/s Ernst), Cats (Tumblebrutus) at New London Barn Playhouse; Oklahoma! (Curly), The Mikado (Nanki-Poo), The New Moon (Phillipe), Pajama Game (Sid Sorokin) at College Light Opera; and the Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theater. He is a graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ.
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 Sasha is an orginal company member and now teaches at Arts Youniversity. She currently goes to Mercer County Community College for special education and plans on opening a performing arts school for individuals with special needs. Sasha has been dancing and singing since the age of two and has performed in many musical theatre productions in the tri-state area. She has performed lead roles such as Magenta in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Taylor McKessie in Disney's High School Musical, Ruth in Thoruoughly Moder Millie, Demeter in Cats, and Oliver in Oliver. Other productions include Jesus Christ Superstar, 3Penny Opera, Follies, Dracula, Fame, and Showboat.
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Amanda is a Graduate of Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, New Jersey with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education, with a primary study of vocal performance. Amanda studied voice for four years with Mrs. Julia Kemp. While attending the university Amanda had a chance to perform with great orchestras such as: The New Jersey city Orchestra, The New York Philharmonic, and The Dresden Philharmonic and also performed on the great stages of Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, The Trenton War Memorial, and The New Jersey Performing Arts Center.
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 Jonathan is a graduate of Westminster Choir College of Rider University with a music education degree. While at Westminster, Jonathan studied voice with Mr. Elem Eley and performed in ensembles under the direction of many fine conductors. Jonathan has performed with the college at Avery Fisher, Trenton War Memorial, Spivey Hall and Carnegie Hall with Zdenek Macal, Sir Neville Marriner, Marin Alsop and at the Spoleto Festival U.S.A. with Emmanuel Villaume. He has also been a member of the Westminster Choir for the last two years under the direction of world renowned conductor, Joseph Flummerfelt. Jonathan is currently studying for his masters in Opera Performance.
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 Rachel has danced off-Broadway the in productions of There's A Marquee & Musical Extravaganza and in the films Magic Flute and Dance Untitled. Other New York dance credits include Carmen, Full Freedom, Celebrations, Sounds of the City and Dionysus 36. In 2003, Rachel received her BFA in Dance from Stephens College, where she trained in Ballet, Modern, Tap, Jazz, Musical Theater, African, Flamenco and East Indian dance. Her choreography "Clear for Take Off" and "Victorian Christmas" has been featured in two different dance concerts. Rachel lives in New York City, where she currently dances with Breathless, Tree House Shakers and the Odonata Dance Companies.
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 Matthew is a professional dancer, teacher and choreographer based in New York City. His diverse background in many genres of classical, contemporary and world dance have allowed him the opportunity to teach and perform all across the United States in the theater and concert dance worlds. Mathew began his training in Minnesota and was soon accepted into the dance department at the Minnesota Center for Arts Education. There, he studied technique, choreography and dance history under Mary Harding and world renowned improvisational dancer, Chris Aiken. Mathew was given a full scholarhip to Stephens College where he earned his BFA in dance, by studying Modern, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Irish Step, African & East Indian dance. His choreography has been produced on several stages, including the American College Dance Festival. Currently, he is teaching and performing all across the U.S, most recently being seen in Cats, 42nd St. and with Stephan Koplowitz in The Grand Step Project.
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 Lila has performed and choreographed from the west to the east coast. In the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles county, she tapped with Rhythm Wreckers, danced in industrials, choreographed musicals and community events and taught in private studios, public and charter schools. On the east coast, Lila received her BFA in dance performance from The Boston Conservatory in 2004. At The Boston Conservatory, she had the honor of assisting Jennifer Scanlon in several major Limon reconstructions. Lila performed in the works of Jose Limon, Martha Graham and Sean Curran. She danced with the Windhover Dance Company, The Handel and Haydn Society, and in the opera, Orfeo and Euridice. In 2004, a concert of her choreography which was presented at The Boston Conservatory Theater.
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 Heather Doyle of Princeton, New Jersey began her dance training at Princeton Ballet School. Heather was then accepted into their pre-professional company, PBII, and performed and toured annually including: The Nutcracker Ballet, Coppelia, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Romeo & Juliet. Heather then went on to work with companies such as the Colorado Ballet, Joffrey Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet. Most recently Heather has worked with NYC Ballet, American Ballet Theater and on Broadway in the tour of Phantom of the Opera. She has one many awards for her choreography in dance competitions all over the country and continues to pursue her own dance career while teaching at various schools in the New Jersey and New York area.
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Gary holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz Dance Performance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He teaches in Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey, and Boston. His visual arts skills are apparent in his creative choreography. Creating "Abstract Imagination" (Ai) is his proudest accomplishment to date. 
Having danced since the age of 7, Gary now uses his skills to combine his visual art talent with dance to create "art in motion". (His artwork is included on each page of this site!) Living throughout the Midwest and East he was exposed to numerous teachers and styles and never "locked in" to one in particular. This is evident in the unique choreography he sets for Ai and for his students.
Gary has had the privilege of studying with some of the country's best teachers and choreographers in all disciplines, Ballet to Hip Hop …….. Eva Szabo, Andrew Pap, Kim Bears-Bailey, Brian Sanders, Ronan Koresh, Rennie Harris and LaVaughn Robinson, to name a few.
Motivation and inspiration has come from his peers as well ………….. Kenny Wormald ("You Got Served", MTV's "Dancelife"), Nick Baga ("Hairspray, the Movie".the Olympics with Ricky Martin, TV Land Awards), Teddy Forance (Cirque Du Soliel), Kyle Robinson ("Hell's Kitchen Tour" with Baryshnikov, The Juilliard School), Jamile McGee ("So You Think You Can Dance") and brother Steve Vaughn (Busch Gardens, UArts, Contempra Dance Theatre).
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Teacher(s) not assigned yet.
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