Faculty
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 Lisa Simko Schumann, Owner/Director/Educator - Sussex County, Hamburg, NJMiss Lisa has directed the Hamburg, NJ-based Dance Expression dance arts for 22 years. She is the Artistic Director/Choreographer/Educator of the award-winning Dance Expression Dance Company.  Ellen McGovern – Sussex County, Wantage, NJEllen started dancing here at Dance Expression when she was 7yrs old. Her love of dance lead her to join the dance company and begin assisting many classes. Upon leaving Dance Expression she attended County College of Morris as a dance major where she studied modern and ballet. Miss Ellen is now finishing her Associates Degree in Liberal Arts at Sussex County Community College and plans to complete her education with a B.A. in Dance from Montclair University. "Miss" Ellen is the Asistant Director to the Dance Expression Performance Dance Company and also teaches all levels of Modern, Jazz, Tap, Ballet and Hip Hop. She shares her passion for movement with each and every student!! This will be "Miss" Ellen's sixth year teaching at Dance Expression. “Miss Virginia’s spirit and Miss Lisa’s discipline and value of hard work are the motivation behind my teaching; I hope to always share these values with all of my students.”  Kit Nemecek – Rockaway, NJMiss Kit began pre-professional ballet training at the New Jersey School of Ballet at the age of 12 and continued her intensive study of CLassical Ballet at Theatre Arts Dance America, and received private instruction with Natasha Girshov, ELaine Kudo and Lynne Grossman. Kit attended and continues to attend summer ballet intensives with the School of American Ballet, Kirov Academy, The Joffrey Workshop in San Antonio, Kaatsbaan International Dance Center and Ballet Austen. In 2004 Kit competed in the Youth America Grand Prix Ballet Competition in Torrington, Ct. and qualified for the national finals event. In addition, she has been involved with a local youth ballet troupe, "Ballet Enchante" based in Rockaway, NJ where she serves as principal dancer and guest artist, and choreographer. Kit was a company member with Evergreen City Ballet in Washington during its 2006-2007 season and begins her third season as an apprentice with the New Jersey Ballet Company based in Livingston, NJ. Kit is very excited to begin her second year with Dance Expression and work with its enthusiastic and talented students!!  Barbara Dattoli - Sussex County, Wantage, NJMiss Barbi started training in Gymnastics at the age of 4 in her hometown of Cicero, Illinois with The Sokol Slavsky Organization. She has taught in the Vernon Gymnastics Recreational Program and served as a level 5, 6 & 7 Judge for The National Association of Women’s Gymnastics for 8 years. She has taught Gymnastics and Pre-School Dance with Dance Expression since 1994 and has earned the delightful reputation of being a little girl magnet. She is a loving wife to Nicky Dattoli, with whom she has two children, Nicholas, 24, and Emily, 22.  Margery Schiesswhol – Sussex County, Vernon, NJMiss Margery began dancing when a little girl and began taking classes in New York City at her teacher’s urging while in Junior High. She holds a BA in Theater and Dance from the University of New Hampshire and began teaching children and choreographing at age 18. After college she performed in summer theater in shows including “42nd Street,” “My One and Only,” and “Sugar Babies.” She also performed with the Seacoast Ballet of New Hampshire and joined a national tour of “Babes in Toyland.” She was an event coordinator and judge for the Headliners National Performing Arts Competition. Miss Margery is also currently a faculty dance teacher at the Gil St Bernard's School in Gladstone, NJ where she has been teaching and choreographing the musical productions for the past 18 years. Recently her choreography helped to earn the school their first "Best Overall Production Award" from the Rising Star Award Program at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ. This marks Miss Margery’s 11th year of teaching at Dance Expression. She is happily married to Fred Schiesswhol, with whom she has two children, Will and Kelly.  Elaine Sorce – Vernon, NJAt age 8, Miss Elaine began taking acrobatics at the King Center of the Performing Arts. She has been a competitor and a teacher. She coached and judged for the Eastern National Academy in Riverdale, NJ and Augusta Gymnastics in Georgia; both places compete nationally for positions on the U.S. Olympic team. Gymnastics choreography inspired her love for the artistic dance element; she studied at Steps on Broadway and the Broadway Dance Center, and was a member of The New Jersey Dance Company. Miss Elaine has enjoyed teaching dance and gymnastics for nearly twenty years.  Sarah Wright – Sussex County, Hardyston, NJMiss Sarah began her dancing career at the very young age of 2. She has studied many genres of dance but always had a passion for jazz and musical theater. Throughout her childhood she trained at Dance Expression, Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, NJ School of Ballet and participated in many intensive dance and theater programs. At the age of 18, Sarah was chosen to be a counselor at Broadway Dance Center and had the privilege of assisting Frank Hattchet, Dan Karaty, Doug Caldwell, Michelle Assaf and many other professional choreographers. Miss Sarah attended Manhattanville College as a Dance and Theater major on a Performing Arts Scholarship and is now finishing up her studies at SCCC. Some of her performance achievements include the Off-Broadway production of “On the Town”, CBS Morning Show, and Summer Dance Festival at the Duke Theater.  Jaclyn BambaraJaclyn Bambara has been studying and performing various styles of dance, including: ballet, hip hop, jazz, lyrical and tap, since a young age. It wasn’t until her college years, when she began studying Modern Dance, that her passion for Modern technique and performance grew immensely!! “Miss” Jaclyn attended undergraduate college at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, where she received her BS in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and a Minor in Dance. She performed with The Richard Stockton College Dance Company throughout her undergraduate college career, studying under various choreographers including: Rob Davidson, Shannon Davidson, Henry Van Kuiken, and Karla Wolfangle. “Miss” Jaclyn has also performed with the professional dance company KineticArchitecture since 2003 in NYC and surrounding areas. “Miss” Jaclyn continued her education at Seton Hall University, where she received her MS in Speech-Language Pathology. She currently is a speech-language therapist and is always excited to continue to share her passion and enthusiasm for Dance with Dance Expression!  Tara MadsenTara Lynne Madsen started her early dance training at Dance Expression dance arts. She received her BA in Dance from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania where she was awarded "The Outstanding Choreographer Award" and her MFA in Performance and Choreography from Smith College where she was awarded a teaching fellowship. She is currently living in Philadelphia and starting her third professional season with the touring company TANIA ISAAC DANCE. As a freelance choreographer, Tara has presented her original choreography internationally where she received critical acclaim at The 41st International Choreographers Showcase at the 22nd World Dance Conference in Athens, Greece and Festival Estivo dell' Universiti di Danza & Teatro in Bari, Italy, the 33rd International Choreographers Showcase at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland as well as The 28th International Choreographer's Showcase in Barcelona at Mercat de les Flors-Ciutat del Teatre and in Madrid at Sala Cuarta Pared presented by Dance Forms Productions. She has presented her choreography nationally at various venues in New York City, Philadelphia, Washington DC, California, North Carolina and at the American College Dance Festival Association. She is currently adjunct faculty in the dance department at DeSales University. She continues to teach freelance master classes and choreographic residencies for professional dance companies, colleges, festivals, conventions, conservatories, studios and dance camps throughout the Northeast region. Tara has been setting work on the Dance Expression Dance Company for the past few years. She would like to thank her Dance Expression Family-past and present- for their continuous love and support.  Brant MichaelsBrant has spent the past 9 years living in New York City. He moved to Manhattan in 2000 to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. While still a teenager he landed his first job, the first national tour of Broadway's "The Music Man". Other credits include West Side Story (Baby John, European Tour); Cats (Mungojerrie); La Cage aux Folles (Jean-Michel u/s); A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Protean); Nights on Broadway III (swing); The Music Man (starring Tom Wopat, regional); and numerous Broadway charity performances. Brant has also performed off Broadway at The Public Theater for 365 Days... as well as at the Promenade Theater with American Dance Company (principal dancer, company member). He has judged extensively for various dance competitions, taught master classes and set choreography across the country. Although he is branching out from musical theater and focusing on pursuing tv and film, his first love is still dance. Brant feels that teaching is one of the most rewarding jobs he could ever hope to do and is very excited to begin his second year with Dance Expression. Brant is a union member of Actors Equity Association.  Mafalda RakowskyMiss Mafalda Rakowsky is from Sao Paulo, Brazil, married and the proud mom of Beatrice and Alex. She studied classical ballet at "Escola Municipal de Bailados in Sao Paulo" (1981- 1990), one of the most renowned ballet school in Brazil. For over 15 years Miss Mafalda taught ballet and jazz at her own studio in the same city and had an enrollment of over 100 students. Mafalda Moved to the United States in 2002 and in 2005 began working as a Brazilian Dance, Jazz and Fitness instructor at Minerals Sports Club. She is also a WITS Personal Training and a AFAA Group Fitness Certified Instructor. Miss Mafalda is a passionate, creative, inspiring instructor and we welcome her to the staff of Dance Expression this year (2010-2011). " I can't wait to be part of such a wonderful and talented group of instructors and dancers at Dance Expression!"  Ashley SpicerAshley Spicer has been involved in dance for the past 16 years. Growing up and dancing locally in Sussex County, her training was intensified under the teaching of Nanci Coe at Star Dance Academy. Ashley has also studied Polynesian & Tahitian Dance with Makalina of NYC. Her love and passion for all dance forms allows Ashley to teach dance to toddlers through adults with great enthusiasm! Ashley has also been involvement in cheerleading and as a 2002 State Champion Cheerleader, competed in Disney's World Wide of Sports and continued her cheerleading experience with her own All Star National Winning Cheer Team which she coached and choreographed from 2005-2007. She is proficient in Jazz, Hip Hop, Salsa, Hawaiian, Tahitian, Gymnastics and Cheerleading. Ashley was a lead dancer and Choreographer for Slave Hall of Fame Benefit Concert for Hurricane Katrina performing at 'The City' in NYC. Ashley appears in Sinque Grier's music Video, has also worked regularly as a Hawaiian & Tahitian Dancer at Waikiki Wally's NYC, as well as performing at the What's Next Concert in NYC and won a spot at the concert to backup dance for Sean Paul/Justin Timberlake. Ashley has also received many awards and acknowledgement for both her dancing and teaching. She was a Miss NJ USA Finalist and Winner of the NJ State and Talent Showcase. Ashley is currently attending County College of Morris to complete her Associates Degree in Dance. Ashley is very excited to share her knowledge with others, and be part of the great teaching Staff of Dance Expression! |
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