Mariann's School of Dance

		Mariann Paul, Artistic Director
		Mariann Paul received her early training with Helena Baron, and Paul Sutherland and Brunilda Ruiz of the Joffrey Ballet. As a principal dancer with the Baron Ballet Company she has performed at the PNC Bank Arts Center and in New Jersey and regional dance festivals throughout the Northeast. She has won numerous awards for choreography at competitions, and has been an adjudicator for the Star Systems National Talent Competition. Always open to new ideas and innovations in dance, she has attended the Vaganova Seminar at the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet Society, Jazz Dance World Congress, David Howard Ballet Workshop, Broadway Dance Center Teacher's Workshop and Rhee Gold's DanceLife Teacher Conference.

		Kathleen Carnevale
		Kathleen Carnevale began her training at Mariann's School of Dance at the age of three. As a member of the Terpsichore Dance Company, she participated in regional and national dance competitions where she won overall high score awards. She continued her studies at Rutgers University where she double majored in both dance and biological sciences. After graduation, she completed a post-baccalaureate teaching certification program and now teaches high school biology. She is currently pursuing her masters in biological science education at William Paterson University. This will be Miss Kathleen's first year teaching at her home studio.

		Lauren Connolly
		Lauren Connolly graduated from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with academic honors. Her training at Mason Gross provided her with a firm foundation in a variety of dance genres including modern, ballet, jazz, improvisation, and choreography. In May 2010, she had the honor of presenting her work 'Vacillation Revisited' at The Kennedy Center in Washington DC as part of The National College Dance Festival. She has also presented her work at Dance Theatre Workshop, Dance Teacher Summit, the Rutgers 2009 Hall of Distinguished Alumni Awards, the Rutgers Theater Company, the American College Dance Festival, and George Street Playhouse. She is the recipient of the Florence S. Domeshek Award for dedication and creativity in dance and the Dance Express Award recipient for exceptional achievement as a choreographer. This is Miss Lauren's second year at the studio.

		Lauren Della Torre
		Lauren Della Torre began her training at age three at Mariann's School of Dance. She danced and choreographed competitively for over ten years, winning various regional and national titles. In 2007 her choreography 'Lifesaver' was the Grand National Champion winner at the Starbound Talent Competition. Her studies continued at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA from 2006 to 2008. During this time Lauren performed as a member of the Xhale Dance Company, under the direction of Michael Susten. In May 2010, Ms. Della Torre graduated with a BFA in Jazz Dance from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City, under the direction of Katie Langan. In New York City she had the opportunity to perform works by various artists including Robert Battle, Benoit-Swan Pouffer, May O'Donnell, Edgar Zendejas and David Parsons. She has attended numerous dance intensives, including the Parsons' Dance Summer Intensive, the Take Dance Intensive, and the Battleworks Summer Intensive. This is Miss Lauren's second year teaching at her home studio.

		Meagan Salma
		Meagan Salma began her dance training right here at Mariann's School Of Dance. She has performed in New Jersey Ballet's "Nutcracker", at Disney's MGM Studios and Magic Kingdom, and received a scholarship to study with Frank Hatchett at the Broadway Dance Center. In May 2009 she showcased on the B.E.T. network performing with the Hip Hop group Physha P, and has danced on tour with the group in venues throughout the metropolitan area. During 2008-2009 she performed with pop singer Lori Michaels in the "Living My Life Out Loud" Tour in Boston, Washington D.C., Ohio, San Francisco, Jersey City, and New York City. Other performances include the "Reach Out Charity Foundation" at various benefits for AIDS and Drug Awareness and Prevention forums, the WPIX Channel 11 Entertainment Stage-NYC 2nd Avenue Street Fair Festival, and the ICF Reachout Festival. Miss Meagan graduated from Montclair State University with a BA in Dance Education and has received her Certification of Eligibility with Advanced Standing to teach dance in public schools, grades K-12. In completing her program, Miss Meagan also received the MSU Dance Education Award for her achievements throughout her college career and student teaching experience. Most recently, she has started her own dance program at Mary Help of Christians Academy for middle school and high school students. This is Miss Meagan's seventh year of teaching at the studio.

		Kassidy Fleisher
		Kassidy Fleisher, a native of Texas, is the youngest of three girls growing up in a dancing family. She is an accomplished aerialist and dancer, performing off-Broadway in several regional musical theatre productions, festivals, and in the Astaire Awards. Her Musical Theatre credits include: Oliver, Midsummer Night's Dream, West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, and Children of Eden. Her concert dance credits include Synthesis Dance Project, Synthesis Too, En L'Air Aerial Dance Theatre, and New York Performers' Project. She has performed at the Best of BDC, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Danza (Tropea, Italy), International Dance Festival-NYC, and the World Dance Congress (Cyprus). She currently teaches in the tri-state area and judges for several national performing arts competitions. We are excited to welcome Miss Fleisher to our staff of dance educators this season.

		Amanda Heckmann
		Amanda Heckmann trained at Coupe Dance Studio under the direction of Diane Coupe' Frankel. As a young student, she attended the American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensives and Martine Van Hamel's Kaatsbaan Extreme Ballet Intensive. Amanda was a Youth America Grand Prix International Finalist in the Senior Ensemble Division in 2009. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from Point Park University Conservatory of the Performing Arts where she trained under Artistic Director Susan Stowe and choreographed for Point Park University's Bridgeworks Performance. Miss Heckmann is currently teaching in Manhattan as well as performing with Community Dance Project NYC. We welcome Miss Amanda to our dance family!

		Laura Honea
		Laura Honea began her training at the Carolyn Dutra Dance Studio in Rhode Island and continues to study at Broadway Dance Center and Steps in NYC. She is a member of the Dance Teachers Club of Boston, has taught for several schools in New England and New York, and has performed on the Norwegian Cruise Lines and at Radio City Music Hall with Bernadette Peters in "Bernadette Peters Loves Rodgers and Hammerstein". She is the proud Mom of Abigail 8, Ellis 5, and Aiden 20 months. This is Miss Laura's twelfth year at the studio.

		Rahmael Magny
		Rahmael Magny is a graduate of Rider University with a B.A. in Theatre and minor in Radio, Television and Dance. As the male captain and treasurer of the Rider University Dance Team, Rahmael went on to help them win third place at the Tri-State Area Dance Competition in 2005 and first place at the Southern Regional Dance Competition in 2006. He has trained with the Princeton Ballet School, which is part of the American Repertoire Ballet. Rahmael has appeared on film (American Gangster, Exposed), in commercials (NY Mets/New York Water Taxi), and is currently an actor/performer in the Winceyco Entertainment Tours. Mr. Magny has taught at numerous dance studios throughout New Jersey, and his high energy hip hop classes combine strong technique and style with cultural and regional understanding of hip hop as an art form. Mr. Rahmael begins his third year at the studio.

		Stephanie Love Rosenberg
		Stephanie Love Rosenberg began dancing at the age of 12 and knew immediately that she wanted a career in dance. She attended Oklahoma City University, under the direction of Jo Rowan, and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Dance Performance. After graduation she joined the cast of 'Crazy For You' at the Jewel Box Theater in Oklahoma City. Her choreography was selected as a finalist in the Gus Giordano Jazz Dance World Congress in Wiesbaden, Germany. Upon returning from Europe she moved to New York City to pursue her career in dance. She was a featured performer in The Gypsy Project at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center and The Duke Ellington Nutcracker at the Forum Theater. She joined the modern dance company Turner Dance Industries, and toured Bulgaria and the Czech Republic as well as New York City and New York State. This is Miss Stephanie's second year at Mariann's School of Dance.

		Stacie Shivers
		Stacie Shivers has been dancing since the age of three. She has worked with the renowned Mary Anthony and had the opportunity to participate in numerous educational dance videos. Stacie competed regionally and nationally for eleven years, winning such titles as Dance Master's of America Miss Dance of New York City 2004 and American Dance Awards America's Dancer of the Year 2005. Miss Stacie graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance and second major in Psychology from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. During her studies at Mason Gross, she performed works by Rennie Harris, Stephan Petronio, and Randy James. Stacie currently performs nationally and internationally with two professional dance companies: FreeSpace Dance and Von Howard Project. She is currently completing graduate work to obtain a Doctoral degree in School-Clinical Psychology with an incorporation of dance therapy. This is Miss Stacie's second year teaching at the studio.

		Katya Surrence
		Katya Surrence began studying ballet at the age of five with Mahri Coshever. After adding jazz, tap, ballroom, voice and acting to her training, she performed in various musicals and films, and in revues in dinner theaters, casinos and on cruise ships. She has taught in California, the Bahamas, Japan, Guam and in New Jersey and New York. Recently she choreographed a national commercial for DISNEY with four of her students. Miss Katya believes that proper technique is important but must be combined with the joy of movement as well. This is Miss Katya's eighth year at the studio.

		Deborah Tomkins
		Deborah Tomkins has been teaching for over 20 years. She has trained at Broadway Dance Center, Garden State Ballet, Steps in New York City, and the Edge in L.A. Her choreography has been seen in plays, variety shows, dance recitals, and operas, and her students have performed at Great Adventure, Hershey Park, the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, and the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. This is Miss Debbie's ninth year at the studio.

		Jessica Van Grouw
		Jessica Van Grouw began dancing thirteen years ago in Bergen County studying ballet, jazz, and hip-hop. She was a senior member of Dan Karaty's "Digi Bones Hip-Hop Crew" and was a choreographer and captain of her school's dance team. She has also choreographed for local high school's musical productions and continues to study dance at NJ Ballet and Broadway Dance Center. Jessica will be graduating with honors this winter with a B.A in English Writing and has been accepted into Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honors Society. After graduation Jessica plans on returning to school to obtain a second B.A. in Dance Education.