Premiere Dance of Hillsborough's Teachers
Performing at the 2011 Recital
Corinna Ahart - School Director-Dynamics Staff
Corinna received her dance training at New Jersey School of Ballet and the New Jersey Dance Theatre Guild. She has attended N. Y. City dance intensives and conventions learning a variety of various dance styles. Corinna was a top ten graduate of the Somerset County Performing Arts program. Through an audition process she was chosen to be a member of the New Jersey Dance Theatre Guild Ballet Company. Corinna was one of three jazz soloist selected from the state to perform at the PNC Art Center's Showcase of the Stars. Through her years of study she entered several dance competitions competing in jazz, tap, and ballet in which she received top honors and awards. Corinna continues to serve on the panel of judges for MBC Talent Competitions. She graciously accepted the opportunity to have her choreography and students featured on Good Morning America.
Best known for her energy and motivation, her choreography has helped her students earn prestigious awards at both the regional and national level of competition. Recent honors include her students capturing the Ultimate Achievement Award in which her junior jazz routine placed first overall at Star Systems regional and her teen jazz dancers came in first overall at Starbound Nationals!
Corinna has over twenty years of teaching experience in the performing arts instructing a variety of dance forms as well as in the fitness field instructing aerobics, step aerobics, and toning classes. She is currently serving her seventeenth year directing the school and is proud to be a part of the talented staff at Premiere Dance of Hillsborough.
Michelle (Viechec) Cunningham - Dynamics Director
Miss Michelle has been dancing for over 29 years. She's studied the arts of Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, Musical Theater and Gymnastics. For 15 years she competed in several regional and national talent competitions, winning platinum level awards and awards such as Top Scoring Duo and Top Scoring Group. She has also received Choreography awards for her Duo/Trio's and special judge's awards for her ENERGETIC solos! Her accomplishments include the title of ALL-STAR from UCA/UDA. Which allowed her to perform in the Foley's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Houston, TX. She was also chosen to perform in the Citrus Bowl Halftime Show, Orlando, FL. Miss Michelle had a role on the children's TV program "The Kids Today Show" and she appeared on several MTV programs. She was a part of the Guinness Record Book breaking event for the most tap dancers performing in the NYC streets for Tap O Mania 3 years in a row. She instructed members of the "Good Morning America" staff for their Fit Club Challenge. Who then performed her choreographed number for Diane Sawyers last day on the show. She was then asked to continue instructing the staff for the rest of the year.
Not only did Miss Michelle start her studies at Premiere Dance of Hillsborough formerly Hillsborough Dance Academy in 1982, but she also studied at NYC's Broadway Dance Center, taking classes from choreographers such as Frank Hattchet, Sue Samuels, Shelia Barker, Rahpsody, Brian Greene and various others. For over 14 years she has taught in all areas of dance and choreographed routines for regional and national competitions, gaining Top Scores and Special Awards for her Jazz and Lyrical routines. Which includes 1st place overall at Regionals, Top 2 and various Top 10 Scoring positions at the Nationals Finals. Her dances have received several special judges awards from Choreography Awards to "Breath Taking Performance" to "Dynamic Duo". Her specialty group was honored by being chosen for the NDS Jr. Dance-off. Miss Michelle joined the Premiere Dance staff in 2001 and began instructing with the competition team in 2002. Since 2007 she has been the Director for the Dynamics Competition Team.
She is always there looking forward to the smiling faces of her students and LOVES HUGS!! She wishes everyone a great year at Premiere Dance of Hillsborough!!
Lisa Burton-Dynamics Staff
Lisa graduated Cum Laude from Muhlenberg College. Lisa has choreographed many solo and group pieces in genres of dance including modern, ballet, and jazz. She has performed at American College Dance Festival in the adjudicated concerts and performed in the prestigious final piece of the Gala Concert.
Lisa has extensively studied, and continues to study, many areas of modern dance including Release Technique, Cunningham Technique, Improvisation, Afro-Contemporary as well as personal movement philosophies. Other forms she has studied are Concert Jazz, Broadway Jazz, Jazz Tap, and Classical Ballet. She studied these genres with many talented professional teachers, some of which are Jennifer Kayle, Tiffany Mills, Nicolas Leichter, Karen Dearborn, and Danny Buraczeski - Lisa performed in original and/or recreated works with these choreographers.
Professionally, Lisa danced in Charles O. Andersons Dance Theater X's Parables of Mutants and Madmen at DanceBoom! in Philadelphia. Charles was recently chosen by Dance Magazine's 25 choreographers to watch. She has also performed her own solo and duet works in many venues in the NJ/NYC area including Oasis Dance Festival in NYC, The International Dance Festival in NYC, and The Outlet Dance Works in NJ. Her choreography was reviewed, Lisa [Burton's choreography]. perfectly highlighted Scott Joplin's "Fig Leaf Rag" in a clever, precisely choreographed tribute to Chaplin and vaudeville. Christopher Atamian of the Village Voice. She also worked as an intern for Tiffany Mills Company and LKB Dance.
Lisa began studying dance here at Premiere Dance at the age of 3! As a young dancer she performed in many competitions and events. She is so happy to return home to teach and choreograph. Her competition dances have won many special, choreography, and high scoring awards. Lisa has a passion for all things related to dance, and she hopes to pass that along to her students.
Michael Cuomo-Dynamics Staff
Michael Cuomo has accumulated an impressive list of credentials. He uses his passion for dance in his involvement in the Reachout charity, volunteering his time dancing and talking with people to raise awareness of such diseases as breast cancer and AIDS. The Reachout program also performs at DARE graduations throughout New Jersey.
Michael's dance experience includes dancing in showcases at the Broadway Dance Center in New York City in a piece choreographed by world renowned choreographer Rhapsody. In 2000, he choreographed a number in Z100's Jingleball concert and danced with 'NSYNC at the MTV Video Music Awards. He continued choreographing in 2001 for such artists as Christina Aguilera and Pink at KTU's Beatstock and in 2002 for a music video for R&B group, 112.
From 2002-2003, Michael broadened his horizons a bit and took on the role as tour manager for KTU's Tina Ann's "In My Dreams" tour. He also had the privilege of dancing at high profile parties at the Sun Valley Resort in Idaho for such high profile clients as Bill Gates, Tom Hanks, and Oprah Winfrey. Michael danced for club artist Ali at KTU's Beatstock.
In addition to these experiences, he choreographed for the Knicks dancers for five years and the Nets dancers for two years.
Kerri Fitzgerald-Dynamics Staff
Kerri
began her dance training at Premiere Dance of Hillsborough at the age of 4,
studying many forms of dance including lyrical, jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop,
and modern. She was a member of the competition team for 10 years, competing
at both regional and national levels. During her time as a student at
Premiere she was a teacher’s assistant for various classes. Kerri was also a
2006 recipient of the Premiere Dance Scholarship Achievement Award.
During her time as a Rutgers University student, Kerri was a member of Rutgers Performing Dance Company for four years. She began choreographing in her sophomore year and was then elected to serve on the Executive Board as the Head Choreographer her junior and senior year. During her time as Head Choreographer, Kerri choreographed a number of dances for end-of-the-semester shows, outside performances, competitions, and charity events. Kerri also taught contemporary dance for the Rutgers Recreation program.
Kerri recently graduated from Rutgers with a double major in Journalism & Media Studies and Sociology. She is so excited to be back with the Premiere family sharing her love for dance with others!
Jenning Foran-Dynamics Staff
Grew
up in a little town named Pittstown, NJ. She began her dance training
around the house to her mother’s music at the age of 3. When Jenning was 5
her mom decided to give her real lessons beginning at the Star Maker School
of the Performing Arts located in Flemington, NJ off of Rt. 31 South.
Jenning continued her training at Star Maker until she graduated high school
in 2006.
As a junior in High School, Jenning had the chance to perform in the off-Broadway performance of “The Christmas Spectacular”. She was offered the lead role as the ice-skater in Central Park and as a snowflake; which took part on Pointe shoes.
After graduating North Hunterdon High School in 2006, Jenning went off to Kutztown University of Kutztown, PA to continue her studies. She majored with Leisure and Sports Studies (also known as Sports Management) and minored in Business and held a concentration in Dance. As a sophomore in college, Jenning took place in the Lenhart Dance Company; where she stayed as a company member till graduation. Her senior year, Jenning was offered the Deane Lenhart Memorial Scholarship which is offered to the best dancer, most responsible, and most worthy individual of the company.
As a junior at Kutztown University, Jenning auditioned for the professional company; FDC, Fusion Dance Company. FDC is held in Fogelsville, PA right outside of Trexlertown, PA off of Rt. 100. She is still currently going underway with them.Amanda Lydon-Dynamics Staff
Amanda began her dance training in Syracuse, New York at age five with classes in tap, jazz, and ballet. Since then she has studied with numerous choreographers and teachers, at countless conventions and intensives, and in various techniques and disciplines.
While studying jazz, lyrical, tap, ballet, and pointe at Tawn Marie's Dance Centre in Liverpool, NY until the age of 18, she competed in competitions around New York state and surrounding areas, regularly winning top prizes and titles while performing on the regional and national levels. During this time she also traveled to the Center of Ballet and Dance Arts to more specifically study ballet, pointe, and modern techniques. She attended the summer dance intensive at Point Park University. Amanda also received a scholarship during this time to attend the Joffery Ballet School's summer intensive in NYC, which was a truly amazing and life changing experience.
Amanda attended and graduated from the University at Buffalo in 2009 magna cum laude with her Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) and multiple semesters with honors on the Deans List. While at the university, she was a member of the by-audition-only Zodiaque Dance Company and its second company the Zodiaque Studio Dance Ensemble for all four years at the school, a feat achieved by no other person in her graduating class. She was also a performer and invited student choreographer for Dancers Workshop, Emerging Choreographers Showcase, and for the Zodiaque Studio Dance Ensemble.
During her time in college, Amanda studied ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, modern, teaching methods, dance history, psychology, technical theatre, mind/body integration, acting, choreography, and was a teacher's assistant in jazz. While in Buffalo, she was also fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to perform for the Dali Lama during his visit to the university and at the American College Dance Festival, as well as studying with companies such as the American Ballet Theatre, Urban Bush Women, Ron Brown, and Elisa Monte.
Amanda is dedicated to the education and advancement of dance as an art. She truly believes in the power of dance and is extremely excited to begin this new chapter in her life as a part of the Premiere Dance family!
Allie Nagy-Dynamics Staff
Allie grew up dancing at Premiere Dance of Hillsborough since the age of three. She studied several types of dance, which included hip hop, ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, modern, tap, Broadway jazz and musical theater. In 1994, Allie joined the Dynamics Competition Team where she won numerous platinum, gold, and top scores. In 2001, she became a member of the teaching staff teaching various dance forms of ages three to nine. In 2000 and 2002, Allie, along with teammates, performed at Madison Square Garden at half time at a Knicks Game. Other local performances included The Hillsborough Fireworks Showcase and The Somerset Patriots Baseball games. She was also awarded the William J. Jordan Dance Scholarship in 2002.
Currently, Allie is attending Raritan Valley Community College, where she is majoring in Early Childhood Education. She plans to get her Associates degree and transfer to Rutgers University to get her Bachelors degree. In addition, Allie is an Associate Teacher in a toddler room at Bright Horizons Child Development Center.
Christine Rizzo-Dynamics Staff
Growing up at Premiere Dance, Christine began studying dance at the age of 3, including competing as part of the Dynamics Team at the regional and national levels beginning at the age of 6. Over the years she has studied ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop and pom. At Premiere, she served as a volunteer assistant dance teacher and substitute teacher. She was also a 2006 recipient of the Premiere Dance Scholarship Achievement Award.
Christine is currently a senior at Rutgers University studying Communication and Sociology, and a fourth year member of the Rutgers University Dance Team. She has been honored to be awarded the position of Captain for her senior year. While on the team she performs at all home football games, men's and women's basketball games, and other community events. The Rutgers Dance Team competes at the UDA College Dance Team National Championship in Orlando, FL where they are nationally ranked. The dance team has given her many opportunities such as appearing on MTV's TRL Back to School Week, performing at the Victoria's Secret PINK Bus event, performing at the Mens Big East Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden, working with high school teams by teaching clinics, and traveling to support Rutgers and perform at events all over the country.
Christine is so proud to be back at her second home, Premiere Dance, where she cannot wait to start working and sharing her passion for dance with her students!
Cassie Russo-Dynamics Staff
As
Founder and Executive Director of CaRu Entertainment, Cassie uses her vast
experience, skill and passion to provide creative direction and leadership.
As a professional dancer, Cassie has appeared on The Today Show, Good Day
Philadelphia,
Good Morning America,
Regis and Kelly, and
Pix Morning News. Cassie debuted on her first national tour as backup dancer
for the world-renowned country act
Rascal Flatts on their
2008 "Bob that Head" concert tour.
Cassie
has also acted as co-host on the Comcast OnDemand series Girls Night Out and
has been a featured Hip-Hop and Street Funk choreographer on the PBS show
Tempo. In addition, Cassie was a member of the Philadelphia Wings Angels
Dance Team and the New York
Titans Dance Team, as she performed in the world's most famous
stadium Madison Square Garden.
Cassie has had the distinct honor of working with famous choreographers
Robert Hoffman, Dave
Scott, Jafar,
Bijan Williams, Brooke Lipman, Shotyme and
Pasha and Anya from Fox
Networks "So You Think You
Can Dance".
Cassie trained at the Millennium Dance Complex in
Los Angeles with
celebrity choreographer
Shane Sparks,
Tabitha and Napoleon,
Brian Friedman of Fox Network's So You Think You Can Dance, Donyelle
Jones and Shorty, Quest Crew and the infamous Jabbawockeez of
MTV's America's Best Dance
Crew, Brittney Spears' lead dancer Jesse Santos and the
Pussycat Dolls
choreographer Mickey Minden and owner
Robin Antin. Cassie holds a double- major degree in Dance and Liberal
Arts from
DeSales University.
She is excited to be a part of the Premiere Dance Staff!
345 Amwell Road Hillsborough, NJ
908-281-9442
908-359-5329(fax)
Email:
cahart@premieredancenj.comLocated in the Hillsborough Pool, Racquet and Fitness Club