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Faculty ProfilesNoell Mustazza, Artistic Director
Noell has been performing, choreographing, and teaching for the past 20 years. She received her early training at Wendy's Dance Center (WDC) in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania. While studying at WDC, Noell became a well rounded student in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and modern. During her 9 years at WDC, Noell performed in over 75 regional and national dance competitions, receiving highest overall scores, national awards, and top choreography awards. Noell's other performance credits during her time at WDC include performing for the 1996 Olympic Torch and dancing, by invitation, in Disney World, in addition to several other performances around the country.
Upon graduation from Archbishop Wood High School and completion of her time at Wendy's Dance Center, Noell enrolled at Cedar Crest College (CCC) in Allentown, Pennsylvania and started working toward her BFA in Dance. During her first year Noell received the honor of being the only freshman to be accepted into the Cedar Crest Dance Company as a full member. While at CCC, Noell studied under Robin Gerchman, Nicole Hockenberry (T.A.P.), Margo Clifford Ging (DanceGing), and Michelle Barber (Broadway Dance Center). During her second year Noell decided to expand her dance knowledge and transferred to the prestigious Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University. Noell quickly became immersed in the world of modern dance and studied under some world-renowned modern teachers such as Anne Vachon(Jose Limon Dance Company) and Phil Grosser(Martha Graham Company). While pursuing her degree in dance, Noell also was chosen to be part of the Diamond Gems Dance Team. As a dance team member, Noell performed at all Temple University football games, men's and women's basketball games, and volleyball games. Being a member of the dance team gave Noell a multitude of venues to perform in, such as USC Santa Barbra, Heinz Field (Pittsburg PA), University of Florida, Penn State University, The Palestra at University of Pennsylvania, Veteran Stadium, and Temple's own Liacouras Center. While performing with the Diamond Gems, Noell was also a member of Amanda Diorio Dance and Underground Dance Works, two Philadelphia jazz-based companies. Noell graduated from Temple University in December of 2004 with a BFA in Dance with a Modern concentration. After graduation, Noell became jazz instructor and choreographer at Wayne Ballet and Center for Dance Arts (WBCDA). For the past 5 years, Noell has called WBCDA home. She has taught ballet, tap, and jazz to all ages and levels. While teaching and choreographing at WBCDA, Noell became a member of Wayne Ballet Theater. As a soloist, Noell performed the roles of Clara, Snowflakes, and The Dew Drop Fairy in the annual Nutcracker, The Canary Fairy, and White Cat in Sleeping Beauty, and several original compositions. Noell continued her own dance education by studying under Patricia Brown (Joffrey Ballet), Laura Brownstone (New York City Ballet, Royal Academy of Dance), and Lina McMenamin (Opus1). Noell has had a true passion for dance for the past 20 years. After years of hard work, education, and many performance opportunities, Noell is ready to pass those experiences on to her own students. Lindsay Campbell, Hip Hop
Lindsay Campbell, a native of Fort Washington, Maryland, from a very early age took a strong liking to the art and aesthetics of dance. As she grew in her methods she began searching for a better understanding of choreography and its importance in film. The impact that choreography had on her life took her to further her studies in Philadelphia. While there she achieved a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Digital Media Production, and an Associate's of Science Degree in Video Production from the Art Institute of Philadelphia. While attending the Art Institute she is founded Dark Artz, a dance and step team under the Black Student Union. She held the seat as chairman for three years beginning a student life beyond just the offered courses. Many groups were inspired to start by the success of the Black Student Union and Dark Artz, including First Strike Martial Arts and the Latin Connection. She has since then worked with dancers on the Life Knocks Project (www.lifeknocks.org). Lindsay is also the founder of Lindsay's Dance for UCM Sacramento Neighborhood Center. She has won many leadership awards for her work with students in the community. Over the years Lindsay has performed, choreographed, stepped and taught dance for various after school programs and organizations in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. She also teaches modeling training. Lindsay is very responsible. Her knowledge and skills of dance will ensure students will receive proper Hip Hop technique in a comfortable and fun environment!
Chris Giordano, Dance Team/Funk, Jazz, Hip Hop, Pre Ballet Levels
Christina's love for dance began at the age of 5. Aside from taking part in annual dance recitals, she has performed at community nursing homes, Philadelphia Eagles Halftime Shows, and appeared several times on the televised children's show, Chief Halftown. Her dedication to her training in ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical led her to win numerous competitions with 1st Place and Highest Score honors.
Christina continued her dance education throughout high school and college. While in college she was a member of the Philadelphia Kixx Dance Team for the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 seasons, being named Captain of the 2000-2001 season. In December 2002 she graduated from Holy Family University with a BS in Management/Marketing, Magna Cum Laude.
For over 10 years, Christina has instructed and choreographed students of varying ages and technical abilities. She is excited to be a part of the DAC family and looks forward to sharing her passion for the art of dance!
Brenda Jagelka, Tap, Jazz, Musical Theater, Pre Ballet Levels
Brenda was born and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles, California. She has been teaching, choreographing and dancing for over 30 years. She's accomplished in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theatre and Hip Hop dance & she's trained and performed all types of Polynesian dance. Brenda was also an accomplished gymnast and made it to the Junior Olympics.
She has performed on stage in Los Angeles and has choreographed and performed in several music and instructional videos. Brenda has choreographed "Chicago" and "Cabaret" for High Schools and has been assistant chorographer and director in many other shows in the Los Angeles area.
Brenda studied with the best dancers and instructors in Los Angeles. She has had intensive training in dance and theatre. She received most of her training at Joe Tremaine's and Debbie Reynolds' studios in Los Angeles. Brenda studied with Gregory Hines, The Nicolas Brothers and many other masters. She continues with her training in New York City, Philadelphia and New Jersey and continues to attend workshops.
She has taught at many studios around the Los Angeles area including Master Classes in Tap. She eventually opened her own studio in Northridge, California. She was also the director of a performance company and award winning competition company at her studio. Her company dancers won multiple awards and took top honors and high scores at numerous competitions.
Brenda is proud that she's had many of her students go on to become professional performers, studio owners and acclaimed teachers.
Eventually she moved with her family to the East Coast and lived in Morris County, NJ where she taught at Art of Dance in Chester, NJ. She taught tap and jazz there for 10 years and happy to be invited back to sub when she can. She's been teaching in Bucks County, PA for the past 6 years and was the director and choreographer of a local dance company before coming to DAC.
Brenda is so happy to be part of the Dance Arts Conservatory family and is thrilled to be able to share her experience with her students! She is honored to share her passion for the arts with dancers of all ages and levels.
Bridget Holmes, Ballet, Pre Ballet LevelsBridget Holmes, a Philadelphia native, began her training at the age of three under Liz Fitchett-Tillotson and Scott Jovovich (Joffrey Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Tony Award Winning Broadway credits). As a company member of the Mid-Atlantic Dance Theater, she performed both classic ballets such as the Nutcracker and originally composed works by Mr. Jovovich as well as Nina Federova (New York City Ballet) and Jeffrey Lyons (Pennsylvania Ballet, San Fransico Ballet). Throughout her teenage years, Bridget also traveled, competed and took master classes with some of the industries most revered teachers and choreographers in the dance world such as Joe Lanteri, Joe Tremaine, Mia Michaels, Gil Stroming, Jason Parsons and Suzi Taylor. In 2004 Bridget earned her B.F.A. in Dance and Choreography from Temple University. While there, she performed in student and professional concerts both at the University and in performances throughout Philadelphia and New York City, most notably with choreographer and director of danceTheaterX, Charles O.Anderson. In addition to her technique and composition studies in the music and dance program, she also was the Co-Captain of the nationally ranked Temple University Diamond Gems Dance Team which performed at Temple University sporting and supporting events. To supplement her training further, Bridget also studied at The University of the Arts Summer Intensives and Koresh School of Dance where she was chosen to perform in numerous teachers works and showcases. After graduation Bridget danced professionally as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers Dancers where she had the great experience of performing choreography by Brian Friedman, Tabitha amd Napoleon, Chris Judd and others. She also danced with the Philadelphia Soul, Soulmates Dancers which led her to several opportunities to dance live onstage with Bon Jovi in concerts. In addition to performing, Bridget has had the privelage and pleasure of teaching and choreographing for dance teams, studios, competitions, and musical theater performances in the tri-state are for the past 10 years. She is so thrilled to be joining the wonderfull staff and students at DAC this year! Mike Jenofsky, Breakdancing, Boys Hip Hop
Upon graduation from the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts, Mike got his first "gig" as a dancer with New York Entertainment. During this time he also began teaching break dancing and hip hop and also creating award winning pieces of choreography. Mike has an extremely strong passion for teaching. Being that he was self-taught and wasn't fortunate enough to learn from professionals, he figured he needed to work twice as hard to get to the professional level that he is at today. His teaching philopsphy is that you should never be afraid of or shy away from being the next BBOY or BGIRL just because you don't think you can do it........Mike's saying: "Let Me Show and Help You!"
Melissa Metzler, ZumbaMelissa Metzler is a 2007 graduate of Temple University with degrees in both Elementary and Special Education. She currently is employed with Council Rock School District as an elementary special education teacher, specifically for children with high functioning Autism. She is continuing her studies towards a Master's Degree at LaSalle University in education. She has received a certificate in Autism from LaSalle University. Melissa is also a certified Zumba teacher with a background in hip hop. Her Zumba classes are energetic, fun, and creative! Stop in and join one of Melissa's Zumba classes!!! Erin Cairns, Guest Faculty
Erin Cairns, a Pennsylvania native, is a graduate of Muhlenberg College and is currently pursuing her MFA in Dance at Temple University. Her choreography has been seen at various venues at Muhlenberg College and Temple University, and also for the past two years at the Philly Fringe Festival with her fabulous entourage, The Stray Cats. She will be showing her work this coming November at Dance Theater Workshop in NYC sponsored by Movement Theater Workshop. She has performed for Charles O. Anderson, Charlotte Boye-Christensen, Tiffany Mills, Lisa Kraus, and the Brooklyn based dance-theater company, Odonata Dance Project. In addition, she has attended the Tiffany Mills Company Workshop, Trisha Brown Company Workshop, and the American Dance Festival, on scholarship. She currently teaches modern dance at Temple University, and will be completing her Vinyasa Flow Yoga Certification in August 2009. Aside from being passionate about performing, Erin looks forward to teaching and educating young dancers interested in pursuing careers in the dance field.
Doreen Dulay, Guest Faculty
Doreen grew up in New Jersey and began her dance training in ballet and jazz at the age of 6 at Marilu's Dance Studio. Her early performances included annual dance recitals and community functions such as a televised solo for the American Cancer Society telethon and an appearance at the local Earth Day celebration. Over the years, Doreen continued to nurture her talent and passion for dance. In high school, Doreen danced under the instruction of Marilyn McElroy (ballet / jazz) and Gerry Hopkins (ballet / tap). Under scholarship, she became their assistant teacher and began teaching classes of her own. She also performed in annual school productions and school functions as a lead dancer and student-choreographer. In addition, Doreen participated in productions of The Nutcracker and was a finalist in the Governor's School of the Arts program for dance. Doreen graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry / Biochemistry concentration from Villanova University where she continued to dance as a member of the Villanova Dance Company under the direction of Jamie Lee Dain (McHenry Dance Centre). Doreen held office in this organization and competed nationally with her team at the Universal Dance Association competition held in Orlando, FL. As a dance company member, she performed for numerous school functions including St. Thomas of Villanova Day, Balloon Day, Random Acts of Kindness Day, Special Olympics, and men's and women's basketball games, among many others. In addition, Doreen was able to expand her creativity and share her passion for dance by choreographing for the dance company's semester shows. During the summers of her collegiate years, she trained at numerous studios (local as well as in New Jersey) and attended Universal Dance Association camps. Doreen graduated with her Masters in Biomedical Sciences degree and is currently a medical student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine pursuing a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. As Doreen continues on her professional career path, she is extremely excited and thankful for this opportunity to share her talent and love for dance with her students!
Sue Holt, ZumbaSue lives in Huntingdon Valley with her wonderful husband and three beautiful children Michael -5, Catie-3, and Connor-2. After she became a mom, she started to lose a little bit of herself including her body. Well, lets face it, after three kids in three years she started to lose her mind. And that's where Zumba helped helped her! She started taking classes for a little "me" time because it makes better moms (at least that's what all the mom's books say ) and she LOVED IT. Instead of going out for girls night and ingesting thousands of calories on wine and cheese fries, she was burning them. As a former dancer, Sue always had a passion for dance and working out. Zumba has both. It helps your body mind and spirit. Sue loves it!!! You don't need any dance background or experience, just be ready to have a good time. Join the Party and try a class! Katie Flack, Guest Faculty
Katie started her dance career at the age of 2 at Wendy's Dance Center in Fairless Hills, PA. During her 15 year attendance at WDC, Katie performed in over 50 regional and national dance competitions and performed twice in Disney World. Currently, Katie is a student at Drexel University where she is studying for a dual degree in Secondary Education in Biological, Physical, and Environmental Sciences. While studying in the city Katie has enjoyed being a guest performer for the ADD and Eclipse Dance Companies and a Drexel Dance Team member. Katie's teaching experiences started 5 years ago at Wendy's Dance Center, she then moved to Wayne Ballet and Center for Dance Arts in Wayne, PA. Katie's up-beat and energetic personality have made her very popular and a favorite amongst all students!
More faculty bios coming soon...~Lynn Connaghan, Zumba |