| Mary Ann DeCarlo |
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Mary Ann DeCarlo has over twenty years of training in various styles of dance. Starting dance class at age three she knew immediately she wanted to grow up to be just like her dance teacher. Mary Ann soon became captain of her dance troupe and competed in solo and group dances in tap, jazz and lyrical dance in regional and national competitions. She performed as a feature dancer throughout New Jersey, appeared on Channel 9 Children Programs and danced at PaperMill Playhouse with the New Jersey Ballet Company. After High School, she focused on ballroom and latin dance, learning lifts, styling and technique from world class champion trainers. She performed and competed throughout the U.S. with multiple entertainment companies for five years. Mary Ann successfully completed her teacher training through Dance Educators of America and has been teaching performing arts and ballroom dance ever since. She continues her training with the commitment to stay current with the newest dance moves and trends. Using her knowledge of the dance world and her eclectic background she founded Ambition Dance Academy in the summer of 2006. Mary Ann is extremely thankful to her family and friends for their love and constant support! |
| Jessica Jaquith |
| Jessica’s Mom used to say “She would dance before she could walk and sing before she could talk!” This pretty much sums it all up. Having trained privately with celebrity coaches Mark Baxter &Jeannie Deva, Jess has a diverse back round of varying genres and has also written and produced her own cd “Jessa’s Call” back in 1997. Jessica has performed in community theatres, show bands, wedding and rock bands, acoustic acts as well as original bands. A recent graduate from Bay State College in Boston, Jessica holds a degree in Entertainment Management and aspires to grow her own Indie label and to continue songwriting. Jess has recently relocated to New Jersey where she teaches voice, musical theatre performance, jazz and ballet. |
| Lily Muniz |
| Lily Muniz began her formal dance education when she was two years old. She graduated from Oneidas Dance Studio in Guttenberg New Jersey where she participated and completed the Dance Educators of America Medal Testing Program. She graduated with superior honors and received various achievement awards. Lily has not only received formal training in ballet but also in others forms of dance including salsa, hip hop, lyrical, tap, jazz, tango and many more. Throughout her years dancing she participated in local, regional, and national dance competitions placing in the top 5 and winning numerous gold and platinum awards. |
| Eve |
| Eve has been involved in some form of dance for over 25 years. At age 8, she began studying tap dancing and performed for over four years. She also studied ballet, modern and classical Indian dance and has been a performer of middle eastern dance for the last twelve years.
As Creative Director of Temple Goddess Energy Dance, Eve has
choreographed and created numerous dances for other dancers, as well as,
created dance routines for her students who have performed as a troupe
at various venues in New Jersey. One such venue is the annual Temple
Goddess performance which features a different goddess for each
occasion. Eve performs special interpretive dances, in a theater-like
setting, honoring the goddesses.
In 2003, she became a certified yoga instructor from the Chi Yoga
Institute in Arizona which combines a unique Vinyasa Hatha yoga and Chi
Kung sequence for energy purification, cultivation, and awareness.
By blending elements of Egyptian, Turkish Gypsy, Classical Indian,
Yoga, Eastern Spirituality, and Modern Dance, Eve has created a unique
personal style, as well as performed in numerous venues in the NY/NJ
area including: The Annual 9th Avenue Festival in Manhattan, the Rakassah
Festival in New Jersey, The Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan, The
Brooklyn Museum, Theatre East in Manhattan and many area restaurants such
as the Apollo Cafe in Hackensack, Lafayette Grill in Manhattan, and
Bombay Palace in Manhattan. |
| Samantha Wilson |
| Samantha is currently attending Montclair State University where she is
working towards her Bachelor’s degree in History with a Social
Studies
Teacher Certification. She has always had a passion for dance, as well
as
for cheerleading. Over the years she has studied many styles of dance
including ballet, lyrical, hip hop, and jazz. She is a member of the
dance
group Rhythm Nation at Montclair State. The group incorporates many
styles
of dance and performs at various activities, including their own
showcase.
It was dance that lead her to cheerleading years ago and she began her
cheer
career at age 8. Samantha cheered for 10 years right through high
school.
During those years she gained experience in cheering for a variety of
sports
as well as in competitions. In high school, her varsity squad brought
home
1st and 2nd place trophies at their Mountain Valley Conference
competitions.
She was named a captain her senior year and represented her high
school at
the annual Snapple Bowl, an all star game between Union and Middlesex
counties. Her passion for cheerleading continued and she earned a
coaching
certification through the Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y clinic. She currently is
a
volunteer coach at St. John the Apostle Elementary in Clark, NJ where
she
choreographs competition routines. She enjoys working with children
and
help to prepare them for the exciting, competitive world of
cheerleading. |
| Linnea Quintino |
| Linnea began her dance career at four years old. She received her formal dance training from local dance studios in New Jersey. Linnea has studied ballet, lyrical, jazz, tap, modern and musical theater. She attended Ramapo College of New Jersey, where she studied dance, education and business. She currently holds a NJ Teaching Certificate and has been teaching dance in NY/NJ for the past three years. She has also choreographed regional/high school musicals throughout NJ. She is very happy to be part of the staff at Ambition Dance Academy. |
| Meg Barden
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Meg Barden began dancing at the early age of four. She danced for various companies throughout Bergen County. During this time she won regional and national talent competition awards for solo and group performances in tap, jazz, lyrical, ballet and hip hop. Meg has studied under the area’s top teachers and has had the pleasure to work with renowned music video choreographers such as Dan Karaty and Keith Dioro. She attended James Madison University where she performed as well as choreographed for the dance team and the Contemporary Ensemble. During her time spent in the Contemporary Ensemble she had the great honor of dancing for the ACDFA (American College Dance Festival Association) in Washington DC. After graduating and receiving her minor in dance Meg has gone on to instruct dancers of all ages and levels. Miss Meg is very happy to join the faculty of Ambition Dance Academy!
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| Jennifer Healey
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Jenn is the first graduate of Ambition Dance Academy where she studied jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary and ballet. She became an assistant at ADA where she soon realized that teaching dance was a great passion of hers. Jenn started her formal dance training in ballet at the age of five. She has over ten years of experience in classical ballet and five years of dancing en pointé. During her ballet career she was awarded the lead role of “Clara” in the Nutcracker. She has danced for several years in local performances and has competed in numerous dance competitions winning gold, high gold and platinum awards for jazz and contemporary routines. This past year Jenn was also honored to receive two Judge’s Awards for “Joy of Dance” and “Performance Plus”. These awards sum up her love and complete dedication to dance. Jenn is currently majoring in Dance/Theatre Arts at Bergen Community College and is proud and very excited to be a part of the Ambition Dance Academy Teaching Staff!
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| Courtney Wright
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Courtney strapped on tap shoes at the young age of 3 and has never looked back. She danced for 15 years at the Sussex Dance Academy and High Pointe Dance Center in Sussex, NJ where she grew up. There she took classes in tap, jazz, ballet, and lyrical. During middle school, high school, and college Courtney took to the stage in many school performances singing, acting and of course dancing. She often assisted in choreographing dance numbers for these performances. She has obtained a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Elementary Education and has been teaching since 2002. Courtney is thrilled to be invited to join the Ambition Dance Academy family.
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| Rosalind Wirsing
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I was raised in a home filled with music and animals and my life has shaped itself around those two poles.
My instruction in ballet began at an early age and growing up in London allowed me to study with the finest teachers. As they had been members of Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, my teachers ensured that I received a traditional ballet training, which included learning national and character dancing, dance history and literature, drama and the piano.
I was a professional classical ballet dancer in Europe. After retiring from the stage I lived first in California and gradually moved eastwards. I now teach ballet and, over the years, I have taught professional dancers and coached aspiring professionals, been guest faculty internationally and staff ballet mistress domestically, and have taught in ballet schools, large competition oriented studios and small recreational ones.
Ballet, teaching ballet, animals and books are my loves and I willingly follow my personal formula Ballet + Books + Cats = a life rich in all that is best.
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