Curriculum Vitae
Education
2018-Present
Ed.D. Dance Education, Leadership and Policy Track
Department of Arts and Humanities, Teacher's College, Columbia University
Arnhold Fellowship Scholarship Recipient
New York, New York
2012
Ed.M. Dance Education with PK-12 Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing in Dance
Program in Dance Education, Graduate School of Education, Rutgers University
Dance Education Scholarship Recipient
New Brunswick, New Jersey
2011
B.F.A. Dance Performance
Dance Department, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University
New Brunswick, New Jersey
Certifications
2016
Functional Movement Systems (FMS), Certified in Levels 1 and 2
2015
American Ballet Theatre® National Training Curriculum, Certified in
Level 4 and Level 5
2014
American Ballet Theatre® National Training Curriculum, Certified in
Pre-Primary through Level 3
2012
Pk-12 Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing in Dance
PK-12 Experience
2012-Present
Tenured Dance Educator in the Fine and Performing Arts Academy at
Bayonne High School
Bayonne, NJ
Created the dance program at Bayonne High School; offering dance to over 100 students in an urban public school district in grades 9-12.
Developed a sequence of courses including Dance I, Dance II, and Dance III, and Dance IV that incorporates all facets of dance education including history, technique, performance, creating, and analysis/critique. All students enrolled in dance perform in an original cross-curricular evening length dance concert.
Created an after school dance company, Bayonne High School Dance Company, that gives students enrolled in 9th-12th grade in the Bayonne School District, the opportunity to rehearse and perform in an after school environment.
Created an after school dance company, Bayonne High School Apprentice Dance Company, that gives students enrolled in 6th-8th grade in the Bayonne School District an opportunity to dance and perform in the high school’s dance show.
Enable dance students enrolled in Dance III and IV to produce their own show consisting entirely of student choreographed work and are required to be involved in all aspects of the shows technical production.
Developed a Guest Artist Residency for NYC/NJ based choreographers to set work on BHS students, the dances created are performed at Bayonne High School and in off campus venues.
Chapter Sponsor of National Honors Society of Dance Arts- Bayonne High School Chapter
2013-Present
Dance Educator/Program Director, Bayonne High School Summer Dance
Intensive
Bayonne, NJ
Taught students in 6th-12th grade in the BHS Summer Dance Intensive
2014
Dance Educator, Middlesex County Vo-Tech Summer Intensive
Dunellen, NJ
Taught students in 9th-12th grade in the MCVTS Summer Dance Intensive
2012
Dance Educator, Artists Striving to End Poverty
New York City, New York
Created and taught a cross-curricular dance program for immigrant refugee students coming to America and entering the NYC Public School system from 27 different countries.
2012
Leave Replacement Teacher, Watchung Hills Regional High School
Watchung, NJ
Instructed grades 9-12 in Dance I, Dance II, Advanced Dance, and Creative Movement
Implemented units and lessons that aligned with the curriculum in place and the state standards of education.
Created rubrics for assessment.
Choreographed two pieces on students for their spring dance concert in and for a performance in coordination with Rutgers University.
Fulfilled responsibilities of a full time faculty member by attending faculty meetings, serve hallway duty, and attending PLC meetings.
Designed and instructed inclusive classrooms for children with learning disabilities.
Businesses Owned
2015-Present
Washington Rock Dance, LLC
Warren, NJ
washingtonrockdance.com
Owner of a private dance school with business partners Cleo Mack and Blair Ritchie.
Mission statement: At Washington Rock Dance we believe in acknowledging the sincere individuality residing in each and every student of dance. We foster the unique development of our students by providing an opportunity to be creative, understand the field of body mechanics, and discover their personal sense of artistry through the performance of high caliber works. Our developmentally focused training is dedicated to locating a student’s maximum potential while experiencing a smart, inspirational, and fun environment.
Created the curriculum of study for the training tracks offered to over 200 students including:
Begin- designed for students 1st grade and under utilizing creative movement and foundations of dance.
Move- created for students 2nd grade and up looking to dance in a recreational setting and develop an appreciation for dance as an art form.
Reach- developed for students 2nd grade and up wanting to study and train on a pre-professional level by participating in the Washington Rock Ballet/Modern Companies and/or Performance Ensemble.
Administrate the operation of the school including management of all business related tasks such as:
Finances, QuickBooks, teaching staff, and all school events/performances.
Artistic Direction:
Direct and choreograph a full length production of, The Nutcracker, incorporating our pre-professional ballet company students with professional dancers from companies such as American Ballet Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Trisha Brown Dance, and various other companies.
Choreograph for Washington Rock Dance Performance Ensembles, teach modern technique, ballet technique, and pointe courses that implement aspects of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.
A portion of the profits from Washington Rock Dance are used to fund professional dance company, Rock Dance Collective.
Chapter Sponsor of National Honors Society of Dance Arts- Washington Rock Dance Chapter
2015-Present
BHS Young Dancer Program, 501(c)(3)
Bayonne, NJ
Owner and program director.
Created a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to offer dance classes at Bayonne High School for the community of Bayonne, NJ.
The program currently has over 85 students enrolled and offers classes including Creative Movers, Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and Tap. Classes are offered at a subsidized rate for children ages 2-18. All profits from the program go directly into funding the Bayonne High School Dance program.
2016-Present
Rock Dance Collective, 501(c)(3)
Warren, NJ
rockdancecollective.com
Owner, Artistic Director, Professional Dancer
Created a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dance company along with business partners Cleo Mack and Blair Ritchie.
The company is committed to creating sensory experiences in both non-traditional and traditional spaces responding to societal and environmental stimuli.
Higher Education Experience
2018
Dance Educator, Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ
Guest lecturer for the Masters in Dance Education Graduate Students at Rutgers University
2018
Mentor, Rutgers University Graduate School of Education Cooperating Teacher
for Phase 2, Spring 2018
2016
Dance Educator, DeSales University
Center Valley, PA
Taught a Master Class to Dance Majors at DeSales University
2016
Dance Educator, Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA
Taught a Master Class to Dance Majors at Muhlenberg College
2016
Dance Educator, Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ
Taught choreography from Randy James’s Moonlight Sonata to Dance Majors at Rutgers University
2016
Mentor, Rutgers University Graduate School of Education Mentor for Full-Time
Student Teacher, Fall 2016
2016
Mentor, Rutgers University Graduate School of Education Mentor for Phase 2
Student Teacher, Spring 2016
2015
Mentor, Rutgers University Graduate School of Education Cooperating Teacher
for Phase 2, Fall 2015
2015
Mentor, Rutgers University Graduate School of Education Cooperating Teacher
for Phase 2, Spring 2015
2014
Mentor, Rutgers University Graduate School of Education Cooperating Teacher
for Phase 2, Spring 2014
Performance Experience
2016- Present
Rock Dance Collective
Artistic Director, alongside Cleo Mack and Blair Ritchie
Professional Dancer
Notable Performances/Residencies:
INVITED, an immersive evening length dance performance that took place at 100 Grand Street, NYC, premiered in 2018.
Late, part of the DanceNOW Festival at Joe’s Pub, premiered in 2017
A Watershed Moment, an immersive evening length dance performance taking place on the Raritan River in New Brunswick, NJ, premiered in 2016.
CoLab Arts Artist in Residence for the 2016 Gala Performance
Silo Guest Artist Residency at Kirkland Farms in 2017
Rutgers University Dance Appreciation Guest Artist in 2016, 2017, and 2018
2014-2016
Cleo Mack Dance Project
Professional Dancer
Notable Performances/Residencies:
This Is Where I Live, part of the DanceNOW Festival at Joe’s Pub and George Street Playhouse NJ Choreographers Showcase, premiered in 2016
Oligarchs, part of the Outlet Dance Project Festival at Grounds for Sculpture, premiered in 2015
We Have Been Obscured, part of the Outlet Dance Project Festival at Grounds for Sculpture, premiered in 2014
Rutgers University Dance Appreciation Guest Artist in 2014, 2015, and 2016
2012-2016
Freelance Dancer
Professional dancer throughout NYC, NJ, Boston, and Philadelphia
Kyle Marshall of Kyle Marshall Choreography
Robert Mark Burke of Robert Mark Dance
Lauren Connolly of Connolly & Co.
Kat Sauma of Assembled Hearts
Zakiya Atkinson of Zaman Dance Theater Collective
2007-2012
Undergraduate/Graduate Performances
Notable Performances:
Performer, DancePlus Spring, Randy James, The Day After Jesus Was Born, Victoria J. Mastrobuono Theater
Soloist, Romance and Dance, Randy James, Moonlight Sonata, Canal Studio Theater
Performer, Rutgers in New York, Merce Cunningham, Minevent, Joyce Theater
Performer, Dance Plus Fall, John Evans, Parts as Yet, Victoria J. Mastrobuono Theater
Performer, University Danceworks Tour, Benoit Swan Pouffer, For All of Us
Performer, DancePlus Spring, Jeff Friedman, Format I and V, Victoria J. Mastrobuono Theater
Choreography
2018
driP, Bayonne High School evening length dance concert about Jackson Pollock and abstract visual art.
2017
The Onion, piece created for Rutgers Summer Dance Conservatory students.
2017
First Day, piece created for Rutgers Summer Dance Conservatory students.
2017
Mooki, a piece choreographed for the advanced dancers at Bayonne High School for their performance in, Eleven.
2017
Berliner, Bayonne High School evening length dance concert about the Berlin
Wall.
2016
on the verge., a piece choreographed for the advanced dancers at Bayonne High
School for their performance, In Tandem.
2016
Mockingbird, Bayonne High School evening length dance concert about, To Kill A Mockingbird.
2016
Upper Limit Problem, a piece choreographed for the advanced dancers at Bayonne High School for their performance, Unfold, at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater in New York City.
2015
Internal Room, award winning trio choreographed on high school students for Hub City Sounds Dance Festival.
2015
Trouver la Vérité, Bayonne High School evening length dance concert about the
rise and fall of Marie Antoinette.
2014
Chapter 1: Blueprint, Bayonne High School end of year concert featuring 20
dances for students in 9th-12th grade.
2013
Creating the Prologue, Bayonne High School end of year concert featuring 16
dances for students in 9th-12th grade.
Notable Presentations
2017
“CTE Arts Cluster Workshop,” Presented workshop on arts assessments for learning to CTE Visual and Performing Arts teachers, Trenton, NJ
2016
“Individualizing Optimal Alignment for Longevity in Dance Training,” Presented at NDEO Conference, Washington, DC
2015
“Big Concepts through Big Art,” Presented at NDEO Conference, Phoenix, Arizona
2012
“Site-Specific Dance,” Presented at NJAHPERD Conference, Long Branch, NJ
2011
“Concert vs. Commercial Dance,” Presented to Rutgers students, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Honors and Awards
2018
Bayonne High School Dance Receives two Judges Awards at Hudson County Teen Arts.
2017
Bayonne High School Dance Receives a Judges Award at Hudson County Teen
Arts.
2016
Bayonne High School Dance Receives Top Honors at Hudson County Teen Arts
2015
Recipient of the IMTT Grant, $5,000 awarded to teachers for classroom items.
2015-2018
Recipient of the Bayonne Education Foundation Mini Grant, $500 awarded
to teachers in the Bayonne School District for classroom items.
2011
Recipient of a Dance Education Scholarship for Graduate Education, Rutgers University
Projects
2017
Committee Member, Planned and facilitated CTE Arts Assessments for teacher trainings, Trenton, NJ.
2014-2015
Committee Member, Designed the Performance Assessment Tasks for the NJ Model Curriculum lead by Dale Schmid, Trenton, NJ
2012
Panel Member, Rutgers University
Served on search panel for full time faculty member to work in the B.F.A./Ed.M. program at Rutgers University.
2012
Blind Reviewer, Model Curriculum Project, New Jersey Department of Education, Trenton, NJ
2011-Present
Researcher, Concert Dance vs. Commercial Dance, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
2010
Intern, New Jersey Department of Education, Trenton, NJ
Department of Visual and Performing Arts
Helped research, collect and analyze data for the standardized test given to New Jersey Career and Technical High Schools.
2009
Panel Member, Rutgers University
Served on search panel for full time faculty member to head the Ed.M. program at Rutgers University.
Affiliations/Memberships
2016-Present
National Honor Society for Dance Arts Bayonne High School Chapter Sponsor
2016-Present
National Honor Society for Dance Arts Washington Rock Dance Sponsor
2009- Present
Member, National Dance Education Organization
2009- Present
Member, Dance New Jersey
Professional Development
2018
Arts Ed Now- Arts Advocacy Presentation, Ocean County, NJ
2018
Blair Ritchie and Cleo Mack, Creating a Mindful Classroom Workshop
2017
Hollie Palmisano, ATC, LAT, Rutgers University, Creative Ideas to Incorporate
Therabands in the Classroom Workshop
2016
Hollie Palmisano, ATC, LAT, Rutgers University, What’s up with Warm Ups: Critical Components Workshop
2015
Bayonne Board of Education, Training Workshop on Reporting Procedures, Affirmative Action, and Child Abuse & Neglect
2014
Hollie Palmisano, ATC, LAT, Rutgers University, Maximizing Dance Performance: Implementing Injury Prevention into Dance Education Workshop
2012
Richard Toda, American Ballet Theater Workshop “What is a Teaching Artist,” New York City, NY
2012
Richard Toda, American Ballet Theater Workshop “National Training Curriculum,”
New Brunswick, NJ
2012
Bartenieff Fundamentals Workshop, “Teaching Dance Skills Through Body Connectivity: What Colleges Really Want Dancers To Know and Do,” New Brunswick, NJ
2012
Graduate School of Education “Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Prevention,” New Brunswick, NJ
2011
American College Dance Festival, Elon, NC
2011
Jacqueline Smith Autard, “Technology in Dance,” New Brunswick, NJ
2011
Teresa Purcell Cone, “Special Populations in Dance,” New Brunswick, NJ
2011
Barbara Angeline, “Critical Thinking in Dance,” New Brunswick, NJ
2011
Faculty/students from National Taipai University, “Indigenous Dance,” New Brunswick, NJ
2011
Circa, “Safe Gymnastic Tools for Students” New Brunswick, NJ
2010
Jacqueline Smith Autard, “Technology in Dance,” New Brunswick, NJ
2010
Dale Schmid, “Department of Education Data Analysis,” Trenton, NJ
2010
American College Dance Festival, Erie, PA
2010
Nikolais/Murray Dance Intensive, New York City, NY
2009
Howard Gardner “Teaching the Creative Mind,” Union Township, NJ
2009
Dale Schmid, “Department of Education Data Analysis,” Trenton, NJ
2009
American College Dance Festival, Abington, PA