Our Faculty
Directors
Amy DeCesare
Amy is a graduate of the Professional Children's School in New York City. She has Royal Academy of Dance training through the advanced level. Coincidentally, Amy's first professional job was at the McCarter Theater located in Princeton. She toured throughout the US, Canada, Caribbean, Panama, and South America with the International Pavlova Celebration starring Alexander Godunov and Starr Danias. She then became a soloist with Ballet Hispanico of New York. Amy spent four years touring the US, Canada, Caribbean, Mexico, Belgium, Holland, Germany, and Italy as a principal dancer in American Ballet Comedy. This show became "Funny Feet," and Amy was one of the eight dancers to enjoy its Off-Broadway run in New York City. Other professional performances include: "7 Brides for 7 Brothers", "South Pacific"," Wizard of Oz", "Hello Dolly", "Music Man", "Guys & Dolls", "A Connecticut Yankee", "Peter Pan", and "Gypsy". She has been seen in soap operas, movies, videos (instructional and music), and national commercials playing principal roles. She is a member of Dance Masters of America and union affiliations include: American Federation of Television and Radio, Screen Actors Guild, and Actor's Equity Association.
Roni Wilityer
Roni studied ballet with renowned master teachers David Howard and Douglas Wassell in New York. She has been teaching dance for over 16 years and has choreographed numerous recitals. She attended David Howard's Teaching Seminar in New York. She has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, Light Opera Of Manhattan, New Jersey State Opera, Bel Canto Opera, Monmouth Civic Ballet Company and the Bejart Dance Company. She was a featured dancer on "The New Show" with Steve Martin, MTV videos, Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and danced in various theater productions (Brigadoon, Cabaret, Man Of La Mancha, Faust, Duchess of Malfi). She is a member of AFTRA. She designed the sets for The West Windsor Plainsboro Dance company's productions of "The New Age Nutcracker" and "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz", "The Tale of the Little Mermaid", and "The Lost Princess."
Instructors
Lisa Bottalico
Lisa toured throughout the USA as Artistic Director and Principal dancer of La Compania Folklorica Latina under the auspices of the National Theatre of the Performing Arts; performing in: Town Hall (NYC), Constitution Hall (DC), Society of the Four Arts (Palm Beach), Chicago Theatre, and the Masonic Temple (L.A.). She has shared the stage with many flamenco greats including Maria Alba, Jose Molina, Manolo Rivera, Orlando Romero, Victorio and Carmen Salao. Lisa studied with José Molina, Luis Montero, Manolo Rivera, Maria Alba, Victorio and in Spain with La Tati, Ciro, Carmela Greco, Paco Romero, Maria Magdalena and La Cintia. She performed at Symphony Space in A Tribute to the Great Antonio and with the Theatre Opera Music Institute at Cami Hall. She was principal dancer with Sol Y Sombra Spanish Dance Company, the Andrea del Conte Company and Ballet de Puerto Rico. Lisa performed at Gracie Mansion, at the Lincoln Center Craft Show, was guest artist with the Nassau Symphony in Long Island and in tablaos in NYC. Lisa debuted with Alborada in 2000 as a guest artist, joining the company as principal dancer in 2001 and then Associate Artistic Director. She has choreographed company dances including, Verdiales, Siguiryas and Al Ritmo de Las Piedras Lisa directed and conceived El Sueno, a Spanish Dance Family Event based on the story of the Nutcracker, which will be presented at the Kelsey Theatre on December 21,2010. Her critically acclaimed solo performances with the company include: George Street Playhouse, Crossroads Theatre, Union County Arts Center, Community Theatre of Morristown, Keane University, Passage Theatre, Ocean County Arts Center and many appearances on NJN’s Images/Imagines including the 2009 Emmy nominated documentary, The Spanish Guitar. Lisa dances regularly in the tablao at Spain Inn II in Clinton. She also teaches for the recreation departments at Rutgers and Princeton Universities. Lisa has presented workshops and residencies throughout New Jersey, including: Princeton Day School, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton Regional Schools and CityArts of Trenton. With Alborada, Lisa performs for Young Audiences of New Jersey and the Morris County Arts Commission.
“…dance of pride and defiance.” (NY Times)
“…a one woman fiesta.” (Star Ledger)
“…essence of fiery passion.” (Asbury Park Press)
“…made the stage tremble.” (Il Progresso)
Tammy Campbell
Tammy graduated with a BA in Performing Arts- Dance in 1999 from the Stockton College of New Jersey. She has been teaching with the Dance Corner since it opened in January 2001. Miss Tammy has taught many dance styles from Ballet to Tap to Hip Hop & Jazz. She enjoys sharing her love of dance with everyone, from the littlest Tiny Tot to adults. Tammy is most looking forward to watching her two daughters grow as dancers and young ladies at the Dance Corner.
Debbie DeVries Wince
Debbie DeVries Wince has over ten years of teaching experience and is a certified dance instructor in ballet, tap, jazz and acrobatics through the Southern Association of Dance Masters. She received her BFA in Dance from Arizona State University in 2009 focusing on modern, choreography and community work. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and with several awards for service to the school and her work with at-risk youth in the Phoenix area. Before attending college she took two years to dance professionally with Thodos Dance Chicago. She has also performed with Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, Conder Dance, Aaron McGloin Dance and Found Movement Group. She has taught all over the United States, Ecuador and Russia and is thrilled to join The Dance Corner team!
Christine Gawason
Christine started dancing at the age of three when her mother took her to her first dance class. Since then, dance has always been a part of her life. She attended the High School of Creative and Performing Arts in Philadelphia, PA. She received her BA in dance from DeSales University in PA and graduated from Hahnemann University with a Masters degree in Dance/Movement Therapy. Christine started teaching dance in high school and has taught at various dance studios in the tri-state area. This is her fourth year teaching at the Dance Corner. She occasionally performs or stage manages the concert series "I'll Have What She's Having" in Princeton. She believes that a child learning the art form of dance enhances physical, emotional and creative growth for each individual.
Shannon Panetta
Shannon Nagele (Panetta) received her dance training from The North Jersey School of Dance Arts where she studied rhythm, rockette, and broadway tap for 17 years. She has taught tap levels 1-5 and adult as well as our senior competition team. Shannon has choreographed for numerous dance studios and productions, her favorite shows being The Wizard of Oz, Footloose, and Cinderella.
She also founded and ran TCNJ Rhythm, The College of New Jersey's tap jam group from 2004-2007. She has attended TAPCITY, a tap festival in NYC, several times, often participating in masters classes and jams.
Shannon is excited to be returning to The Dance Corner this year to teach tap levels four and five.
Gabrielle Rosenblum
Gaby has been pointing her toes for twenty one years. Growing up with a mother with a dance background, it was hard not to start! Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, you name it, she's done it. Gaby had the time of her life, competing for almost ten years and placing in national dance competitions. She started teaching her sophmore year of college, while attending Mercer County Community College, majoring in Dance and Fine Arts. Teaching has been her passion since she was younger, and fulfilling it has made her who she is today. Her first year at The Dance Corner has so far been a success for all and nothing but fun for everyone. Gaby has been our "hostess with the mostest" for our dance birthday parties. From pinning the crown on the ballerina, to freeze dance, and so much more in between, watching the children smile and have a great time has made every birthday special! Her motto is "All the world's a stage where you never know who is watching."
Shannon Ross
Shannon Ross grew up in Oregon and has been dancing since the age of 5. She studied tap, jazz, and ballet as a child and was able to learn from some of the tap greats such as Sandman Simms and Brenda Buffalino through workshops. She continued her dance education college through the Jefferson School of the Arts College Extension. In addition, she was a member of the East Side Moving Company in Bellevue, WA where they performed orignal jazz and modern pieces. Shannon is also an elementary school educator with over 10 years of experience in both public and private settings. She very much has enjoyed the switch from teaching reading and math to teaching dance to all ages. This is her second year teaching for The Dance Corner.
Kristin Schreyer
Kristin is a graduate of Rutgers’ Mason Gross School of the Arts with a BFA in dance and Kean University with a MA in Early Childhood Education. She continues to use her background and knowledge of dance and children learning in her fifth grade classroom and in her dance classes. Kristin currently teaches the Elite Competition Team classes.
Robin Tricker
Robin is a graduate of the “High School of Performing Arts”. She studied dance locally and, after winning the “New York City Dance Alliance Scholarship Award”, she traveled to New York to study with the nation’s top teachers, and choreographers. Robin’s favorites included Phil Black, Mia Michaels, and Evie Lynn.
Robin began dancing professionally at age 18 after a successful first New York audition. She then worked continually as a dancer, singer, and featured dancer on numerous production shows throughout the USA, and internationally. Robin was the principal female lead singer, and dancer for the Atlantic City show “Chantilly Lace”, and was also in the long running hit, “Legends in Concert”.
In addition to shows Robin danced in an international Adidas TV commercial with tennis stars Anna Kournikova and Martina Hingis, as well as industrial shows for Toyota, and Reebok to name a few. A career highlight was her featured part in the weekly TV show “Club La Bomba” hosted by actress, and presenter Sofia Vergara.
Robin’s love of singing eventually led her to signing a recording contract with SayreCity Records, and singing with the popular New Jersey band “Stronger than Dirt.”
Although proud of her performing achievements she cites the birth of her two children Amelia and Jonathan, with her dancing husband John, as her proudest moments.
Robin is passionate about teaching, and is happy she can combine her love of children with her love of dance, and looks forward to seeing her students each week.
Rosie Karlin
Karin Poveromo