Faculty
The Academy has an exceptional faculty of highly qualified and experienced professionals who provide exposure to a wide range of techniques and teaching styles. To broaden the students’ experience, visiting choreographers and professional dancers from New York, Boston and Europe work with them on various dance forms.
Our Directors
Nicholas Mishoe (co-director, ballet) began his ballet training with Ella Hay in Huntington West Virginia, then completed his education at the North Carolina School of The Arts. He went on to dance with Boston Ballet and the Dutch National Ballet. For the past 5 years, while dancing with DNB, Mr. Mishoe has taught a wide range of students, from young dancers at the National Ballet Academy to pre-professionals, professionals and adults. His classes emphasize pure ballet technique, while incorporating unique musicality, quick footwork and freedom of movement.
Shayne Gottdenker Mishoe (co-director, ballet) is a proud alumni of The Academy of Dance Arts. She began her training with Jennifer Church and Charles Nicoll and danced with The Company of Dance Arts until she was 18. She then went on to train at Boston Ballet School, performing with The Boston Ballet and various contemporary choreographers, as well as receiving teachers certificates in Pilates & GYROTONIC ® Mrs. Mishoe moved to Amsterdam and was a founding member of “The Movement Network”, a contemporary ballet and modern dance company. An experienced teacher, she believes that with the combination of ballet, Pilates and GYROTONIC®, dancers can gain a much deeper understanding of their own bodies, overcome physical limitations and develop a technique based on muscular efficiency. She loves to teach and in particular to instill a love of the art of dance.
Our Founder and Artistic Advisor
Jennifer M. James Church RTRAD; AISTD,Adv., a registered teacher and member of the Royal Academy of Dance (R.A.D) and holder of the Advanced Teaching Certificate of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (I.S.T.D.) in Classical Ballet, National Dance, Modern and Jazz, also holding Associate Status in Greek Dance and Cecchetti Ballet. Ms. Church owned and directed The Academy of Dance Arts for 25 years. The quality of instruction has earned The Academy a reputation of being one of the premiere schools in New Jersey. In addition, she is the Founder and Artistic Director of The Company of Dance Arts. It is with great pride and joy that Ms. Church hands her life’s work over to the care of Shayne and Nick.
Our Staff
Leora Korb (Administrative Director)
Leora Korb joined the staff in 1991. She prides herself on having brought The Academy into “the computer age”. Responsible for the overall running of the business, she has seen the school grow tremendously. Being able to combine performing arts with a strong sense of what it takes to make that type of business successful is a challenging task, which requires a combination of production skills and public relations.
She came to The Academy from working in New York City with a background in Press Relations and an Associate degree in Communications. She has worked in both radio and television and utilizes all her skills in making The Academy of Dance Arts the success that it has become. Leora has lived all over the world and has always had a love of ballet and dance.
Lorna Burns has worked at The Academy for over 11 years and has been involved in dance all of her life. She is a certified Royal Academy of Dance teacher and trained in England with the British Ballet Organization. She also attained a teaching certificate with the International Dance Teachers Association before coming to the United States. She continues to incorporate her knowledge and love of dance, into the day-to-day operations of The Academy.Our Teachers
Charles Nicoll (ballet) was one of the founding teachers of the School of the Cleveland Ballet and served as Artistic Director from 1972 to 1977. He has taught many professional dancers. His strongest influences as a teacher have been Benjamin Harkavy, Edward Canton, and Robert Joffrey. His wide and varied background and his many years as a teacher enable him to train dancers completely from their first class through their performing years. His choreographic credits include Off-Broadway, Juilliard Dance Ensemble, musicals, and ballet. He has created many original works for the Company of Dance Arts, our resident dance company. Mr. Nicoll joined the staff in 1983.Julee Merrill (ballet & ballet workshops)
Julee Merrill (ballet & ballet workshops, Yoga) received her B.F.A. in Dance from Boston Conservatory and her M.A. in Dance Education from Columbia University. Her post-graduate studies were done at the Dance Notation Bureau and at the Laban Institute of Movement Studies. Teaching credits include Boston Conservatory, Garden State Ballet, and Montclair High School for the Performing Arts. Julee joined the staff in 1986.Sori Gottdenker, RTRAD (ballet & ballet workshops)
Sori Gottdenker, RTRAD (ballet & ballet workshops) developed our successful pre-pointe and stretch program. She is a registered teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance. She also acts as rehearsal assistant for the Company of Dance Arts. She creates choreography for children, and has designed many ballet costumes and sets for the stage. In addition, she is a registered nurse. Trained primarily at the Academy of Dance Arts under the direction of Jennifer M. Church and Charles Nicoll, she also studies at the Joffrey Ballet , and at the American Ballet Theatre. Sori has been on staff since 1990.
Lorie Quinn, RTRAD (ballet) is trained in both ballet and and modern dance. She is a registered teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance. She was a principal dancer with the Deakin Dance Ensemble, Plan “B” Modern Dance Company, and the New Jersey Chamber Singers and Dancers. She taught ballet at the Colorado Ballet and the Denver Dance Center in Colorado. She studied modern dance with Cleo Parker Robinson in Denver and at the University of Colorado. She trained here at the Academy as well as at the Joffrey Ballet . Lorie joined the Academy staff in 1994.Elaenee Frangos (hip hop, jazz and jazz workshop, Ballet, Tap)
Elaenee Frangos (hip hop and jazz and jazz workshop) began dance training at the age of 5. She has studied ballet, jazz, modern and tap. She has appeared in Frank Hatchetts Showcase and at Merv Griffins Resorts Casino. As a student of the Academy of Dance Arts, she was trained in the Royal Academy of Dance. Ms. Frangos continued her training, on scholarship, at the Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet. Performing credits include The Nutcracker, Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, and Peter Rabbit & Other Tails with the Company of Dance Arts, The Nutcracker, Petrouchka, and Romeo and Juliet with the Pennsylvania Ballet, and the Philadelphia Opera Companys Aida. Elaenee joined the staff in 1999.
Barbara Zablocky (ballet) began dance training at the age of six with Helena Baron (Vaganova method). Her professional career began at Walt Disney World in Florida as a dancer/singer in both the Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center. Her credits include print work, film, community theater and commercials. She was the rehearsal assistant for the Company of Dance Arts 2000, 2003 and 2007 productions of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, 2001 Snow White and 2004 and 2008 Sleeping Beauty. Barbara joined the Academy staff in 2001.Jolene Baldini (ballet, contemporary, modern and modern workshops)
Jolene Baldini (ballet, contemporary, modern and modern workshops) developed a passion for dance at an early age. She began training at The Academy of Dance Arts at age 4 through 18. In May 2003, Jolene graduated from The Julliard school with a BFA degree summa cum laude, where she performed works by Jose Limon, Lar Lubovitch, Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Donald Byrd and Ohad Naharin. She has choreographed original ballet and modern works which have been performed at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center. After graduation she joined Cedar Lake Ensemble in 2003 and was honored to be made a soloist. Jolene has been a guest teacher at The Academy since 2004 and joined the faculty in 2006.Bridget Trochiano (modern and modern workshop – 1992 – 1997, 2005)
Bridget Trochiano (modern and modern workshop) has been a featured performer and a member of The Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble and The Joyce Trisler Dance Company. She has performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Brooklyn Academy of Music and toured extensively worldwide. She has done various music videos and television specials with artists Roberta Flack, Liza Minnelli and Shirley McLaine. She has taught Modern and Jazz dance at Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. She rejoined the faculty at The Academy in 2005.
Linda Minnella (tap) received her B.A. from Montclair State University and Kean College. Her performing experience includes community summer theater, The Company of Dance Arts productions and American Repertory Ballet’s Romeo and Juliet. Linda joined the faculty in 1995.Kathryn Leibe (ballet and ballet workshop)
Kathryn Leibe (ballet) is a native of North Carolina where she received her BFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts – School of Dance. She has studied on scholarship with the Boston Ballet, The Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet School, Limón Institute and Merce Cunningham. Kathryn has performed with professional companies and trained dancers throughout North Carolina, New York City and New Jersey. She joined The Academy in 2009.
Kelly McHale (pilates) is a fully certified Pilates instructor who received teacher training in new york and Los Angeles and has taught Pilates and dance across the United States. Because of her strong background in dance training and a career as a professional dancer, her class focuses on proper body alignment to help prevent injuries, enhance dancer performance and longevity.
Mona Ryan (pilates) is the owner of the Center for Pilates at the Galleria in Red Bank. She began taking pilates as a companion to her classical ballet training and became a certified by Romana’s Pilates and The Pilates Studio in 2002. She trained under the tutelage of pilates grand-dame, Romana Kryzanowska, who worked closely with Joseph Pilates himself. Guest Teachers
Victoria Hall, a former soloist of the New York City Ballet. She has danced principal parts in Balanchines ballets,, as well as several solo parts in Balanchine, Martins, and Robbins ballets. Movie credits include The Addams Family and Addams Family Values. She has served as Ballet Mistress for The Company of Dance Arts and performed the lead role of Sugar Plum Fairy.
Glenn Allen Sims began his training here at The Academy of Dance Arts. He was a scholarship student at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and The Juilliard School. He joined Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1997 and has achieved solist status, travelling worldwide with the company.