Our 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. Students may also have the chance to work with visiting teachers, choreographers and professional dancers from around the world.
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. While dancing with DNB, Mr. Mishoe 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 & Pilates) 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. She worked in New York City in Press relations and has an Associate degree in Communications. She utilizes her skills in helping make 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 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, yoga and flamenco)
Julee Merrill 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 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.Elaenee Frangos (ballet, jazz and hip hop & jazz workshops)
Elaenee Frangos 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.Bridget Trochiano (modern & modern workshops)
Bridget Trochiano 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 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 & modern)
Kathryn Leibe 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.
Viorica Stampfel began training at the Institute of Choreographic Arts in Bucharest, Romania at the age of 9. She studied the Vaganova Ballet Technique, Modern & Character dance as well as Choreography and Piano. She apprenticed with the Romanian Opera Ballet Company for six years before joining their corps de ballet. After 1 year she was promoted to soloist and 3 years later to Prima Ballerina. She performed an extensive repertoire as Prima Ballerina including Kitri from Don Quixote, and Aurora from Sleeping Beauty. Viorica moved to the Red Bank area in 1984 and has been teaching ever since.Guest Teachers
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.