KAD Staff

Kathleen Cirioli has been the director of the Kathleen Academy of Dance, a central NJ dance studio since 1971. She received her formal training at the Boston Conservatory of Music, and continues to study with Master Teachers throughout the US. She is the founder, artistic director, and choreographer of the Youth Tap Company, "Kids On Tap", who have performed in many venues, in the NY/NJ area, including Swing ’46, the Joyce Theatre, and the Duke Theatre in Tap City 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. They have appeared at the Brook Arts Center Show, “Mirror of the Masters I and II”, for National Tap Dance Day, with T.A.P., in PA, and at the Chicago Human Rhythm Project in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005, “A Tribute to Gregory Hines” in Washington DC, and most recently, “Memories”, a Tribute to Pascalle Stahel, in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Other performances have been at the takoma Theatre in Washington DC, the Brook Arts Center “Gala”, ‘Dance for the Brook”, Open Mic Night as guests of “Tappers With Attitude” in Washington, DC, Symphony Space, NY, with Traditions in Tap Dancer’s Showcase.

Ms. Cirioli was also the recipient of the Outstanding Tap Teacher Award presented by the NY Tap Festival in 2004.

As a choreographer and teacher, Ms. Cirioli's mission is to promote and preserve the art of tap dancing by training the young dancers in both the current and historical styles of rhythm tap. She is a guest teacher for many studios and organizations, and on the teaching faculty of NADAA. She has been on the dance faculty of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pa.. She is a guest teacher for various Workshops and Dance Organizations, and an adjudicator for many National Competitions. Ms. Cirioli is a former member of the Tap Company, T.A.P. Company, and is the founder and director of the performance troupes “Show Biz Kids” and “Kids On Tap”. She is currently a member of the Tap Company “Tap Ties”. Ms. Cirioli is the New Jersey Representative for the International Tap Association , a past Member of The New York Committee to Celebrate National Tap Dance Day , Advisory Board Member of the Jazz Tap Center’s Traditions in Tap , and owner of Just TAP! , a web-based business serving the international tap community. As an advocate for breast cancer awareness, she has appeared on The Rosie O’Donnell Show performing an original tap routine in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She is the founder of Dance For The Cure, a non profit organization dedicated to the prevention and cure of breast cancer through the celebration of dance.

Former students have appeared on Broadway, television, regional theatres, Garden State Arts Center, professional dance companies, cruise ships, cabarets, and international showcases around the world. Many of her students have pursued performing careers appearing in Broadway and National Tours including Footloose, A Chorus Line, Cats, Contact, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Beauty and The Beast, David Copperfield World Tour, 42nd Street, Contact, Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, and Saturday Night Fever.

Among other distinctions, Ms. Cirioli was the charter chairperson for the American Heart Association "Dance For Heart," and was a Dance Captain for the International Macy’s Tap Event since it began in the 1970's.

Instructors

Linda Bozzo: "Miss Linda" has been dancing since the age of three. She is a former student of Miss Kathleen's where she studied and competed in tap, jazz, and ballet. She is beginning her 20th season teaching at KAD. Miss Linda enjoys community theatre where she has performed in various musicals including Damn Yankees, Sweet Charity and Kiss Me Kate. She has also performed Off-Broadway in the original musical, It Had To Be You. Miss Linda has choreographed such favorites as Guys and Dolls, Annie and Bye, Bye Birdie. Miss Linda currently teaches tap, jazz and musical theatre at the studio.

	Nilza Tyson: "Miss Nilza" has been with the studio for 22 years since she started dancing in 1984. She trained in all forms of dance and assisted with the younger classes for many years. She attended Somerest Vocational Arts School for Dance and continued studying, choregraphing and performing while in college. Nilza completed all of the syllabus levels at the studio and currently prepares students in jazz. She was also a dance captain for Macy's Tap o Mania. Nilza is a participant of Dance for the Cure and performed on the Rosie O'Donnell Show. She is now in her ninth year teaching at the studio. Nilza has always felt that the Kathleen Academy has been her home!

	Joanne Liscovitz: "Miss Joanne" has been teaching at the Kathleen Academy of Dance since 1981, and dancing forever! Her passion for dancing and teaching inspired her to earn a BA in English Education and Theatre from Kings College. She lives in Hillsborough with her husband Michael and her two children, Meredith a recent graduate of Penn State University, and Brian, a gymnast at University of Illinois (both former KAD dancers). When Joanne is not dancing or spending time with family, Joanne is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker in Hillsborough. She has been successfully helping people buy and sell homes in our area since 1984. Joanne (along with Miss Kathleen) co-founded Dance for the Cure, an organization committed to the prevention and cure of breast cancer through dance.

Robyn Noble: "Miss Robyn" was one of the first students at the Kathleen Academy of Dance when it opened in 1971, having already been dancing from age 3. Robyn danced and participated in many competitions, talent shows, pageants and Teen Arts Festivals. She was a member of Dance Educators of America, and has attended seminars, workshops and classes in New York City. It is because of Robyn's passion for dance, combined with her love for children, that she chose to pursue a career as a dance instructor. She has taught at the KAD for 29 years.

	Sheila Mills: "Miss Sheila" has been teaching in the New Jersey area for over 23 years. She brings with her expertise in the disciplines of ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, creative movement, improvisation and choreography. Sheila's professional credits include performing in the stage production of "Music America" at Great Adventure/Six Flags as a singer and dancer. Sheila also danced in "The Odyssey" in NYC. In addition to her training at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Sheila holds a BS degree from Houghton College, and a Master's Degree in Dance Education from New York University.

Dana Shenloogian began her dance career at the age of 4 at the Denise Daniele Dance Studios in Brick, New Jersey. There she studied and competed in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop and lyric. She continued to further her dance training when she went to college at Point Park University in Pittsburgh and majored in dance. She was very successful while at school, performing and choreographing for all of their dance performances. After receiving her BA of Fine Arts she moved back to New Jersey where she has been choreographing and teaching for various studios. She is thrilled and looking forward to joining the faculty at the Kathleen Academy of Dance.

	Krystal Mathewson has been dancing since the age of 4, studying most of her childhood years at Bounds Dance Studio in Chapel Hill, NC. She has been teaching and choreographing for the past 10 years. While at Bounds she was a member of the Triangle Youth Ballet Company, where she danced the roles of Mouse King, Spanish and Waltz of the Flowers in the Annual Nutcracker. She was also a member of Dancemakers, a performance and competition group. During her senior year in High School, she was named director of this company. Krystal recently graduated from Rutgers University with a BA in both Mathematics and Dance. While attending school at RU she was a part of the Rutgers Performing Dance Company and was the Head Choreographer for 3 years. Krystal is now working as an actuary in NYC.

Janine Weekley has been dancing at the Kathleen Academy since the age of 8. She has studied many forms of dance including Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip-Hop, and Lyrical. She was an original member of *Kids on Tap* and has performed in numerous venues in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Switzerland. She helped initiate *Club Hip-Hop* at the KAD and also taught various summer workshops. She is currently working at Medicor Cardiology in Hillsborough. She is looking forward to her fourth year teaching at the studio

	Jennifer Freier has been dancing since the age of 3. She studied Tap, Jazz, & Kickline and was a teacher’s assistant at Kathleen Academy of Dance. In 2001 she co-founded the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Dance Team. At the University of Delaware, she was President and Choreographer for the Delaware Repertory Dance Company. The company performed at numerous charity events, the annual spring showcase, and publicity events for perspective students. Jen was nominated as an outstanding female leader and received a leadership award for teaching dance classes on campus. After receiving her BS in Leadership & Consumer Economics and Psychology, Jen has a career in Human Resources in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Recently, she was a semi-finalist for the Philadelphia Soulmates Dance Team. Jen is thrilled to be teaching at Kathleen Academy of Dance.




	Glorianne White

Andrea Bottoni has a BA in dance from Franklin and Marshall College. She has studied all forms of dance at the Broadway Dance Center, Dance Space, Koresh Dance Company and the Princeton Ballet. She has won numerous performance and choreography awards at nationally renowned dance competitions such as Starpower, Showstoppers and others. Miss Andrea has performed as a company member with Franklin & Marshall Dance Company and the Mercer Dance Ensemble . She co-founded the modern dance company “Zobo Dance Innovators”. She also co-founded Dance It! , a program designed to encourage dance awareness in the Lancaster Community. Miss Andrea teaches varying levels of Jazz, Jazz Funk, Hip-Hop, Tap and Ballet at several studios throughout the tri-state area.