Faculty
Tap & WDC Choreographer
Miss Sarah
Sarah is an actress, dancer, singer & award-winning choreographer. She is a graduate of AMDA in NY with a degree in Dance Theater. In addition to teaching/training dancers & choreographing for recreational & nationally competitive pieces at Waves, Sarah teaches Tap, Musical Theater & Contemporary at other studios, is a certified Pure Barre instructor, and is a Physical Education and Health teacher in Middlesex County.
WDC Choreographer
Miss Julianna
Julianna is an award-winning choreographer of recreational & competitive jazz, lyrical & musical theater. In addition to being at Waves, she choreographs for additional studios in NJ, performs with the MOVE Dance & Fitness Company, is an Asst. Coach for the Nationally ranked TCNJ Dance Team, and is an Associate Brand Manager of New Product Development at Church & Dwight.
Hip-Hop & WDC Choreographer
Miss Danielle
Danielle has been dancing for almost 25 years. She danced at the club level at The University of Delaware, where she helped plan and host the Evolve Intercollegiate Dance Competition and Convention. Danielle is a full-time school psychologist at a high school, where she is also the assistant dance team coach.
Combo Program, Acro, Musical Theatre,& WDC Choreographer​
Miss Deanna
Deanna has been dancing since age 4, trained at Broadway Dance Center in NYC and Princeton Ballet, has choreographed several musicals, & has been featured in a variety of film projects as a dancer and an actor. She specializes in Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, Acro & Modern and teaches students ranging from 2 1/2 years old to adult. Deanna is also a preschool teacher, a trained vocalist & talented pianist.
Ballet, Lyrical, Jazz, & Musical Theatre
Miss Marissa
Marissa holds both an MFA and BFA in Dance from The College at Brockport and Montclair State University, respectively. In addition to Waves, she teaches at Raritan Valley Community College, Yvonne’s School of Dance & for several non-profit arts organizations across NJ. Marissa continues to choreograph, produce and perform professionally, and is also the founder and artistic director of Format Dance.
Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Leaps/Jumps/Turns, & WDC Choreographer
Miss Sara
Sara is a freelance performer, choreographer. and a full-time dance educator for Florence Twp. She received her master's degree and BFA in Dance from Rutgers University. She is an award-winning dancer & choreographer, who currently works with various NJ studios teaching recreational and competitive dance, focusing on styles like Jazz & Contemporary Ballet.
Ballet, Acro, & Leaps/Jumps/Turns
Mr. AJ
AJ is widely known for his compassionate and energetic teaching style, visually stimulating choreography, and anatomically precise technique. He received his BFA in Dance from Montclair State University, is certified in Acrobatic Arts and has additional experience in yoga and contortion. He has taught classes, judged competitions and led workshops for dancers and teachers alike all around the country. He takes his deep knowledge in the healing arts and integrates it into dance. AJ's experience as a healer includes being a NJ-Licensed Acupuncturist, presently being enrolled in an accredited two-year Chinese Medical Herbalism program, and currently working as a certified Reiki Master.
Ballet, Lyrical, Jazz, & Musical Theatre
Miss Jessie
Jessie graduated magna cum laude from Montclair State University's Department of Theater and Dance with a B.F.A. in dance in 2012, and again in 2016 with a degree in Nutrition: Dietetics. She is a certified personal trainer and nutritionist with her own personal brand (Strong Roots Performance) through which she helps educate people towards leading healthy and sustainable lifestyles via fitness and nutrition, all working full time as a dance educator. She is also certified through Acrobatic Arts: The Professional Curriculum for Acrobatic Dance, Balanced Body: Reformer 1, and is currently a Master of Nutrition/Registered Dietitian candidate for Spring 2024.
Ballet, Jazz, & Lyrical
Miss Alyssa
Miss Alyssa is a graduate from Georgian Court University with A BA in Dance & has extensive training in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, hip hop, and contemporary. She was a member of the rowan university dance team and danced on The Diamonds for the Atlantic City Black Jacks AFL football team. Most recently, she has been traveling with Groove dance competition as their awards coordinator. Alyssa was recently certified in progressive Ballet technique and is working towards her yoga teacher certification.
WDC Choreographer
Miss Katherine
Katherine has been dancing since she was 3 and is a proud award-winning alumnus of Waves (2016-2023). She is trained in multiple styles of dance, including tap, jazz, ballet, modern, lyrical, musical theater and pointe. She is a graduate of Monroe Twp. High School, where she was a 4-year member of their Varsity Dance Team. Currently she is a student at TCNJ, where she is a member of their nationally ranked dance team. Katherine hopes to one day become a kindergarten teacher while also continuing to teach dance, choreograph, and share her passion for dance with her students.