Adrienne Armstrong
Modern, Horton Technique

Adrienne is a native of Newark, New Jersey, has attained a Bachelor of Science in Management from Rutgers University. She began her illustrious dance career at Garden State Ballet. She continued her professional training through scholarship programs at Dance Theatre of Harlem, Garden State Ballet, Joffrey Ballet School and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Ms. Armstrong has performed with several professional dance companies including Ailey II and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (under the tutelage of Alvin Ailey), Garden State Ballet, Louis Johnson Dance Theater, Forces of Nature, the Seventh Principal, Nommo Dance Company, Captial Ballet, Alfred Gallman's Newark Dance Theater, a Production of the Chocolate Nutcracker (Soloist) and Joan Peters Dance Company. Ms. Armstrong has been employed by AileyCamp, Henry Street Settlement Abrons Arts Center, Creative Expressions, Newark School of the Arts, Sharron Miller's Academy for the Performing Arts, Arts Conservatory, Phoenix Academy and Gallman's Newark Dance Theater.

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Teressa (Tess) Kallay
Creative Movement, Pre-Dance, Pre-Ballet

Tess is a former Radio City Rockette and a musical theater veteran. She has done numerous regional theater productions, cruise ships and well as the My Fair Lady National Tour. She is a choreographer, instructor, and Executive Board member for Gas Lamp Players. The creator of Kid's Corner Dance Program, Teressa also teaches creative movement at St. James Pre-school and MMO. Teressa started teaching musical theater dance classes in high school and continued her studies with a degree in musical theater and with many great instructors in New York. She has choreographed for the Melochords, The Theater League of Clifton, as well as for Orchesis Dance Company.

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Leah Katz
Iyengar Yoga

In 2009, Leah became a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher and in 2017 received her Intermediate Junior I certification.  Leah is also a certified Yoga Therapist through the International Association of Yoga Therapists. Leah's background in movement was originally in Pilates, which she embraced in 1987. A certified Pilates Instructor and teacher trainer, Leah has helped train many Pilates teachers, both in New York City and the Hudson Valley and she has worked with professional dancers including members of New York City Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and Dance Theatre of Harlem. Leah has shared her love of movement and bodywork with hundreds of students over the years. Her knowledge of anatomy and the human body make her a trusted and gifted teacher who creates an environment that promotes and enhances health and healing.

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Laura Marchese
 Modern

Laura is a dancer and Teaching Artist with arts organizations and schools throughout New Jersey, conducting residencies and workshops for students, arts educators, and classroom teachers. As a co-author of Dance to Learn, Laura serves as a mentor and educational consultant to dance companies in the implementation of this 4-year developmental dance curriculum. She received a Young Audiences NJ/EPA Artist of the Year Award in June 2015 for her work with students in Newark, NJ. Laura is also founder of the Montclair Community Pre-K Garden Project, a hands on environmental science program that continues to engage hundreds of students, families and teachers annually. Laura is committed to the ongoing development of a thinking mind in a moving body. She believes that all students, whatever their challenges and strengths, can achieve, excel, and benefit from seeing and experiencing the world through the process of creating art.

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Joseph Van Loon
Tap

Joe is an Essex County native. He has been tap dancing since the age of 6, and has studied under the training of Karen Calloway-Williams since the age of 8. He joined the New Jersey Tap Ensemble in 2004, and is still an active member of their first company. In addition to his tap dancing credits, Joseph is also a classically trained tenor, studying at Lincoln Center.

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Melissa Kersting-Villacres
Ballet

Melissa was born and raised in Newark, NJ. She received her early dance training at The School of the Garden State Ballet. She performed in Garden State Ballet’s productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Nutcracker. She attended NYU’s Tisch School of The Arts and received her B.A. from Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of The Arts. Melissa attended various summer programs studying with David Howard, The Joffrey Ballet, Hartford Ballet and San Diego Ballet. She also received training at STEPS, Broadway Dance Center, New Jersey Ballet and Theatre Arts Dance America (TADA). At TADA, she studied with Caroline Brown, Buddy Balou and Elaine Kudo (all American Ballet Theatre soloists), Lynne Grossman (Austin Ballet Theater) and Diane Orio-Gerberg (Joffrey Ballet).

Melissa performed soloist roles in The Nutcracker with both Empire State Ballet and New Jersey Ballet. At Theatre Arts, she performed in original works by Elaine Kudo, such as The Web and Entrada, Buddy Balou’s United Reverence, as well as productions of Les Sylphides and The Nutcracker. Melissa has enjoyed teaching ballet for over a decade. She has taught at Montclair State University, Theatre Arts Dance America and at SMAPA. She has been with SMAPA for several years and looks forward to continuing here!

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Kristen Weaver
Creative Movement, Pre-Dance, Modern, Chair of Preschool Division

Kristen studied ballet first at Joffrey and then at the School of American Ballet. She performed in many ballets with the New York City Ballet, as a child. She went on the study at the New York School of Ballet with Barbara Fallis and Richard Thomas and was invited to join their company at age 15. After performing with the New York School of Ballet for 3 years, Kristen chose to go to college instead of touring with the ballet company. After graduating college she studied acting at the Herbert Berghoff Studio, specializing in Shakespeare. She performed in several off-Broadway productions and did many voice-overs and commercials in NYC. Kristen began teaching and joined the SMAPA family in 1995. She has taught a variety of classes over the years including Dance with Me, Creative Movement, Pre-Dance, Pre-Modern, Beginner Modern and Modern L-1 and L-2. She created the summer camp program for 3-5 year olds and ran it for many years. Kristen is currently the head of the Preschool and Junior divisions in modern dance and a founding member of SMAPAPO (SMAPA's Parent Organization). Kristen also studied at the Dance Education Laboratory and is currently taking classes through National Dance Education Organization. Kristen also has been teaching dance at Montclair Kimberley Academy's primary school since 1997. 
 

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