Elizabeth Tolis, Studio Director

Elizabeth began her dance training at age 5 and has not stopped since. Her training in jazz, tap, ballet, pointe, lyrical and modern quickly became intense. She has studied with The Pennsylvania Ballet, Princeton Ballet, and in New York City with various staff members of the Broadway Dance Center and Steps. Her teaching career began at age 14 when she was given her own classes, and it has continued for over 16 years. A mother of 3, Elizabeth provides a nurturing but structured environment at CSDA. Her choreography has been seen in Elementary through High School musical productions and has won various top awards on the competition circuit. Elizabeth is also a trained vocalist, actress and model , who’s face has been seen on the cover of Newsweek; she has been seen performing lead roles in many regional theater productions. Elizabeth’s dance performances include live industrial work for McNeil, Dance Captain for the Miss Pennsylvania Pageant, Basin Street Follies at the Showboat Casino & Hotel, and the world famous “Legends in Concert” to name a few. Elizabeth is proud to share her love of dance with the community of Hatboro and its surrounding areas.

Alicia Sehn

Alicia Sehn is a graduate of Muhlenberg College, where she attended on a dance scholarship, earning Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Dance and Psychology. During her years at Muhlenberg, Alicia had the opportunities to study with noted dancers and choreographers such as Charles Anderson (Dance Theatre X), Garth Fagan (Garth Fagan Dance, 'The Lion King') and Jacques d'Amboise (New York City Ballet). Her regional performance credits include productions of 'A Chorus Line', 'Miss Nelson is Missing' and 'Annie Get Your Gun'. She has performed with several Philadelphia based dance companies including Artists in Rhythm and Tara Madsen Dance. Alicia has also performed in the INFLUX Concert Series, the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, the Philly Collective at The Painted Bride, the Norristown Dance Festival, and the Etc. Performance Series to name a few. In 2007, she was the director of dance for the Arts After Hours program, a state-funded grant designed to bring theatre arts to underprivileged children and communities. Alicia is the choreographer for Central Bucks East High School where she has staged musicals such as '42nd Street', 'Footloose', 'High School Musical' and 'Sweet Charity' to name a few. She continues to further her dance education by attending the annual Dance Teacher Workshop Convention in NYC and through regular classes with Koresh Dance Company in Philadelphia. Alicia has been a part of Center Stage Dance Academy since 2006.

Justin Gabriel Ballasy

Justin Gabriel Ballasy is a professionally trained rhythm tap dancer, honing his skills since age 4 when he asked for his first pair of tap shoes. Today, he is a diligent dance student, studying with leading tap dancers and regularly attending classes in tap and hip-hop, as well as an emerging teacher and choreographer. Dedicated to routinely studying all aspects of tap and learning choreography, Justin taps 7 days a week and travels the east coast to receive instruction by world-renowned tap masters, including his mentors, distinguished tap dancers Omar Edwards and Karen Callaway Williams. As a young “hoofer,” Justin is known for his sensational improvisational skills and performing his own choreography. Justin is a 4-year member of the Tap City Youth Ensemble in New York City \ New Jersey Tap Ensemble, NJTAP2, a pre-professional performance group of young people ages 12 to 18 under the direction of Deborah Mitchell. He is an Apollo Theater 2008 Star of Tomorrow and winner of the title Philadelphia Tap Challenge Idol 2007, and has appeared on Nickelodeon ME-TV, MTV-MADE, and America’s Got Talent. He has danced at venues throughout New York City, New Jersey and Pennsylvania; including The Duke and Symphony Space in NYC, Skipper’s Jazz Club in Newark, NJ, as a featured performer, with Omar Edwards at the Cotton Club in Harlem, and as a member of Yvette Glover’s Tap Dance Sensations.

Legendary tappers recognized his skill early on: In 2006, Dr. “Sir” Jimmy Slyde dubbed him “a young man to watch” and in 2007 LaVaughn Robinson commended him for his style, remarking “Your feet tell the whole story.” Tap Master Harold “Stumpy” Cromer encouraged Justin in his studies when he first saw him dance at NYC’s Swing 46 in early 2005. Justin is honored to have been awarded The Gregory Hines Youth Scholarship by the American Tap Dance Foundation multiple times, and also the Tradition in Tap Scholarship in 2008, enabling him to continue his studies in NYC. He has had the pleasure of training with international tap artists such as: Jimmy Slyde, Harold Cromer, Savion Glover, Jason Samuels Smith, Dormeshia Sumbry -Edwards, Omar Edwards, Brenda Bufalino, Jason Janas, Chloe Arnold, Ayodele Cassel, Michelle Dorrance, Mike Minery, Jimmy Tate, Joe Webb, Derrick Grant, Bakaari Wilder, Dianne Walker, Deborah Mitchell, Maurice Chestnut, Karen Callaway Williams, Ofer Ben & Avi Miller, Nicole Hockenberry, Andrew Nemr, Barbara Duffy, Barbara Phillips, Kendrick Jones, Rocky Mendes, DeWitt Fleming, Ardie Bryant, Robert Reed, Bril Barrett, The Nicholas Sisters, Jaye Allison, Robert Burden, Marshall Davis, Joe Wiggins to name a few… and has developed a style that is all his own. Justin hopes to follow in the footsteps of these tap icons, and other inspiring tap dancers; Bill “Bo Jangles” Robinson, The Nicholas Brothers, Gregory Hines, Honi Coles, Steve Condos, Sammy Davis Jr., and Gene Kelly - and is dedicated to keeping authentic tap alive. Justin describes tap as instinctive; “It’s like breathing to me.”

Justin is also an accomplished percussionist, playing drums and piano, and enjoys hip-hop, singing, skim boarding, body surfing, and art; and is a 2-year member of the Broadway League’s Kids Advisory Panel in NYC. He credits Elizabeth Tolis, Center Stage Dance Academy Owner/Director, for recognizing his true potential, believing in him, and giving him the tap “alphabet” to make his dreams come true.

Susan Briggs

Susan Briggs began her dance career at the age of 8 and trained at CSDA since its opening in 2002. While at Center Stage she was a student teacher for 4 years, assisting and at the age of 17, she began teaching her own classes. Susan recently graduated from DeSales University with a BA in Dance and a minor in Psychology. While at DeSales, Susan performed in various student dance concerts and was cast in the re-staging of Bob Fosse's "Sing, Sing, Sing" and Alwin Nikolais' "Tensile Involvement." Along with performing, she was also the production manager for the Emerging Choreographer's Concert in 2009. She was also involved as a Peer Mentor and a Certified Peer Educator. She attended the American College Dance Festival and was an active member of the DeSales University Dance Team. Susan also performed for two Philadelphiabased modern companies; Vada Dance Collective and coEXISTdance. She was also a member of the original Philadelphia Fight Vixens Dance Team for their 2009 season. Upon graduating, Susan has been spending time working with the Pennsylvania Ballet in their internship program to discovering the inner working of how the ballet company is run. When Susan is not dancing she enjoys going to concerts, reading, and going to the movies, along with spending time with loved ones. Susan's other passion is working with animals and she is currently working at the Philadelphia SPCA.

Jeanie Chrome

Jeanie Chrome was born a dancer! Beginning her dance training at 6 years old, her passion for the sacred ritual of dance performance lead her to broaden her education. She received a B.F.A. in Dance from the rigorous training program at the University of the Arts in 2008, where she majored in Jazz Dance Performance. Jeanie has performed for some of the most respected choreographers in the tri state area including Roni Koresh, Scott Jonovich, Christine Cox, Wayne St. David, Donald Lunsford and Ginger Cox. She performed with several small companies and artists in the tri state area including RIP Dance Company, Fusion Dance Ensemble and MEGA Productions. Currently she dances as a soloist in Alchemy Dance Company a modern jazz dance company based out of Philadelphia. She continues to train and solidify her technique at Broadway Dance Center, STEPS on Broadway, Koresh Dance Studio and the Brandywine Ballet. Jeanie has been teaching all styles of dance and sharing her love of movement since 2001. A seasoned choreographer and instructor, "Miss Jeanie's" productions has won top prizes at both the regional and the national competition level. Director of the dance department at the Main Line Performing Arts Center in Ardmore Pa. A member of the Main Stage Theater Company in Blackwood NJ, where she was cast as "Dee Lee" and the dance captain in "Smokey Joe's Cafe." Dancer/actress and talent coordinator on WILCO Cable Company's "D Train Comedy and Variety Show". Her "Freedom Ascending Dance Project" in which the history of our nations revolution and the development of our democracy and liberties are presented through dance, debuts Fall 2010.

Darcy Lockman, Irish Dance Instructor

Darcy began dancing at a very young age and cannot actually recall a time in her life when dance and music did not play a major roll in her education. Her father is from a musical background having a degree in music and her mother is from Ireland so dance, particularly Irish Dance and music performance made perfect sense.

She began ballet at the age of 4, added some tap and jazz for a short time before becoming involved in Irish Step Dancing at the age of 6. She continued in both ballet and Irish Dance until she was 12 when she decided to focus solely on competitive Irish Dance. She began competition at the age of 9 and moved quickly through the levels arriving at the preliminary championship level in less than a year enabling her to compete at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships. She has been competing for 16 years now and continues to compete at the Open Championship level. She has placed as a top finalist in both the regional and national level many years in a row and has qualified and competed many times at both the All Ireland and World Championships, usually held overseas.

Darcy has also performed with her dance school in many well-known venues as well as performing and playing Irish Dance and Irish music with her family for many years. Darcy is a prolific pianist and a graduate of Temple University in Music Education and is currently in her third year as a middle school music teacher in the Methacton School District, Norristown, PA. There she teaches music theory, music technology and directs several choirs.

Janet DiCicco

Janet DiCicco is from Huntingdon Valley, Pa. She graduated with Honors from Long Island University Brooklyn Campus with a BFA in Dance and earned the "Excellence in Performance" award in her graduating class. Upon graduation, she danced for Von Ussar Danceworks NYC, Danse4nia Repetory Ensemble and Eng and Friends Dance Company. In 2002, she won the title of Miss Italia of Philadelphia. Currently, she teaches many styles of dance to all ages at Elite Dance Academy, Dance with Celeste and The George School.
 

Andrea Rogers, Zumba Instructor

coming soon

Kam To

Kam, also known as Popping Tito is currently a service member of the United States Navy. He is highly disciplined due to his military background which makes him one of the best teachers around. He has his BA in Liberal Arts from Excelsior College. He was trained by the world famous Electric Boogaloos. He is also a great friend and early inspiration to many famous dancers today such as “Jet Li” (Poreotics), Dumbo (Poreotics) and Mr. Fantastic (SYTYCD) to name a few. He began his dance training at age 19 and has not stopped since. His training in Hip-Hop geared towards the street style which includes Breaking, Locking and Popping. He was a former member of Culture Shock LA popping team. He has won several local competitions from CA to PA. He is certainly a competitive dancer in the underground scene.

Kris Tempestini

coming soon

Jamie Troiano

Jamie found her passion for dance when she was a young girl. She started taking dance classes at Center Stage Dance Academy when it opened in 2002.During high school, she participated on the cheerleading squad and attended competitions. She was a student teacher at Center Stage for two years, helping assist the hip hop classes. Hip hop is one of Jamie's favorite type of dance and enjoys teaching it at all age levels. Jamie was also a member of the Bucks County Community College dance team in 2006-07. She is currently going to school at Temple Ambler University, earning a degree in Education.

Additional Staff
George Tolis, Office Manager
Danielle Morocco
Lyndie Towle
Molly Woytowicz
Deanna Crawford
Dana Hackel
Elizabeth DeAmbrose

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