Director / Choreographer

Jennifer Kups:  Jennifer has been dancing since the age of four.  She has studied all types of dance with Rita Wilhelm, Cleveland Ballet, Cleveland State and then continued her dancing career at Kent State University where she received a degree in dance performance.  While at Kent State, Jennifer was a member of the performing company and choreographed for college level students.  She has  studied the Cecchetti Ballet method and is also a certified Cecchetti instructor.    Jennifer also continues to train with  the Broadway Dance Center in New York City.  In addition to dance,  she has also studied the Pilates method, and is a certified Pilates instructor.  Jennifer is the owner of Studio J Academy of Dance.

Marybeth Russo:  Marybeth began her dance studies at the    Rita  Wilhelm Academy of Dance at age three.  She has become an extremely confident teacher and continues to  study the  Cecchetti  method of Ballet.  She is a certified Cecchetti  instructor and brings Hip-Hop to the Academy. She also continues her  dance studies at the Broadway Dance Center in New York City.   Marybeth is a graduate from Ursuline College holding a B.A. in education and presently teaches kindergarten at Lander Elementary in the Mayfield City School District.

Lauren McAdams:  Lauren knew at a young age she wanted to spend her life dancing.  Many years of competing throughout the country and  performing at amateur and professional levels, has prepared her to be a dance teacher.  Lauren has been teaching for 6 years for studios across Greater Cleveland.  She has also choreographed Rocky River high school production of “footloose”, and other productions at St. Joseph Academy. 

Erin McAdams has joined Studio J Academy of Dance with a B.A in Dance from Mercyhurst College.  She has studied an eclectic array of dance techniques, such a jazz, tap, ballet, and modern.  Training in these multiple techniques has given her the opportunities to choreograph and be a guest teacher for neighborhood high schools and studios.  Erin also was accepted into the world renowned Broadway Dance Center’s Summer Intensive for three months, where she was able to enhance her technique from many master teachers.  Her philosophy on teaching is to giver her student’s personal guidance in a positive learning environment where they may acquire the love and appreciation of dance, grow as individuals and strive for personal excellence. 

Jennifer Nalette has earned her teaching degree from Ohio University with a bachelor’s degree in English Education and a minor in Dance. Jennifer has studied with Joanne Morscher, Troy McCarty, Dee Hillier, David Strobbe, Ana Lobe, Lynn Tabor, Mary Jo Rimke, Josh Widick, Kenya Woods, Sean Curran, Earl Mosley, Joanna de Souza, Zelma Badu-Younge, Paschal Yao-Younge, American Theater Dance Workshop in NYC, Habib Iddrisu, Assane Konte, the faculty at Ohio University Dance Department and many others. She has been trained in ballet, lyrical, jazz, modern, theater dance, Indian dance and African drumming and dance.  Jennifer has taught African dance master classes and workshops at Ohio University, Factory Street Dance Studio, Charlotte Braun Dance Studio and the Royal School of Ballet and Studio 82. Jennifer is a company member of the Azaguno African Dance Company and has traveled and performed with the company in Princeton, New Jersey, Athens, Ohio, New York, and South Korea. 

Sara Lawrence: Sara Lawrence began her dance training at age five in her hometown Columbus, Ohio.  She graduated with Honors from          Mercyhurst College (Erie, PA) with a degree in Dance Teaching and Choreography. She has   studied with noted teachers Madame Natalie      Krassovska, Laura Alonso, Cynthia Harvey, Vivi Flindt, Finis Jhung, Christopher Huggins, and Milton Myers. Her performance credits include roles in Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Coppélia , La Sylphide, Pas de Quatre, Paquita Variations, Bolero. She has performed with the Mercyhurst Dancers , The DanceCure, Columbus Dance Theatre , and Shen and Bones  Performance Group. Sara teaches dance and Pilates at a number of area studios and is a member of Dancing Wheels.