Staff
KATHY COSTA MCKEOWN, artistic director, teacher, choreographer and performer, holds a BFA in Dance from Montclair State University. Ms. Costa has been teaching and choreographing for 25 years. Kathy's most recent accomplishments and certifications include the following, author, "How to Heal a Cracked Heal; Let's Google It," Pilates mat certification, and The Ellové Technique Certification. She is also an early childhood specialist, which has given her the opportunity to work successfully with the very young. Kathy continues her dance studies in New York City to continually provide her students with top quality, cutting-edge material. Her eclectic background includes serious dance training in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap and Choreography which provides her students the opportunity to be versatile dancers. Kathy was the director of the Dance Program at the Montclair Cooperative School for 6 years where she taught preK-6th grade and choreographed for school productions.
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Ms. Costa then went on to join the faculty of Montclair Kimberley Academy Upper School for 3 years where she taught dance and choreographed for school dance concerts. Her performing experience includes, The Other Dance Company, DownTown Dance Co., PM Dance & Video Works, Montclair State University Dance Co., and performances at Colorado College under the direction of Bill Evans & Co. Kathy has also performed independently in various New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey choreographer’s showcases. Kathy's training, energy, knowledge, enthusiasm, passion and love of teaching is evident in each and every student she comes into contact with. Kathy has been Artistic Director of DanceWorks & Company, a teen touring company for 24 years. Under her artistic direction, the company has performed throughout the world, from New York City to London, Barcelona, Spain, Milan, Verona, Italy, Athens, Greece (2022) and has been recognized as an outstanding dance company. Kathy was thrilled to share her teaching expertise with 2 dance studios in Cape Town, South Africa in the Summer of 2014. Kathy continues to teach globally, during the Summer of 2015 Ms. Costa traveled to Beirut, Lebanon where she shared the love of dance education and expertise with the children at the Syrian Refugee Camps. She continues to explore the many possibilities of sharing Dance with all. Kathy also has 5 years of study in Anusara Yoga (providing an additional approach to body awareness and alignment, is certified in Life Coaching from The Life Coach Institute of Orange County with an area of expertise in working with adolescents thru young adults, serves on the Executive Board Member for Dance New Jersey, is on the Advisory Council for Dance at NJPAC- New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ and Appointed Ambassador for B.I.G. (Believe. Inspire. Grow), a women’s organization that provides professional training, inspirational speakers and an opportunity for women to excel in all areas of growth and development professionally and personally and a recent recipient of Del Keiffner Award 2016 presented by Performing Arts Educators. Kathy is also the co-founder of Soul Serenity.
TAYLOR CAREY is a full time dance educator, choreographer, 200 hour certified yoga and Ellové instructor and holds a Bachelor of the Arts in Dance Education and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance, from Montclair State University. She is currently in her 7th year as a high school dance educator. Taylor is also co-founder of Soul Serenity.
Taylor was hired to create and develop the dance program at Marion P. Thomas Charter High School in 2015 in Newark NJ. In 2016, Taylor created and directed the dance program for four years at Timber Creek High School in Sicklerville NJ. In 2021, Taylor became the full time Dance teacher at Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, NJ. This past march Taylor began teaching at Rosa Parks High School of Fine and Performing arts in Paterson, NJ. While at Montclair State University Taylor performed works by artists including Doug Varone, Chase Brock, Carolyn Dorfman, Karen Gayle, May O'Donnell, Jessica DiMauro, Joao Carvalho, Lynne Grossman, Francesca Harper, and Nicole Smith. Taylor has also performed at the American College Dance Festival. After graduating from Montclair State, Taylor performed with Free Space Dance Company, and Erin Pride Dance Project. Taylor also had the opportunity to perform as a main dancer with Cooper River Ballet, and Ritz Theatre Company, in Scrooge the Musical. Most recently Taylor performed in Philadelphia with a.Dance theatre.
Taylor grew up dancing at DanceWorks Studios at the age of three and has never left since.
NELL CONWAY has been DanceWorks Studios Production & Marketing manager and instructor for the past 4 years. She started her dance journey with Kathy Costa at three years old. Since her first class, Nell's passion for the dance community and the DanceWorks philosophy has continued to grow and flourish. In addition to being a DanceWorks student and company member, Nell worked as a studio manager and teacher from 2001 - 2005. She also studied with Freespace Dance, The American Dance Festival, and other various companies in the tri-state area. After graduating from Montclair High School, Nell attended Virginia Commonwealth University as a dance major, learning from esteemed choreographers from all over the globe. Nell graduated with a degree in Arts Management with a focus in dance and events management. Nell is a co-founder of Soul Serenity. She enjoys sharing her passion for choreography and teaching with the students at DanceWorks.
JEFFRY FOOTE is an actor, singer, and tap dancer. Jeffry has been performing for many years in the tri state area. Some of his credits include Shades Of Harlem, Dance Bojangles Dance, Riffin & Tappin, 42nd Street, and is a principal member of the NJ Tap Dance Ensemble. He has also performed in venues such as NJPAC, BergenPac, and Mayo Arts. He also teaches tap in Morris and Essex Counties, and has been teaching rhythm tap for 13 years. He has also appeared in short films, and has some various voice over projects as well.
HANNAH FINK was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA where she studied dance at The Philadelphia Dance Academy all through middle and high school. She had extended training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet over multiple years of summer intensives as well.
After high school, Hannah attended the Chicago College of Performing Arts for her first year of college as a Musical Theatre Dance major. She then graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre, at Montclair State University. Hannah has so much love for DanceWorks and is so glad to be back for her second year as an assistant manager!
KYLE LUCIA is a New Jersey native that started dancing at the age of 2 and is trained in a variety of styles ranging from ballet to breakdancing. Kyle has performed in front of tens of thousands of people in a dozen countries all over the world with a successful touring dance company for almost a decade in the shows Rock the Ballet I & II, RTBX, and Romeo & Juliet. He’s performed at the Peacock theatre on Kings Way in London, at the Kampnagel theatre in Switzerland, the Prince Regent theatre in Munich, Germany, to name a few. When he’s not on tour, Kyle loves teaching hip-hop & contemporary to competitive students at studios all over on a weekly basis to compete in regional and national competitions with his choreography. Kyle has been featured in a 10 page spread in SELF Magazine. He’s performed live on MTV with DJ Khaled to his hit song “Wild Thoughts” in TimeSquare for the revival pilot episode of TRL. Kyle also was a semi-finalist on season 9 of America’s Got Talent with the Bad Boys of Ballet and performed in two live episodes on the Radio City Music Hall stage. Now Kyle is deepening his movement knowledge with yoga, meditation and breath work practice and incorporating that into his class and choreography to further his education as a teacher and performer in the arts.
EMMA GENTILE is a Montclair dancer who recently graduated from Temple University, where she received her BFA in dance. She has been immersed in the dance world since birth but officially started her training at age 12 at DanceWorks Studios in Montclair, NJ. Gentile is trained in ballet, modern, tap, jazz, hip hop, African Diasporic techniques, and improvisation. In addition to her technical training, she is passionate about choreographing and film dance. Throughout her dance career Emma has had many amazing opportunities to perform locally and even globally in dance festivals throughout New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia and Europe.
KAYLA MCKEOWN has been DanceWorks Studios Studio Manager and on staff since 2014. Kayla received her BA in Psychology from Montclair State University in 2018, and recently received her MA in School Counseling from Montclair State University in May 2021. Kayla studied dance at DanceWorks from the age of 8-18, and was an active member of DanceWorks & Company from 2008-2014, where she performed at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in New York as well as at the Summer Olympics in London, England in 2012. Ms. McKeown continued her dance education at MSU, where she danced as a non-major for four years during her undergraduate studies. Kayla was on faculty for our Summer Dance Camp staff from 2014-2016, and works as an assistant with all children’s birthday parties at DanceWorks Studios as well. Kayla enjoys working closely with all of our students and families and looks forward to building ongoing relationships with our clientele.
AMANDA PAPA is a dancer, choreographer, and dance educator with more than 20 years experience. Amanda received her BFA in Dance Performance from Montclair State University. She is also certified through Dance Educators of America and is a proud member of Dance NJ and NDEO. She began dancing at the age of 3, competing at age 8, and dancing professionally at 16. She was twice named an All-Star by the Universal Dance Association as a teenager, where she first performed internationally.
As an original company member, soloist and dance captain of The Dawn Lau Dance Company, Amanda performed throughout New York and New Jersey. She spent time studying, creating and performing her art in Italy, where she truly found her passion for and refined her skills as a choreographer.
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Amanda has been on Faculty at over a dozen NJ Dance studios. She was an Adjunct Professor at Mercer County College for 7 years. She is a Guest Teacher at Montclair State University, Kean University and Fairleigh Dickinson University. She is currently on tour as a Judge and Master Teacher for Groove, Beyond the Stars, Breakout and DECAdance competitions. Amanda has expanded her love for dance into the Ballroom world, where she is currently training as a competitor in Smooth & Rhythm Ballroom Dance..
QUINN SOUSA started out dancing in high school with the dance club, learning from the captain who was actually the student of his future teacher. After graduating Quinn connected with John “Comix” Barrella at a workshop and that summer joined his dance company. Quinn quickly became one of the principal performers of The Redef Movement and has experience in all street styles including breaking, popping, hip hop, and locking. Along with being a Dance Professional through Dance New Jersey he is a tri state area performer in places such as Philly, the 5 boroughs, and New Jersey. Through years of training with other teachers heavily rooted to the core of Hip Hop he has attained the foundation necessary to properly modernize these dance styles without losing its integrity or value. It was through this training that The Redef Movement was invited to perform for The New York City Breakers at their 20 th reunion and at “Chaos” presented by TedX Asbury Park. While continuing to further his training he travels solo
performing, hosting workshops, and educating at many different events.
ELISSA VERSO is a ballet dancer and teacher in northern and central New Jersey. Growing up, she trained with both of her parents at their own studio, The Dance Center of New Jersey, and later at Princeton Ballet School. She then went on to attend the Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet in New York as a full time student. In 2015, Elissa earned her certification in Levels Pre-Primary through Level 5 in the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum and has since taught ballet classes at several studios in New Jersey. Most recently, Elissa has earned her Mat I and Mat II Certifications through Power Pilates and is excited to be able to incorporate Pilates concepts into class for her students.
DANA ZOON was born and raised in New Jersey. She began dancing at three years old and later attended the New Jersey Ballet School. She expanded her training at the American Academy of Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet School’s Summer Intensive.
After graduating from high school she moved to New York City to attend the Joffrey Ballet School Pre-Professional Ballet Trainee program where she trained for 40+ hours a week. Dana graduated as a company member of the Joffrey Ensemble.
During her time with the Joffrey Ensemble she performed in George Balanchine's Walpurgisnacht, as a Mirliton and Snowflake in Gerald Arpino's The Nutcracker, a Soloist in Dwight Rhoden's Rise, and in Jean Emile’s Lighten Up. Dana also danced professionally with the Jersey City Ballet.
Dana has studied the Vaganova technique pedagogy and has taught at the Joffrey Ballet School’s Miami Fusion and many studios in New Jersey. She is so excited to bring her love for ballet to the DanceWorks Dancers!