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Staciann Marcucci
Owner Co-Owner/Director/
Dance Educator
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Staciann has over 34 years of experience in dance education and performance. She has been a dance educator for the past 18 years specializing in Lyrical and Jazz. Staciann also has a background in Ballet and Modern. She is a former student of Performing Arts High School. Staciann has studied with and was a member of the Philadelphia Civic Ballet Company. She also has received numerous awards and recognition not only as a performer, but as a studio owner as well.
"My Greatest Moment at Motion N Dance was having my mom walk through the door at MND before she passed." |
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Brittany Lowell
Dance Educator
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Brittany Lowell is a Philadelphia native who began her professional dance career at the age of 14 upon acceptance into the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts. Brittany has choreographed many dance pieces for numerous showings including the Boscov's Thanksgiving Day Parade, as well as the Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington , DC . Brittany was an active member of CAPA's touring Dance Company. She was a principle dancer in the Teddy P. Brains children's DVD, as well as featured in the LIFEKNOCKS music video documentary on Lupus awareness. Brittany also worked for SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment for 5 years as a performer and also an Assistant Manager. Brittany continues to teach numerous classes and workshops in the tri-state area but will always call Motion N Dance "home".
"My favorite moments at Motion N Dance are watching the dancers perform new steps and seeing the look of confidence and accomplishment on their faces. Seeing my students give their all and become proud of what they do is what makes teaching so enjoyable for me."
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Jill Comport
Ballet Instructor
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Jill grew up in Laguna Hills , Ca, where she studied ballet with Derva Snider and Joanna Kneeland. She also trained on summer scholarships with Boston , Milwaukee , and Pennsylvania Ballet schools, and was a Trainee with the Joffrey Ballet in New York . Mrs. Comport also studied with Jillana, David Allan, Afshin Mofid, Larry Rosenberg, Diane Hanlon, and the faculty of the acclaimed dance program of the University of California , Irvine . Jill was a professional ballerina, dancing with Oakland Ballet, San Francisco Opera Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Eugene Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre , Nevada Dance Theatre, Ballet Pacifica, Los Angeles Classical Ballet, as well as performing extensively as a principal guest artist.
She has been teaching ballet and pointe for 25 years. Jill was the ballet instructor from 1990 to 1995 for the famed Idyllwild Arts Academy 's Summer Dance Intensives. She taught for more than 10 years at Jimmie De Fore Dance Center and taught for several years at Toni Schwartz School of Dance in Levittown, and currently teaches ballet and pointe at the Annenberg Center at the University Of Pennsylvania.
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Jaye Allison
Modern and Tap Specialist
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Jaye Allison MFA is Founding Director / choreographer of New LEJA Dances the co., Philly TAP Challenge "ON FIRE!" and has celebrated her 28th year in the performing arts world. Jaye has danced professionally with Philadelphia Civic Ballet Company (PCBC Project Director), Power 99 FM, TapTeam II & Co. , Philadanco and Dancefusion. She is a graduate of: Philadelphia H. S. for the Creative and Performing Arts, University of the Arts, Community College of Philadelphia, and received an Arts Management Certificate from University of MA Amherst also her BFA AND MFA from Ashwood U. Recipient of grants from: Pa. Council on the Arts, 5-County Arts and the Leeway Foundation to name a few. She also appeared in movies, "Beloved", "Rocky III", and several music videos. Jaye currently trains students in Modern, Tap, Jazz and Ballet at the Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center, Center in the Park, Motion-N-Dance, Progressive Center for Dance, Arch Bishop Ryan Color Guard, Haddon Heights High Voltage Color Guard and Miss Sandy's Dance Steps. Miss Allison also judges Faces of the Future Competition in King of Prussia , PA.
"My favorite moment at MND was my first year teaching the sr. tap line and realizing they had a whole series of time steps that I never saw before! I knew I would love working at this school!"
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Siobhan Hogan
Tap and Jazz Educator
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Siobhan's career in dancing began over 18 years ago. While attending Saint Bernard's grade school, she participated in talent shows and school musicals. Siobhan proceeded to Saint Hubert 's High School and continued involving herself in musicals and participated in the orchestra, playing the clarinet. Siobhan loves to dance and working with children. She started out teaching at Motion n' Dance as a student teacher 8 years ago.
Siobhan graduated from Holy Family University with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education/Special Education. Currently she is working for New Foundations Charter school, while she pursues her Master's Degree in General Education. Siobhan is also the girls basketball coach at NFCS. This will be her third year as the coach, where she has won two championships. She loves every moment at Motion N Dance and does have favorable moment.
"Every moment at Motion N Dance is my favorite. I'm so excited to be working with all of these students and also excited that we all can be one big family."
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Jaimelynn Curry
Tap and Musical Theater Educator |
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Jaimelynn Curry has been dancing and performing since the age of 3. She trained in many different styles of dance but is really passionate about Tap. Jaime has study with many talented and brilliant teachers, whom she is really grateful to learn from. Among the many, are Miss Staciann Marcucci and Miss Jennifer Mcgranaghan. In 2004, Jaime was crowned Miss Atlantic of Dance in the U.S.T.D Regional Dance Competition. She also dabbed into the performing arts in high school when she got the role of Tess in the musical "Crazy For You". After high school, Jaime landed an amazing job as the stylist and choreographer for singer/songwriter Bianca Ryan. Though she was traveling a lot she still wanted to dance, so she auditioned for a company called "Shake". This company performed for the Garden Dance Festival which is under the direction of Suzy Zucker. She trained with professional hip-hop choreographers Miss Diva and Miss Crystal Fraser.
Jaime has always been passionate about teaching. She is greatly honored to teach at Motion n' Dance and cannot wait to become a part of the MND family. She hopes that her unique sense of style and passion for dance helps and inspires all the students in this upcoming dance year.
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Gate aka Mr. Ryheen
Hip Hop Educator
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In Ryheen's past decade up until now, he has been recognized as one of the most impressionable dancers in Philly public eyes. Ryheen has been the 3rd time champion at the Apollo in Harlem, NY, and also has danced for artists such as: 50 cent, Nina Sky, Amerie, Wayne Wonder, Fat Joe, Jasmine Jay, Rocafella, and 106th and Park. He is also a role model for the Community Council for Youth Family Service. Ryheen has always tried to emphasize the validation of Hip Hop as a true art form, to express through the strength and fundamental of discipline that gives the title of Raw-Talent. Dancing from the "Heart" is what he does. Ryheen instructs the unique styles of Hip-Hop such as: popping, locking, breaking, housing, urban and old school hip-hop, and always tries to take hip-hop to the next level by pushing the limits of his dancers.
"My most "memorable" time at Motion N' Dance was realizing when I had a second family who was there for me in and out of the studio, and I thank them for that."
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Jessica Gibson
Asst. Dance Teacher
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Jessica is a former a student of MND. She has studied Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical and Modern. She was a member of the performance and competition team. Jessica has also received many awards over her 15 years of performing. Jessica is a member of the Philadelphia Jr. Soulmates Dance Team. Jessica continues to explore her dance education through Workshops and classes throughout Philadelphia.
Jessica has been an aid to MND as well as a student teacher. She is no stranger to Community Service. Jessica graduated High School with honors and received many awards for her services over the past 4 years. Jessica is responsible for MND Giving Back Program. She has raised money and volunteered her time to organizations such as Sacred Heart Home, Alex Lemonade and New Charity Books for Chop. Jessica is starting college and is returning to MND as an Asst. Teacher. She can't wait to share her passion with returning and new students.
"Listening to all the Babies with their long stories before class" |
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Tiffany Erbe
Asst. Dance Teacher
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Tiffany Erbe started her love for dance in Elementary School where she danced for another studio for two years. She also joined the cheerleading squad and drama club. Tiffany was also a member of Hog Island NYA - Fancy Division, where she paraded and performed on Broad Street for the annual Mummer's Day Parade for over 5 years.
Tiffany began dancing for MND when Mrs. Staci took over the studio in her freshman year of high school. She has performed with MND at all the 76ers games, competitions, parades, Disney World, the Philadelphia tree lighting with the mayor and many more events. She has been trained in five different styles of dance including, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theatre and Modern. She has student taught for Mr. Ryheen and Mrs. Staci. A current graduate of Harry S. Truman High School, Tiffany plans to attend Bucks County Community College in the fall for Elementary Education and plans to continue spreading her passion for dance to the younger students at MND as an Assistant Teacher.
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| Special Guest Instructors: |
| Mary Gee, Bobby Gee, Jesse Jones |
| Office Manager: Debbi Nicholls |
| Office Aides: Angela Berghaier, Jess Jones |
| Website Designer: Michelle Clancy |
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