Faculty

Barbara Gonzalez - Owner/Director

Barbara is a graduate of Rutgers University, where she earned a BFA in dance from Mason Gross School of the Arts. She was a member of the MGSA Modern Dance Company and the L.T. Hip Hop Dance Company, during which she performed in such places as the State Theatre, the Count Basie Theater, and the Legendary Apollo Theatre. Barbara has been a dance instructor since 1990 and currently teaches classes in jazz, hip hop, acrobatics, musical theater, lyrical, and production. She is Acrobatic Arts Certified and follows the professional curriculum for Acrobatic Dance. She has choreographed routines at both regional and national levels. Her routines have won multiple High Score and Overall Awards, Judges Awards, and Diamond Awards, as well as Technique, Entertainment, Precision, and Outstanding Choreography Awards. Barbara choreographed the Spring Musicals at Matawan Regional High School for 11 years. Her choreography has been seen in productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Peter Pan, Applause, Cinderella, Fame, Hello Dolly, Annie Get Your Gun, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Curtains, Back to the 80’s, and The Wedding Singer. She is a two-time recipient and three-time nominee of the Basie Award for “Best Choreography in a High School Musical” from Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ. Barbara has choreographed for various festivals, church choirs, cheerleading, pom teams, body builders, and fitness competitors. She currently choreographs audition solos for NFL dance teams, as well as competitive routines at studios throughout New Jersey. Barbara is excited to share her love of dance with the community and bring Studio B to her Hometown of Matawan!

Jayme Gordano - Jazz / Lyrical / Hip Hop / Acro / Company Choreographer

Jayme Gordano began dancing at the age of 2.5. She trained with Barbara Gonzalez from pre-dance all the way to pre-professional level. Jayme competed at the regional and national level for over 8 years. She has performed in benefits such as Hurricane Katrina Relief, Sunshine Kids Foundation, Disney’s Magic Music Days and The Marked Dance Project. Jayme graduated from Georgian Court University with a BA in dance and is a certified instructor with Acrobatic Arts. She continues her dance education by attending workshops, master classes, intensives and teachers conventions. Jayme has been teaching for 9 years at studios throughout New Jersey, specializing in hip hop, contemporary, jazz, acrobatics, lyrical and pom. She is excited to join the staff at Studio B and to share her love of dance with the students.

Duane Mitter - Contemporary / Hip Hop / Musical Theater / Company Choreographer

Duane is an active and versatile dancer, and has trained under various professionals including Deanna Destito, John Burella, and Ashle Dawson. He has been a part of "Dead Mans Party" as a featured performer for the last 2 years at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ. Duane has mastered disciplines in Hip Hop, including popping and street jazz. He

continues to train weekly in all hip hop styles, including locking and breaking. Aside from hip hop, he is efficient in contemporary and jazz. He has won numerous awards at various competitions. His work can be seen at competitive events, festivals, and showcases across New Jersey. Duane is active in the competition circuit.

Kyla Heinz - Tap / Company Choreographer

Kyla Heinz has been dancing since the age of three and has a background of musical theater, dance and art. Kyla was a member of the New Jersey Tap Ensemble for seven years performing at venues such as NJPAC, SOPAC, Memorial Auditorium and several elementary schools for educational performances. She danced in Mike Minery’s Off Broadway show “Slide”, accompanied by the Duke Ellington Orchestra, tapping at New World Stages, Acorn Theater, The Supper Club and Terminal Five. She performed in Pier I, Riverside Park South’s Show “Tap Happens” and Joelle Cosentino's Impressions IV with Jason Luks' Tap Ensemble at Symphony Space. Kyla performed as Joanne the American tap dancer in Celtic Fyre at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg VA, USATODAY named Celtic Fyre "Best Amusment Park Entertainment". She is a True Talent Dance Competition judge, is a teacher at Rock the City and Mind Body Sole Tap Intensive. Most recently, Kyla tap performed at Radio City Musical Hall for Youtube’s 2019 Brandcast Event with Mark Orsborn’s Jam Project under the direction of Kyle Hanagami. She currently teaches and choreographs for studios around the NJ area and has her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from William Paterson University.

Danielle Valinotti - Ballet / Jazz / Hip Hop / Contemporary/ Company Choreographer

Danielle has been dancing since she was three years old and began dancing competitively at age nine. She has trained in a wide variety of dance styles and branched out into the dance team world in high school. Danielle was on the Old Bridge High School Dance Team for four years and a captain for two years. In high school, she began teaching dance classes at her studio which was where her interest in teaching originated. She majored in Elementary Education, concentrated in Special Education, at the University of Delaware. Danielle continued her love for dance in college as well. She was a member of the University of Delaware Dance Team for four years, taking home two Division 1 Hip Hop National Championships in 2019 & 2022 from UDA College Nationals. She graduated college in 2022 and continues to teach dance at Studio B Dance Company. Danielle is currently working on her New Jersey teaching license to teach elementary school. Dance has been a driving force in her life, shaping her into who she is today. She looks to inspire and empower her students of all ages and abilities. Danielle wishes to share her love for dance with her students and help them grow to reach their highest potential, as people and dancers.

Christy Amato - Ballet / Tap / Jazz /Combo Classes / Company Choreographer

Christy Amato began her dance training at the young age of three taking tap and ballet classes at a local dance studio. Over the years Christy has evolved into a mature, talented and well rounded dancer with experience in a wide range of styles. She has performed in groups and as a soloist in national and regional competitions, local events, and clubs throughout the tri-state area. Christy attended The College of Staten Island where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Women studies with a minor in dance. She went on to receive a Masters Degree in Dance Education from Rutgers University in 2012 and is a New York State certified dance educator. She was also a graduate of Broadway Dance Centers’ Professional Training Program where she trained with elite faculty and prestigious guest artists. Christy has been teaching dance at various studios in New York for over ten years at both the recreational and competitive level. She is entering her 10th year as a full-time dance educator in a New York City Public School where she has designed and implemented a PreK-fifth grade dance program and curriculum. Christy loves sharing her passion for dance through teaching children of all ages and abilities.

Felicia Geran - Ballet / Pointe

Felicia began dancing at the age of 5, and has been trained in the styles of Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Hiphop, and Modern. She passionately went on to receive her BFA in Dance at Montclair State University where she worked diligently under the instruction of Nancy Lushington, Lonne Morreton, Lynne Grossman, Frederick Earl Mosley, Tyler Gilstrap, and Lori Katterhenry. After graduating, Felicia began dancing with the company 4JUNE, and can be seen in music videos for artists such as Lumidee, Chris Porter, and Jay Lavita. Felicia feels privileged to instruct young dancers today, and she is excited to join the staff at Studio B! She approaches all of her classes with an open heart and a smile, always encouraging authenticity, confidence, and creativity. Felicia’s goal is for her students to simply be who they are as they walk into the dance classroom, and to become even more of who they are before they walk out.

Jean Mackin - Combo Classes

Jean has been dancing since the age of three. She began teaching dance at a local dance studio at the age of seventeen. Jean attended Rider University where she earned her BFA in dance through the dance program at the Princeton Ballet School. She went on to receive her elementary teacher certification and is certified in grades Kindergarten through sixth grade. After graduating, Jean moved on to teach for another dance studio where she taught dancers of all ages. After nearly ten years, she took time off to focus on her teaching career and her family. Jean is currently a Kindergarten teacher at a local elementary school and is very excited to share her love for teaching dance with the students of Studio B.

Sydney Price - Company Choreographer

Originally from New Jersey, Sydney Price started her dance training at the age of 3 and has continued ever since. She trained on the East Coast at EPIC Dance Company, Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, and many different competitions and conventions. Throughout her younger career, Sydney earned numerous scholarships and titles such as Dance Spirit Magazine’s Future Star Award and Miss Dancers Inc 2015.

Right before moving to Los Angeles to pursue an education as a commercial dance major at Studio School in Downtown Los Angeles, she performed as a principal dancer at the Dizzy Feet Foundation Gala, founded by Nigel Lythgoe and Adam Shankman, in front of many different celebrities and reputable names in the industry. This performance also sparked her journey with being signed by MSA Talent Agency.

Throughout her career in California, Sydney danced in many different music and concept videos for names such as Kym Herjavec, Daniel Ezlarow, Ambrose Respicio, and Thailand pop star, Patee Sarasin. She graduated magna cum laude from Studio School with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Commercial Dance in May of 2019. Sydney looks forward to the opportunity to teach younger dancers and inspire others throughout her career.

Emma Turrisi - Ballet

Emma Turrisi was born and raised in Middletown, New Jersey where she started dancing at the age of six. Currently, Emma is pursuing her BFA in dance from Montclair State University with a minor in Communication Studies and will graduate in the spring of 2025. Throughout her time at Montclair she has had the pleasure of performing the works of Janice Rosario, Cameron McKinney, Christian Von Howard, Kathleen Kelley and Jessica Dimauro Marks. In her early years, Emma has trained in various commercial and classical styles. In high school, Emma toured with Revel Dance Convention for two years as a convention assistant. She was also an assistant teacher for the Broadway Dance Center Kids and Teens program in late 2020 and 2021. Most recently, Emma has performed at BrickHouse Open House in Time Square, NYC as well as the Gramercy Theater. In late 2023, she will perform at the NJPAC as a company member of the KM Dance Collective. As a teacher, Emma wants nothing more than to share her love for dance with the next generation of artists and dancers.

Sarah Jean Kaye - Acro

Originally from Freehold, NJ, Sarah Jean Kaye has hung 40 feet in the air upside down, danced around the world, and performed for/opened for Bon Jovi, the Dali Lama, Ice T, and John Legend. In an industry like the performing arts, versatility matters and has blessed Sarah with a diverse career. Spending 7 years on and off with Celebrity Cruises Line, Sarah helped to open several ships as an inaugural cast member, rehearsal swing, and Aerial Captain and later moved into a behind the scenes position as a Rehearsal Director and Aerial Boot Camp Trainer. On land, she has toured the US as a company manager & dance captain, performed in countless award ceremonies, industrials, & grand openings, worked as a Trampoline artist in an ad campaign for Hotel Tonight, and danced in numerous casino productions & burlesque shows around the country. Off Broadway credits include Coco & The Vanity Vixens and Broadway Bares. Aerial performance apparatuses include group, duo, and/or solo work on hoop/lyra, bungee, dance trapeze, Spanish web/chandelier spinning, harness, cloud swing, silks, cubit, dodecahedron, diamond, moon, and statue body balancing. As a teacher, Sarah's belief is to always be a forever student, continuing her education with certifications from Progressing Ballet Technique, Acrobatic Arts Module 1 & 2, Sugarfoot Physical Therapy dance training, and Long + Lean Pilates.

Melissa Diller - Front Desk/ Acro

Melissa started dancing at the age of three at a local dance studio. Her interest has always been in the disciplines of tap, jazz, and acrobatics. She began competing and performing in showcases at the age of 8 and continued through high school. She attended the dance program at Red Bank Performing Arts High School, then obtained a degree in Business Management. After college, Melissa taught tap, jazz, and acrobatics for several years at a studio where she previously studied. Her passion is working with children to improve their self-image, achieve their goals, and most importantly watch them grow and enjoy dance. Over the years she has volunteered her time to work with children at local camps, school performances, and privately to improve specific skills.Melissa is a certified Acrobatics instructor through the Acrobatic Arts Program, and holds a safety certification with Youth Protection Advocates for Dance.She remains very connected to the dance world, attends classes in NYC, and enjoys watching her daughter have the same love for the arts that she has.

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Meet Our Faculty/Staff