Karen was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she began her dance training and career, performing in operas and local stage productions. Her dance training extends from Milwaukee to Chicago to New York. She has studied with the Milwaukee Ballet Company, Ann Barzel in Chicago and in NY with dance masters Charles Kelly, Luigi and Phil Black, along with taking numerous classes at Broadway Dance Center & Steps.
Having a long history of performing, Karen has worked with choreographers Tommy Tune, Tad Tadlock and Bob Fosse. ON stage, she has performed with Jerry Lewis and Lynn Redgrave in "Hellzapoppin"; with John Davidson, Doc Severinson, Billy Crystal, and other celebrities in shows and nightclub acts across the US, Mexico, Bermuda, Canada and the Bahamas.
Karen's film credits include "Hair" and "Voices" with Amy Irving and Michael Ontkean, in addition to numerous industrials and commercials. Karen is an active choreographer for local school productions including, "Pippin", "Godspell", "The Mikado", and "Anything Goes". She also choreographs the band front routine for South Hunterdon Regional High School and has participated in several dance workshops throughout the regions.
Before starting DanceWorks, Karen taught dance and was Assistant Director at a local studio for 18 years. She is also the owner/director of BodyWorks, an aerobic and exercise program that has been in existence for the past 25 years. Finally, Karen still dances on a professional level. She has appeared with the Roxy Ballet Company in their productions of "Cinderella" and "The Pied Piper", and continues to perform "The Nutcracker" each year.
Suzie received her earliest training in ballet, tap and jazz at Royal Dance Studio on Long Island, NJ, under the acclaimed direction of Redd and Bobbi Simpson. While attending New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, she studied at Broadway Dance Center & Steps taking class with renowned teachers Frank Hatchett, Bob Audy, and Danny Daniels, as well as Phil Black and Charles Goddertz.
As a member of Actor's Equity Association, Suzie spend five years touring the US and Canada in "The Muppet Show on Tour" and "Muppet Babies Live", bringing Jim Henson's lovable characters to life. She was everybody's favorite mouse at Walt Disney World in Florida, performing at various venues throughout the park. Other performances include "Fiddler on the Roof", "Chicago", and "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown".
She has appeared in TV specials for Walt Disney World, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, print ads and music videos. Suzie has taught a dance enrichment program at the JCC in Ewing, performed both in front of the curtain, as well as behind it, with the Hopewell Valley Children's Theatre, and spent several years prior to co-founding DanceWorks teaching jazz, tap, ballet and pre-school dance at a local dance studio.
Jessica started her dance training at the Princeton Ballet School in Princeton, NJ. She trained there for 10 years studying ballet, stage make-up and performance skills. She performed in various school productions, including "Alice in Wonderland", "Sleeping Beauty", and "Cinderella". Jessica was a member of their Junior Company, Princeton Ballet II, and performed with their principal company in "The Nutcracker". She also studied at Ballet Technique in Hamilton, NJ immediately becoming a member of "Hamilton Ballet Theatre" starting in the corps and working her way to soloist. She danced in their annual production of "A Christmas Surprise", and "Nutcracker Excerpts".
Jessica has worked with choreographers Lisa Twamly, Jane Miller Gifford, and Oleg Briansky, who choreographed a portion of his full length ballet "A Little Thief". Other performances include excerpts from "The Blue Danube", "Classical Symphony", and the "Tchaikovsky Suite". Jessica has been teaching ballet to all age groups at local studios since 1997. She has studies Pilates under the direction of Anthony Rabara in Princeton, and currently teaches Pilates at a local health club.
Kim earned her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Dance from Montclair State University. While attending Montclair, she studied ballet and modern dance with Lynne Grossman, Linda Roberts, Lisa Grimes, Nicole Smith, Dan Mueller and members of the Freespace Dance Company and the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane dance company. Kim has also studied in New York City at Broadway Dance Center and Peridance Center, taking classes from Finis Jhung, Michelle Barber and Elizabeth Parkinson.
Kim studied ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical and hip hop for over 15 years under the direction of Karen Martin and Suzie Schnoor. As a student of DanceWorks, Kim was a teaching assistant for beginner ballet, tap and jazz classes. She has also taught dance and performing arts at the Princeton University and Princeton YMCA summer programs. Kim has performed in many community events including Pennington Day and the Boscov's Thanksgiving Day Parade as a member of "FanTAPulous". She has also choreographed and performed in productions of "Bye, Bye Birdie", "Barnum", "Into the Woods", and "Fiddler on the Roof". Kim currently teaches kindergarten in the Robbinsville School District.
Julie has been dancing since the age of 4 at her local studio in Hamilton, NJ. She then went on to study ballet and modern at Rutgers University's Mason Gross School of the Arts. While at Rutgers, she was a part of the university dance team (2003 - 2006) where they were nationally ranked in the top 5 Division 1 schools.
After graduating college, Julie was signed to NYC's Clear Talent Group Dance Agency where she booked various jobs including the Chris Cornell "Part of Me" music video, two work out videos with Tru-2-Form and a flashmob for Eristoff Vodka. Julie has danced professionally with the NJ Nets Dance team from 2008 - 2011. Aside from performing, Julie loves choreographing and sharing her passion for dance.
Shakia, originally from Springfield, MA, has been studying dance for over 14 years. Shakia was invited to attend Pioneer Valley's Performing Arts Charter High School, where she studied dance with a concentration in science. She graduated from Dean College in Franking, MA with an AA in dance education and was later invited to the Nation Dance Institute's prestigious Teacher Training Program.
Shakia has danced, choreographed and taught in numerous venues including concerts by Omarion, Jadakiss, Fat Joe, 112, Charlie Baltimore and has appeared on BET's 106 and Park. She has toured the US and internationally dancing with Face Da Phlave Entertainment & Illstyle and Peace Productions. Shakia has taught at Princeton Ballet School and at C&E Productions. She continues to work with Rider University for their end of school year dance show. Shakia is a part of the Trenton Education Dance Institute (TEDI). She is thrilled to be a member of the DanceWorks staff.