The Directors

Karen Martin (Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Pre-School)

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 region.

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 Roxey Ballet Company in their productions of "Cinderella" and "The Pied Piper", and continues to perform "The Nutcracker" each year.

Suzie Schnoor (Tap, Jazz, Pre-School, Ballet)

Suzie received her earliest training in ballet, tap, and jazz at Royal Dance Studio on Long Island, NY, under the acclaimed direction of Reed and Bobbi Simpson.  While attending New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, she studied at Broadway Dance Center and 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 spent 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 has spent the past several years teaching tap, jazz, ballet, and pre-school dance at a local dance studio.

Our Staff

Jessica Schmalz (Ballet, Pointe, Pilates/Floor Barre, Pre-School)

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 a local studio since 1997.  She has studied Pilates under the direction of Anthony Rabara in Princeton, and currently teaches Pilates at a local health club.

Andrea Bottoni (Jazz, Modern, Lyrical, Hip Hop)

Andrea has a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance from Franklin and Marshall College.  She has studied at many studios in NY including Dance Space, Movement Research, and Broadway Dance Center, taking class with Frank Hatchett, Michele Assaf, and Billy Angell.  

On stage, she has choreographed for the Franklin & Marshall Dance Company and F & M Players.  On film, Andrea has choreographed "Painter’s Perspective" and wrote, directed and choreographed "Remote Control". She is the co-founder of Dance - It, a college program to get the community interested, excited and involved in the art of dance. 

Currently, Andrea is a member of the Mercer Dance Ensemble and Director of the Bucks County Youth Jazz Perspective, a community outreach program founded to encourage dancers to share their experiences and talents with the community through performance and master classes. She has been awarded choreography innovation awards at both the Showbiz and Starquest National Dance Competition. She has performed at the Philadelphia Dance Festival, Dance Boom!; and recently performed at the NYC Hip Hop tour and intensive "The Pulse".