Dance Faculty

Nancy Canning

Nancy Canning is a New Jersey based Dance Instructor, Director and Choreographer. Originally from north of Syracuse, New York, Ms. Canning received opportunities as a young artist to perform with BalletMet, Syracuse Contemporary Dance Company and Syracuse Community Theatre. At 14, she received a scholarship from the New York State Council on the Arts to attend the Summer Theatre Institute at The Juilliard School.

Ms. Canning attended and graduated from Pace University’s Commercial Dance program. She was able to graduate in 3 years and began dancing professionally at 19. Professional dance credits include work as a Principal Dancer in the Greater Ocean City Theatre Company’s production of “Swing,” Classical and Contemporary works with the American Swiss Ballet Company, with Larger than Life Productions and Contemporary works with ChoreoNova. She has performed in original works at the Hudson Guild Theatre in New York and in music videos, including for the singer Lucio Fernandez.

While dancing professionally, Ms. Canning was given the opportunity to act as a Rehearsal Assistant and Dance Captain and coached both fellow professionals and students. This sparked her passion for dance education. Nancy is now certified in the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum levels Pre-Primary to Six.

With a decade of experience teaching Ballet & Dance, Ms. Canning has taught at over 20 different dance studios, public schools, educational centers and community programs in the tri-state area. She has been a coach and mentor to students that have attended programs at the American Ballet Theatre School (JKO), The School of American Ballet, Ballet Academy East, Manhattan Youth Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and others. In 2024, Nancy choreographed “Footloose” for Ridgefield Memorial High School.

Currently, Ms. Canning is Peak PAC’s leading dance coach and mentor, directing the youth dance program (Ballet Academy & Competition Team) at Peak Performing Arts Center- featuring all styles of dance -providing students with a unique educational experience based on the professional industry, individual wellness, and technical as well as artistic excellence.

Maiko Kataoka

Maiko Kataoka started her classical ballet training at the age of four. After completing the Osaka University of Arts Dance Department of Stage Arts program, she moved to New York City to enhance her dance training. She currently teaches classical ballet and contemporary dance in Bergen County and New York and is thrilled to still be performing with Arts of Motion Dance Theater.

Ms. Kataoka has performed with the company at Bergen Community College, The Hatch, and MMAC in NYC. She was featured as Puck in Arts of Motion’s Studio School’s Spring Ballet production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Tea solo in The Nutcracker. Ms. Kataoka is a Peak Elite Performance Instructor with our Ballet Academy and recreational dance program.

Marianna Tsartolia

Mrs. Tsartolia was born in Athens, Greece where she received her BFA in dance from the State School of Dance. A recipient of scholarships from the Alexander Onassis and Merce Cunningham Foundations, Mrs. Tsartolia graduated from the Merce Cunningham Studio, NYC in 1997. She performed in the US and Europe with Mandafounis Modern Dance Company, Octana Dance Theatre, Connecticut Ballet and Analysis Dance Company, among others. She joined RIOULT Dance NY in 1998. She has performed numerous world premieres and repertory pieces with the company around the globe as a soloist and lead dancer until 2014. From 2000-2017 she served as a teaching artist, as the Educational Artistic Advisor and later as the Director of Youth Programs for RIOULT’s Arts and Education program “DanceREACH.”

Mrs. Tsartolia has taught technique and repertory workshops in the US, France, Greece and Bermuda. She has restaged RIOULT’s choreography for the Frank Sinatra School, Civic Ballet, in Bermuda and the Hellenic Dance Company in Athens, Greece. She has served as the assistant to the choreographer, for all the children’s parts, in the productions “Small Steps, Tiny Revolutions” (2008) and “Fables” (2011). She has restaged these productions numerous times in the U.S and in France. Mrs. Tsartolia created the “RIOULT Summer Dance Camp” program in 2010 and the “RIOULT Modern Dance Series” in 2013, serving as a master teacher and choreographer. She has choreographed and presented her work for Youth Ensembles of RIOULT and CIVIC Ballet. Mrs. Tsartolia holds a Certificate in Fashion Design from Parsons and designs costumes for dance for several choreographers including ARIEL RIVKA Dance Company. In addition to being a featured Peak Elite Performance Instructor with our Ballet Academy at Peak PAC, Mrs. Tsartolia is the Director of Westfield Y Dance Academy, Contemporary teacher at Wyckoff Y Studio, and Director of enrichment programs danceART.

Kaity McSalis

Kaity McSalis is a theatre artist from Vermont. She graduated from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she received a BFA in Musical Theatre. She has been dancing since the age of two and is passionate about sharing her skills with the next generation of young artists.

Kaity has studied ballet, modern, and partnering, and specializes in tap and musical theatre jazz. She performed across the country with regional theater companies, and choreographed main stage productions. Her mission is to cultivate a creative space where students can explore and refine their artistry through dance and performance. “Miss Kaity” is a featured Peak Elite Performance Instructor for dance and musical theatre.

Amy Romero

Amy is an Afro-Latina performer born and raised in New Jersey. She has had a love for dance and performance ever since she was a child. Amy is grateful for the opportunity to tell the stories of various cultures through the performing arts. International credit: West Side Story in Sardinia, Italy at Teatro Lirico di Cagliari. Regional credits: West Side Story at Lyric Opera of Chicago, On Your Feet! en Español at GALA Hispanic Theatre in Washington, D.C., On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan at North Carolina Theatre, The Wiz (Florida), and the NYC workshop of Thoughts of a Colored Man. Tour credits: recording artist Lisa Lisa concert tour, Legally Blonde U.S. National Tour, and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live National Tour.

Ms. Amy is an experienced choreographer and dance teacher. When she’s not performing, she is also a dance competition judge.

Learn more on her website: www.iamamyromero.com

Catch Ms. Amy choreographing for our Competition team and Ballet Academy, and teaching at our intensives and masterclasses when she’s not away for a musical theatre job or touring with Lisa Lisa!

Mia Evon

Mia Evon began dancing at age 2. In Middle school, she attended the Arts Middle School program at Middlesex Community College for two years. In high school, she was accepted and attended East Brunswick Vocational and Technical School’s School of the Arts Dance program (where she trained under Cleo Mack). She studied Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Musical Theater, Contemporary, Dance History, Anatomy, and became a member of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts.

Mia has danced with artists Michelle Robinson, Carolyn Dorfman and her company, Kelli McGovern, Blair Ritchie, among others. Mia’s Classical, Pre-professional, and competitive dance history allows her to bring flexibility, strength training, coordination, and elegance into all of her classes.

Currently, Mia is attending Seton Hall University where she is studying for her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. She is an active peer educator for a mental health organization on campus where she spreads resources to students in need. Mia is also certified in Adult Mental Health First Aid. In addition to being a featured Peak Elite Performance Instructor for our Ballet Academy and Acro-tumbling program, Mia is an Aerial Silks and Hoops Instructor in Central NJ.

Regina Lustre

Regina Lustre is a company director, dancer, and instructor based in New Jersey. She is currently the Co-Owner and Executive Director of Project D Dance LLC, an adult competition dance company, as well as the Co-Artistic Director for their junior division, Defined Movement. She is also an Executive Producer for Prelude Dance LLC, helping produce competitions all across the East Coast. Having joined Project D back in 2008 and then taking over in 2017, Regina harbors a deep love and commitment to the NJ/NYC dance community and continues to give back to not only her dance company, but to other local teams and studios.

She is grateful to have received opportunities to teach locally, nationally, and even internationally in places like Toronto, Seoul, and Manila. With her rooted knowledge in competitive team dancing/directing, strength/athletic performance coaching, and leadership skills, Regina hopes to continue guiding the next generation of dancers and to provide a safe and uplifting environment for those who learn from her.

Regina is a powerhouse Peak Elite Performance Instructor -leading Peak PAC’s Hip Hop classes, working with our recreational and Academy/Competition Team members.

Lillian Smith

Lillian Smith is a dancer, performer and choreographer from Teaneck, NJ. At three years old, she began her training at the school of performing arts at BergenPAC, and the New Jersey Ballet School. Lillian then continued her education at Nunnbetter Dance Theatre under the artistic direction of Leath Nunn and Ernie Prinz. While at NDT, she performed principal roles in both classical and contemporary works including The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, La Bayadere and Jerome Robbin’s West Side Story Suite. She also annually participated in the Youth America Grand Prix, where she received scholarships to both the North Carolina School of the Arts and Boston Ballet Summer Intensives.

After graduation, Lillian moved to Columbus Ohio, and joined BalletMet as a part of their trainee program under the leadership of Academy director Maria Torija. While at BalletMet, Lillian had the opportunity to dance George Balanchine’s Walpurgisnacht, Western Symphony, The Sleeping Beauty, and Coppelia. Lillian has also participated in BalletMet company productions including The Nutcracker and Edwaard Liang’s Giselle. During her time at BalletMet, Lillian had the chance to explore composition and choreography. Lillian’s first full choreographic work Old Fashioned premiered in April of 2022.

Now an NYC based dancer Lillian has performed professionally with Chevalier Ballet, when Waves Collide Dance Festival , and is a current company dancer with CityDanceNY and Hudson Ballet Theatre. More recent works she has performed include Sarah Knight’s Joplin Michael Buoni’s Javanaise and The Snow Queen as well as Marika Brussel’s By a Thread and Aaron Thao’s Iago v. Ot. “Miss Lillian” is a featured Peak Elite Performance Instructor/Choreographer with our Ballet Academy & Competition Team.

Kaitlyn Jauregui

Kaitlyn Jauregui began dancing at the age of four. Kaitlyn trained in many styles, including ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, and acrobatics. She is a former PEAK PAC student. During her time at PEAK PAC, she had the opportunity to not only train and perform in showcases, but also at community events (which she enjoyed very much). She had the opportunity to perform featured roles in Coppelia and as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker during two of our productions held at Peak Performing Arts Center.

Kaitlyn began assisting classes in 2021, and is now in her third year of teaching for our youth program. Kaitlyn currently attends Ramapo College of New Jersey and graduated from North Bergen High School. She is pursuing a career in nursing with a minor in substance use disorders. She is heavily involved in the campus community as a Peer Facilitator mentoring first-year students. She is also a member of the Concert Band, Alpha Phi Omega, Nursing Student Organization, and, most significantly, the student-based Dance Company, where she is an Executive Board leader. She continues to incorporate dance into her time at Ramapo, as dance has always been a large part of her upbringing. Kaitlyn loves sharing her passion for dancing and working with her students. She enjoys watching her students grow as dancers as they develop self-confidence, proper technique, and a love for dance over the course of each dance season.

Dance Faculty

PEAK PAC NJ

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