I always wanted to dance but my parents could not afford it until they won free lessons for me at a local dance school, where I later taught for 20 years.

I trained at NYC schools, starting with George Connelly Dance Center, (the owners established the United States Tournament of Dance), in Queens with ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics and ballroom. I was a 1969, full scholarship recipient to the Joffrey Ballet School (then called the American Ballet Center for the Joffrey Ballet), Janet also attended Phil Black’s Dance Studio, Broadway Dance Center, and other NYC schools.

Many of my students have, or had, careers in major ballet companies, professional theater, television, theme parks, cruise ships, Radio City Music Hall, Las Vegas, and other dance venues, as well as dance teachers, studio owners and choreographers. Many of my students have graduated from Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, and The High School of Performing Arts, now known as Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art & Performing Arts. Additionally, they have attended, top college dance programs including The Julliard School, N.Y. University Tisch School of the Arts, Point Park University, and University of the Arts.

I performed professionally in night clubs, musical theater, and special events for major New York professional sports teams, on television, for the armed forces, plus has choreographed for regional ballet companies, theater productions and competitions, and winning several choreography awards at national dance competitions.

I ran my own successful dance academy, for several years, before retiring from studio ownership, after which I continued to teach dance at area dance schools.

I was a member of Dance Educators of America, and a past guest instructor for National Association of Dance and Affiliated Arts, Inc. (NADAA), In the past I founded and organized The Road to Broadway Talent Competition, and the Road to Broadway Pageants.

Additionally, I have worked as a stage manager for dance performances for dance schools and other charitable dance events, and judged for many, regional and national competitions in the USA, and Canada. I have years of experience as an amateur competitor in ballroom, and performing arts dance competitions, winning many awards in the USA and the UK. such as in the Blackpool Dance Festival, as a member of the 1973 USA Formation Team.

Additionally, I have written columns and articles on dance for newspapers and dance periodicals and magazines, is the former Vice President of Dancers for Dimes, a dance performance charity event to raise funds for the March of Dimes, and a past board member, Vice President, and later President, for the Arts Academy Elementary Charter School.

I recently, and happily, added teaching at the Pottstown Dance Theatre in addition to enjoying traveling with my husband, running the Road to Broadway Mini Dance Competition, spending time with family and amateur, nature photography. I am happily married, since 1975 and a proud parent and grandparent of two. I enjoy keeping in touch with her past dance students, and her many colleagues on social media.

Not everyone will become a professional dancer, but you must also learn to take all losses as lessons. There may be more “nos” than “yesses” but don’t give up.