Lauren Lanza

Lauren has been involved in teaching and performing dance for over 18 years and dancing for over 26 years. Her school Starz Performing Arts Academy Inc. is in its 11 year and has over 300 students. Lauren is also a member of Associated Dance Teachers of NJ. East Rutherford location is just ten miles outside of NYC gives Lauren and her student’s the opportunity to take advantage of all the wonderful classes and dance performances that go on everyday in the city. Lauren graduated from Montclair State University in 1995 with a degree in Fine and Performing Arts. She was a member of the MSU dance company and the choreographer for the sorority Sigma Delta Tau. She performed in many performances while getting her degree. Lauren has taught from the age of two and half up through adult classes. She has the patience to teach the beginner as well as the knowledge and discipline to teach the very advanced dancer. Lauren continues to takes weekly classes to hone her skills in the ever changing world of dance, so that she can bring the latest steps, music and safety skills to her students. Lauren has worked with various production companies in Atlantic City, Boston, Philadelphia and various venues through out New York and New Jersey. Lauren has choreographed for high schools and has judged national dance competitions.Her dancers have gone on to dance in college level programs and dance and model professionaly all across the tri-state area. Lauren continues to try to read, see and experience everything she can about the world of dance. Dance is not something she does, it is something she must do, it is who she is. Lauren has also added Mom to her bio; Derek is a great joy and he loves all his friends at Starz. Lauren loves all her students and hopes that they will get a glimpse of this beautiful art through their weekly classes and that they enjoy dance as much as she loves to teach it.

Kristina S. Knipp

Kristina has been involved in the entertainment industry since she was a young child. A 1999 graduate of Montclair State University with degrees in Communication Studies and Dance, Kristina has danced, cheered and taught choreography all over the world. Since 1998, Kristina has been involved with the National Basketball Association, beginning her career as a dancer for the New Jersey Nets, and working her way up. Throughout the years, Kristina has performed with the NJ Nets, NJ Storm, Everlast NY Dance Team, NBA and WNBA All Star Dance Teams, All American Cheer and Dance Team, and FIBA and NBA International Dance teams, in places such as Mexico,Paris,Rome,Germany,Barcelona,China, Japan and Athens 2004 Olympics. In addition to performing with teams, Kristina dances with production companies such as NY Motion on shows and events around the country. In 2003, she became the director/choreographer for the NJ Nets Cheerleaders, and also worked in production and game entertainment for the NBA, with teams around the league and internationally, as well as directing/choreographing for the NBA Fan Patrol Dance and Cheer team. Kristina has worked with artists that include: Destiny’s Child, Mariah Carey, Goo-Goo Dolls, Kid Rock, Pink, Big N Rich, Ciara, Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears, Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, John Legend, and Will Smith among others. This past year Kristina decided to fully pursue her passion of teaching and working with kids by going back full time to STARZ! She couldn't be happier now, directing the Fairfield location of STARZ and sharing her love of dance with all of her students in East Rutherford and Fairfield.

 Liz Piccoli

Liz has worked professionally as a performer, dance instructor, and choreographer for the past 11 years. She was captain and assistant choreographer of the Rutgers University Dance Team who earned National Championship status televised On ESPN. She has performed regionally in “West Side Story” with the Virginia Opera and other endeavors include choreographer for the Knicks City Dancers, featured swing dance for Joe Lanteri’s “Zoot Suit Riot”, and back-up dancer for Pink in her NBA commercial. She has worked as promotional choreographer for Broadway’s ”42nd Street” and Off-Broadway’s “Fame”. Liz has performed in the off-Broadway show” The Thin Line” at Dance Theater Workshop in NYC. Liz is currently performing with the Metropolitan Opera’s version of “Romeo and Juliet”. Liz has choreographed and judged locally and nationally for many national Talent competitions. Liz Is also owner of Danczpros.com and is very proud of her choreography and music editing company. Liz takes extreme pride and passion in her work and hopes to positively impact as many people as she can through dance.

 Christina Cunningham

Chrisi has been dancing since the age of two at Garden State Ballet: most of her training was from Starz Performing Arts Academy. Chrisi was captain and choreographer of her dance team while attending Wesley College in 2003. A 2008 garduate ofMontclair State University dance department with a degree in Fine and Performing Arts. Chrisi has been involved with the dance department at Montclair and was involved in The American Collage Dance Festival and Gala, which was hosted by MSU in 2006. Cgrisi has done various videos and industrials throughout NYC. Chrisi performed with the 2005 NBA all-star team and is currently doing promotions for the NBA. Chrisi has traveled to China and Korea to participate in the NBA World Games. She is so excited to be a part of the Starz Family.

Heather Corneliess

Heather has been dancing as far back as she can remember. From the early age of four she knew performing was the life for her. She began taking classes at Debbie McCann’s School of dance; Dancer’s In Motion and finally moved to Starz in 2002. As a student Heather competed locally and nationally through out the tri state area. Heather continues to take dance classes in New Jersey and New York City. Heather has performed at the NBA all-star games of 2006,2007 and is currently doing performances with the NBA fan patrol. Heather has traveled to China and Korea to participate in the NBA World Games. Heather has added entrepreneur to her bio;her dance retail store will be opening in Nutley Nj in August of 2008. Heather can't wait for another year of teaching at Starz.

Andrea Kron-Ballet Master Teacher

Andrea is a graduate of Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York City.  She toured with the Ailey student company throughout the east coast.  Her performing credits include Broadway, regional theatre, Nutcrackers, solo works, as well as movie and print work experience.
Teaching credits include Broadway Dance Center, Studio Maestro, both in New York City, as well as private dance schools and performing arts high schools.
She is a member of Dance NJ, and is also on the dance advisory committee for the Teen Arts Festival, Bergen County, NJ
Andrea teaches ballet, pointe, Lester Horton modern technique from The Ailey School, Theatre dance and Pilates throughout NY and NJ.
Andrea is happy to bring her energy and knowledge to the ballet students at Starz Performing Arts Academy

Michelle Stein-Musical Theater

Michele began dancing at the age of 3 in her hometown of Hoboken, NJ. After graduating from the High School of Performing Arts in NYC, she received a full scholarship to Adelphi University, where she earned her BFA in dance. Other scholarship awards have included Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival and American Dance Festival. But after developing pain in her right hip after years of intensive training, Michele resolutely but eagerly chose to pursue her theater interests by learning lighting design and stage management, and hoped to honor the wonderful instructors she’d had along the way by becoming a teacher herself.  Earning a BA in education, Michele began her second career as a public-school teacher in the North Bergen School District. Instead of being handed a theater position, her principal handed her a science textbook, so bringing theater into children’s lives would have to be extracurricular. Coordinating and working on school plays and musicals, and teaching lighting and stage crew became her newest passion—although not her only one. Today, Michele, after having earned an MA in Science Education, is an 8^th grade science teacher at Hackensack Middle School; and after school lets out this June, Michele will return to teaching/choreographing dance and musical theatre at the Caldwell Summer Arts Program for the 8^th year. Her continuing involvement with the Starz Performing Arts family brings her much joy, joy she shares with her daughter, Claudia, who appears to be following in Mom’s “dancesteps.”

Joelle Depaola-Ballroom

Laura Pentimone-Pace/ Debbie Pentimeone-Berko

Ardmore Academy of Irish Dance was founded in 1997 by Laura Pentimone-Pace and Debbie Pentimone-Berko. It offers traditional Irish Dance classes for beginners through champion level for children ages 3 and up. As part of the circulum, children are taught the basics of Irish Dance, including posture, foot placement and basic introductory steps and footwork in both the hard and soft shoes. Ardmore Academy's students have performed at cultural centers, the NJPAC and other performing art venues throughout New Jersey. Further, its students have competed all over the US, in Canada and Ireland, and several Ardmore dancers are regional and national medalists. Ardmore Academy is a member of the Mid-Atlantic, National and World Irish Dancing Commissions.