Premiere Dance of Flemington Teachers
Michael Cuomo
At only 28, Michael Cuomo has accumulated an impressive list of credentials. He uses his passion for dance in his involvement in the Reachout charity, volunteering his time dancing and talking with people to raise awareness of such diseases as breast cancer and AIDS. The Reachout program also performs at DARE graduations throughout New Jersey.
Michael's dance experience includes dancing in showcases at the Broadway Dance Center in New York City in a piece choreographed by world renowned choreographer Rhapsody. In 2000, he choreographed a number in Z100's Jingleball concert and danced with 'NSYNC at the MTV Video Music Awards. He continued choreographing in 2001 for such artists as Christina Aguilera and Pink at KTU's Beatstock and in 2002 for a music video for R&B group, 112.
From 2002-2003, Michael broadened his horizons a bit and took on the role as tour manager for KTU's Tina Ann's "In My Dreams" tour. He also had the privilege of dancing at high profile parties at the Sun Valley Resort in Idaho for such high profile clients as Bill Gates, Tom Hanks, and Oprah Winfrey. This past August, Michael danced for club artist Ali at KTU's Beatstock.
In addition to these experiences, he has been choreographer for the Knicks Dancers for the past five years and the Nets Dancers for the past two years.
We are very proud to have Mr. Michael as the owner of the studio.
Lori Carlucci
Lori Carlucci’s dance career started at an early age. Since the age of 3, Lori trained in many areas of dance and related fields, including: Ballet, Jazz, Baton Twirling, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Pom-Pon/Dance, Tap, and Modern. As a student, Lori attended workshops given by Frank Hatchett, as well as other instructors in the Dance Educators of America Conventions. She competed across the United States and also performed in the Soviet Union and Denmark. In addition to being a member and former Captain of a World-Champion Baton and Dance Company, she later returned to teach and choreograph them. In addition, Lori was Captain and Choreographer of the University of Maryland Dance Team, performing in basketball and football games as well as competitions.
As a professional, Lori has taught Jazz, Hip-Hop, Baton Twirling, Pom Pon, Pre-Ballet/Tap, Ballet, Tap, and Lyrical to dancers from ages 3-adult.. She was also a model/dancer for Sashay Entertainment, performing in industrials sponsored by MCI, Tower Records, Bubbles Hair Salons, and County Seat Clothing Company in the DC Metro Area. In addition, she served as Head Instructor/Choreographer for the Eastern Dance Association, instructing technical workshops and dance camps along the East Coast. In addition to her dance experience, she was also a qualified judge with the Mid-Atlantic Pom and Dance Association in the DC Metro area. Lori continues her dance education today by taking classes in NYC.
Lori has a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Maryland along with a Minor in Dance. She currently teaches second grade at Robert Hunter School in Flemington and has recently completed a Masters Degree in Educational Administration, as well. She has been teaching at Premiere Dance of Flemington since it opened. She is the Director of the studio and of the Legacy National Dance Team, the competition team at Premiere Dance of Flemington. Miss Lori always looks forward to continuing to challenge each student to improve in all aspects of their dance ability, and to be lifelong learners. She wishes Legacy a terrific competition season, as well. Long Live the Legacy!
Caitlin Bencivenga
Caitlin is a direct product of Premiere Dance. She began dancing at the age of two at Premiere Dance of Hillsborough (formerly known as Hillsborough Dance Academy) and was invited to join their dance team, the Dynamics, at the age of five. She initially competed with the team performing in Tap and later added Jazz, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, and Ballet to the list. Caitlin began teaching for Hillsborough in 2001. Throughout her years at Premiere, she also attended classes and conventions to further her knowledge in dance.
Aside from her many accomplishments linked to Premiere, Caitlin also became a member of the Rutgers Dance Team in her freshman year at Rutgers College. The Rutgers Dance Team is known throughout the nation to be a top contender within the collegiate division 1A. She traveled to Daytona to compete with the team and they received a 5th place ranking in their division. After her first year on the team, she decided it was not what she was looking for, but continued dancing at Rutgers through the program at Mason Gross.
This will be Caitlin’s second year at Premiere Dance of Flemington where she teaches both recreation classes and classes for their dance team, Legacy. Though she is only 20, she adds a unique component to the dance staff at Premiere and is known to be quite a colorful character.
Shana Bonetti
Shana Bonetti has been dancing at Premiere Dance of Hillsborough since she was the age of three. When Shana was in eighth grade, she auditioned for The Somerset County Vocational and Technical School for the Performing Arts and attended their program during high school. Over the years, Shana has studied all forms of dance, such as jazz, ballet, modern, tap, lyrical, broadway jazz, pointe, and hip hop. Shana was one of the twelve New Jersey dancers chosen to attend the New Jersey Governor’s School for the Arts in 2004. It was at this intensive scholarship program that Shana realized that dance was not only a hobby, but a part of life.
Since then, Shana has attended and graduated with her BFA in dance performance and choreography from the University at Buffalo. While in Buffalo, Shana was a member of both university dance companies and also a choreographer in both Dancers Workshop, a student run show, and Emerging Choreographers Showcase, an audition only departmental show. In college, she was fortunate to study ballet, jazz, modern, tap and contemporary. Shana has studied with numerous companies while attending school in Buffalo such as Urban Bush Woman, American Ballet Theatre, Ron Brown, HT Chen, and Elisa Monte. Being a dance major in college not only pushed Shana to her limits with performing and choreographing, but she was also very fortunate to be able to learn about the history of dance and really appreciate where movement comes from. It is in her own style that she incorporates stuff not only from an entertaining point of view, but from an educational one as well. While it was performing and the thrill of being onstage that kept Shana going in dance, she has also developed a strong love for choreography. Besides putting work on college shows, she has also choreographed numbers for the New Jersey Governors School for the Arts in 2007 and 2008, as well as for the Somerset County Vocational and Technical School. Besides dancing, Shana also has a great interest in the body awareness and health. Because of this interest, she has studied in Pilates and Yoga, which she incorporates in her dance teachings and technique.
Shana believes that throughout her many years at Premiere, Vo-Tech and Buffalo, she has created her own unique style of dancing and a love for teaching others. It is from all of these great places and experiences that she finds herself back teaching with the astounding teachers and mentors who got her to where she is today. It is her pleasure to offer others with all of the knowledge she has learned over the years and looks forward to becoming part of the Premiere family once again.
Samantha Cuilis
Samantha grew up dancing at Premiere Dance of Hillsborough since the age of 6. During that time, Samantha was part of the competition team competing in hip hop, jazz, lyrical, ballet, and tap receiving many awards in groups and as a soloist. She also received the Hillsborough Dance Academy award. During her high school years she attended the Somerset County Vocational School for the Gifted and Talented as a Dance major. While doing this Samantha attended numerous conventions and competitions in and around the New York City area winning scholarships and awards. After Samantha graduated from high school, she attended Marymount Manhattan College’s prestigious program as a dance major for two years in New York City. As of the fall of 2009, she will be transferring to Rutgers University, Mason Gross as a dance major where she received the Carr Scholarship for dance. Samantha has attended numerous conventions such as Shake N’ Break in NYC, where she was able to meet and take classes from choreographers from TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance. Also, she has helped choreograph for the New Jersey Nets dance team and many other events. This summer, she was selected from dancers all over the world to attend The Hollywood Summer Tour in Los Angeles, California. Samantha has always enjoyed her dancing and is very excited to be a teacher at Premiere Dance of Flemington.
Marie Kubeck
Sandra Locke
“Miss Sandy” began studying dance at the age of 3 and teaching at the age of 16.
Her instructional experience includes tap, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, ballet, Hawaiian, musical theatre, acting and acrobatics. Her choreography experience includes the Essex County Jr. Miss Scholarship Program, Mrs. NJ International Pageant and multiple award winning competition routines. Sandy’s professional experience includes traveling around the country as a magician’s assistant, print modeling, acting in commercials, being a movie extra, pageant judging and coaching, as well as being a dancer on the hit TV show “Club MTV”.
On a personal level, Sandy is a mother of two children, but has always seen her students as an extension of her own family. Teaching dance is not just a job to her, it is an expression of who she is and it will forever be her legacy.
Amanda Lydon
Amanda began her dance training in Syracuse, New York at age five with classes in tap, jazz, and ballet. Since then she has studied with numerous choreographers and teachers, at countless conventions and intensives, and in various techniques and disciplines.
While studying jazz, lyrical, tap, ballet, and pointe at Tawn Marie’s Dance Centre in Liverpool, NY until the age of 18, she competed in competitions around New York state and surrounding areas, regularly winning top prizes and titles while performing on the regional and national levels. During this time she also traveled to the Center of Ballet and Dance Arts to more specifically study ballet, pointe, and modern techniques. She attended the summer dance intensive at Point Park University. Amanda also received a scholarship during this time to attend the Joffery Ballet School’s summer intensive in NYC, which was a truly amazing and life changing experience.
Amanda attended and graduated from the University at Buffalo in 2009 magna cum laude with her Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) and multiple semesters with honors on the Deans List. While at the university, she was a member of the by-audition-only Zodiaque Dance Company and its second company the Zodiaque Studio Dance Ensemble for all four years at the school, a feat achieved by no other person in her graduating class. She was also a performer and invited student choreographer for Dancers Workshop, Emerging Choreographers Showcase, and for the Zodiaque Studio Dance Ensemble.
During her time in college, Amanda studied ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, modern, teaching methods, dance history, psychology, technical theatre, mind/body integration, acting, choreography, and was a teacher’s assistant in jazz. While in Buffalo, she was also fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to perform for the Dali Lama during his visit to the university and at the American College Dance Festival, as well as studying with companies such as the American Ballet Theatre, Urban Bush Women, Ron Brown, and Elisa Monte.
Amanda is dedicated to the education and advancement of dance as an art. She truly believes in the power of dance and is extremely excited to begin this new chapter in her life as a part of the Premiere Dance family!
Allison Tarriff
Allison is excited to return to her third year at Premiere Dance in Flemington and sixth year in Hillsborough.
Allison received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from Desales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. At Desales, she studied ballet and modern technique, tap, broadway jazz, pointe, costume design and theatre construction and performance. In college she performed in the Young Choreographers Series, Dance Ensemble, and Action Dance touring company. She was also the director of the Conservatory of Dance in which dance majors would teach local students then put on a yearly performance for the community. Since graduating Allison has performed in musicals including Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Evita, Anything Goes, and Joseph.
She is looking forward to starting another fun filled year of dance at Premiere.