Meet The Staff
- Rita Ogden
Rita Ogden owner & Instructor (Ballet, Jazz, Acrobatics, Creative & Combo Classes)
has been involved in many genres of performing arts including dance, theatre, print, TV, and film. She has studied ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, gymnastics, clogging, square dancing, lyrical, liturgical, theatre dance, hip-hop, Celtic, ballroom and Latin jazz. She received her dance instruction certification in ballet, jazz, tap and acrobatics from Dance Masters of America and sits on the board of directors for chapter #25. She is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild, and most recently has appeared in such movies as Shooters, Rocky Balboa, Lady in the Park, My Sassy Girl and Invincible. She graduated from Drexel University with a BS in Design & Merchandising, with a concentration in small business and show production. Rita's choreography has appeared in a Glaxco SmithKline commercial and on the Tomorrowland stage in Walt Disney World. Rita enjoys how eager her students are to learn and execute new skills and their determination to give it their all.
- Angela Ball
Instructor (Tap & Combo Classes)
has studied various forms of dance including jazz, ballet, modern, lyrical, Celtic and hip-hop, with her first love being tap. She has studied with such choreographers as Judy Bassing, Gil Stroming, Colin Dunne of Riverdance, and Tap Great Brenda Buffalino. Her choreography ha been seen in several competitions and has appeared in the Disney Magic Music Days program in Orlando , Florida , in 1997 and 2004. She is a member of Dance Masters of America through DMA's Teacher Certification Program. She made her NY debut in Gil Stroming's production of Break the Floor . She has plans to continue her study of Latin and Ballroom dancing this summer. Angela is thrilled to have the opportunity to pass on her experience and love of dance to her students. .
- Jennifer Hanner
Instructor (Ballet)
Jennifer began her training in ballet at six years old in Bordentown , NJ , at “The Ballet School”. At the age of ten, she continued her training with the Ballet Austin Academy , the official school of Ballet Austin . She went on to perform with the company in the corps. Jennifer was fortunate enough to receive private coaching with Pixie Bevans of the London Festival Ballet, Robert and Barbro Roland of Ballet Caravan and the Birgit Cullberg Ballet, and Thomas Hanner of the San Francisco Ballet. She also performed as a soloist with the Mt. Vernon Ballet Company and Ballet South. Jennifer has taught regularly and given guest classes at over 30 different schools in the Delaware Valley , and looks forward to many more years of working the young people on developing their skills and character through the discipline of ballet.
- Stephanie Bennett
Stephanie Bennett—Instructor (Hip-Hop)
“Street dancer/hip-hopper”, whatever you want to call it – that is her. She is familiar with various styles of dance, but this particular one took hold of her soul when she was young and has never left her. She teaches the original positive aspects of hip-hop dance culture. From old school to new schools styles, she instills rhythm, confidence and individual flavor in her students. She has studied with Rennie Harris (Pure Movement), Rhapsody James, Dave Scott (You Got Served), and Sammy Reyes (Koresh) to name a few. She appeared on several televised dance shows and picked up many shows supporting established artists, such as Destiny's Child, Sir Mix a Lot, and 2 Live Crew, to name a few. She is a member of ITDI-International Teachers of Dance, the Camden Children's Music Project, where she volunteers dance instruction during gym at local schools in need, and a Garden State Dance Festival participant. Her choreography has appeared on NBA/MTV “Stay in Schools Jam”, radio station Q102's annual concerts, and in many competitions. Stephanie is passionate about teaching, true to her craft, and appreciative to all her students for their interest and effort.

- Andrea Mychaels
Instructor (Jazz)
Was was born and raised in Southern New Jersey . She began dancing at age two and found her passion. She began performing at age ten. Andrea has been teaching and choreographing for the past ten years. She has done work for dance teams, as well as theatrical productions. She is currently a member of the faculty at Fusion Dance in Southern New Jersey , and is the Director of “evolution”, a hip-hop dance company for young dancers that performs up and down the east coast. Andrea has also contributed her style of jazz, funk and hip-hop to the New Jersey Nets Power'n Motion Dance Team during the 2001 season and has been a featured choreographer for the past four years at the “Garden State Dance Festival”. Andrea has become a member of the Underground Dance Project under the direction of Rueben Edwards, and recently founded her “Funk-n-Motion” professional dance company, which premiered at the Underground Dance Project; Dance is Life Vol. 1 performance at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center in New York City , December 2002.


- Carol Howley
 (Pilates)
Is is a certified ACE personal trainer. She has been working in the fitness industry for over ten years, specializing in weight training, yoga, pilates, core strength and cardio fitness. Carole's many fitness certifications include YogaFit, AAAI Level 3 Pilates, yoga and group fitness, and Madd Dog spinning. Carole danced as a young girl and now takes pleasure in watching her daughters, Olivia and Laura, dance. Carole graduated from the University of Delaware . Carole teaches Pilates for Dancers here at Ovations. Pilates is a form of exercise that focuses on core strength, flexibility and breathing.

- Kennith A. Thomas
(Hip Hop)

was born on April 15, 1984 in Newark, NJ. Kennith moved to Willingboro, New Jersey at the age of 6 where he was raised. Kennith first started dancing in the sixth grade perfroming Billy Jean in the sixth grade play. From there he would pick up the new hip-hop styles of dance. In late 2003, Kennith linked up with Brice Johnson to form the company Faceless Entertainment. Kennith and Brice linked up with other members Joshua Polk and Derek Gains to complete the group. Together they made it their business to learn and understand the history of Hip-hop dance. With the help of Mrs. Carol Davis and Tamiko French, they had a better understanding on how to move their body's to the music and not so much on being worried about moves. In January of 2005, Kennith linked up with Partner Marcus Tucker of Illadelph Phlave. Together the two would put their companies together to form one group you as today the illest hip-hop and funk group on the east coast Face Da Phlave Entertainment.

Danielle

- Danielle McGulligan
(Jazz)

was born and raised in Ridley, Pennsylvania and started dancing at the age of three. She has studied various forms of dance such as ballet, tap, jazz, modern, pointe, lyrical, and hip-hop. She is now a full-time student attending the University of the Arts as a jazz major. She has danced in numerous ensembles including Roni Koresh and Rennie Harris at the Merriam Theatre in Philadelphia as well as student and senior pieces at the University of the Arts. Danielle enjoys teaching in her spare time sharing her talents in hip-hop as well as jazz and lyrical. She has appeared in a "sleep over in Philadelphia" commercial. Danielle also had the privilege of being chosen to travel to Beijing, China with a group of dancers to perform in the International Cultural Festival.

- Regina Ondrejco
(Jazz)

was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. She began singing and dancing with the Pittsburgh Slovakians at the age of three, but began formal dance training at Pat's Dance Studio, now the Steel City Academy of Dance, when she was four. Throughout her childhood, Gina loved to dance--she took ballet, tap, and jazz classes and also continued to sing and dance with the Slovakians. During high school, she served as a student teacher at Steel City Academy of Dance as well. Gina attended Villanova University, where she majored in Mechanical Engineering and minored in English. At the University, she was a member of the Villanova Dance Company. As a Company member, Gina was fortunate enough to perform at 2 UDA College National Dance Championships in Orlando, FL in jazz, lyrical, and hip-hop routines. She recently graduated from Villanova and is currently working for Lockheed Martin in South Jersey. Gina is very excited to be at Ovations to share her love of dance with students as she moves onto a new phase of her life!

Gina


- Melissa Demyan
(Acrobatic Subtitute)

began dance at the age of three, starting with ballet at The Woodbridge Theatre of Performing Arts then moving on to Woodbridge School of Dance, studying tap, ballet, jazz & acrobatics under Jacqui O'Shaughnessy, (then Jacqui Duffy.) She joined Central Jersey Dance & Gymnastics, where she competed in gymnastics throughout the North Jersey Region. After moving to South Jersey she continued with dance classes which quickly lead to an interest in theatre. She was the assistant choreographer at Washington Township High School and later returned to choreograph for the Mr. Washington Township contest. College led her to the technical side of the entertainment business, as she received a degree from the Art Institute of Philadelphia in Specialized Business; Music & Video. She has been representing children through adults as a Talent Manager for film, tv, commercials & print work throughout New Jersey , Philadelphia & New York all the while working as an actor herself, with most of her principal work being in radio commercials. You can also see her in films such as Jersey Girl, Garden State , Invincible and the yet to be released, Ryan Leaf documentary. To keep her ‘on her toes' Melissa is an avid line dancer, swing dancer & is currently taking Hustle lessons! She was first runner up in the WXTU Bomshel Stomp choreography contest this past winter. Melissa is excited to join the Ovations Staff and is looking forward to her enrollment in Dance Masters of America's Teachers Training School next summer.

- Cailtin Keane Demyan
(Jazz Substitute)

started taking dance at the age of eight and her passion for it has grown every day since. Throughout her grade school and high school years, she trained at a couple different studios and is currently enrolled in the dance program and pursuing her BFA at the University of Arts in Philadelphia. Caitlin's dance education spectrum included ballet, tap, jazz, modern and hip-hop. While being a full-time student and teaching at Ovations, she is also a member of the Philadelphia Kixx Dance Team. Caitlin truly enjoys teaching and sharing her love of dance with her students, and hopes to go on to dance professionally once she has graduated college.