Artistic Directors

Lynn Lesniak Needle

Lynn Lesniak Needle, former soloist with the Nikolais Dance Theatre, has toured internationally, traveling to six out of seven continents and more than 40 United Sates. She began dancing at age four with Annette McKenna, where her weekly training in ballet expanded to include jazz, tap, and, eventually, her lifelong love—modern dance. Lynn has been influenced by many, but studied intensely with her mentors Alwin Nikolais and Murray Louis at the Nikolais/Louis Dance Lab in New York City.

Lynn earned her B.A. in Dance cum laude from Connecticut College. Lynn was the recipient of the ACDFA Dance Magazine National Award for her choreography, adjudicated by Murray Louis, Pauline Koner and Clay Taliafero. Her work COOL WAVE, featured in Dance Magazine was performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Murray Louis invited Lynn to study at the Dance Lab, where she met Nik and was invited to join the Nikolais Dance Theatre. Nik created seminal works on Lynn during her tenure with the company and she began teaching while on tour. She was later asked to direct the Nikolais and Louis Dance Lab, a professional studio school of dance in Soho where she arranged for dancers from around the world to study with Nik and Murray. During this time, Lynn pioneered classes in Pilates-based exercises, training with thera-bands, trampolines, and fitness balls. Her students included Jane Pauley, Meredith Brokaw, Anna Murdoch, many print and fashion models, and dancers who have gone on to perform with professional companies.

Over the years, Lynn has choreographed pieces for MTV, corporate videos for Verizon, and premiered her work at the Boston Conservatory, Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C, the Westbeth Theater Center in the West Village, and the JOYCE SOHO, as well as Hunter College, Rutgers University, Montclair State University, Ramapo College, Bergen Community College, Ridgewood’s annual First Night Celebration of the Arts, and for local community theatre groups. In many of these venues, Lynn has choreographed for the Art of Motion Ensemble, a company established after she founded the non-profit studio, Art of Motion, Inc.

Lynn has also worked for the N.J. State Department of Education as an artist in residence in the public schools and was a regional coordinator for the N.J. School of the Arts, a performing arts high school without walls. She became a staff developer, assisting public school districts in developing dance programs and infusing creativity in the classroom. Lynn has served as President of the Ridgewood Arts Council and is a passionate visual and performing arts advocate.


Olivia Galgano

Olivia directs the classical ballet program at Art of Motion and choreographs excerpts from classical repertory as well as original work. Olivia began her ballet training with the Boston School of Ballet at the age of seven under the direction of E. Virginia Williams. At the age of 16, she became a member of the New England Civic Ballet Company, presently known as the Boston Ballet Company. As a soloist, her performances included Rustic Wedding, which was created specifically for her by Leon Danielian. The work was premiered at the Boston Arts Festival and also performed at the Gloucester Arts Festival. She was then invited to join and became one of the youngest members of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, touring throughout the United States and Canada.

Olivia's repertoire included over 50 ballets, and she performed solo roles in such ballets as Coppelia, Swan Lake, Gaite Parisienne, Le Beau Danube, and Sombreros. Her coaches included such renowned artists as Fredrick Franklin, Anton Vilzak, Leon Danielian, and Irina Barovska, all of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.

Now a resident of Paramus, Olivia has been teaching in Bergen County and has choreographed a number of original pieces that have been performed at the New Jersey Dance Festival and the Bergen Community Dance Festival. Along with her dedication to teaching and choreographing, she has served as chairperson of the Cultural Committee for the Paramus Schools and has assisted the music department in creating and developing movement into their curriculum. Olivia was co-owner and artistic director of the Classic Ballet School for over 20 years. The Classic Ballet Ensemble has performed throughout the New Jersey school system and other community facilities. Currently, she is co-director of Art of Motion and has continued her artistic dedication and choreographic efforts through the Art of Motion Ensemble. She strives to keep the classics alive by restaging some of the great ballets, such as those by Petipa and Fokine, as well as creating original works. She has been influenced by choreographers such as Balanchine and Robbins, who maintained the classics, but were the innovators of the contemporary dance world.


Their Philosophy

As Artistic Directors, Lynn and Olivia focus on developing the range of movement of each student to his or her fullest capacity and emphasize the history and artistry of dance as an art form and discipline. They hope to provide an artistic atmosphere that is conducive to learning about the body as an expressive instrument by offering classes in classical ballet, modern, tap, classical jazz, theatre dance, Pilates-based exercise, yoga, improvisation, choreography, repertory, and dance conditioning.


Faculty

Susan Nabors Braisted and Niel DeMarino

Susan Nabors Braisted has been dancing since age 10. In addition to her work with Baroque and 18th century Country Dance, she has an extensive background in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Musical Theatre. Sue has danced with the Connecticut Grand Opera, the State Opera Company (Connecticut) and worked on numerous theatre productions as a dancer, singer, and choreographer.

Sue became involved in living history in the late 70’s and was introduced to 18th century Country Dancing by the late Chip (Cyril) Hendrickson of the Hendrickson Group, with whom she studied for over 13 years. In 1996, her work gave her the opportunity to choreograph and appear in dance sequences for the PBS series Liberty, the American Revolution. She also worked on the production of Alan Alda’s movie Sweet Liberty.

Sue Studies Baroque dance with Dorothy Olsson, Ph.D., and Kaspar Mainz of New York Historical Dance. She also has attended workshops by Ken Pierce at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA, Tom Baird of Appollo’s Banquet, and most recently with the New York Baroque Dance Company.

Since 2004, Sue has participated in the Amherst’s Early Music Festival, dancing in productions of Handel’s Almira, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Campara’s L’Europe Galante, and Cavalli’s La Calisto.

In 2003, Sue and Niel DeMarino founded In Good Company, combining their knowledge of 18th century dance styles and authentic reproduction clothing to bring performances to a variety of historic sites and venues.


Montse Viader Costello

Montse was born and raised in Barcelona, Spain. She came to New York City to work as a fashion model and decided to stay. She discovered yoga and always felt an attraction to it, but it was not until she moved to New Jersey and found “Naturally Yoga” that the attraction became a way of life. Montse studied with her teacher, Sheryl Edsall, as a way to deepen her practice; it became clear to her that yoga was a new chapter in her life’s journey. She is very inspired by the Anusara technique, where the poses are considered to be “heart-oriented,” and are expressed from the inside out. Her intention is that you will build your confidence, self-worth and sense of inner goodness by classes filled with playfulness (lila), an emphasis on good foundation, and building strength to be able to be present in and off the mat. In this way, we can integrate and unify the heart, mind and body. She would like to deeply thank all of her teachers, especially: Sheryl Edsall, Liz Aitken, Chaya Spenser, Sharon Kenney and Zhenja La Rosa.


Ravah Daley

Ravah Daley began her dance career as a classical ballet dancer in Los Angeles, California. By the age of sixteen, she had become a professional jazz dancer and singer, with ballet as her foundation. Ravah appeared as a regular on numerous variety shows including; The Carroll Burnett Show, Sonny & Cher, and The Osmonds, among others. Intermittently, she worked on a number of television specials, which were built around stars such as Ann Margaret, Goldie Hawn, Liza Minnelli and John Denver. She was also fortunate to have worked regularly with excellent choreographers such as Lester Wilson, Ron Fields and Michael Peters. Highlights of Ravah’s career included partnering Mikhail Baryshnikov in the television specials Baryshnikov on Broadway and Baryshnikov in Holly wood. Additionally, she spent several years touring throughout the world, singing rock and roll and dancing (as dance captain) with Tina Turner. Ravah also has several film and stage credits, including a concert tour with Chuck Mangione and his full orchestra as partner and assistant to the choreographer, Joe Bennett. Edward Vilella choreographed Ravah’s first Broadway show and a subsequent show, including the original production of Dreamgirls, directed by Michael Bennett and choreographed by Michael Peters. Throughout the years, Ravah has taught dance and currently teaches Luigi’s jazz technique. Like so many other performers, Ravah continues to be inspired by her mentor, Luigi.


Jennifer Del Rio

Ms. Del Rio has performed at the Rainbow Room, The Waldorf, Roseland, Giants Stadium, Shea Stadium, and overseas as Miss USO 2001. She has sung for audiences as small at 8 and as large as 80,000, in venues ranging from intimate clubs to the rolling deck of an aircraft carrier. She can be heard on the Miss USO 2001 CD. Jennifer has her own solo cabaret act The Human Heart, which she has performed at Judy’s Chelsea in NYC with more performances in the near future. An accomplished actor as well as singer, Ms. Del Rio has been seen off-Broadway in the York Theatre Company’s production of The Show Goes On with Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, and can be heard on the original cast album of that show. She has toured with productions of A Little Night Music and worked at theatres such as Paper Mill Playhouse, Capitol Repertory Theatre, Barrington Stage Company, Westchester Broadway Theater, and The North Carolina Theatre, She headlined with Phyllis Diller in a tribute to Bob Hope with the Air Force Band of Flight at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. In television, Jennifer was in the (in)famous “Babes Behind Bars” episode of One Life to Live, the first ever all-musical episode of a soap opera. Favorite roles include Louise in Gypsy, Annie in A Little Night Music, Carrie in Carousel, and Kathy Seldon in Singin’ in the Rain, to name just a few.


Lisa Giannone

Lisa began dancing when she was four years old. She trained at several schools in the North Jersey area, including Classical Ballet School and Irene Fokine, and attended the American Ballet Theater School and Point Part College School of Performing Arts. Lisa has been a teacher/choreographer for almost 20 years.


Ruth Grauert

Ruth holds an M.A. from Columbia University and a certificate as dance educator from the Henry Street Playhouse. Having worked for 40 years with Alwin Nikolais, she has designed lighting and served as mentor for many dancers in that discipline. Her published articles are concerned with various aspects of performance aesthetic. Her award-winning poetry deals primarily with man in nature. Ruth's Web site, BearnstowJournal.org, offers articles and discussion forums on dance, poetry, the arts, and the Nikolais aesthetic. When Annelise Mertz, Professor Emerita of Washington University in St. Louis, asked Ruth to write an article about how Bearnstow approached the teaching of the arts for her book The Body Can Speak, the essay "The Common Aesthetic" was Ruth's response and may be read at her Web site.


Stephen Innocenzi

Stephen has performed in numerous theatrical productions including the title role in Anton Chekhov’s Ivanov at The Mint Theatre, The Dauphin in George Bernard Shaw’s St. Joan at The West End Theatre, Major Arnold in Ronald Harwood’s Taking Sides for The Heritage Theatre, and Dr. Kroll in Henrik Ibsen’s Rosmersholm. Television credits include Law & Order and 100 Centre Street. On film he played the lead in Simulacrum, which won best film at the 1997 Sacramento Festival of Film. Stephen also choreographed Warrior for The Tennessee Performing Arts Center, and he directed an award winning production of Marie Jones’ A Night in November for the Actor’s Bridge. Stephen is a member of the New Jersey Repertory Company. He was member of Michael Moriarty’s private acting class for six years has been authorized by Mr. Moriarty to teach his acting method. Stephen also teaches Lama-Pai Kung Fu and Tai Chi Chuan. He is recognized as an instructor by the United States Wu-Shu /Kung-Fu Federation and the North American Chinese Martial Arts Federation and is a member of the International Yang Tai Chi Chuan Association.


Sally Kane

Sally has had an extensive career as a professional dancer prior to teaching. Her earlier training began at The Classic Ballet Company in New Jersey, where she completed the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance syllabus. Sally's credits as a soloist include Los Angeles Ballet, Chicago City Ballet, and Boston Opera Ballet. She also performed with the renowned Joffrey Ballet in NYC. As a performer, Sally has had the opportunity to tour Israel, Italy, and the former Soviet Union. Her teaching credits include the Academy of Dance for the Performing Arts in Westwood Lake, CA, Stanley Holden Dance Center, in Los Angeles, and In The Spotlight, in Waldwick, NJ. Sally has been with Dance Plus since its opening in 1992 and is delighted to have joined the faculty of Art of Motion in 2003.


Elizabeth Matejka-Grossman

Liz, who trained at the Royal Ballet School in London, England as well as Copenhagen’s Royal Danish Ballet and Monaco’s Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, has performed extensively for various companies and venues in both Europe and the United States. Elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance, she has taught dance to students a wide range of ages and abilities. Liz, who worked as a tenured high school teacher in the New York City Public Schools, received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan and has Masters Degrees from both Columbia University’s Teachers College and Harvard Graduate School of Education. With a background in instrumental, vocal, and theatre, Liz appeared in her first television commercial at a young age for the Special Olympics—an organization which would subsequently play an important role as well as inspiration in her life, initially as a volunteer for Manhattan Special Olympics and later as the mother of a child with special needs. Liz is a co-founder and co-directs Sharing the Barre and Sharing the Stage performing arts programs for individuals with differing needs under the Sharing the Arts (STA) umbrella, one of the special needs endeavors in residence as Art of Motion.


Michael Sean Prendergast

Michael is a graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. He enjoyed playing the role of Prince Florimund in Art of Motion’s performance of Sleeping Beauty. He recently joined the Art of Motion faculty.


Christine Reisner

Christine, a former member of the Nikolais Dance Theater, has worked with numerous dance companies and choreographers. She taught jazz and modern dance at prima ballerina Rosella Hightower’s acclaimed Centre de Dance International in Cannes, France, at the Academy International de Dance in Paris, and as a guest teacher and choreographer at New York City’s Trinity High School. She also performed in musical theater productions in New York City and France as a singer and dancer. Most recently, Christine performed as a soloist with Henning Rubsam’s Sensedance and joined the Art of Motion faculty.


Norma Smith

Originally from Brazil, after extensive ballet training, Norma joined the Stuttgart Ballet and toured around the world. She is currently a highly renowned ballet teacher in schools throughout Bergen County and teaches advanced ballet for adults at AOM. She is a gifted choreographer and is known for her rigorous classes and clarity of technique.


Clare Stelling

Clare, initially a dancer, trained in both ballet and modern, and has taught dance for over 15 years. Clare received her Bachelor of Fines Arts degree in dance from Emerson College in Boston in 1985. Her performance career was stunted by injuries, and the physical therapy rehab and exercises she adopted into her daily regimen led her to a better understanding of muscle imbalances that lead to injury. Fascinated by the work of PT’s, she embarked on an education in the field of rehabilitation, incorporating yoga, massage therapy, and Pilates.

While working with physical therapists and occupational therapists in private clinics, hospital settings, sports medicine, neuromuscular dysfunction, and pediatrics, Clare received certification in Massage Therapy in California in 1996, and subsequently a three-year training process in Pilates certification. Clare became certified in the Pilates mat program in San Francisco, followed by the machines program in Los Angeles through Physicalmind Institute.

Clare has developed a unique and beneficial style of teaching Pilates, incorporating soft tissue mobilization, active/passive stretching, and yoga. She feels very strongly that the benefits of Pilates, combined with massage therapy, were able to provide her with a pain-free lifestyle. She is physically stronger now than when she was dancing and enjoys helping other attain health and well-being. Clare is a member of the International Massage Association and the Pilates Method Alliance. Log on to her website at www.pilatesinstructor.net.


Sally Taylor Sullivan

Sally received her B.F.A. in Dance from the Julliard School and an M.A. in Dance Research and Reconstruction from the City College of C.U.N.Y. She is a certified teacher of Labanotation and the Alexander Technique. Sally teaches dance and the Alexander Technique to people of all ages and levels. She has taught at the Julliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Queens College, City College, Connecticut College, Northwestern University, Bergen Community College, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, and the School of the Hartford Ballet. Sally is the mother of two young children and is married to Scott Simpson, a professional percussionist and teacher at The Ridgewood Conservatory. Sally teaches classical ballet, modern dance, musical theater, Renaissance and Baroque Dance, and dances from around the world at Art of Motion.


M. A. Taylor

Taylor began his dance career in 1987 as a featured dancer on MTV, where he continued until 1990. He went on to become a choreographer and dancer for the music video UNITY. In addition to television and videos, Taylor has danced in several stage productions over the years in New York City. Taylor has also danced for several dance companies, including Premiere Dance Theatre and Footprints Dance Company. In 1995, he founded Taylor Dance Company, for which he is the artistic director/choreographer. Taylor has taught Master jazz classes and workshops throughout New Jersey. He received his dance training at Science University Arts Academy, Garden State Ballet, Gallmans Newark Dance Theater, Broadway Dance Center, and Steps on Broadway. Taylor received his B.A. degree from Rutgers University and currently runs the dance program at Plainfield High School.


Sally Ann Tumas

Sally is very excited to be joining the faculty at Art of Motion. When Sally was a senior in high school, she won first prize in the National Association of Teachers and Singers competition for the state of New Jersey. After being offered scholarships to study opera, she decided to pursue studies in musical theatre. Sally received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the highly esteemed College Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, where she majored in musical theatre. She has performed in Carnegie Hall, New York’s Town Hall, and Lincoln Center. Broadway credits include Victor Victoria, directed by Blake Edwards, and Frank Wildhorn’s Jekyll and Hyde. She performed in the Broadway National Tour of Kiss of the Spiderwoman with Chita Rivera and played Babette (aka the feather duster) in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Sally is a new Ridgewood resident, wife, and mother of two beautiful boys. She has studied voice for nearly 20 years and loves working with children and teenagers.


Other Guest Faculty

Laurie Crochet-Hyslop, Broadway dancer/actress

Kim Gibilisco, owner The Pilates Lab, NYC

James Kinney, member Chet Walker Jazz Co.

John Mineo, Broadway actor, dancer, singer, West Side Story, Dancin, Chorus Line, Chicago, Pippin, Hello Dolly, Bye Bye Birdie, West Side Story, Fosse expert

Christian Von Howard, faculty of the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center