126 Lantana Drive * Hockessin, DE 19707 * Phone: 302-234-9900 * Fax: 302-234-9906  

 
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For our patrons convenience dance attire is sold at the American Dance Academy.


 

Dance Colleges

Dance Colleges - The site provides information regarding dance colleges by various universities and colleges in the United States.
 

How To Make A Ballet Bun


Click Here  for a great tutorial on how to make a ballet bun.


 

Holiday Show

“I have been dancing at ADA for more than half of my life, and I think I am who I am partly because I grew up at the studio.  The studio has taught me so much more than just the art of dancing.  I have gained determination, commitment, confidence, responsibility, and leadership.   I have also learned how to manage my time and balance my life with all the different activities I am involved in” ~ High School Dancer

 

American Dance Academy opened in 1993 under the direction of Darlene-Giordano Cummings.  The facility offers state of the art equipment, ballet
barres and a top of the line floating dance floor.  The curriculum includes ballet, Pointe, jazz, tap, hip-hop, modern, cheer/tumble and pre-school, adult and intensive dancer programs for beginner through pre-professional levels.

The staff of American Dance Academy is made up of a wonderful group of
caring people who have a genuine love for the art of dance and the children.  Our teachers take the responsibility to insure that activities are safe and age/gender appropriate.  Each teacher encourages a positive, supportive
and mutually respectful working atmosphere while stimulating children’s minds
and physical skills.  They encourage students to strive to meet their fullest
potential and to value the art of dance.  Our teachers participate in yearly continuing education opportunities and programs to provide the most
up-to-date quality instruction.  They are not only teachers, but positive
role models, mentors and motivators.

American Dance Academy also brings in multiple Master Teachers from Philadelphia, New York and California each year to expand the student’s
dance training along with offering field trips to New York City to study
with multiple Master Teachers.

Darlene Giordano Cummings - Owner/Studio Director

Miss Darlene has been studying dance since 1972 and twirling since 1974. She started assisting dance teachers in 1981, at the age of 13, and has never stopped loving it. She has studied with various dance teachers at her alma mater schools and in the Philadelphia and New York areas. As a young child, she studied dance and twirling under the infamous Tony Award Winner Sue Strohman, choreographer of multiple Broadway shows such as “Crazy for You”, “Contact” and “The Producers” to name a few. Miss Darlene opened the studio in 1993 after teaching elementary and junior high school for 3 years. She graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Education while concentrating in dance and theatre. She has choreographed for many Philadelphia and Delaware theatre groups as well as for local high school marching band fronts and college theater groups.  She has also worked on choreographing and directing industrial commercials.  She now focuses her energy to American Dance Academy and teaches all levels at the studio at various times of the year. She attends multiple teacher training and business seminars each year. Her business ideas and philosophies have been used as examples in dance teacher training manuals.  She is thrilled to bring in new and innovative choreographers and master teachers to her studio, to go along with her professional staff, and strives to provide a wonderful and supportive atmosphere at the studio.   Miss Darlene is married to Dr. William Cummings, a dentist in Avondale PA, where she also does bookkeeping and assists with business marketing. They have 3 children under the age of 9, two young daughters and a little boy…by far the greatest yet most challenging accomplishment amongst them!

Jessica Westnedge-Olinik  - Artistic Director/Dance Company Director

Jessica Westnedge-Olinik began her dance training at the age of 3 in Philadelphia, Pa, and has trained in pre-professional dance companies all over the United States.  In high school she had the honor of performing in Disney World, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and has won numerous national titles.  For college, Jessica attended North Carolina School of the Arts as a Contemporary major and University of the Arts on scholarship, studied all genres of dance, and was trained by amazing teachers.  Her long list of performance credits include the 76er All-Star Dance Team, cast member of the musical Grease, performed with the artist Pink, she was a principle dancer with Contempradance Theatre & Opus One and has been the director & choreographer for several prestigious pre-professional dance companies.  For several years Jessica had the privilege in assisting Miss Lucille DiCampli of MSA Agency in NYC in several different projects.  She was chosen to be on exhibit as a Degas dancer at the Philadelphia Art Museum during the opening gala of the exhibit.  She was also the choreographer for an indoor fancy Mummers Brigade, in Philadelphia, where her choreography was displayed on national television.  

She is currently our artistic and dance company director, where her work has won her many top prizes and special awards at several prestigious competitions.  She continues to challenge and enlighten her students in the art of dance.  She also books and works alongside guest teachers and choreographers such as Purdie Baumann (former Rockette, currently on tour with “Young Frankenstein”), Jaimie Goodwin (HSM3 and SYTYCD Season 3), Abdur Rahim Jackson and Olivia Bowman-Jackson (Alvin Ailey Dancers/Choreographers), Camille A. Brown (highly acclaimed choreographer), and several others.  Her main goal is to enlighten and inspire students, professional dancers, and audiences, and aid in the growth and development in the future of dance.  Miss Jessica is thrilled to be going on her 8th season with American Dance Academy.

Jerzy Golek - Instructor
Jerzy Golek began his dance career at the age of 12, when he won a  national audition in his native Poland to receive a full  scholarship to the national Ballet Academy in Gdansk. This residential school combines a full academic program with training  to the highest levels of professional ballet performance. Upon  graduating from the Academy, Mr. Golek returned to his home, Lodz,  and performed in the Lodz Ballet.  He soon moved on to Warsaw and Mazowsze Dance Company, Poland’s premier international dance company for many years. He also continued his education at Warsaw University, obtaining a Master’s  Degree in Dance Education. As a principal with Mazowsze, he toured the world performing from Korea to Brazil, and regularly in the US, performing in Philadelphia at the Academy of Music.  Moving to the US to pursue his career in dance education, Mr. Golek currently teaches at West Chester University, Contempra Dance School, and the Pottstown Dance Theatre. He has produced much original choreography, including his signature piece, “Immolation”  a tribute to the victims of the Holocaust, set to the score of Schindler’s List.  He is President of Cultural Interchanges, which among other programs, annually takes American students and performers to the Ladek Zdroj International Festival of Dance in Poland. He also serves as assistant Artistic Director of the Schuylkill Valley Dance Company.
 
Tori Closson - Instructor

Tori Closson is originally from Philadelphia, PA. She began her dance training at the early age of 5 years old and studied Ballet, Tap and Jazz for fifteen years at Florence Cowanova Studio of Dance. After graduating from Hampton University in 1999 receiving a BA in English Arts, Tori began dancing professionally, appearing on MTV's Global Groove. She continued training with Rennie Harris PureMovement, studying the elements of Hip Hop Dance: Popping, Locking, B-girl and Street. She has also studied ballroom and Latin dance.

In 2000, Tori created the WTXF 'Good Day Philadelphia' Hip Hop Dance Team. She choreographed for the 76er's Junior Hip Hop Dance Team for four seasons and is a Master Teacher at the 76er's Dance Camps. She has choreographed for the 76er's Dance Team (basketball), The Kixx Dance Team (soccer) and a number of college dance teams. She has danced for Neil Young, The New York Jets and New York Giants Award Cermonies, NBC10 FitFest, The Illadelph Legends Festival and much more. Tori directed and choreographed for her own company,
FloMotion, and pre-professional Company, Flo2. Her company was featured in the national magazine 'Young Dancer' in March 2005.  In the summer of 2006, FloMotion was a headliner for a major performance in Tokyo, Japan. 
 
Tori lived in Dallas, Texas three years.  She taught Hip Hop and Dance Team Jazz for three years mentoring young women who wished to audition for major sports arena dance teams.  She has helped girls land spots on the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders and she has mentored for the Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans.  From this experience, Tori co-created Arena Dance Pros which is a consulting company assisting young women with going through the audition process.  ADP has helped girls with the Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders, The New York Jets Flight Crew, The Washington Redskins and many others.


Tori currently lives in Wilmington, Delaware and is the head coach for Padua Academy's Dance Team. 

Michelle Swift - Instructor
Miss Michelle has been dancing at the American Dance Academy since it opened in 1993. In high school she was on the A.I. Dupont Pom Squad. She then received her degree in Early Childhood Education from Delaware Technical and Community College and teaches the early childhood level dance classes. Miss Michelle and her husband, Brad, have two “early childhood” children of their own.
Kelly McAndrew  - Office Manager Instructor
Miss Kelly has been dancing at the American Dance Academy since 1994 after being a gymnast for 6 years.  She was a member of the Padua varsity dance team in high school and the Penn State Altoona dance team. Miss Kelly has her degree from the University of Delaware in the Human Services, Education and Public Policy department with concentrations in Education and Community Services and a minor in Psychology.  She worked for the Disney Cruise Line after graduation and is happy to be back teaching at ADA
Vincenza Carrieri-Russo - Ettiquette Teacher/Dance Teacher

 

Vincenza Carrieri-Russo has been dancing at American Dance Academy since it opened.  She won the title of Miss Delaware USA 2008 in November 2007. She competed in pageants for nine years prior to winning Miss Delaware USA. She was a three time runner-up in the Miss Delaware Teen USA pageant. She also competed in the Miss Delaware America competition four times having placed in the top ten twice where she also won several community service awards.

Vincenza is a student at the University of Delaware pursuing a degree in English with aspirations of entering the Broadcasting and Journalism industry. She is a 2003 graduate of Alexis I. duPont High School in Wilmington, Delaware. She co-founded the literacy organization Success Won't Wait Inc. when she was eighteen years old. Since its founding, she has been honored with several community service awards. In 2006, she was awarded with the State of Delaware Jefferson Award and went on to capture the national Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for excellence in volunteerism and community service. Even with her busy schedule, she always had a passion for dance and has been dancing since the age 3.

 
Suzanne Jackson - Vocal Teacher

 

Suzanne Jackson is a professional singer and certified yoga instructor and holds a master's degree in vocal performance from the University of Maryland.  She specializes in teaching yoga and voice techniques to singers and has taught principal artists at the Washington National Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. 
 
Suzanne is currently on the faculty of the Washington National Opera Summer Institute, Opera Delaware’s Artist Workshop and Placido Domingo’s Operalia Competition. She has also served on the faculty of Wolf Trap Filene Young Artist Program and the Washington National Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program. 
 
Combining her extensive training in yoga and voice, Suzanne has created the YogaSing method, which became the basis for her DVD by the same name. The YogaSing program is a revolutionary approach to yoga designed specifically for singers, performers, and public speakers. The combination of yoga poses, relaxation techniques, chakra work and Qigong strengthens and tones muscles, increases flexibility and lung capacity, and enhances the mind/body connection.   Suzanne regularly presents YogaSing and “The Art of Wellness for Singers” workshops to universities, operas and conventions. 
 
In her DVD ChakraWakening (filmed at Longwood Gardens) Suzanne works with each energy center through yoga and QiGong to awaken the chakras and enhance the user’s yoga practice and personal life. Suzanne has also created the YogaWakening DVD and CD, filled with sunrise stretches and sun salutations set to a soundtrack of chimes to help yogis at home greet the day. 
 
She is a resident singer with The Washington National Opera and is the creator and director of Camp Create, an intensive summer arts camp for children.  She has taught voice and piano lessons in her private studio for 20 years and has been a featured yoga instructor for Classsical Singer Magazine, Opera America, Chorus America and most recently on The Ten Show on NBC.                           Web sites: www.ChakraWakening.com www.YogaSing.com
Todd Munoz - Summer Hip Hop
Todd Munoz is a Hip-Hop dancer, instructor, and choreographer based out of the Philadelphia area and currently works under the company II Extreme. During his dance career, Todd has been given the opportunity to perform across the nation, train under amazing dancers and involve himself in performances of a lifetime. Most recently, Todd has had the opportunity to dance on BET's 106 & Park. On this show, he has opened for artists such as Diddy Dirty Money, Bow Wow, Lil' Wayne, and Drake. As a choreographer, Todd can be noted mostly for his work with the University of Delaware Dance Team, with whom he has helped them achieve three consecutive national titles.

Todd is certified in Child & Adult CPR and Emergency First Aid

Tim Early - Summer Ballet

Tim Early currently shares duties as co-director of the Philadelphia based modern company Opus I contemporary.  In addition to working with many independent choreographers such as Terry Beck, Charles O Anderson, Eva Gholson he continues to perform with local companies including Brandywine Ballet, and Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet.  He has taught and choreographed for Temple University, Mount Holyoke College, West Chester University, Lafayette College, Moravian College, Brandywine Ballet, Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet and Opus I contemporary.  Since 1999, Tim Early has headed the dance department at the Performing Arts Institute in Wilkes-Barre, PA.  Mr. Early is trained in ballet, modern and jazz and he enjoys a full time teaching schedule.   In his spare time, Tim is an avid photographer and loves to ride his bike.
 
Adrienne Lusi - Summer Jazz & Arena Dance Pros

Adrienne started dancing at the age of three and continued her formal dance training with the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet and Koresh Dance Center located in Philadelphia.  As a result, her extensive technical dance training has given her many opportunities.  She has had the pleasure of dancing in many live shows and videos with some of the most talented artists and groups in the music business.  Some of these artists include Will Smith, Pink, Destiny’s Child, City High, Rob Base, Ludacris, Q-Tip and Chubby Checker.  Adding to the list of professional credits, many dance companies and shows such as MTV Global Grove, MTV Rock N Jock, NBA Inside Stuff, KTU N.Y.C Jingle Ball, NBA Mexico City, and ESPN (Pro Dance), have reaped the benefits of her dance professionalism.  While working with ESPN, Adrienne was given the opportunity to work and perform with Brittany Spears’ and So You Think You Can Dance choreographer, Brian Friedman.  Adrienne’s dance career led her to appear in print work modeling and in various commercials and magazines with Southwest Airlines, Polo, Curtain Call Costumes, Dance Spirit Magazine, Philadelphia Magazine, and Philadelphia’s Health and Fitness Magazine.  After recently ending her twelfth season as the captain and coach of the Philadelphia 76ers Dancers, Adrienne continues to teach dance team style as co founder of “Arena Dance Pros” and “Arena Dance Pros Kids”.  You can see some of Adrienne's choreography in the movie Standing Ovation

 

“They teach us to respect each other, learn discipline and responsibility, and have fun with what each of us loves to do-dance!!!  They created “a home away from home” for us to be.  Most importantly, they let us know that it is ok to be ourselves and that each and every dancer is special and valued in their own way.  They truly believe in their dancers and that is something that has influenced who I am today” ~High School Dancer

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the
lighting of a fire” 
William Butler Yeats

Employment Opportunities

Employment:  Technically qualified candidates with appropriate teaching experience can send resume, references and cover level including subjects, styles, age ranges and levels you are qualified to teach to:

 

American Dance Academy

Attn:  Darlene Giordano Cummings

126 Lantana Drive

Hockessin, DE  19707

Or DanceatADA@comcast.net

 

Compensation is based on level of college education and teaching experience.

 
   
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