|
 
“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
|
|
