Center Stage Dance and Theatre School




		Our Faculty .................................................................................................................................................................. Select a letter range to view our faculty (grouped by last name): A-G H-R S-Z ________________________________________________________________________ A-G Susan Penaskovic Bednarski (Ballet) - Susan is currently a company member of the Anglo-American Ballet, the Staten Island Ballet and Shore Ballet. She has taught ballet in New York at New York University, and at Kingsley Studios, as well as Saint Peter's College and Raritan Valley Community College. She studied ballet with Catherine Kingsley and at the Joffrey Ballet School, and jazz with jazz legend Luigi. She has a Master's degree in dance from New York University. Marlowe Davis (Jazz, Lyrical) - Marlowe Scott Davis began his dance training at Center Stage Dance and Theatre School. He was a member of their competition tap and jazz companies, Tap Cats and Sr. Cats. While competing he received several regional titles and one national title. Marlowe continued his dance training at North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, NC. After finishing school he received a scholarship to attend the "Alvin Ailey American Dance Center" in Manhattan. He performed with the Alvin Ailey company in their City Center season in NYC. He has also performed modern dance choreography by David Parsons, Paul Taylor and Merce Cunningham. After leaving the modern dance world, he toured Europe as a backup dancer for "103.5 KTU's dance music Diva "Despina Vendi" (I can't be) and appeared in one of her music videos. Returning to the state's he's performed choreography by former Madonna dancer "Slam" and has done industrial performances for "Toyota." Marlowe has appeared in an Off-Broadway musical "Thin Line." You can also catch him every year in Manhattan's annual Mega-Event "Broadway Bares." Dancing on stage with such stars as John Stamos and Cyndi Lauper. He continues to work with a Jazz, Hip Hop dance company, and has also moved into modeling, posing for "HX Magazine's" annual swimsuit issue. Marlowe is now a resident judge with the prestigious dance competition, Legacy Dance Championships. Lainie Defranco (Ballet) - Lainie began her studies at the Hartford Ballet Co., where she performed with the junior company and chamber ensemble. She graduated from Hartford's two year teaching program. Ms. DeFranco has taught all levels of ballet for both adult and children's professional classes for the Hartford Ballet, Syracuse Ballet Co., Metropolitan School for the Arts and the Princeton Ballet. Lainie is co-director of the Center Ballet Ensemble. Lainie has been teaching for Center Stage since 1985. Mickey DeFranco (Jazz, CATS Company Director) - Mickey served as choreographer for “Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego”, as well as the opening dance montage, for PBS television; Metropolis Studios, New York City. She is an active member of Dance Educators of America, and is the director of the national award winning Pre-Professional Center Stage CATS Jazz Company. CATS Alumni have appeared on Broadway in “Urban Cowboy”, “CATS”; Nationals Tours of: “Fame”, “Tommy”, “Footloose”, “Chorus Line”, “West Side Story”. Her students have appeared on television and in theatres around the country. She has done choreography for Resorts International Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, and was a Master Choreographer/Teacher for Dance Troupe, Inc.. Mickey was a guest choreographer with Broadway Dance Center featuring Frank Hatchett, Finis Jhung, and Savion Glover (New York City). Elaine George Foulides (Musical Director) - As a vocal coach, teacher and performer for more than thirty years, Elaine's students have appeared on Broadway in "Les Miserables", "Ragtime", "A Christmas Carol", "Tommy", "Urban Cowboy" and "Hot Feet", in national tours of "Les Miserables", "Fame", "Footloose" and "Bye Bye Birdie", on television, in commercials, movies, and regional theatres. Elaine's performance credits include Broadway, off-Broadway, benefits, cabaret, dinner theatre, church and synagogue soloist and numerous recordings. including Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids Christmas 2001 CD, "Carols for a Cure". Her most recent performance was April 2006 at Odette's, New Hope, PA in her new cabaret show. Sue Garahan (Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre) - Sue has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater Arts and is a member of Dance Educators of America. She trained extensively through the years in both New York City and London, England. Her theater credits include "42nd Street", A Chorus Line", "Oliver!", and "The Pajama Game", to name a few. She is the director of many of our Jazz and Tap Companies and has won many choreographic awards over the years. Many of her students have appeared on both Broadway and television. Aimee Gray (Jazz, Hip-Hop, Ballet) - Aimee is ecstatic to be a part of the amazing faculty at Center Stage. She has not only danced since the ripe old age of two, but has spent many of her years right here at Center Stage. She was a member of the Jr. CAT and TAP CAT companies and competed regionally as well as nationally performing in Palm Springs, California, Arlington, Texas, and Orlando, Florida in MGM Studios. Aimee has also appeared in Dance in the Park, Plays in the Park, and numerous community theatre productions. She went on to continue her love of dance at Rider University where she received a BA in dance as well as a BA in elementary education. Pamela Susan Gray (Jazz, Tap) - Pam has an extensive dance and theatre background and has taught dance at several studios in New Jersey. She is thrilled to be working at Center Stage. Pam has choreographed for local theatre companies, most recently a production of "Godspell" for the 5th Ave Players, as well as the Linwood School Show Choir and Highland Park School Theatre Productions. As a performer, Pam has appeared with the NJ Renaissance Festival, Plays in the Park, Somerset Valley Players, and on television with the MDA Telethon.
			Center Stage Dance and Theatre School East Brunswick, NJ (732)-238-7890 Marlboro, NJ (732)-972-1116