Meghan Vaz
Meghan has a passion for dance, which is evident in all aspects of her life. She started dancing at the age of 8 and never stopped. After dancing as a competitive dancer, she went on to receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Montclair State University. While in college she performed pieces by Maxine Steinman, Robert Battle, Lori Katterhenry, Joao Carvalho and the Urban Bush Women. Her dance education ranges from ballet, acro, pointe and jazz, to tap, modern and lyrical. Meghan has been teaching dance for 20 years, and continues to challenge her students with exciting, technical, and inventive choreography. She has also managed a competition team, which earned many accolades and choreography awards both regionally and nationally. She has won top choreography awards from numerous competitions such as Dance Educators of America, Turn it Up, Groove, Backstage and United States Tournament of Dance just to name a few. Her pieces "Your Day Will Come"(2018) and "Turning Tables"(2018) were both first place national champions. She has had numerous pieces come in as first runner up national champions most recently her piece "Under His Eye" (2023). She grew up in Springfield, where she currently resides with her husband and three children. She is extremely involved with her community and loves the relationships she cultivates with students and parents alike. She is looking forward to sharing her love of dance with Springfield and its surrounding communities!
Toni Allen
Toni Allen's passion for dance started when she was just 4 years old. Toni has been trained in a variety of styles including ballet, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical, and modern. At the age of 9 she began performing with Maria Priadka School of Dance Dancing Genies in South Orange New Jersey, performing at events all over the state. At 12 she began competing and training with Concepts in Choreography in Orange NJ. During her time there she attended conventions such as Jump, NUVO, NYCDA, and Tremaine. During highschool Toni was a part of the Dance Ensemble at the Morristown-Beard School, Morristown NJ, where she served as captain her Senior year. Toni is a graduate of Penn State University where she served on the executive board of two dance teams, Nittany Dance Project and Penn State Dance Alliance. Throughout her time at Penn State she choreographed routines for Hot Styles Dance Company, Bellefonte PA that went on to compete at the Dance Worlds in Orlando, Florida. Toni is looking forward to sharing her choreography and passion for dance with all of her students this year.
Abby Germinder
Abby Germinder is a recent graduate of Montclair State University with her BFA in dance and a minor in communications and media. She studied at the NJDTE, Cindy Smith Dance Studio, and then attended the UC Academy for the Performing Arts. She was a member of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts during her high school years. She was also a Pro Reveler convention assistant, appeared in a Terez brand advertisement, and has taught at several studios in New Jersey. She has worked with the Paul Taylor company, Christina Von Howard, Maxine Steinman, Kathleen Kelley, Tommie Waheed-Evans, Cat Cogliandro and more. Abby is so excited to work with you this season!
Michelle Guerrizio
Michelle entered the door of her first dance studio at the age of 2 1/2 and hasn’t stopped dancing since. She grew up as a competitive dancer and competed in all styles of dance. Her love and passion for dance carried over into teaching, which she began doing in 2010. Michelle has choreographed many competitive award-winning pieces. Michelle attended Montclair State University where she double majored in Dance Education and Elementary Education. While at MSU Michelle performed works by Jessica DiMauro, Christian Von Howard, Kim Whitman and many more. When she is not teaching dance Michelle is teaching second grade in the Roselle Public Schools. She was named teacher of the year for the 2022-2023 academic school year. Michelle loves being able to pass on her love for dance in a fun, supportive and educational environment and looks forward to her inaugural year at Momentum Dance Academy.
Rachel Jack
Rachel Jack’s love for dance began at the age of three and from then has grown into an enthusiastic passion. She began her training at The Connection for Women and Families in Summit, New Jersey and later joined a competitive team in central New Jersey. She participated in summer intensives at Joffrey Ballet School and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She has also received scholarships and awards from conventions and competitions including JUMP, Groove, Man in Motion, Turn It Up Dance Challenge where she placed first runner up Teen Miss Dance, and second runner up Miss Dance of Northern New Jersey at the United States Tournament of Dance. Rachel is technically trained in ballet, pointe, contemporary, acro, jazz, modern,and hip-hop. She has spent her highschool summers and school years choreographing solos for competitions and assistant teaching preschool dance classes. She was a member of the Morristown-Beard School Dance Ensemble for her four years of highschool and now attends Princeton University where she dances with Disiac Dance and Black Arts Hip-Hop Company. She enjoys producing choreography for their semester performances and showcases. Rachel is very excited to begin this new journey, and cannot wait to work with everyone!
JP Ferreri
JP Ferreri’s journey into the world of dance began at a remarkably young age, igniting a passion that would shape his life's path. Growing up in Northern NJ JP quickly made a name for himself, and was recognized with many Regional and National scholarships. His professional dance career took off as he performed as a child in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. His dedication and talent led him to the silver screen, where he secured a role in the 2007 hit film "Hairspray," showcasing his versatility as a dancer and performer. Broadway beckoned, and JP answered the call. He performed on the Broadway stage in the production of "Newsies" but also took his talents on the road, in the 1st National Tour of the show. His commitment to the art of dance extended to the film adaptation of "Newsies: The Broadway Musical," where his skills shone brightly once again. With over two decades of experience under his belt, JP Ferreri has become a sought-after teacher and choreographer, sharing his expertise with aspiring dancers all across the country. His choreography has earned national recognition and awards, a testament to his creativity and dedication to the craft. JP Ferreri's remarkable journey from a young dancer to a celebrated performer, teacher, and choreographer is a testament to his unwavering passion for the art of dance and his unrelenting pursuit of excellence. His contributions to the world of dance continue to inspire young dancers and budding talents alike.
Sam Rever
Samantha's dance journey began at 2 years old, and she was dancing competitively by the age of 7. Sam has trained in tap,ballet, pointe, jazz., modern, and contemporary. In addition to competition dance, she has been training at the New Jersey School of Ballet for more than 8 years and has performed in their production of the Nutcracker several times. Sam is currently a senior at the Union County Academy for Performing Arts and is a member of the National Honors Society for Dance Arts. Sam has also attended many summer intensives including the New Jersey School of Ballet, Princeton Ballet, Broadway Dance Center, University of Michigan, and New York University Tisch School of the Arts. Sam is very excited to be teaching at Momentum Dance Academy for their debut season.
Step into a world of innovation at MDA, where two freshly designed, climate-controlled studios await. Each studio boasts cutting-edge sprung Marley floors, ensuring minimal impact on your dancers, alongside lofty ceilings and discreet one-way observation windows. With the flexibility of a retractable soundproof wall, transform two spaces into one expansive studio. Between classes, dancers can unwind in the student lounge, offering storage solutions, dining areas, and a quiet corner for homework. To keep everyone refreshed, a convenient water station provides purified water for refilling bottles. Elevate your dance experience at MDA!
