Rucsandra Maniaci is a professional dance teacher and choreographer from Bucharest, Romania. At the age of 4, she was chosen to attend the “Triumph” Sports Club gymnastics program where she was trained by coaches responsible for the National Junior Olympic team. Following strict regimes and disciplines, Sandra progressed into classical ballet at the age of 9 and studied at The National Opera House in the junior program. In 1985, she was accepted into the State Ballet School in Bucharest. There, she studied classical ballet in the Russian Vaganova method as well as contemporary, modern, and folk dance, to name a few. The piano study was also a part of the school’s program. During this time she also participated in ballet recitals and competitions and performed in many of the classic ballets. She graduated in 1994 as a Professional Ballerina with a degree recognized worldwide, and her attention to ballet technique became Miss Sandra’s focal point. After moving to the United States, Miss Sandra resumed her dancing career in 2009, working closely with the Arts of The Dance Centre. As of 2016, her lifelong dream became a reality: she was honored to take over ownership of The Arts of the Dance Centre. Here, she runs the Recreational and Pre-Professional Ballet Program and manages summer programs, bringing to the studio internationally recognized dance teachers and popular local artists. Miss Sandra continues to attend dance workshops and masterclasses and enjoys performing in the yearly recital. She is certified and licensed Progressing Ballet Technique teacher and an authorized Gaynor Minden pointe shoe-fitter and retailer. Miss Sandra is deeply committed to educating students in the artistry of dance by promoting a safe dance education. She believes this is the only way students can reach their personal best, whether they pursue a career in dance or not. She will continue her mission of encouraging all students to progress in dance while avoiding injury and remaining physically and emotionally healthy.

Adele Harwas, the daughter of Miss Von, grew up dancing at The Arts of the Dance Centre. Along with her two sisters, Helen and Veronika, she traveled to Philadelphia, New York, and Florida, studying with masters such as Luigi, Frank Hatchett, and Charles Kelly, as well as many tap masters. Miss Adele attended many Dance Masters of America workshops each year, and in 1986, graduated from its Teachers Training Seminar (TTS). She has attended TTS as post-graduate multiple times and participated in their Master Teacher program. Additionally, she attended workshops with Florida Dance Masters, completed its Intensive Teaching Seminar, judged in their Rising Star Competition, and taught acrobatics for the organization. She performed with her sister’s jazz company, Dancezone Inc, for four years, choreographed for the Miss Vineland and Miss Cumberland County Pageants, and taught for the Cumberland County Teen Arts Festival and for multiple dance organizations. She began teaching for the family business in 1984, became the artistic director in 1991, and the owner in 2012. To prepare her students for the dance world after graduation, Miss Adele began studying and incorporating modern dance into the studio curriculum in 1990. She took classes in the Lester Horton technique with Carol Willson and at the Alvin Ailey School of Dance. Because of circumstances and in order to devote more time to volunteer Bible education, she stepped down as the studio owner in July 2016. She continues to serve as our artistic and executive director as well as a teacher and choreographer. Desiring to stay up to date with the latest teaching methods in order to impart them to her students, Miss Adele attends frequent dance workshops and master classes.

Jennifer Banks has danced at The Arts of the Dance Centre ever since she was a young girl and is a former member of the ADC Performing Company. She’s a 2002 graduate of the Richard Stockton State College of N.J. with a B.S. degree in Social Work. She works full-time at the Atlantic County Special Service School District. Miss Jen completed the fourth-year level of Dance Master of America Teachers Training Seminar, testing in ballet and tap. She is also licensed to teach “Acrobatic Arts.” Throughout the years, Miss Jen has brought the joy and benefits of dance to students with special needs. She has been a great asset to the studio because of her knowledge and expertise gained by working within the Special Service School District. Miss Jen teaches acrobatics, ballet, jazz, and tap. She also leads the Adult Tap Program.

Kelly Perez has been on the teaching panel at The Arts of the Dance Centre since 1992 and is a former member of the ADC Performance Company. She completed a three-year intensive training seminar in Orlando, Florida with Florida Dance Masters. Miss Kelly has extensive performance experience, entertaining in ITDI dance competitions, the Teen Arts Festival, Miss Vineland and Miss Cumberland County Scholarship pageants, Walt Disney World, and various nursing and group home shows.

Aside from sharing her passion for tap dance at ADC, Miss Kelly is the appointed classical ballet teacher to our Tier 3&4 students. She is licensed in Progressing Ballet Technique and CPR certified.

Additionally, Miss Kelly has a B.S. degree in Environmental studies from Richard Stockton College of N.J. and earned her Master’s in Environmental Science from NJIT.

Kali Malench i is a lifelong dance student, studying ballet, tap, jazz, musical theater, hula, acrobatics, modern, and more. In the past, Miss Kali was a member of the performance group, “Perform Dance,” which participated in community events and competitions. She also served as the dance captain in her high school musical, Damn Yankees.

Miss Kali has completed her third year at Dance Masters Teachers Training School in Buffalo, NY, and currently attends workshops in New York and Philadelphia to continue her studies. Kali’s expertise has been requested numerous times for private sessions. She’s also managed and conducted rehearsals for students invited to perform at local theatres and schools.

At ADC, Miss Kali has taught ballet, jazz, and tap and currently leads the Musical Theatre Program.

Saadiqa Chestnut started dancing at seven with The Arts of the Dance Centre and began assisting as a teacher in 2005. Aside from teaching, she enjoys performing in our year-end recitals and special events. Miss Saadiqa attended Gloucester County Institute of Technology for high school, continuing her dance education in the GCIT program. Later, she attended Dance Masters of America’s Teacher Training School in Buffalo, NY, and in 2017, she tested in ballet, tap, modern, and jazz to attain the DMA Certification. She passed all practice and theory tests with flying colors, scoring a 95.25 mark and earning praise from the DMA faculty. She joins the ranks of many of our excellent DMA-certified teachers at ADC. She is also certified in the Progressing Ballet Technique.

Miss Saadiqa is a graduate of Rowan University with a major in Elementary Education and American Studies. Alongside her dance career, Miss Saadiqa is a school teacher. Her most recent certification, Middle School Mathematics, will transition Miss Saadiqa to teaching middle school students.

However, Early Childhood Education remains one of Saadiqa's true passions, as she strives to share the love of learning and dancing with all her students. She has developed a unique pre-school and early childhood dance curriculum, focusing on physical communication and social/emotional development through movement, music, and performing arts.

After being proposed to on stage, Miss Saadiqa married the love of her life, Darell, in a beautiful summer wedding. In July 2023, they welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Zaiya.

Olivia A Cruz is a professional performer, choreographer, and educator. Her endeavors include a range of performances, from concerts to musical theater to film. Classically trained, Olivia is proficient in multiple styles of dance. She obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from The University of the Arts of Philadelphia. In addition to various regional theater performances, some of her favorite credits include: Performing on Cinderella's Castle Stage for Walt Disney World Entertainment, as a dance double for Steven Spielberg's feature film, West Side Story (2021), and most recently on the National Tour of How the Grinch Stole Christmas the Musical. Her theatrical choreographic works can be viewed on multiple stages including The Levoy Theater and the Broadway Theater of Pitman. When she is not dancing, she enjoys sewing, and running her nonprofit, Love through Laces, to support the children in need of the South Jersey area.

Miss Olivia has been a constant presence at ADC, first as a student from 2011-2014. She then returned, teaching summer dance workshops. In August 2020, Miss Olivia joined the studio as a faculty teacher. She largely attributes the success in her performance career to the exceptional training she received at ADC, and is honored to now pass it on to future students.

Since 2021, Miss Olivia has led the Contemporary and Hip Hop Programs, sharing her knowledge and expertise with the ADC students in these two dance genres.

Katrina Stratton started dancing at The Arts of the Dance Centre at eight. When she was ten years old, she became a dance class assistant. Katrina studied Ballet, Tap, Acro, Modern, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, Hip Hop, Irish Tap, and Musical Theatre at the studio. While in school, she choreographed and performed in plays, including Hello Dolly and Alice in Wonderland, and she performed dances for the Miss Tri-City Pageant. Miss Katrina taught in the summer dance program, and aside from assisting multiple classes, she has substituted for the other Pre-School and Primary dance teachers.

Miss Katrina attended her first year of Dance Masters of America Teacher Training School in Buffalo, NY, in the summer of 2023.

Rose Darminio has consecutively been the Receptionist at The Arts of the Dance Centre for over 20 years! As a long-time friend of the Harwas family, Miss Rose has been affiliated with the studio in one way or another since its inception.

More than just the smiling face that greets students and parents daily, she does many tasks to keep the Office and Store running smoothly.

She has also taught Ballroom for many years and has shared her love of dance by conducting Adult Ballroom Sessions.

Miss Rose continues to be an inspiration and is living proof that you are never too old to dance!

Cadhla Mackenzie began her early dance training at The Arts of the Dance Centre. She has gained experience in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, acrobatics, hula, musical theatre, Bollywood, Latin, ballroom, and hip hop. In addition to our year-end Revue and Recital shows, Miss Cadhla has also directed private classes and workshops. She’s performed for the local community and in Disney World, Philadelphia, and New York City and is a recipient of the Broadway Dance Center of NYC Scholarship. She is certified through Dance Masters of America.

Miss Cadhla has inspired her students by sharing her knowledge, having a positive influence, and expressing herself through movement.

We are forever grateful for the years she has dedicated to the studio as a teacher, mentor, and friend.

Miss Cadhla works closely with The Arts of the Dance Centre as a guest teacher.

Sixty-one years ago, in the Fall of 1961, Miss Von opened her studio to share her knowledge and love of dance. From the start, her goal was to provide children with a loving, nurturing environment (a “safe haven,” she called it) where they could flourish. From childhood, she had a passion for dance but not always the circumstances to take lessons. She became determined to ensure that everyone who wanted dance lessons were given the opportunity to do so and subsequently offered many scholarships. She had a significant impact on the community as an educator, not only in dance but also in essential life lessons. She taught her students how to conduct themselves properly, always to be respectful of others, the importance of showing love and kindness, and the value of sharing their talent with others. From humble beginnings, first using a rented space on Elmer Street, then to the property on Chestnut Avenue, with a barn renovated into a studio, and then to the current state-of-the-art facilities in 2002.

Miss Von always stayed true to her ideals. Although she could not attend last year's 60th Anniversary celebration, she expressed the following sentiments: “How time flies! Especially when you are doing what you love to do! Over the years, my family has extended to many dear dancers...” “How great it was to secure Sandra to carry on. Her knowledge of dance, her ability to teach, and her passion for keeping going, even under tremendous circumstances, prove that Miss Adele and I made the right choice of ownership… I especially want to congratulate all the students… Just keep on dancing, and it will bring you much joy as it has to me! — Affectionately, with pride, Miss Von.”

She will always hold a special place in the heart of all those whose lives she touched. Her family, extended dance family, students, and friends will always remember her warm smile, kindness, and affection, and that twinkle in her beautifully blue eyes!