As creative director, Carol Baskinger brings her show business experience and the theatrical skills of a professional performer and choreographer to the students of Dance Designs. This accomplished actress, dancer, vocalist and choreographer has captured audiences throughout the United States, Canada and the Bahamas. Included among her extensive credits are "The Rodney Dangerfield Show", Hotel Tropicana, Las Vegas; "Metropolitan Life Insurance Convention", Hilton Head, South Carolina and Waldorf Astoria, New York City; "Dance Uptown Series", Broadway; No No Nanette at the Garden State Arts Center, Holmdel; and a two-year appearance on the CBS Soap Opera, "As the World Turns". Her starring roles include shows at the Rainbow Room, New York City; the Bahama Princess, Freeport; the Hyatt Regency and Peachtree Plaza Hotels, Atlanta; the Bonaventure Hotel, Montreal; the Harbour Castle Hilton, Toronto; and many others. Carol is recognized as an outstanding choreographer. Her dance creation of the national awardwinning show "Mandrake", performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., earned the Award of Excellence in Choreography, She haschoreographed countless professional shows, nightclub acts, television spots, pageants and industrials, and has been coaching professionals and aspiring performers for special appearances. Carol's choreography has sent her and her entertainment company to international acclaim in Bogota, Columbia. In addition to her professional experience, Carol's warm personality and extensive formal education make her especially effective as a dance instructor. She holds a B.A. Degree as well as Teacher's Certification in Dance and Theatre, and still maintains her studies to keep an open mind to innovative ideas and methods of instruction. Her eclectic education includes the techniques of Peter Gennaro, Edward Villella, John Medeiros, Bob Audy, Christine Neubert, Alwin Nikolais and Murray Louis. She also maintains active membership in Actor's Equity, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and Associated Dance Teachers of New Jersey. Through her dance expertise, her knowledge of the show business trade and her vision of what dance/ theatre training should be, Carol expertly guides the faculty, students and future of Dance Designs.

Stephanie D. Biamontehas studied dance for over 20 years, and has a degree from Montclair State University.   Stephanie is trained in all dance techniques, she presently instructs Hip-Hop, Da Funk, and Adult Funk/Jazz classes.  She is also a certified kindergarten teacher, high school varsity cheerleading coach, and summer recreation program director for the town of Carlstadt, NJ.

Kathleen Fetterperformed professionally in equity dinner theatres and summer stock in New York while earning credits as dance captain and featured dancers in shows such as "42nd Street", "La Cage Aux Folles", "My One and Only", "Sweet Charity" and "West Side Story".  With a Bachelor's degree in dance and a Masters in dance-movement therapy, she consults as a licensed clinical therapist and also teaches dance and acrobatics at Dance Designs.

Rhonda Holland-Thomasis pursuing a modeling and theatre career in the NY/Philadelphia area but still finds time to instruct and choreograph for various dance studios.  She is the assistant artistic director of Umoja Dance Co. in Montclair and recipient of a BFA in dance education from Temple University in Philadelphia. 

Jennifer M. Juliano has studied dance for 17 years with training in ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, hip hop and ballroom/Latin dance. She has been trained in both competitive and non-competitive dance forms.   She has performed with various dance companies and is currently a member of DDM Entertainment. 

Jackie Lewis has trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and ballroom/Latin dance. She continues her studies at Broadway Dance Center after receiving the Maria Torres Scholarship Award in 2002. She began competing in Latin dance at the age of 15 and teaching soon after. Since then, she has taught beginner to intermediate students ranging from ages 2 1/2 through adult. Jackie is certified to teach Classical Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, and Acro-Tumbling through Dance Educators of America.

Vicki Lopez began her dance training over 18 years ago and most recently trained at the Broadway Dance Center in NYC. Vicki is also an accomplished dancer and choreographer, and has successfully trained both competitive and non-competitive dances in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical and Tap.  She has competed in national cheerleading competitions and has recently worked for the National Cheerleading Association.  Vicki currently is a featured lead dancer at New York City clubs.    

Nina Lorusso has been choreographing since the age of fifteen and is trained in tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, da funk and modern. She has been teaching at Dance Designs for 5 years and performing with DDM Entertainment for five year. Currently, Nina received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Montclair State University. Besides sharing her love of dance with her students, she hopes that she offers them a learning experience that is fun that they will never forget. 

Marcus Maurice was born in Brooklyn and holds a B.F.A. from Ohio University and has been performing for several years now.  Most people will remember his electric performance in THE JACKSONS-AN AMERICAN DREAM in which he played ”MARLON”.  HBO’s original series OZ is another credit in which he played Farai Gyrobile, possible kidney donor for Rebdo’s grandson.  In the soon to be released DEAD CANERIES he is a Jamaican drug dealer with Dan Lauria and Charles Durning.  He is currently developing and producing his own television series GET WYLDE.  Some of his featured theatrical credits include: THE OLD SETTLER, SPUNK AND PRIMETIME PROPHET, CITY CANYONS, & CARMEN JONES, TEN LITTLE INDIANS & EQUUS.  Marcus’s philosophy is “Always Live the Dream”.  Marcus has choreographed for regional dinner/theaters and music videos.

Amy Schumacher was the Director of Vocal /General Music at Harrington Park School, and will begin backing music in the Franklin Lakes School System. Amy holds a BA degree in Music Education from Rowan University, where she held leading roles in major productions with the Rowan Opera Company. She was also a feature vocalist and choral member of the South Jersey Concert Choir, Choral Union and Rowan Chamber Choir.  Her performances with the Rowan Chamber Choir included numerous appearances at Carnegie Hall. She is a private vocal coach and continues to study classical voice. 

Pamela Travers began performing at the age of 12 as a soloist with the Westchester Children's Ballet Company.  For several years, she appeared at Radio City Music Hall in the Corps de Ballet.  Pamela received extensive training in ballet, pointe, and character dancing at the School of American Ballet and at the Igor Youskevitch School of Ballet in NYC.  She went on to teach at the Igor Youskevitch School and currently at Dance Designs.  She is also an award-winning choreographer for Fair Lawn High School's Varsity Dance Team. 

Victoria Martin has been working professionally as a ballet dancer and instructor for over 10 years. Her diversified training includes study at Princeton Ballet, Hamilton Ballet Theatre, American Ballet Theatre, The Joffrey Ballet, and NJ Ballet, and some of her students have been accepted to study at those same schools. Victoria is the producer, director, and choreographer of “sullen”, a 5 movement romantic lyrical dance film set to the music of Fiona Apple, produced in 2004. She can also be seen in the film “School of Rock” starring Jack Black. Currently she teaches ballet full time and serves as principal dancer and rehearsal director with The Kennedy Dancers and soloist with Hamilton Ballet Theatre.

Michael Travers is a member of Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and has worked in many diverse venues. He has done stand-up comedy on Broadway, numerous voice overs, and filmed several commercials.

Dave Milnes is a professional pianist with a degree from the Berkley College of Music. Dave has been teaching for 7 years in private and group settings. His modern style of teaching allows his piano, voice, and guitar students to develop their “musical ear” and learn to play any song in any key. He also teaches the fundamentals of music, which enable his students to be able to write, sight read and improvise in any style.

Charisse Pagan is a graduate of the High School of Performing Arts in New York City.  She has also studied with Alvin Ailey, Broadway Dance Center and the Ballet Hispanico School of Dance.  At the age of 17 she was accepted to the Ballet Hispanico Company and toured the tri-state area.  Charisse has also worked professionally as a choreographer and back up dancer/singer for several latin recording artists such as C&C Music Factory, Grupo Sancocho, and George Lamond.  She appeared in many latin videos and has toured all over the world. Charisse is a member of DDM Entertainment Co. and continues her work as a choreographer/instructor for Dance Designs.

Wiz is a self taught B boy whose beginnings emerged from the actual “streets” of New York City.  Wiz started performing almost a decade ago escalating his talents to a level of incredible skill and ability.  Over the years Wiz toured the tri-state areas and excelled in the competition arena as well.  Wiz is also a seasoned performer for DDM, our entertainment company.  He is an accomplished choreographer and entertainer.

Bridget Hudzik's training began here at Dance Designs, leading her to teach her very own classes in Rising Star I and Rising Star II. Dancing since the age of 4, she has had training in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, pointe, hip-hop, modern, and ballroom. She has also assisted the choreographer for the Paramus High School musical The Wizard of Oz, and their Paper Mill Playhouse nominated musical production of Brigadoon. As an eager recent college graduate, Bridget has attended prestigious workshops and courses at Towson University and Ramapo College of New Jersey. She has studied under influential choreographers as Susan Mann, Dennis Price, Catherine Horta-Hayden, and Lester Holmes.