Dance Faculty
Diego
Funes
Diego
Funes attended the School of American Ballet and later danced with the
Cincinnati Ballet and Teatro dell’Opera di Roma. For the theatre, his credits
as a dancer include Cats, Hello, Dolly!,
Riverdance, Anything Goes and A
Chorus Line. He has also choreographed productions of
Hello, Dolly!, Beauty and the Beast, And the
World Goes Round, Zorba! and
Leader of the Pack. Funes also choreographed the films
P.S. I Love You with Gerard Butler
and Hilary Swank and Back to High School.
His television appearances include performances in the United
States, Italy, London, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Mexico and Brasil as well as
numerous appearances with recording artists on MTV and on tour.
He is the artistic director of de
funes dance company.
Ilona
Gedutiene has over 16 years experience working as a performer, choreographer,
and dance teacher. She graduationed from Vilnius Conservatory of Dance in
Lithuania and holds a degree in Choreographer/Entertainment Production. After
graduating, Ilona traveled extensively with the amusement company "Panorama" in
Europe and the United Arab Emirates. Her accomplishments include choreographing
dance scenes for motion pictures, instructing models in dance style for the
International Fashion Show in Lithuania, and implementing jazz and modern
techniques in ballroom. She teaches Ballroom dance throughout NYC and now, here
at Dance Designs.
Rhonda
Holland earned her BFA in Dance education from Temple University in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After graduation, Rhonda was a principal dancer with
Seventh Principal Dance Company, Alfred Gallman's Dance Theater, Whole Theater
Dance Company and The Montclair Dance Company. She continued to excel in the
areas of television, video, and theater, including performance segments on NBC's
The Today Show, The Philadelphia Tribune's Morning Show and The Randall
Cunningham Show. Rhonda appeared in a music video directed by Busta Rymes and danced
in music videos for Boyz II Men and Luis Miquel. As an artist-in-residence, she
has taught at many local schools, including Roselle Public Schools, Union Public
Schools, Newark Public Schools, Elizabeth Public Schools, Union County College,
The East Orange School District, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Verona School
District, Kent Place School and the American Repertory Ballet Institute. In
addition, she is the Associate Artistic Director for the Umoja and Ussama Dance
Company.
Jennifer
Juliano was introduced to dance at the age of 3 and has been dancing ever since.
Her well-rounded background in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip
hop, and ballroom prepared her for the multi-faceted environment she is now
immersed in. Some of her credits include Cabaret For Life-Equity Fights Aids,
The Make A Wish Foundation, in which she performed with Ben Vereen and Melba
Moore, Walt Disney World, New York Express, and various other dance companies
throughout the tri-state area. Her choreography has been featured in Disney
World, at New Jersey Nets and New York City Knicks games, Broadway Dance
Center's Pulse Tour, The Mrs. New Jersey pageant and many more. She finds it
personally rewarding to be able to pass on her knowledge and love of the arts
and genuinely enjoys working with children.
Jackie
Lewis is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and ballroom dance. She
continued her studies at the prestigious Broadway Dance Center in New York City
after receiving the Maria Torres Scholarship Award in 2002. Soon after, Jackie
became certified to teach Classical Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, and Acro-Tumbling,
as well as pre-ballet and dance for children. While her choreography has been
showcased in Walt Disney World, at New Jersey Nets games, and New York City
Knicks games, along with a variety of shows throughout New Jersey, Jackie’s true
passion is teaching. She has worked with children and adults of all ages,
including special needs children and athletes, and treasures each opportunity to
share her passion with others. Using her degree in child services and her
varied dance background, Jackie brings an ideal mix of knowledge and intuition
to the classroom.
Nina
Lorusso has been choreographing since the age of 15 and holds a BFA in dance
at Montclair State University. She was awarded a scholarship 3 years in a row
to train intensively at Duke University's American Dance Festival in North
Carolina. There she was selected to create new works for Sasha Pepelyae
(Russia) and Dominique Boivin (France), which premiered at the Reynolds Theater
in NC. She has studied in Italy where she had the opportunity to perform works
by Arthur Aviles. She has performed at City Center, NY, Limon Institute, NY,
Jennifer Muller Studio, NY, Hunter College, NY and throughout the tri state
area. She is trained in modern, ballet, hip hop, jazz, lyrical, tap and
yoga. Besides sharing her love of dance with her students, she hopes that she
offers them a learning experience that is fun and that they will never forget.
Marcus
Maurice 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. 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 also
choreographed for regional dinner/theaters and music videos.
Omari Brown
Omari Brown began his dancing career in his very own bedroom with a few VHS
tapes, a full-length mirror, and a passion for dance. Some of his earliest
inspirations include Michael Jackson and Usher. As Omari began to develop his
very unique and creative hip-hop skills he quickly realized that this was a
great way to spend his afternoons; working with youth around his age keeping
kids off of the street and giving them an outlet for their energy. Omari was
offered a full-scholarship to Rutgers University as a Dance major. After
teaching and choreographing hip-hop and jazz for local studios and companies, he
expanded his skills as he began touring across the country with performing
artists Keyshia Cole & Ciara. Omari's passion for dance shows true during
his unique, energetic and fun classes; as he gives back to the youth some of the
love, skill, creativity and guidance that young dancers need and
enjoy.
Ready Roc
Ready Roc is Dance Designs premiere
B-Boy. He has toured with Snoop Dog and danced and choreographed for some of the
hottest hip hop artists of today including: Missy Elliot, John Legend, Fat Joe,
Fantasia, Toby Love, Ludacris, KRS and many more. He has performed at the VMAs
with Fergie and the Celebrity half time show with the Pussycat Dolls.
With over 20 years of Hip Hop experience, Tic-Tock has choreographed with the
likes of Missy Elliot, Jay-Z, Whitney Houston, Fabolous, Beyonce, Busta Rhymes,
and many more. When he ios not working with today's popular artists he's
teaching master classes around the world with his unique brand of hip hop,
Street Jazz Blast. This class is a combination of new schools Hip Hop, Breakin,
popping, and jazz.
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 was also an
award-winning choreographer for Fair Lawn High School's Varsity Dance Team.
