Standing Ovation School of Dance 627 Mantoloking Road · Brick, NJ 08723

Our Talented Staff

Miss Michele (Director)

Standing Ovations director, Michele Hulsart has been dancing ever since she was three years old. After attending Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, and achieving a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts she went on to perform world wide. Michele performed a Vegas show in Korea for three months. However, her real love for dance was in teaching so she has dedicated her life to teaching her students the art of dance and encouraging them to reach for their dreams. Michele has over 20 years of teaching experience and continues training to further her knowledge of dance. She attends dance conventions taking classes and business seminars. The studio was proudly featured in Dance Spirit Magazine in 2007 as being one of the top 50 upcoming studios in the country. Michele also coaches all five of the competition teams along with teaching regular classes. She teaches Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical & Musical Theatre. Most recently she was honored at Tremaine Dance Convention in NYC for all of the fundraising work the studio has done for Dancers Responding for AIDS. She is also the proud mother of five wonderful children who all take dance classes.

Miss Jen (Asst. Director)

Jen Cali graduated in May of 2000 with honors from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts, with a B.F.A. in dance. Jen began dancing and doing gymnastics at the age of three. She intensely competed rhythmic gymnastics for most of her childhood. This included traveling all over the East Coast to compete and learn routines. Jen came to Standing Ovation in the summer of 1994 as an assistant gymnastics teacher and serious dance student. A year later she was hired as a dance and gymnastics teacher. She now teaches ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, tap, modern, choreography and musical theater. Jen is currently a coach for the Petite, Mini, Junior,Teen and Senior Competition Teams along with being the assistant director of the studio. At competitions such as American Dance Awards, Starpower, Nexstar, and Elite Dance Forum she has won choreography awards for her work. Recently she has won a "Top Teacher Awards" at Star Systems for her lyrical choreography. Besides teaching and dancing at Standing Ovation Jen has participated in and choreographed for Brick Community Players talent shows and summer musicals. In the summer of 2004 Jen choreographed for the Lions Club production of "Felix The Cat" and attended Dance Teacher Now's Summer Teacher Convention in NYC. This year Jen will be judging and teaching at Fabulous Feet Dance Competitions throughout the tri-state area. She has also helped to choreograph the finale for a Dancers Responding to AIDS show held in Los Angeles, CA. She loves her work and the kids that bring such inspiration and joy to her.

Miss Karen (Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Pointe, Modern)

Karen Napoleon has studied dance since the age of four and has been teaching for over 33 years. She started her teaching career in northern NJ and relocated to Ocean County in 1991. She has studied the Martha Graham technique and has RAD Ballet training. She has been under the direction of Michele Hulsart for the past ten years and enjoys giving encouragement to her students. At Standing Ovation Karen teaches ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, musical theater and modern to all ages. Karen continues to take master classes in NYC & at conventions to further her education.

Mr. Billy (Tap, Musical Theater, Team)

Billy began his dance training at the age of nine under the artistic direction of Luis Pabon and is a graduate of New York University’s prestigious Collaborative Arts Program for the 21st Century with a degree in Musical Theater. Since January, Billy has been touring the country as both a performer and master class teacher for the hit sow and convention “A Few Good Men Dancin”-Conceived and choreographed by Jeff Amsden. This past October he had the opportunity to perform in the Elan Awards honoring Tony Award winning director and choreographer Sunsan Stroman. In April, he danced at the New Amersterdam Theatre ( The Lion King Theatre) in the 20th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition. Last year Billy originated the role of deaf choreographer Cliff in a workshop of The Sound of Plaid, an adaptation of the Off-Broadway hit Forever Plaid by Stuart Ross. While at NYU, he has performed in events honoring Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee and a number of other famous directors, including Chris Columbus ( Harry Potter, Rent, Mrs. Doubtfire). Choreography credits include NYU’s production of “Bat Boy the Musical,” and a recent off-broadyway production of “Reefer Madness” The “Hit” Musical. While growing up dancing at Luis Padon’s Dance Arts Centre he traveled across the United States performing and competing. He’s won several dance titles, including Mr. Teen Dance of Connecticut 1998 (DMA) and later that year, 2nd runner-up to Mr. Teen Dance of America. In 2003, at the Dancemerica National Finals, he was named Danceamerica’s Male Dancer of the Year. He’s credited with gold medals in regional, state and national competitions and continues to receive awards for his choreography. This past June Billy assisted choreographer Jeff Amsden on “Broadway Bares: New York Strip”-A benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. Recently Billy choreographed an off-broadway production of “Side Show” the musical under the direction of Ryan Mekenian. Billy has also served as the choreographer of the Miss Connecticut Pageant for the Miss America Organization for the past three years. Billy is currently assisting choreographer Andy Blanckenbuehler on the musical “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “In the Heights. We are thriled to have Mr.Billy with us for his fourth year!

Miss Britt (Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, Musical Theater)

Brittaney is a college student attending Georgian Court College as a dance major. She was in Miss Michele's first three year old class, and has been dancing ever since at Standing Ovation for the past 15 years. Currently she takes classes in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern & Strength. She has been dancing since the age of 9 on the Competitive Edge Competition Team and was named the 2000 Studio Dancer of the Year. As she got older and became a soloist dancer Brittaney has won prestigious titles such as "Miss Broadway," "Top Teen Soloist at Star Systems," and has won numerous amounts of high score awards for her lyrical work. She has won several scholarships at various conventions that she attends with the studio. When competing on the Senior Team her along with her team won first place overall at Tremaine Dance Competition in NYC. This allowed them to fundraise for Dancers Responding to AIDS and win a contest for raising over $12,500. She had the opportunity to travel to Los Angeles to take professional dance classes, meet agents, and perform in a DRA show where her group was announced by Mr. Joe Tremaine. Brittaney has performed and raised money for several organizations such at 9/11 fundraisers, Dance For Diabetes & Dancers Responding to AIDS. She continues to expand her dance knowledge by taking classes in NYC and attending many conventions. Outside of the studio Brittaney is has her cosmetology certificate and she also has her black belt in karate. Brittaney looks forward to working with the children here at Standing Ovation again

Miss Tara (Hip-Hop & Jazz)

Tara has been dancing for as long as she can remember! her formal training started at the age of 8. She is trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, modern, Hip-Hop and Acrobatics. With many years of competition experience, she has earned numerous high score and special judges' awards including "Flawless Technique" and "Sophisticated Performance." She was also accepted in to the 2002 Governors school of the Arts with a concentration in dance. Tara currently continues her dance training at Broadway Dance Center and has just returned from studying at the Dance Masters of Americas Teachers' Training School in NY. She has also choreographed several musicals for a professional dinner theater in Wayne, NJ. Not only does Tara have a passion for dance but she loves singing and acting as well. She performed in her first musical at the age of thirteen and hasn't stopped since. She has received honors such as the Best Supporting Actress Nomination in 2002 at the Papermill Rising Star Awards, Monmouth County Council of the arts musical theatre scholarship and was a winner at the Teen Arts Festival in 1003. Her experience in musical there is extensive, from studying at the University of the Arts in summer camp in Central NJ. Now matter how busy she gets, Tara can be found almost regularly on stage. Some of her favorite roles include Snow White and Cha Cha in Grease. She is thrilled to teach at Standing Ovation again this year!

Miss Jen V. (Fitness & Strength)

Jennifer graduated from Trenton State College with a degree in Corporate Fitness. She has been a certified personal trainer through the American Council of Exercise for over 10 years. She has competed in body building contests and has placed well in her weight class. Jennifer is continually educating herself to make her classes better for the dancers and adults that she teaches at the studio. She has been training and teaching a healthy balanced lifestyle her entire life. She enjoys watching her clients and students progress towards a healthier lifestyle. Jennifer's hope is that some of her love and enthusiasm for a healthy balanced lifestyle will be passed onto her students. She is very happy to be teaching again at the studio this year.

Miss Tiana (Ballet/Pointe)

Tiana began taking ballet classes at the age of 7 at a local recreational center in Southern California. At the age of 9 she was enrolled in the Imperial School of Russian Ballet. While there, she progressed quickly and was the youngest dancer in history to be made a member of the Taggart Ballet Theatre Company. Later she joined the Riverside Ballet Arts, home of NYC Ballet's Darci Kistler. She studied under the direction of Glenda Carhart-Hensley of the National Ballet of Toronto and international choreographer David Allen. After a year at the school she was made an apprentice of the California Riverside Ballet and thus began her professional career. She performed many roles in ballets such as the Nutcracker, Giselle, and Swan Lake with Darci Kistler and Igor Zelensky. During that time, she trained privately with a former principal dancer of the Royal Danish Ballet. Later, in the summer of 1995 she was offered and accepted a full scholarship to the Pennsylvania Ballet School. Here she studied and performed with the Rock School all over the Philadelphia area. This included being a demi soloist in the production of Prince Igor with Paloma Herrera and Angel Corella of the American Ballet Theatre and the roles of Grandmother/Spanish in the Nutcracker with the Pennsylvania Ballet (Philadelphia Academy of Music). In 1999 she studied under the direction of Alaine Huber, Magalie Messac, and Anthony Edwards in Detroit along with the Ballet Masters/Mistresses of ABT. She was selected among hundreds of students to perform the solo role of Grisi in Pas Des Quatre at the Detroit Opera House. After an injury forced her to put her performing career aside, she returned to the Philadelphia area to share her knowledge at schools in Pennsyvania and New Jersey. We are so happy to have Tiana here with us at Standing Ovation for her third year!

Miss Renee (Tap & Musical Theater)

Mr. Danny (Hip-Hop)

Danny has been performing Hip-Hop for the past ten years and teaching for the past four years. He is highly skilled in Popping, Locking, B-Boying, B-Girling, Whacking, Waving, Tutting and House. He has studied with Eric Samson and competed in all forms of dance on the regional and national level. He has studied for many years in ballet, tap and jazz in addition to his hip-hop training. In additioin to dance Danny has taught Tae Kwon Do at Kum Sung Martial Arts for several years and also owns his own DJ Entertainment Company for the past five years. Hip Hop has become more than just a hobby for him, it is his culture and loves spreading it to his students. He looks forward to his third year of teaching at Standing Ovation.

Miss Nicki (Student Teacher)

Nicki has been dancing for 10 years at Standing Ovation. She takes classes in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Lyrical, Modern, Hip-Hop, and Pointe. Nicki has been a member of the Competitive Edge Competition Team for 7 years and is currently on the Senior Team. Besides competing in groups she has also been a soloist and duet partner. Most recently her duet with Mr. Sammy won Most Entertaining and Highest Score at Reach For the Stars Competition. She attends several conventions and won a scholarship in 2004 at Company Dance Convention in the Meadowlands and in 2008 she was chosen by the studio to receive the Co.Dance "Leadership Award." Along with competing she performs for benefit concerts. This year her team raised over $12,000 for Dancers Responding to Aids. Nicki also attends professional dance classes in NYC at Broadway Dance Center & Steps. Nicki is in 10th grade and is an honor roll student at Brick Memorial High School. She looks forward to her fifth year of assisting and hopes to inspire all of her students to feel the same passion as she feels towards dancing.

Miss Daechelle (Student Teacher)

Daechelle has been dancing since the age of two and competing since the age of six. Previously she has been a member of the JRJR/Teen/Senior Competitive Edge Teams. Those five girls, Skye, Taylor, Lisa, Jen and Nicki, have had a great influence on her dance career. Daechelle also attends numerous dance conventions and has acquired several scholarships some of what are: Tremaine Junior Full-Year Scholarship 07, NYCDA Junior Outstanding dancer Runner-up 06-07. She was also crowned Miss Sophisticated Production Title Soloist and overall Junior Top soloist from Ticket to Broadway Nationals with a lyrical piece choreographed by Miss Jen Cali. Daechelle has also shared her love for theater as well, as she has performed in a plethora of BCCT productions. Most recently Daechelle has been crowned "Miss Teen Dancers Inc" She will be traveling the country this year with Dancers Inc. working their competition and assisting the choreographers in convention classes. Daechelle's younger sister is her utmost inspiration. "She's always backed me 110% and I am so thankful she's around me all the time for comfort and support." Finally, Daechelle is so extremely excited for her third year of student teaching and hopes to inspire and share her love for dance with every student

Miss MaryKate (Student Teacher)

Congrats to MaryKate for being selected as the new student teacher. Bio coming soon...