Our Team
Angela Rose Pawlak
Miss Angela is originally from North Jersey. She started dance classes like many of you at the tender age of two. She is a former student of the prestigious Dance World Academy in Clifton under the direction of Donna Farinella, where for many years she was a member of their elite dance team and later became a teacher on staff. In her performing years, Angela competed and performed along side the likes of Tyce Diorio of So You Think You Can Dance fame in venues all across the country. However, her passion for being an educator lead her to further her education at Rutgers University where she received her BA in Dance in 1995.
Miss Angela has been a dance educator here in Jackson for two decades. During that time she has earned the status as an award winning teacher known for her energy and enthusiastic teaching methods. Her choreography has won countless awards at both the Regional and National levels of competition. Many of her students have gone on to professional careers in Dance. They have been accepted to prestigious colleges and university dance teams and programs such as Mason Gross, Montclair State, Rider, Towson, Stockton, University of Miami, Westchester University, Boston University, The University of the Arts, Georgian Court and Temple just to name a few……
Anyone who has been serious about their child receiving good solid dance training has sought out and brought their child to study with Miss Ang. She is well known, loved, and admired throughout the dance community.
She sets herself and her students apart from the “DANCE MOMS” stereotypical dance studio. Her students moral and their experiences are always her first priority - not medals or trophies.
In searching to bring her students new and exciting opportunities she has traveled outside the box and brought her dancers to perform in DisneyWorld and on two Carribean Cruises. Locally we have attended Regional and National Competitions. Danced for benefits like Dance for Diabetes and Dancers Care. This season we have a winter show, spring show, early 2017 competition and a summer dance cruise!
Miss Angela's personal motto is “When people really care about you, they expect the best from you, and they don't give up until they get it!"
Kimberly Dawn Landle
Kimberly D. Landle , a native of NJ began her training at the age of 2 under the direction of Angela Pawlak. While dancing at her local studio she traveled to study under the direction of The Kirov Academy of Ballet, ABT, SAB, Jacobs Pillow, Steps on Broadway, and Broadway Dance Center until she graduated high school in 2006. She attended The University of the Arts where she worked with choreographers from Philadelphia to Kenya. Although she majored in Ballet Performance, Landle constantly worked on keeping herself well rounded by doing works by Roni Koresh, Brian Sanders, Twyla Tharp, MOMIX, and NDT. Upon graduating the university Kimberly signed a contract with contemporary ballet company, DanceSpora under the direction of Heidi Cruz-Austin, former PA Ballet Soloist. She worked with the company as a soloist and as rehearsal director until 2016, performing in various theaters along the East Coast, including Jacobs Pillow on the Inside/Out stage. While with the company Landle continued to freelance and work with various choreographers and companies in Philadelphia, New York, and the DC area.
In June of 2016 The Klassic Contemporary Ballet Company was founded by Landle; the company premiered in November 2016 with a full length ballet entitled MOONPHASES. By the following summer KCBC held a summer intensive for serious pre-professional dancers. The program was geared to helping these students learn the in-depth about the professional side of dancing, leading towards the creation of KCBC2. KCBC has officially entered its fourth season as one of Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet companies.
In 2018 Landle founded her own studio, Pennsylvania Academy of Dance Arts with her partner Pamela Sterner. Kimberly is the full time Director and the studio is on it’s 3rd season. Making the statement of “you never leave” JDC an actuality. There is always room for the place you grew up and for the ones you love the most.
While dancing professionally Landle has also been teaching since the age of 18, sharing her knowledge and growth with children of all ages in NY, NJ, and PA. Currently she is a teacher at two studios, guest choreographs along the east coast from Maine to Virginia and teaching dance at West Chester University and PAA in NJ. Throughout her career, both preprofessional and professional Landle has been granted awards and acknowledgement for her choreography from The University of the Arts, grants from the Painted Bride, and various donors to keep her work alive.
To be an artist means you never stop growing, never stop learning, and never stop sharing your gift with others.
Julie Nyman
Julie’s training began at the age of 2 ½ in Brooklyn, New York. Upon relocating to New Jersey, she had the opportunity to train in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, musical theatre, modern and hip hop at various institutions in central NJ. Additionally, Julie was selected to perform in both regional and state choirs throughout NJ, and cheered from elementary school through high school. She attended Marymount Manhattan College on scholarship, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education in 2004. During her time at MMC, Julie trained extensively in the Vaganova and Cecchetti methods of ballet, O’Donnell, Murray/Louis and Nikolais modern techniques, Classical, Contemporary and Broadway styles of jazz, and several styles of tap including Rhythm, Buck and Wing, Broadway and “Hoofing.” As well, she completed her student teaching at The Town School on the Upper East Side, teaching dance to students Nursery through second grade in an integrated curriculum setting. In addition to her extensive dance training at MMC, she studied anatomy, physiology and psychology, and took supplemental classes at Broadway Dance Center, Ballet Academy East and Steps on Broadway. Her training continues to this day- in 2020 Julie became a Certified Level 1 Teacher of Progressing Ballet Technique, which focuses on safely building muscle memory and improving strength and technique in conjunction with regular ballet classes. As a huge advocate for safe dance training, Julie is thrilled to bring this innovative style of training to her students of all ages.
Although she enjoyed performing locally at the Strand Theater and Six Flags Great Adventure in various productions, as well as competitively in her youth, Julie’s passion has always been for educating students and sharing her extensive knowledge in all areas of the performing arts. She began student teaching at age 12, and began teaching at age 17. After receiving many accolades teaching locally, Julie decided to open her studio in 2007. During her 7 years as both the studio and competitive director, The Next Step Dance Academy gained a reputation for producing technically strong, passionate dancers and entertaining, high-energy, clean and technically challenging dances. Julie’s dances, both with her studio and others throughout NJ, have been awarded numerous top overall high scores, special awards, choreography and entertainment awards, regional and national title wins, and scholarships to summer intensive programs. She has received recognition along the entire East Coast for her choreography, concepts and creativity, as well as for her dancers’ technical and artistic abilities.
Julie believes that anyone can learn to dance and prides herself in adjusting her teaching methods to meet the individual needs of each student in order for them to achieve their maximum potential. She makes sure each of her students feels valued, motivated and supported, all while instilling a love of dance they will carry with them long after their dance journey ends. Many of her students have attended the Performing Arts Academy in Ocean County and FPAC in Monmouth County, and several of her students have also continued dancing at the collegiate level, receiving scholarships to Point Park University, Montclair State University, University of the Arts, Rutgers University, PACE University, Georgian Court University, Broadway Dance Center’s Professional Semester, and the University of Delaware Dance Team. Additionally, at the professional level, her students have been cast in companies and on stage (The Redef Movement, Nickerson-Rossi Dance, National Tour- In the Heights, Derling Dance Arts), on screen (Love and Other Drugs), on Broadway (Almost Famous), as dancers for the New Jersey Nets and the New Jersey Devils, as backup dancers for musical acts, on major cruise lines, in print (Body Wrappers, A Wish Come True), and as teachers and choreographers throughout the northern United States. Julie continues to train and study all disciplines with various master teachers to stay current with the ever-changing world of dance.
Kelly Bourke
Miss Bourke’s dance training began at a Verne Fowler School of Dance in Woodbridge, NJ. In 2007 she achieved a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. During her time at MGSA she had the honor and privilege of performing in the works of Bill T. Jones, Julia Ritter, Randy James, John Evans, and Reagan Wood. She graduated with a Turner Choreography prize for Choreography. Since then, she has taught a variety of dance styles to adults and children of all ages. Her teaching credits include: American Repertory Ballet’s Dance Power program, Middlesex County’s Arts High School, Jackson Dance Center and Movement Dance Academy, and From A Dancer’s Pointe. For the past 11 years, she has been a Dance Educator at the Ocean County Vocational Technical School’s Performing Arts Academy. Kelly Bourke has choreographed spring musicals such as A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (Best dance number and featured dancer award from Ocean Arts), Shrek the Musical (Honorable mention from Papermill Playhouse Rising Stars for Outstanding Achievement in Choreography), Sweet Charity, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, The Addams Family, Anything Goes, Beauty and The Beast and Legally Blonde The Musical. She also advises the Performing Arts Academy’s Dance Club and recruiting ensemble, Performance Troupe. In 2014, she was awarded Teacher of the Year by Ocean County’s teacher recognition program. She takes great pride in sharing her passion for dance with her students.
Emily Limor
Emily began dancing when she was two years old and trained under the direction of Angela Pawlak from the age of five. She attended Jackson Dance Center at its inception, competing in regional and national competitions and was awarded Miss Teen NDS in 2004. Throughout her dance career, Emily attended summer dance intensives at The Rock School for Dance Education and The Florida Youth Ballet Theater. In college, Emily was co-captain of the University of Miami Sunsations Dance Team, performing jazz, hip hop and pom style dancing on the football field and basketball court.
Emily has been teaching at JDC since 2016, concentrating on contemporary and jazz styles of dance. Most recently her choreography won the “Ultimate Entertainment” judges’ award at the 2023 Beyond The Stars Regional competition. Emily prides herself on creating a fun and productive environment for her students and is of the mindset that dancing is about telling a story rather than just tricks, turns and leaps. In her classes you will find emphasis on performance quality and using the entire body through every movement.
Kristin Zimmerman
Kristin Zimmermann, born and raised in Jackson, New Jersey began her training at the age of 3 and trained under the instruction of Angela Pawlak for 15 years. In the beginning years, Kristin primarily focused on tap and jazz but as her dedication and love grew for the art, she expanded her studies to various styles of dance including hip-hop, lyrical, ballet, and modern. In 2005, Kristin attended Jackson Dance Center where she followed Angela Pawlak and completed the remainder of her high school dance career. During her high school years, Kristin was involved with and a member of her high school dance team. In 2007, Kristin attended Rider University, where she became a member of the dance team and performed at Rider’s basketball games and competed throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. During her years on Rider’s dance team, Kristin showcased her knowledge and skill which sparked her creativity and aspiration to choreograph. In 2011, Kristin graduated from her undergraduate stuhdies and resided back to Jackson, where she was given the opportunity to pursue a dance instructor position at Jackson Dance Center. Kristin officially began teaching in September of 2011, as a jazz instructor and since then has gone on to teach tap, hip-hop, lyrical and production classes. With over 12 years of experience, Kristin continues to share the same knowledge, passion and love for dance that she has. As a Dance Teacher, Kristin feels it is important for her students to feel comfortable, confident and motivated at dance, Kristin wants to see her dancers succeed, feel proud of their hardwork and accomplishments, and most of all, have fun in the process.
Barnel Anderson
Born and raised Philly native Barnel A. Anderson Jr. had his introduction to dance through the hip hop and R&B music video show 106 & Park. His exposure to pop, hip hop, R&B, reggae, and dancehall music and dance marked the beginning of his artistic career. He received technique classes for the first time and his high school diploma from The Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush and received further training at The University of the Arts on Broad Street in Center City Philadelphia where he received his BFA in Dance Performance, May of 2019. Directly out of college Barnel would work as a Teaching Artist and Choreographer for the contemporary ballet company BalletX in a program called DanceXchange and for PADA (Pennsylvania Academy of Dance Arts). These would be the spaces in which Barnel would not only express and showcase his way of imagining, moving, creating, and listening, but also share and educate. And although being a gay black man has a crucial role in the work he creates, the unique experience that is Barnel and his work is his love for hip hop and contemporary dance and the two merging.
Madeline Yahr
Madeline Yahr is a choreographer and dancer born and raised in Brick Township, New Jersey. Madeline attended OCVTS Performing Arts Academy for high school majoring in dance, graduating in 2016. Immediately after high school Madeline was given a full dance scholarship to receive her BA at Georgian Court University. After graduating in 2020, Madeline moved to London to receive her MFA in Choreography at University of Roehampton, graduating in 2022.
Growing up, Madeline was trained in classical ballet, receiving distinction in many of both grade and vocational Royal Academy of Dance Examinations. She broadened her dance background in college with modern dance techniques such as Graham , Horton , Cunningham and Limón. As well as finding her love for improvisation and installation work.
During her studies , Madeline was recognized and received ,OCVTS Performing Arts Academy’s Dance Merit Scholarship, Georgian Court University’s Dance Scholarship , The Scholar Award in Dance at Georgian Court University as well as their Dance departments Choreography Award. Upon studying her post graduate degree she received an International Excellence Scholarship from University of Roehampton.
Madeline has danced and shown work professionally throughout college and continues to do so. She has more recently shown her choreography at Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Center in Asheville , North Carolina.
Madeline has been in performances choreographed by Silvana Cardell , Koresh Dance Company , Randy James , Hee Ra Yoo , Kata Mejila , Laura Peterson , Nora Gibson, etc.
Madeline has performed in and with Kun-Yang Lin Performance series in Philadelphia PA, Dance West Fest in Salt Lake City UT, Black Mountain College, {Re} Happening Event in Asheville NC, as well has showing her MFA graduate thesis ‘Spiral’ in University of Roehampton’s Michaelis Theatre in London UK.
Aside from performing and choreographing , Madeline has a passion for teaching and has taught locally as well as internationally throughout her studies. She looks forward to meeting and growing with more dancers as more opportunities arrive.