Meet The Team

Destiny was already written for Miss Sharon as dance was constantly present in her family. Her mother, (so fondly known as) Mrs. "D", was a professional ballroom teacher and performer and was a driving influence in Sharon's life. Miss Sharon started her formal training, at the age of four, in her home town of Whippany, NJ with Betty Welsh Clemens, a former NYC Radio City Rockette. Miss Sharon started teaching at the age of thirteen and immediately fell in love with children, teaching and passing on the fun and joy of dancing! She knew then, this would be her life. Sharon continued her training at the age of seventeen with the New Jersey School of Ballet and performed in the Nutcracker Christmas Shows. At the age of nineteen she was offered a position as a NYC Radio City Rockette and also, to compete in the "The Harvest Moon Ball" ballroom championship competitions. However, Miss Sharon chose to open the doors to her school because her true passion and love was in teaching. Miss Sharon is honored to have second and third generation dancers attending her school and feels this is the highest compliment. Many of Sharon's students have gone on to professional acting, performing and teaching careers, and have opened their own schools. Over forty years and tens of thousands of students later, Miss Sharon is still doing what she loves to do best, pass on the joy of DANCING!

Miss Tammy began dancing at age two. When her sister Sharon began her school, Miss Tammy would take the bus to the studio and spend her days there, dancing and student teaching. She has choreographed middle and high school musicals for over 20 years. Her students have been recognized by Rising Star Awards at the Paper Mill Playhouse, a competition modeled after Broadway's Tony Awards for high school musical theater. Miss Tammy has also judged dance competitions. She taught at the studio for 42 years and is also the studio manager.

Susan Deventer-Zakosky began studying dance at the age of 3. She fell in love immediately and could not get enough. Luckily her older sister opened Sharon's Studio of Dance & Music in 1975. This gave Susan not only the opportunity to study every day but also to teach alongside her sisters. She has won national dance titles and has performed professionally in the tri-state area. Susan has been teaching all styles of dance to all levels and ages. She has also taught Broadway performers at the world known Broadway Dance Center in NYC.

Amanda began her dancing career at the young age of three. She is experienced in teaching a variety of dance styles which includes ballet, contemporary, gymnastics, hip hop, jazz, lyrical, modern, pointe, and tap. She is a graduate of Montclair State University (MSU), where she achieved Cum Laude honors while receiving a Bachelor's degree of Fine Arts in Dance. While attending MSU, her extensive training in ballet, modern, and choreography provided her the opportunity to work with acclaimed choreographers such as Maxine Steinman, Jose Limon, Joelle Van Sickle, and Shapiro & Smith. Additionally, she was a member of the Six Degrees Dance Company which performed at various notable venues including the Tsunami Benefit, and the Garden Opening Concert. She began her career as a professional dance instructor in 2000.

Victoria began her teaching career in 2002. Her teaching experience includes recreational and competitive dance in the studio setting, as well as a period as an adjunct instructor in the higher education setting. She is a perpetual student, and enjoys taking class at Gibney Dance, Peridance, Steps, and Broadway Dance Center. As an employee of the former Dance New Amsterdam for four years, Miss Vicky had the pleasure of studying Simonson Technique, modern dance, and ballet. She received her BA in Integrative Arts with a concentration in dance from the Pennsylvania State University in 2008. As a choreographer, Miss Vicky was the Artistic Director of Victoria Scanga / scangadance from 2009-2012. Her choreography was performed at festivals throughout New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania including 60×60 Dance at both the World Financial Center Winter Garden (2009) and DanceFest at Tompkins Square Park in New York City (2010), at the Fertile Ground Performance Series at Green Space in Queens, NY (2010), the Koresh Artist Showcase in Philadelphia, PA (2010), the Sunday Brunch Series at The Rover in New York City (2010), the Silk City Arts Festival in Paterson, NJ (2010), Penn State University (2011), WAXworks at Triskelion Arts in Brooklyn, NY, and the Mish Mash Performance Series at Sukha Arts Center in Harrington Park, NJ (2012). In the competition dance world, Miss Victoria is a national and multi-time regional award winning choreographer and has choreographed numerous regional and national top ten solos, duos, and group dances. Her teen modern group, Survivor, was the highest scoring intermediate 15-19 group for Star Dance Alliance’s Power Rankings for the 2019 season in NJ and PA. Miss Vicky holds an MBA from Rutgers Business School and also works as the Associate Director of Marketing for NX3 Corporation.

Max, aka Bboy Airmax, has been dancing for nine years, seven of which have been with souljerz crew, competing and doing performances with souljerz all over the world. Mr. Max's most memorable shows include MTV, the US Open, Disney, Pepsi and the Super Bowl. Mr. Max is most known for his aerial abilities and power moves. He can be seen judging competitions worldwide, in commercials and of course, in the air. Mr. Max has been teaching break dance at Sharon's since 2009.

Noel grew up dancing at Sharon's Studio of Dance from age 3-18. During her years at Sharon's, Noel was trained under Miss Tammy as an assistant teacher. Noel graduated with a BA in Finance from Muhlenberg College. While at Muhlenberg she also studied several forms of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip-hop, and African as well as substitute teaching at Sharon's during school breaks. After college she began working at UBS Financial Services and at Sharon's Studio of Dance & Music as a dance teacher. Noel also has an MBA in Finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Kari has been dancing since the age of three. She has been formally trained in tap, jazz, lyrical, and ballet. Kari began student teaching where she learned that she had a passion for helping to educate young dancers. She has been teaching dance since the age of 18 at East Stroudsburg University, as well at other local dance studios throughout New Jersey. She has danced professionally with the NFL for two years. She was afforded the opportunity to dance with Lenny Kravitz in the Thanksgiving halftime show, as well as dancing with Lilian Garcia. Kari currently holds a Masters Degree in Administration, a BS in Education and a minor in dance, Kari is an avid student and teacher. She grew up dancing in Rockaway, NJ where she trained under numerous choreographers. She was a member of the competition team, and selected for a performance at the home of Bon Jovi. While at East Stroudsburg University, Kari was a member of the Dance Team, Cheerleading Team, and University Dance Company. There she was able to learn and perform new styles, while being instructed by top choreographers. Upon graduating, she was able to coach and choreograph for a semi-professional dance team for two years. Miss Kari has been a judge for numerous cheerleading teams. She is proud to be a member of Miss Sharon's Dance and Music and share her passion for dance with her students!

Janine started dancing with Sharon’s at the age of three. During her time at Sharon’s, she was trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap and was a member of the Performing Group and Competition Team. After 15 years of dance and several years as a student teacher at Sharon’s, Janine decided she wanted to continue her dance career at Muhlenberg College. Janine studied under Karen Dearborn, Jeffrey Peterson, Randall Anthony Smith and Teresa VanDenend Sorge in ballet, modern, African studies, choreography and educational techniques. Janine was a member of the department's dance company where she got to perform annually in the mainstages in both faculty and student pieces. While also in college Janine was a member of the school’s dance team, The Perkulators and taught at their local community arts program, Muhlenberg Community Dance Center (MCDC). This opportunity gave Janine the experience to work as one of the performance managers behind the scenes of the MCDC shows. When Janine graduated she received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Dance with a concentration in Dance Education. Since Muhlenberg, Janine spent a year in Washington DC working and teaching at studios down there and has since moved back to New Jersey, where she is excited to teach at Sharon’s Studio of Dance & Music.

Tina has been dancing since the age of three and started teaching at the age of 14. Growing up as a competitive dancer at Totowa Dance Center under the instruction of Barbara Bruno Campbell, she trained in many forms of dance such as lyrical, ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, hip hop, and contemporary. She has won numerous platinum, first overalls, titles and special awards. Tina has taught and choreographed to a diverse group of students including preschool to adults and began choreographing dances for national competitions with her students also winning numerous accolades. Tina has also performed at various venues such as Six Flags and has taken multiple classes at Broadway Dance Center and workshops under the instruction of Ray Leaper, Frank Hatchet, and more. Tina loves to share her passion for dance with her students.

Maria began her dance education at the age of three and has been dancing ever since! Participating and winning many overall high scores, national titles, and special awards for both solo and group performances in regional and national level competitions, Maria has trained extensively in all styles of dance including jazz, tap, ballet, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, musical theater, hip-hop, and modern. In high school, Maria was a four-time UDA All-American, being invited to perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and New Year’s Eve parades in Rome (2011) & London (2012). Maria earned a BA in Dance and Theatre with a concentration in Dance Therapy and a minor in Psychology from Manhattanville College, Purchase, NY. At Manhattanville, she had the opportunity to choreograph multiple pieces in the dance concerts and has also performed works by various respected choreographers; as well as appeared in several Dance on Camera films. Her senior thesis was selected as a Lounsbery Awardee to be presented at the Hudson Guild Theater in New York, NY. Most recently, she was the head director of the West Essex Regional School District Dance Program in North Caldwell, NJ. She has also danced with the Garden State Opera, and was previously a member of DanceWorksNYC. Maria performed as a group dancer in Disney’s Performing Arts showcase, was part of a select group invited to dance for the New Jersey Devils, a squad member for the semi-professional football team Jersey Sharks during their inaugural season, and trained with Amalgamate Dance Company for a special show in Piobicco, Italy. Now, Maria plans to continue her dance career by teaching the art of dance to the future generation of dancers, and hopes to share her passion of dance with her students, and help educate them to become the best artists and dancers that they can be. She is very excited to be a part of Sharon's Studio of Dance & Music!

Mariahclare, or better known as MC, was basically born into dance. Being born just two days prior, she was in attendance at her sister, Miss Janine’s first recital at Sharon’s. Ever since then, dance has been a major part of her life. She took recreation classes at Sharon’s up until she was in third grade and was able to join the Competition Team. She served as captain for two years and has won several awards under choreography done by Miss Vicky and Miss Kari. She is trained in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary and modern. She attended American University and graduated in May of 2022 with a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science. She made it on her school’s nationally ranked D1 Dance Team and served as Captain her Junior and Senior year. During her time at American, she choreographed halftimes for basketball games and competed in NDA against hundreds of other dance teams from all over the nation. She was trained in jazz, hip hop and contemporary at American. While in DC, she taught various after school programs and coached an extensive amount of sports to elementary school students, including soccer, dance, hip hop, tennis, running club, basketball, and fencing. She is so excited to be back at Sharon’s and doing more of what she loves. 

Nicole grew up dancing at Sharon’s Studio of Dance & Music from ages 5-18. She was on the competition team from age 10 and on, where she was a part of many award winning dances. She was trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, and modern. During her time at the studio, Nicole was a student teacher under Miss Victoria for many years. Nicole is currently a nursing student at Rutgers University. She was a substitute dance teacher throughout her first year of school and is now continuing her dance career at Sharon’s Studio of Dance & Music by becoming a current teacher. Nicole is very excited to be back teaching at Sharon’s Studio of Dance & Music and she can not wait to share her love for dance with her students!

Josephine has been a dancer and a gymnast since she was 5 years old. She has trained in acrobatics,
ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, modern, musical theater, and lyrical for 19 years, as well as
gymnastics for 11 years. She graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University in February of 2023 with her
B.A. in Communications and a double-minor in Dance and Theater Arts. Currently, she is a dancer and
choreographer with Extensions Dance Project, a New Jersey-based company of dancers looking to
continue their passion for dance and choreography outside of their professions. Josephine has
choreographed 3 pieces for EDP and danced in 9 pieces for the company since its inception in
September of 2022. She has continued dancing, choreographing, and teaching and looks forward to
using her gymnastics knowledge to improve students’ acro skills!

Lauren began dancing at Sharon's Studio of Dance and Music at just three years old. She joined the Performing Group and moved onto the Competition Team when she turned ten years old. Lauren trained in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and contemporary under Miss Vicky, Miss Amanda, and Miss Kari. Lauren danced all the way through middle school and high school, until she had to leave for college. She then graduated from the University of Alabama in May of 2023 with a Bachelor's of Science in Secondary Education and English Language Arts. She now teaches English at a local high school, and is excited to join the wonderful team of teachers here at Sharon's. 

Miss Ashley Ruhl began dancing at the age of 3. She began competing early and became a soloist at the age of 9, performing her first ballet solo which ranked in the Top Ten at the National Finals. Ashley performed competitively until the age of 16, receiving numerous top awards for her solos and groups.

Miss Ashley continued her dance career, focusing primarily on ballet. She was awarded numerous scholarships. Miss Ashley was a Principal Dancer with the Rock School, The Pennsylvania Ballet, and Ballet West Company. She had the privilege of working with several world-renowned choreographers and teachers. She has an Associates Degree in Pre-Med and graduated Magna Cum Laude.  Some of her most
recent accreditations is an original work which was performed at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and The Waldorf Astoria in New York City. She also performed with the modern company Mayzsoul in the productions of “Fresh” and “Souls”. Miss Ashley is continuing for her 20th year of professional teaching! She is very excited to be joining Sharon's Studio of Dance & Music, she hopes to offer students a new experience and share her love for dance!

Jeanette, voice teacher and vocal coach, sang her first solo at age seven and became a soloist in church at age 12. She went on to study voice with the best teachers in Chicago. Later, she joined two prestigious Chicago choral groups. One group sang music of the Middle Ages and the other was devoted to Baroque music. Miss Jeanette has soloed with several choirs, chamber groups, and orchestras and sung with many of the best musicians in the United States and abroad. As a vocal teacher, she has coached students for auditions to highly sought after solo singing positions. Miss Jeanette's piano students advance rapidly and some have gone on to study music in college. Miss Jeanette holds a B.M. degree in Musicology from Roosevelt University (The Chicago Musical College). In addition, she received a Certificate of Music Therapy from The Institute for Music Health and Education in Boulder and is a lifetime member of the Sound Healers Association. Not only does she teach piano and voice, but she has led courses in music therapy both here and in Scandinavia. Miss Jeanette was also a music critic for several years and has conducted several choirs.

Wayne has been a musician all his life, starting on piano as a child, and continuing his studies into singing and acting. He holds a BA in Vocal Pedagogy from TCNJ and was a fellowship recipient from Indiana University where he graduated with a MM in Vocal Performance in 2013. He has performed as a principal artist in over 30 professional opera and theater productions with his singing career allowing him to travel to over two dozen countries and many of the major cultural centers of the world. With a children's/youth ensemble in nearly a third of the productions Wayne has been in, he often gave private lessons and coaching to many of the children's cast and has always enjoyed helping others find their voice in studio and on stage. He is equally adept at coaching voice for teens and adults and can help with auditions or college prep. With the uncertainty of the effects of the current pandemic, Wayne has decided to explore the field of teaching at a more permanent basis and is thrilled to join the wonderful team at Sharon's Studio of Dance and Music.