FACULTY
Michael Susten
Director
Michael is the proud owner & director of SDC and has a teaching and performing career of over 15 years. He holds a BFA in Jazz Dance Performance with a focus in choreography from the University of the Arts and was awarded the “Choreography Prize” upon graduation.
He is currently teaching at Broadway Dance Center, The Joffrey Ballet School and STEPS on Broadway. He as also had the privilege of being a guest teacher at Point Park University, The University of Pennsylvania, Dean College, Millenium Dance Complex as well as numerous Performing Arts High Schools.
As a choreographer, Michaels work has been showcased in the Philly Fringe Festival, The APAP Showcase, Pushing Progress Showcase, Koresh Artist Showcase and the Choreographers Canvas. His work has also been fortunate enough to be a finalist in the International Choreography Competition, Dance Underneath the Stars Choreography Festival and was the 2nd runner up at the Artist Simply Human Choreography Competition. He has been recognized by Dance Studio Magazine and Dance Teacher magazine and was featured in their story “An Eye for Professionalism.”
Michael was a cast member at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida for five years and had the opportunity to perform in the Festival of the Lion King, Magic Kingdoms Welcome Show and The Main Street Trolly Show.
Michael has produced and directed over twenty dance concerts with Xhale Dance Company and Michael Susten & Company. Performing sold out concerts in Philadelphia and NYC. Debbie Allen said “Michael Susten creates beautiful and original work” and a review in NYCStuff said “Michael Susten is a choreographer who is unafraid to explore the dynamics of motion and emotion, his choreography is athletic with a balletic undertone.”
Michael has had the honor of working with so many talented dancers over the years, being a mentor to them and helping them achieve their goals. The Michael Susten & Company summer workshop completed its 6th workshop, providing dancers with an experience to work with some of the best choreographers/educators in the business. This summer he had dancers attend the event from New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Ohio, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California & Canada.
His students have been accepted to top dance Universities around the country (Point Park, PACE, Oklahoma City, University of the Arts, Fordham, NYU & Boston Conservatory) and has students performing in dance companies, Broadway and theme parks around the world.
After years of traveling the country to teach, choreograph and judge, Michael is excited to build a home at The Susten Dance Collective where he hopes to inspire dancers for years to come!
Justine Capria Morrill / Jazz & Musical Theatre
Justine Capria Morrill a native of New Jersey, graduated from the University of the Arts in 2009, with a BFA in Jazz Dance Performance. Justine was a member of The Xhale Dance Company in Philadelphia where she choreographed and danced in numerous performances including the Philly Fringe Festival. Justine was a part of Marinspired the storyteller’s, under the direction of Marinda Davis, where she performed in the company’s NYC debut “Breakable,” and also performed at the Capezio A.C.E awards. She has also performed in two APAP showcases at Peridance Capezio Center in NYC, works by Michael Susten and Marinda Davis. Justine can be seen on season 5 of The Dr. Oz show as an OZ dancer, along side Stepp Stewart. Aside from performing Justine Capria Morrill has a passion for teaching and choreographing for award winning competitive dance studios, dance teams, and performing arts high schools throughout. New Jersey where her work has received numerous choreography awards.
Andrew Burleson / Lyrical & Leaps Jumps & Turns
A North Carolina native, is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College in New York City, with a BFA in dance with a concentration in choreography and a minor in Business Administration. He has been dancing since the age of 3 training in various forms including ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, tap, modern and dance composition. In 2012 Andrew was chosen to tour with NRG Dance Project, where he was given the opportunity to travel nationally and assist top choreographers from So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Best Dance Crew, Disney’s Shake It Up, Step Up 2 and Britney Spears. During his dance competition career, Andrew was awarded numerous scholarships from highly recognized dance conventions such as JUMP, NUVO, and New York City Dance Alliance. In 2016 Andrew was awarded a college scholarship from New York City Dance Alliance Foundation to attend his dream school. He continues to learn and grow through other dancers and enjoys being challenged. Andrew works as a guest teacher and choreographer for over fifteen dance studios across the United States, and tours with Star Dance Alliance as the Regional Director for DreamMaker National Talent Competition. He has worked for several dance competitions and enjoys being able to empower the future generation of dancers. His choreography has won many awards, including top choreography at multiple competitions such as Starpower, StarQuest, and NUVO, as well as critics choice awards at New York City Dance Alliance and Onstage New York. He loves teaching and sharing dance but also has an innate ability to be encouraging and bring out the best in his students. Most recently, he began and is the Creative Director of Coalition Dance Project, LLC, a traveling teaching and choreographic company that focuses on providing a positive and empowering environment to teach and choreograph in. Andrew is continually encouraged by those he teaches when he sees their passion for dance.
Jackson Siegel / Ballet
Starting late at 13, Jackson trained at ballet schools across the country such as CPYB, PA Ballet, The Rock School, and Joffrey. After being a ballet apprentice, he realized company life was not his ideal and has since freelanced in commercial dance, TV and Film, Ballet, Regional theatre, tours, back-up dancing, and even contemporary dance. He has had the pleasure of performing works by dance hallmarks such as Maurice Bejart, the Balanchine trust, Merce Cunningham, isadora Duncan, Christopher wheeldon, Parris Goebel, Fatima Robinson, Ohad Naharin and many others. As an educator, he has done teacher training under ABT certified teacher Leslie Hench. He is also a Kinesiology and Sports Medicine major at Columbia University. He has a passion for creating safe learning environments where students learn to advocate for themselves in a space led with equity and inclusion.
Nick DiNicolangelo / Tap
Beginning his teaching career at the age of 15, Nick DiNicolangelo has become one of the most in-demand tap choreographers in the country. With his unique and energetic approach to teaching, Nick hopes to inspire students across the country to embrace tap dancing and explore its rich history and community. Nick was a charter member and captain for the New Jersey Tap Ensemble and was an original member of Mike Minery’s Tapaholics. For the past two decades Nick has traveled the country on faculty at numerous dance conventions. He also is grateful to the many studios he teaches and choreographs for nationwide. Nick founded the popular, Syn.co.pate Tap Intensive in 2008, bringing together many of the most talented tap dancers in the nation. In 2012 Nick created the “Hands Down Tap Project”, an inspiring collaboration of young tap artists dedicated to creating performance opportunities for tap dancers. Nick is excited to once again travel the country educating dancers with Revel Dance Convention.
Michelle Symos / Ballet & Pointe
MICHELLE SYMOS has been passionate about ballet her entire life, both as a student and as a teacher. She began her training at the age of three, studying at the Academy of Dance Arts (ADA) in Red Bank, NJ under the direction of Jennifer Church. She successfully completed Royal Academy of Dance examinations, Grade I through Advanced, receiving the highest grades of Honours or Distinction. She attended summer intensives offered by American Ballet Theatre, Alabama Ballet, Stanley Holden Dance Center, and The Washington Ballet (on full scholarship) studying with several ballet notables including Amanda McKerrow, Cynthia Harvey, and Wes Chapman. Additionally, she has been cast in many Company of Dance Arts (CODA) productions performing lead children’s roles and progressing through to principal roles in Emmy Award nominee Peter Anastos’ The Nutcracker (Clara, Arabian Coffee, Snow Queen), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Titania), and The Sleeping Beauty (Lilac Fairy) and Yvonne Lamb Scudiery’s Wizard of Oz (Tin Man).
When Michelle’s pursuit of a professional career was cut short due to injury, she attended NYU and was graduated with honors in 2011, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree. She practices part-time as a Registered Dental Hygienist.
Michelle is a faculty member at ADA, teaching ballet to pre-teen/teen dancers (elementary through advanced levels) and Body Conditioning. Michelle is also a Ballet Mistress for CODA, rehearsing the pre-professional dancers each year for Peter Anastos’ The Nutcracker, as well as varied spring productions choreographed by Peter Anastos, Nick and Shayne Mishoe, and Yvonne Lamb Scudiery.
Working with students from ADA, Michelle presented her original ensemble choreography twice to the Youth America Grand Prix competition. For the first time in 2018, she won a Second Place award and an Outstanding Choreographer award and presented again in 2019, winning a First Place award.
Michelle’s passion for classical ballet remains and she is always happy to share her joy of dance in the studio with her students!
Bethany Marc-Aurele / Ballet & PBT
Bethany Marc-Aurele began her foundational ballet training at the North Carolina School of the Arts and Central Wisconsin School of Ballet. The Alvin Ailey School in New York City accepted her into their program as a full scholarship student to work under the direction of Judith Jamison. Bethany went on to perform with several companies including Ballet Chicago, North Shore Ballet, Alvin Ailey Youth, Amelie Dance Theater and in several off-Broadway shows in New York City.
She is an ABT certified teacher, and continues her teacher training at the Vancouver Junior Professional Division in British Columbia, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet in Carlisle Pennsylvania and the American Ballet Theater. Bethany has been involved in dance education for over 15 years. She has choreographed, coached, adjudicated, and overseen classical and multi- disciplinary curriculums both nationally and internationally.
Bethany founded Hudson Dance & Movement in 2007 and Hudson Ballet in 2012. She was awarded the cover of “Dance Teacher Magazine” in 2012 as one of the top studio owners under 40. Her students that she has trained have gone on to such reputable schools such as Ballet Academy East, School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Gelsey Kirkland School, Central Pennsylvania School of Ballet and the Bolshoi Ballet in Connecticut.
Kristin Seneca-Leonardis / Hip Hop
Kristin has been dancing for more than 28 years & is one of the most diverse dancers in the industry. She is a graduate of Montclair State University’s College of the Arts where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance Education and a minor in Business.
Some of Kristin’s performance credits include: Kat DeLuna’s “Drop it Low” music video, Rupaul’s Drag Race at the Barclays Center, Crystal Waters halftime show at Madison Square Garden, The Wendy Williams Show, Radio City Music Hall, Hip Hop Squares, MTV, The Moscow Ballet’s “Russian Nutcracker”, “Beyond the Spotlight” with LaurieAnn Gibson, Disneyworld, Freestyle Legends Tour with artists Rockell, Joe Zangie, Noel, Cynthia, & hip hop legends The Sugar Hill Gang, World of Dance, KTU’s Beatstock at PNC Arts Center & Jones Beach, Coca-Cola, NJPAC and a private event for Madonna.
Kristin is a nationwide dance educator and choreographer. She is currently on faculty at Groove National Dance Competition & Convention as a judge, master class teacher, & choreographer. She is also on faculty at Deviate In-House Dance Convention & The Process.
