Faculty

Jazz/ Tap / Pre-Dance

Erika Bair

Erika Bair is a graduate of Kutztown University where her major was Dance/Dance Management & Production with a minor in psychology. Her training began at age 3 and over the years has consisted of training in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, and modern. She was a member of KU’s dance company’s: The Performing Dance Portmanteau (PDP) as well as the newly founded Lenhart Dance Company where she trained with the likes of the Paul Taylor Dance Company as well as the Twyla Tharp Company. Erika has also trained with SEA Pilates Inc. in the technique and teaching methods of Joseph Pilates and is currently working towards gaining her full-certification through a PMA Certification School. She is very excited to be a part of the Janice Danceworks family!

Ballet/Lyrical/Modern Teacher

Melissa Caterina Chisena

Melissa Chisena started her dance career with the New Paltz Ballet Theatre, dancing and training for Peter and Lisa Naumann. At the age of seventeen, she went to dance professionally with The North Carolina Dance Theatre, and after with The Richmond Ballet. Melissa began exploring and falling in love with modern dance during her summers at The American Dance Festival. At the festival, she was chosen to perform a work choreographed by Miguel Rhobles as a part of the International Choreographer Commissioning Program and a work choreographed by Richard Siegal. Melissa also has been a guest artist at the Virginia Commonwealth University. Her own choreography has been featured at the North Carolina Dance Theatre, Richmond Ballet, American Dance Festival, Philadelphia Dance Theatre, Regional Dance America and various dance competitions across the United States. Melissa is currently dancing with Tania Isaac Dance, Merge Dance, PIMA Group, and does her own solo work in Philadelphia, PA.

Acrobatics~Tumbling/Pre-Dance / Zumba

Kimberly Ciaranca

Kimberly began dancing at age four and was trained in all genres of dance at a local dance studio.  Kim successfully completed a rigorous teacher’s training program which included both class time and internships and has been teaching dance and acro for the past 5 years.  Over the past 17 years Kim performed with a traveling dance troupe, who provided community service in Delaware County; she would volunteer her time to entertain the community at local malls, nursing homes and civic events during the holiday season.  She was also a member of an Award winning Competition Team that attend both regional and national dance competitions, including  Star Power, Company Dance, and New York City Dance Alliance. She has also performed in Walt Disney World.  Kimberly attributes much of her success to "hard work" and "dedication" and she is truly excited to share her love of dance and performance with all of her DanceWork's students.

Hip-Hop Teacher / Competition Choreographer

Nai-Whedai Sheriff

Whedai Sheriff, a native of Brooklyn, NY, began her career in dance 16 years ago at the age of 15. She studied African, Modern (Graham technique), and Jazz in high school. She became a member of John Dewey High School's competitive Dance Ensemble Program where she studied and performed for three years .Although her BBA is in Business Administration, she attended Hunter College where she studied the Graham technique further and several styles of African dance. While in college she also joined, performed and later choreographed Hip-Hop routines for the Baruch College Dance Team "Flava". She performed and traveled with "Flava" for nine years. She also studied at Djoniba's Dance and Drum Center in NY. Whedai performed live with Reggae Artist KC Jockey during a Hip-Hop concert at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Rhode Island. She relocated to Philadelphia in September of 2004 where she initiated and coached the dance team "Couga Flava" at Springfield High School. She was the Assistant Coach for Cheer USA and coached a Cheerleading/Dance Team at Preparatory Charter High School in the South Philadelphia. Whedai also started Urban Dance & Company, LLC to function as a contract dance instruction and choreography company in September 2005. She is under contract by 7 locations in the Philadelphia Metro Area to teach Hip Hop. Her teaching credits now also extends to teaching college aged students Hip Hop dance and Afro-Caribbean movement at the University of the Arts as well as at Neumann College. She is also doing choreography for upcoming local R&B artists in the Philadelphia area. Whedai was offered an opportunity to participate and perform in Italy with Dance Masters during the Summer of 2010 following a 6 week dance intensive. Whedai continues to teach Master Classes, develop successful Hip Hop programs at multiple dance studios and create award winning Choreography as her love of dance and to teach creative movement is surpassed by none!

Boys Only Hip-Hop Teacher

Mr. T:

Mr. Trouble, a.k.a Mr. T, was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He started dancing at an early age stealing the dance floor wherever music was playing. As a teen, Mr. Trouble joined a neighborhood dance group performing at local events and shows. It was during this time that Mr. Trouble and his group became a regular sensation on Brooklyn’s community access television. For 6 years, he danced competitively throughout the city before leaving for the military. Since his return he has been teaching dance at studios including Janice’s Dance Works. Mr. Trouble’s dance style combines Hip Hop, Reggae, gymnastics, and freestyle. He is also a Rapper, DJ. Actor, and a personal trainer providing private sessions to anyone who wants to get in shape and needs a little extra support. Mr. Trouble is a proud father of his three-year old daughter and enjoys spending time with family and making people laugh. If you are ready to dance....Mr. T wants to see you in class!

Hip Hop / Ballet / Modern /Adult Yoga 

Geri Vanore

Geri Vanore is a Philadelphia native who began her training at her neighborhood studio at the age of ten. She later attended the High School for the Creative And Performing Arts (CAPA). During High School, Geri trained at the studio as well as at Philadanco, where she became a member of Danco II. While at Philadanco, Geri was given the opportunity to work with instructors such as Milton Myers, Donald Lunsford, Pat Thomas, Deloras Brown, Debra Manning, and Kim Bears to name a few. Soon Geri became an instructor herself at her neighborhood studio where she taught for almost ten years. Her specialties were modern, ballet, technique and turn, lyrical, hip hop, and bellydance. She attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she worked with Ruth Andrian, Molly Misgalla, Andrew Pap, Roni Koresh, and Manfred Fishbach . Among countless performances, she was also given the opportunity to perform a re-staging of Paul Taylor's amazing Airs in Philadelphia as well as in Bermuda along side the Bermuda Dance Co. In 2001 Geri was offered a scholarship to train at the world renown Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. There she studied under Kazuko Hirabayashi, Denise Vale, Elana Comendador, Marguerite Wesley, Max Luna III, and many more. After returning home Geri began teaching full time and soon co-founded and directed Identity Dance Company, a dance group of adolescents and young adults who were choosing to find themselves through their art and talent rather than through the potentially misleading streets in their neighborhoods. IDC performed for fundraisers, schools and senior citezen centers. In 2005 Geri became a member of the Philadelphia Wings Dance Team with whom she performed for two seasons. She has also recently danced as a featured performer at the Garden State Dance Festival in 2007. And since 2005 has been performing professionally with Archedream for Humankind, a blacklight archetypal dance theatre, with whom she tours the U.S. giving performances and workshops at schools and festivals. Lately Geri has also been doing some freelance work with fellow artists and professionals in the city. In addition to her first teaching experiance, Geri has taught and choreographed at Pennsport School of Dance, CAPA, Star Studios, and Philadelphia Studio Ballet, all of which gave her the most rewarding experiences of working with young people and sharing her knowledge of dance and art with them. Many of Geri's hard working students have gone on to perform with companies such as Eleone, Danco II and Disney. Geri is now excitedly looking forward to becoming a part of the faculty at Janice's Dance Works, and if you're a dancer, she wants to see YOU in class!!!

Jazz/ Tap/ Competition Choreographer

Britni Zarin

Britni Zarin began her dance career at the age of 2.  At the age of 7 she was invited to join the Delaware Valley Jazz Company, a competitive dance team. She was recognized with several awards, including a two time 'Miss Showbiz'  title, The Distinguished Dancer Award, Miss Star Power, Miss Dance XPlosion and the Rising  Star Award.  In 1999, she was selected to perform in New York City in  TAP EXTRAVAGANZA, which recognizes young talented tappers. It was there that she was able to meet the late Gregory Heinz, and renowned Savion Glover.  In 2004, she received the Jennifer Lynn Swan dance scholarship.  That same year, at the age of 16, she was accepted into the summer program at The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in NYC.  She has choreographed, and performed as a feature artist in the Garden State Dance Festival.  Britni has participated in intensives, and workshops at Broadway Dance Center in NYC, and at The Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, CA. Britni is excited to share her experiences and unique choreography with the students at Janice's DanceWorks!