Staff
Liz Perez
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Liz, who’s involvement in the arts spans over 3 decades, has studied with industry greats, such as, Dave Russel, Sheila Barker, Frank Hatchet and Germaine Salsberg. Lizzie is currently an Assistant Director/ Head Judge for Dancers Inc Competitions travelling throughout the country adjudicating young dancers. As a singer, Lizzie released a 12 inch single Titled, Not Gonna Be the One on Renegade Records. She also currently enjoys performing with various Wedding and Cover Bands. In Theatre, some of her favorite roles have been Miss. Hannigan in Annie and Anita in West Side Story. She has been awarded numerous choreography awards over the past twenty years. She has also choreographed several pre-professional musicals throughout NJ and enjoys teaching Master Classes throughout the country. Several of her students have gone on to perform on Broadway, at Radio City, in LA and can be seen on Glee. Lizzie is certified by both DMA and DEA, and in addition, works for the Passaic Public School System.
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Ezequiel "Eezy" Olivares
Ezequiel, known as Eezy, is a hip hop Dancer who has been a member of the Kozmic Edge Dance Company and is currently the Vice President of the William Paterson Dance Team. He trains in various styles and has performed in World of Dance Boston and World of Dance New Jersey. He has also been featured in performances at NJPAC and Carnival, NYC. He is known for his energetic and vibrant approach to teaching and is excited to share this next Season with our students.
Ezequiel, known as Eezy, is a hip hop Dancer who has been a member of the Kozmic Edge Dance Company and is currently the Vice President of the William Paterson Dance Team. He trains in various styles and has performed in World of Dance Boston and World of Dance New Jersey. He has also been featured in performances at NJPAC and Carnival, NYC. He is known for his energetic and vibrant approach to teaching and is excited to share this next Season with our students.
Serena Ryan Cruz
Serena has been dancing since the age of 2 and a half and is a well rounded dancer who studied Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Acro and Tap. She grew up Competing, has earned Top Overall Awards and holds many National Titles. Currently, Serena travels as a Backstage Manager for Dancer's Inc and also represents EMPIRE as an Ambassador of Dance with Dancer's Inc. Her bubbly personality coupled with her passion and knowledge of Dance makes her an outstanding educator and mentor to our Recreational and Company students.
Serena has been dancing since the age of 2 and a half and is a well rounded dancer who studied Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Acro and Tap. She grew up Competing, has earned Top Overall Awards and holds many National Titles. Currently, Serena travels as a Backstage Manager for Dancer's Inc and also represents EMPIRE as an Ambassador of Dance with Dancer's Inc. Her bubbly personality coupled with her passion and knowledge of Dance makes her an outstanding educator and mentor to our Recreational and Company students.
DOUGIE ROBBINS
Dougie loves to share his passion for Dance and Theatre with audiences wherever he goes- most recently directing and choreographing in Taipei! He has also recently had the pleasure of assistant directing the 40th anniversary concert of They're Playing Our Song at the Music Box Theater on Broadway. He is currently directing and choreographing Joseph...Dreamcoat at the national historic landmark Tibbits Opera House. This year he was fortunate enough to bring his theater dance company, DPRdance, to its first off-broadway performance in spring of 2019. Other choreographic and directive credits include: Footloose (BroadwayWorld Nomination), Addams Family (Wilde Nomination) and Peter Pan (Wilde Nomination). He loves teaching and has helped bring the joy of theater and dance to students across the country and internationally.
Dougie loves to share his passion for Dance and Theatre with audiences wherever he goes- most recently directing and choreographing in Taipei! He has also recently had the pleasure of assistant directing the 40th anniversary concert of They're Playing Our Song at the Music Box Theater on Broadway. He is currently directing and choreographing Joseph...Dreamcoat at the national historic landmark Tibbits Opera House. This year he was fortunate enough to bring his theater dance company, DPRdance, to its first off-broadway performance in spring of 2019. Other choreographic and directive credits include: Footloose (BroadwayWorld Nomination), Addams Family (Wilde Nomination) and Peter Pan (Wilde Nomination). He loves teaching and has helped bring the joy of theater and dance to students across the country and internationally.
Shannon Johnston
Shannon has been teaching acrobatics and many styles of dance for 10 years at studios all over in New Jersey. She studied dance and acrobatics at local studio, participating in various competitions over the years. In 2010, Shannon was awarded the national title of Miss Acrobat of the United States through United States Tournament of Dance. She continued her dance and pedagogy training at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts for dance, with a minor in psychology, as well as her Master of Education. She is a New Jersey Certified Teacher of Dance and Teacher of Students with Disabilities. In 2018, Shannon completed her training as an Acrobatic Arts instructor, which provided a dance based, wholesome approach to using the different parts of acrobatics in a studio setting. Shannon is also a certified Rhythm Works Integrated Dance Instructor.
Shannon has been teaching acrobatics and many styles of dance for 10 years at studios all over in New Jersey. She studied dance and acrobatics at local studio, participating in various competitions over the years. In 2010, Shannon was awarded the national title of Miss Acrobat of the United States through United States Tournament of Dance. She continued her dance and pedagogy training at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts for dance, with a minor in psychology, as well as her Master of Education. She is a New Jersey Certified Teacher of Dance and Teacher of Students with Disabilities. In 2018, Shannon completed her training as an Acrobatic Arts instructor, which provided a dance based, wholesome approach to using the different parts of acrobatics in a studio setting. Shannon is also a certified Rhythm Works Integrated Dance Instructor.
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Brad Trump
Brad Trump is thrilled to be joining the 2020-2021 teaching team at Empire School of Performing Arts. Now based in NYC, Brad originally hails from Pittsburgh, PA where he received his training from the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School and Point Park University before heading off to finish his secondary dance education at the Joffrey Ballet School NYC. His performance credits include: CATS 30th Anniversary National Tour, Newsies (Finch), Mary Poppins (Neleus), A Christmas Carol, Spamalot, Grease, Oklahoma!, Joseph/Dreamcoat, and A Chorus Line (Mike). In addition, he has also performed at Hershey Park, Central Park Dance’s production of The Nutcracker (Lead Russian), worked alongside Shelly Hutchinson in the Hutchinson Collaborative around NYC and even appeared in an ABC Family original movie musical: Lovestruck! With Jane Seymour. As a teacher, Brad has spent the last 10 years teaching at various studios throughout the North Eastern Region between Virginia and Massachusetts. He has directed four children’s theatre productions and has presented pieces at APEX and LEG UP ON LIFE: Benefitting the Trevor Project in NYC. |
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Nyasia Fraser
Nyasia Fraser began her training at a local studio in Clifton, NJ, where she studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, and Lyrical. She obtained her BFA in Dance from Montclair State University in 2018 and continued her education at New York University. In May of 2020, Nyasia graduated with her MA in Dance Education and was given a graduation award that recognized her dedication to the community and high academic achievement. Nyasia Fraser has made it her priority to provide an environment that promotes creativity and individualism to allow dancers to bring out their inner artist. Nyasia is so excited to join the Empire of the Performing Arts Dance Family! |
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Janiya McWilliams
This is Janiya’s 3rd Season teaching at EPA. She started dancing at 3 years old and technically trained in Ballet, Tap & Jazz for 15 years. Janiya is an Award Winning Competitive Dancer with many accolades at both the Regional and National Competition Level. Janiya enjoyed the opportunity to travel and dance Internationally in London and perform at Disneyland Paris. Janiya is very excited to continue to share her knowledge and love for Dance at EPA. |
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Craig Donnelly
Craig Donnelly is a New York based actor/singer/dancer, whose performed all over the continent with the international tours of A Chorus Line and CATS. Regional theater credits include North Shore Music Theatre, Theatre By The Sea, Westchester Broadway Theater, Gateway Playhouse, Tuacahn Center for the Performing Arts, American Music Theater and The Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities. His passion for performance has translated to a decorated career in teaching and choreographing for ballet academies and competitive dance programs around the tri-state area. |