Hyeree Jeong is the founder and artistic director of Waldwick School of Ballet, Edgewater Performing Arts, and Closter Performing Arts. Originally from Seoul, South Korea, she trained at the prestigious Elmhurst Ballet School in the UK and earned her Master’s Degree in Ballet from Sejong University. She went on to dance professionally with the Korean Ballet Theater and later joined the faculty of Sejong University’s Ballet Department.

Hyeree is trained in ballet, character, contemporary, jazz, modern, tap, flamenco, and Korean traditional dance. She is certified in the Vaganova method, Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), and ABT National Training Curriculum.

Through her teaching, she has developed dancers who have won major awards and gone on to train and perform professionally. Her passion, discipline, and commitment to excellence continue to shape and inspire the next generation of dancers.

Kara Bruzina began her ballet training at the School of Classical Ballet in Lexington, KY, and went on to study in Germany, Japan, and at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. She earned her BFA in Dance from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, graduating summa cum laude.

Her professional career includes performances with Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Memphis, Collage Dance Collective, Dayton Ballet, and others, where she danced a broad range of classical and contemporary repertoire. In addition to performing, Kara has worked in costume design, is trained in Stott Pilates, and has been involved in community outreach, bringing dance to underserved youth. Since moving to New Jersey in 2014, she has focused on teaching, choreography, and coaching.

Sonia Byrnes is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer from Lancaster, PA, with over 15 years of teaching experience at institutions including American Ballet Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Covenant Ballet Theatre of Brooklyn.

She worked in ABT’s education department managing their certified teachers and co-instructed the ABT/NYU Master’s Program. Sonia holds an MA in Teaching Dance with a focus on ABT Pedagogy from NYU and is a certified Cecchetti teacher.

Founder of Sojo Performing Arts, she serves on the board of Times of Refreshing Christian Centre and is passionate about advancing the dance legacy.

Ryan Yuri began his dance training in 2014 at Academia Roda Viva and later studied under Simone Malta at Itego em Artes Basileu França in Goiânia, Brazil. He joined the Ballet Teatro Escola Basileu França youth company in 2019, working with renowned artists from Brazil, Cuba, and Russia.

Ryan has performed a wide range of classical, neoclassical, and contemporary works, including full-length ballets such as Coppélia, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, and The Nutcracker. His talent has earned him top awards at festivals like YAGP—where he placed 2nd in the Men's Senior Division—and scholarships to institutions including Barcelona Dance Center and Alberta Ballet School.

Karina Fornazaro is the Dance Department Manager at Edgewater Performing Arts and an American Ballet Theatre Certified Teacher. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching Dance from NYU and specializes in the ABT® National Training Curriculum.

Originally from Brazil, Karina also has degrees in Psychology focused on child development, which informs her holistic and inclusive teaching approach. With over 10 years of ballet teaching experience, she is passionate about making dance accessible and nurturing each student’s growth in technique and artistry.

Nicole Zadra trained in the USA and Russia, graduating from Manhattan Youth Ballet and the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. She danced with The Hong Kong Ballet, Ballet Memphis, Atlantic City Ballet, and California Ballet Company, performing classical and contemporary works.

Nicole has worked with renowned choreographers including Nina Ananiashvili and Deborah Wingert. She is an ABT certified teacher and Project Plié scholarship recipient, with additional training at Alvin Ailey, Boston Ballet, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet.

Her accolades include an Alvin Ailey Fellowship, Bolshoi Ballet Academy Scholarship, and Grishko USA Rising Star award.

Melinda Matticoli is an award-winning movement artist and choreographer from Skillman, New Jersey. She began training at Broadway Dance Center on scholarship and has performed with The Verdon Fosse Legacy. Melinda has collaborated with notable creators and presented her choreography at Off-Broadway venues and events like World of Dance.

Her work combines dance and film, showcased at various festivals, and she is a founding member of the Choreographer’s Guild. Melinda is also a passionate teacher, guest instructing at studios and conventions worldwide and serving on the screening committee for Dance Camera West.