Joy Carlson (Intro to Jazz/Tap; Ballet/Pointe; Tap; Junior Company, Company) Joy Carlson has been teaching at Cresskill Performing Arts since its opening in 2006. A native of New Jersey, Joy discovered her love and passion for dance taking classes in ballet, tap, and jazz. Ballet being her favorite form of dance, Joy started studying at New Jersey Ballet as a pre-teen. She performed in ballets such as The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella. She joined Awakenings Dance Theatre Company in New York and performed locally and internationally with the company. Joy taught and choreographed in the tri-state area until she took a job with Vee Corporation in their productions of Sesame Street Live. Traveling the country and the world with such a great group of people has been a highlight in Joy’s performance career. Joy does volunteer work coaching Special Olympics and teaching tap to the amazing girls at Groove with Me, a studio in Harlem that promotes girls' self worth. Joy’s biggest hope for the future is that all the wonderful young dancers out there will follow their dreams. They will take you to great places.
Annie Ellertsen (Intro to Hip-Hop; Intro to Theater Dance; Broadway Dance; Preteen/Teen Theater Dance; Hot Mama Jazz; Preballet; Ballet 1/2; Yoga for All) Annie Ellertsen has been a part of the CPA family since 2007. In addition to teaching in New Jersey, Connecticut and Manhattan, she received her yoga teaching certificate from the Yoga Alliance in 2010. Noted credits include the CW Network's Tyra Banks show, and Strong Man Productions.
David Brand (Improv Games, Improv Workshop; Monologue/Scene Class)
Jennifer Jones (Jazz/Funk; Modern; Preteen Hip-Hop; Teen Street Jazz; Jump & Turn;Theater Jazz; Street Jazz; Afro-Caribbean Fusion, Contemporary) hails from California. She went to the Ailey School and has a degree in dance performance choreography. Jennifer has been teaching for the past 11 years, and is currently being certified in Pilates. She enjoys teaching as well as performing as a dancer and choreographer in New York.
Bethel Keith (Broadway Baby; Princess Dance; Ballet Beginnings; Intro to Hip-Hop; Preteen Hip-Hop) Born and raised in Maine, Bethel has been dancing since the age of 3. Her favorite dance styles are jazz and hip-hop, but she loves trying new and different things! After graduating college with her Bachelor of Arts in Dance, Bethel moved to New York City where she currently resides, pursuing her love of dance.
Dedrick Lee Anthony (Junior Company, Hip-Hop/Street Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary) Originally from Michigan, Dedrick is a graduate of The Ailey School, the official school of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. He has performed in regional theatre productions such as Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, Ain't Misbehavin' and Guys & Dolls with Eddie Mekka. Dedrick has performed in Switzerland, France, Germany, Belgium, Hawaii, and the Bahamas. He has worked with production companies such as School Zone, Norwegian Cruise Lines, ABC, Adidas, L'Oreal Paris Professionnel, Vogue Italia, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey’s. Currently, some of his choreography can be seen in the Google Chrome: Lady Gaga “The Edge of Glory” commercial. Residing in New York City, he teaches masterclass and sets choreography across the nation.
Elinor Goeller (Once Upon a Time; Kids' Concoctions)
Joseph Daly, Stephen Daly (Fencing) Joseph Daly studied theatrical and competition fencing with Giorgio Santelli, Csaba Elthes (U.S. Olympic Sabre Coach), and Bronimir Zivkovic (Harvard Fencing Coach and National Foil and Epee champion of Yugoslavia). Seventeen years competitive fencing in AFLA. Film: personal fencing master for Robert DeNiro, THE MISSION. He was fencing double for John McMartin in the film WHO’S THAT GIRL. TV: Professor Lawrence Crowley, Fencing Master on AS THE WORLD TURNS. Stephen Daly has been fencing since he was old enough to hold a sword. He is an accomplished musician, and he attended NJIT in Newark, NJ.
Betsy Daly (Princess Dance; Ballet & Jazz Beginnings; Theater Games; Broadway Song Time; Preteen/Teen Acting; Director) Ms. Daly had a career in cabaret, musical theater and film. She has been teaching music, acting, and dance for many years. Her grandmother had a dance and theater studio during the Great Depression with notable students including Donald O'Connor. Ms. Daly is happy to continue this family tradition.
