Angela Paolino-Thompson
Dr. Janine Negron PT, DPT is the Co-Owner of Thryve Healing and Performance, a Sports/Dance Medicine and Rehab/Recovery facility in Colts Neck, NJ. She graduated from Seton Hall University in 2017 earning her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Prior, Dr. Negron earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education at the University of the Arts in 2006 and danced professionally with New Jersey Music and Dance Company. She is a Board Certified Physical Therapist and NJ State Certified Dance Instructor as well as a Member of the National Dance Education Organization, International Association for Dance Medicine and Sciences, and the American Physical Therapy Association. Dr. Negron discovered her passion for Physical Therapy following a series of injuries sustained during her years as a professional dancer. After undergoing extensive therapy she realized there was a need in the healthcare industry for more practitioners who understood dancers, gymnasts, and the active population.
Dr. Negron has treated dancers and performers from New Jersey Ballet Company, Papermill Playhouse, and various local dance studios in the tri-state area. In addition, she has worked with professional and pre-professional athletes at New York Sports Science Lab and with NJFassst. Dr. Negron uses her unique background in ballet, contemporary, modern, acrobatic, Pilates, and yoga to provide tailored, creative, and effective treatment plans, exercise programs, master classes, workshops, and seminars.
Dr. Negron brings energy, creativity, and compassion to her work and readily passes her love for dance, health, wellness, and fitness onto her patients, clients, and students.
Cassandra Dougherty
Guest Instructor
Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Theater,Voice
Cassandra started dancing, singing and acting from age four at her home town studio in East Brunswick. She continued performing and competing in dance until furthering her training at Wagner College. Here, her studies were equally focused on musical theatre and dance. She became well versed in fundamentals of Choreography, Anatomy and Kinesiology and Laban Movement Analysis. She studied acting under the instruction of, Tony Award winning, Michele Pawk. She has also trained with industry professionals such as Michael John LaChiusa, David Caparelliotis, Sheri Sanders, Jack Cummings III and Judy McLane. She graduated with a bachelors in theatre and a minor in dance. Prior to graduation, Cassandra has cast and choreographed an original dance piece at Stage Once in Staten Island called “Antibiosis”. She has also taught contemporary, hip-hop and jazz at two studios in New Jersey and taught Musical Theatre to after school programs in Manhattan. Cassandra is eager to be back in New Jersey to teach and share her love for dance!
Tara Vecchio
Hip-Hop, Contemporary
Tara is currently a professional working dancer and choreographer in the Tristate area. She is trained in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, and HipHop/Foundation styles. Tara has danced with Jennifer Lopez for her VMA Vanguard Performance at Radio City, and her Live Concert on The Today Show. As well as with BTS on their “Love Yourself” tour stop in NYC, and a dancer in the film “In The Heights.” Most recently she has performed with Julianne Hough during her performance on NBC’s 2020 New Years Eve special and with BTS at the United Nations General Assembly. Tara performed at venues such as NY/LA Carnival, Sybarite, World of Dance, ACE Awards and more. She also has been recognized for her own choreography at competitions and got selected to showcase her work at the 2019 Young Choreographers Festival in New York. Currently signed with Clear Talent Group NY.
Melody has over 35 years of dance and gymnastic experience. She received her degree from Montclair State University in Physical Education with an emphasis on dance, including Rhee Gold Training courses and classes at Broadway Dance Center. Melody has teaching experience in ballet, pointe, acrobatics, jazz, lyrical, tap, parent tot in preschoolers through adults. Melody was a NJ Dance Theater Guild company member and has performed in the Nutcracker, under director Alfredo Corvino who was recently inducted into the National Museum of Dance Hall of Fame, and Andra Corvino of NYC and Julliard. At the age of 12 she danced at Lincoln Center in the Stuttgart Ballet Production of "Swan Lake". Melody has learned from master instructors including Finis Jhung, Roni Mahler, Kathy Kozul, and Greg Russell just to name a few. She also has an extensive gymnastics background, and won many state and national titles in both dance and gymnastic competitions. She continues her dance education by attending teaching training courses and varied performances. Melody enjoys being a part of the high quality education her students achieve under her direction.
Ssmantha Ballero
Assistant to the Director
Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip-Hop
Samantha started her journey as a dancer at age 3, and has been a dancer at L.A .Dance for over 10 years. Here is where she trained in various styles including Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Lyrical, Ballet, and Contemporary. Throughout her years of competitive dancing, she has also had experiences with workshops, conventions, being part of the Nets All Star dance team, performing at sporting event, performing at the Barclays Center, and being part of video projects / music videos. On top of training at L.A. Dance, she has attended the Joffrey Ballet School summer intensive, and spent her High School years at Ocean County Vocational Technical School Grunin Performing Arts Academy, Here she trained daily with various choreographers and artists around the world. She received upscale and professional training in styles such as Modern, Ballet, and Jazz, and participated in many showcases including the Nutcracker.
As a teacher at L.A. Dance, Samantha wishes to share her love for dance with her students, and encourages creativity, hard work, uniqueness, and passion in her classes.
Joseph Temperino
Contemporary, Technique, Jazz, Jazz-Funk
Joe Temperino is from New York. He has an extensive background that allowed him to train, be on sets for music videos, television, and concerts. He has performed in numerous styles which include Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Improvisation, Jazz, Hip Hop, West African, and Tap working with some of the best artists. He has been trained by Taylor Wickham, faculty from the Professional Performing Arts High School in Manhattan, New York, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the Purchase Conservatory of Dance. Some of his most remarkable work consists of: Becoming the season 2&3&4 Helium the Podcast host, Nitrogen The Company Season 1,2,3,&4. So You Think You Can Dance Season 17, Casted in the Purchase Dance Company and performed work by Ohad Naharin, Marcus Jarrell Willis, and Norbert De La Cruz lll, Back up danced for the concerts Freestyle For All and Disco Ball in Atlantic City New Jersey, Casted for a TV Series Documentary of West Side Story with The Company BBC In London, Worked with Matthew Rushing along with Renee Robinson on a project and performed at Terrace on The Park and Bryant Park, Opened for World Tennis Day at Madison Square Garden, Worked with Earl Mosley on Celebration and Snow and Roses, Casted in The PPAS Musical Of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”, and Casted in the PPAS musical of West Side Story playing the role of Diesel. Joe has been awarded many scholarships and titles ever since he started dance at the age of 6 while dancing in the competition world where he began to make more connections which then allowed him to not only be a dancer and actor but choreographer as well at the age of 15 where he was now given opportunities to set works on companies and studios sharing not only his dance skills but personal life experiences and artistry as well sharing everything he has to offer with those all around.
Marisa D'Amico
Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Tap, Street Jazz
Marisa D'Amico is 19 years old and is from New Jersey. She’s currently attending Montclair State University to obtain a BFA in dance. She began dancing at the early age of 3 at the Performing Arts Academy where she trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, contemporary, Musical Theatre, Hip-hop, and acrobatics and danced competitively regionally and nationally. At the age of 10, she earned the privilege of dancing as a Knicks City Kid and a NY Liberty Lil' Torch. She has traveled to Germany with the USA Tap Team for the World Tap Championships where she won 2 medals. Marisa has appeared in concept and music videos, a Netflix series and has had the opportunity to perform at venues such as the United Nations, MSG, Prudential Center, Dance Teachers Summit, Disney, Barclays center, Universal, NY Carnival, Sybarite, and World of Dance for amazing choreographers. She studied under many talented teachers and is a member of Theresa Stone's pre professional dance company, AbstraKT BEINGS, Megz Alfonso's pre professional dance company, Unique Soulz, Deshawn Da Prince's hip hop crew, Royal Thieves and Taylor MClean Wickham’s, Nitrogen the company. Marisa trains at Broadway Dance center, Peridance Capezio Center to improve as a dancer and choreographer so that she can achieve all of her goals for her future and inspire others to do the same.