Faculty

Amanda Grace: Owner

Amanda Grace is a professional choreographer, coach, director and most recently, a mother. She was the NJ Devils Dancers (NHL) Director, where she choreographed all routines, trained and managed the team. She was also seen at Devil's home games as the In-Game Host at the Prudential Center Arena in Newark, NJ, where she narrated fun trivia games and exciting entertainment in between action on the ice. Amanda was regularly featured on NJD TV as the Director of the Dance Team and the commercial spokeswoman.

Formerly a NY Knicks City Dancer (NBA) at the World Famous Madison Square Garden, Amanda started blending her passion for dance and sports in 2007 when she became a member of the NJ Ironmen Dance Team (MISL) in their inaugural year at the Prudential Center. That same year, she also danced for the NY Titans (NLL) also at Madison Square Garden. Amanda went on to coach and choreograph for the Somerset Patriots Dance Team (Atlantic League of Professional Baseball) and was also asked to choreograph and perform in the NY Knicks City Dancer's 20th Anniversary Alumni Performance at Madison Square Garden with Rob Base.

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Flair Dance Academy

Aside from her extensive experience in professional sports team dancing, Amanda choreographed musicals at Plays In The Park theater in Edison, NJ ("Grease," "Xanadu," and "Bye Bye Birdie"). The Asbury Park Press reviewed Amanda as "the star of the show" for her high energy, entertaining choreography in "Grease" in 2012. Amanda was also hired as the choreographer for St. John's University's theater department, where she staged "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee".  She most recently choreographed "Newsies" in May 2019 at the Cranford Dramatic Club and was nominated for and won a Perry Award by the NJACT for Outstanding Choreography. On Sept 15, 2019, Amanda was announced the winner of the NJACT Choreography Award!

As for her journey in becoming an entrepreneur, Amanda began in 2010 when she created her own dance company Urban Flair, a dance agency that provided professionally trained dancers for functions and events. At the age of 16, Amanda began teaching dance classes at local studios and continued to do so throughout her professional career. She has been a teacher and choreographer for children, adults, and professionals for over 20 years.

Having many years in the industry, she has shared her knowledge of dance with thousands of dancers in the tri-state area. Her choreography has won numerous first place and overall awards at both regional and national dance competitions. Amanda is grateful every day that her passion has become her career and enjoys volunteering at local senior centers to share her love of dance in every aspect that she can.  Her biggest accomplishment to date is her daughter, Caiden Grace, who was born on 3/23/22.  We're sure you'll see her around the studio!

Feel free to email Amanda for more information at: AmandaGrace@FlairDanceAcademy.com

Amanda Grace
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Rachel

Head of Acro Dept.
Rachel is a professional gymnastics coach that has been teaching and coaching gymnastics for over 20 years. Throughout her award-winning career, she has coached over 750 gymnasts in over 200 competitions.

Rachel- Head of Acro Dept.

Rachel is a professional gymnastics coach that has been teaching and coaching gymnastics for over 20 years. Throughout her award-winning career, she has coached over 750 gymnasts in over 200 competitions.

Besides teaching nearly 100 students at Flair each year, she is the Head Gymnastics Coach at the Somerset County YMCA for over 75 boys and girls within eight different competitive levels and another 150 recreational level gymnasts.

She has led many gymnasts and teams to victory in regional and national competitions, claiming 1st place all-around in the YMCA State Competitions over ten times. Many of Rachel’s star gymnasts also dance at Flair. Rachel feels very strongly that adding acro into a dancer’s weekly schedule ensures that they become more robust, more flexible and enhances their ability to perform in other sports such as dancing, wrestling, cheerleading, and football.

Rachel has been a gymnast for over 30 years and was awarded the prestigious SCIAA Scholar-Athlete award. Rachel has all of her safety certifications through USA gymnastics, completed Rutgers Coach Training for Cheer, Pop Warner Coach Training, and has extensive training for athletic/sports injuries, including CPR/AED and first aid training. A former certified nurse aid, Rachel is a Hillsborough resident who spends quality time with her family. She is thrilled to be teaching her 7th year of Acro at Flair!

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NANAKO

Nanako

Head of Ballet Dept.
Nanako began her ballet training in Japan at Geiutsuza Ballet Studio 'Jardin des Arts'. She performed such roles as Clara in Nutcracker, Rose Adagio in The Sleeping Beauty, and the title role in Cinderella.

Nanako Head of Ballet Dept.

Nanako began her ballet training in Japan at Geiutsuza Ballet Studio 'Jardin des Arts'. She performed such roles as Clara in Nutcracker, Rose Adagio in The Sleeping Beauty, and the title role in Cinderella. In 2005 she was selected to attend the prestigious Royal Ballet Summer School. In 2006 she was accepted to Elmhurst School for Dance in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet 2006 and trained with Don Tolj, Elizabeth Rae, Samira Saidi, and other staff.

She has performed for His Royal Highness Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall in Elmhurst productions and the grand re-opening of Birmingham's town hall. In 2009 Nanako joined on National Tour with Birmingham Royal Ballet and graduated from Elmhurst, having received the National Diploma in Professional Dance and successfully gained distinction in the Royal Academy of Dance. She has also performed with Boca Ballet cast as peasant pas de trois, leading Willis in Giselle and soloist in La Bayadere. During a trip to the United Kingdom in 2011, Nanako was invited to participate in the Elmhurst Outreach project entitled Tale of Beatrix Potter.

In addition to this, she was also invited to lead the audition classes to launch the Elmhurst Associate program in Manchester, Sunderland, and Plymouth. Nanako joined New Tampa Dance Theatre as an artist in residence in 2011. She was a guest artist for world-renowned choreographer Christopher Fleming's performances in February and his ballet Gaspar a Pirate Fantasy in January 2012. In August 2013, she joined the American Repertory Ballet in NJ, where she is currently a principal dancer.

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Alex

Alex

Studio Manager & Director of FCDC
Alex started dance and gymnastics when she was three. She also was a part of a drama club, where she was featured in lead roles in musicals.

Alex Director of FCDC

Alex started to dance and gymnastics when she was three. She also was a part of a drama club, where she was featured in lead roles in musicals. She then joined a competitive cheer team for five years, where she was simultaneously cheering for two different levels. In 2009, her team won first place at Nationals in Oregon.

Alex was also part of the Jr. SeaGals program at halftime during the Seattle Seahawks games for four years. There, she was noticed by the Director of the SeaGals and was asked to be on live TV to discuss the program. The Director also asked her to attend the taping of the New Day Morning Show on the local Fox station to speak about the program and perform. She went on to assisting tryouts and auditions while with the organization.

During her time with cheer teams, Alex was an assistant coach for the mini competitive squad, where she helped lead the team, taught routines, and trained the cheerleaders. After moving from Seattle to NJ, she decided to make dance her main focus.

Alex has been working alongside Amanda Grace since the day Flair opened and has quickly become her "right-hand gal" as well as an award-winning teacher and choreographer at both Regional and National competitions. She is thrilled to be a part of the Flair Family and is eager to extend her passion for dance and gymnastics to her students.

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Gabriella

Gabbie

Contemporary, Hip Hop, FCDC
Gabriella has had a passion for dance since starting at the age of 2. Dancing competitively and taking master classes throughout the nation have inspired her and influenced her creativity.

Gabbie Head of Contemporary Dept.

Gabriella has had a passion for dance since starting at the age of 2. Dancing competitively and taking master classes throughout the nation have inspired her and influenced her creativity. She knew from a young age that she wanted to pursue dance as a career.

Gabriella attended Broadway Dance Center in New York City, studied dance at Rider University in New Jersey, and graduated from American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in Los Angeles. During this time, she had the opportunity to work with many outstanding choreographers and teachers.

Since moving back to the East coast, Gabriella has taught locally while auditioning and taking classes in New York. She was a dancer with “Kelly Donovan and Dancers,” performing in New York City. This summer, Gabriella was a dancer at California’s Great America Theme Park in their show “Hot Rhythm Nights.” She looks forward to working with all of the students at Flair!

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Brionna

Brionna

Acro
Brionna graduated from Rider University with her Bachelor’s degree in May 2018 and is ready to get back on the dance floor with Miss Amanda! Before college, she danced at Flair for two years at our old location.

Brionna

Brionna graduated from Rider University with her Bachelor’s degree in May 2018 and is ready to get back on the dance floor with Miss Amanda! Before college, she danced at Flair for two years at our old location. In her last year as a high school senior, she danced for Flair’s inaugural competitive team. Brionna is well-rehearsed in various genres of dance, but her first love was gymnastics. She was a gymnast for 16 years under the coaching of Miss Rachel and Miss Leah and had been competing since she was just six years old, starting in the USAG league.

She went on to the USAIGC league as a Silver gymnast at age 7. As she developed her skills, Brionna advanced and competed as a Gold and Platinum gymnast. She's won multiple awards, medals, and titles throughout her competitive years, including being a two-time Champion in two different levels. One of Brionna's proudest accomplishments was winning 1st place at Nationals with her High School team in Florida.

After competing, she went on to coach gymnastics and continues to coach at the YMCA. Although away at college for the last four years, she stayed involved by helping backstage at every Flair Recital to date. She has a passion for dance and gymnastics and is happy to be back “home” here at Flair. With over 15 years of experience, Brionna is excited to share her knowledge with her Flair dancers and can’t wait to see everyone achieve their goals!

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Cali

Cali

Ballet, Contemporary, FCDC
Cali is thrilled to be rejoining the Flair family. She is a recent graduate of The University of North Carolina Wilmington where she was a leader and teammate of the UNCW dance team while getting her BS in Business Administration.

Cali

Cali is thrilled to be rejoining the Flair family. She is a recent graduate of The University of North Carolina Wilmington where she was a leader and teammate of the UNCW dance team while getting her BS in Business Administration. She performed at all Men’s and Woman’s NCAA basketball games and promoted UNCW athletics while donating time and talent to the community.

Cali began her dance career with a National Title in Lyrical, at 4 years old.  She was a competitive dancer for 15 years, and has intensely trained in ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, musical theatre, lyrical and contemporary. While on the Hunterdon Central dance team in high school, Cali was given the opportunity to choreograph Varsity Jazz which won first place at States.

She has taken classes at every major dance competition, attended workshops with Travis Wall, Suzie Taylor, Joe Lanteri, and Scott Jovovich where she received numerous scholarships over the years. Cali was chosen to perform at Symphony Space under the choreography of Ariana Crowder for the Young Choreographers Festival and has worked closely with choreographers such as Marinda Davis, whose choreography was featured on Dancing with the Stars.

Cali’s dance experience and knowledge has allowed her many opportunities outside the dance studio. She has studied voice and acting and is a proud member of SAG/Aftra.  She has been in commercials, soaps, movies and was featured on Saturday Night Live on two occasions. Cali has modeled at New York Fashion week as well as Atlantic City Fashion Week and has been featured in several magazines.

Cali has a great passion for teaching and looks forward to sharing her  expertise and work ethic with the dancers at Flair.

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Kristin

Kristin

Princess Ballet, Beginner Classes
Kristin’s passion for dance and performance began before she could even walk.

Kristin

Kristin’s passion for dance and performance began before she could even walk. She is classically trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, and musical theater dance styles and has been dancing for over twenty years. She trained with the Radio City Rockettes, several Broadway Choreographers, Performers, Directors, and many Theater Professionals.

During High School, Kristin was the Inaugural Montgomery High School Dance Team Captain and earned an All-American title.

Kristin attended Seton Hall University. While at Seton Hall, she was a member of the Seton Hall University Dance Team. She performed at NCAA Division 1 basketball games at venues such as the Prudential Center, the Big East Tournaments at Madison Square Garden and DePaul University, and the NCAA March Madness tournament in 2016 and 2018.

Kristin received her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Early Childhood, Elementary, and Special Education and a degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Seton Hall University in May 2018. She also minored in Psychology. She is now a Special Education Teacher at the Montgomery Lower Middle School.

In 2018 Kristin was hired as the Choreographer for the MHS Spring Musicals, where she gets to share her love of dance and performance with the talented Montgomery Players. She is also a Pure Barre Fitness Instructor in Princeton and Montgomery.

Kristin is very excited to be a part of the Flair Family and is looking forward to helping inspire the next generation of dancers and performers!

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Katie

Katie

Musical Theatre, Beginner Classes
Katie has been classically trained in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Lyrical, Jazz, Hip Hop and Contemporary and has been dancing now for over 32 years.

Katie

Katie has been classically trained in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Lyrical, Jazz, Hip Hop and Contemporary and has been dancing now for over 32 years. She started her training at Dance Dimension, where she was a part of their competitive team at age 5. Katie won her first regional competitive title at age 9, and had many more titles followed. She continued her training in dance at Middlesex County College and received the Dean’s Award for “Excellence in Dance” and then transferred to Montclair State University to continue her training. Katie has kept up her training in dance by taking classes in New York at Broadway Dance Center under Broadway Choreographers and Guest Teachers. 

She has been teaching dance since the age of 16 and choreographing competitively since the age of 24. Her competitive routines have won her Platinums, Regional Championships, High Score Overalls and also an invitation to World Champion Competitions. Since 2010, she has been a dancer/choreographer for Artistic Visions Dance company. Katie also has been a part of the musical theatre world since the age of 7, participated in school and community productions, as well as choreographing plays at the age of 12. She has been seen on the stage at Plays In The Park in “Dancing In The Park V,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Singing in the Rain,” and “High School Musical.” 

Katie had a role in an independent film, “Mary Horror” and “Mary Horror 2.” She also appeared as an extra in “Jerseylicious.” She has her cosmetology license and when not teaching dance, she is a Dental Assistant for Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics. 

Katie is excited for the opportunity to teach at Flair and pass on her experience and passion for dance to her students. 

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Chloe

Chloe

Director of Flair Force, teaches all genres
Chloe began dancing at the age of three. By age six, she was on a competitive cheer team, eventually competing at two different levels simultaneously.

Chloe Student Teacher

Chloe began dancing at the age of three. By age six, she was on a competitive cheer team, eventually competing at two different levels simultaneously. There, she was recognized by the director of the Jr SeaGals program and was asked to join the team.

During her time with the Jr. SeaGals, Chloe was performing at halftime during the Seattle Seahawks games. The Director asked her of the SeaGals to be on live TV to discuss the program. The Director also asked her to attend the taping of the New Day Morning Show on the local Fox station to speak about the program and perform. She went on to assisting during tryouts and auditions while with the organization.

Upon moving to NJ, Chloe joined Flair at the age of nine, where she started with Acro and Hip Hop and adding all other dance styles soon after. She was involved in some musicals with her church club, landing one of the lead roles.

Currently, She is working at the YMCA gymnastics program, teaching preschool classes and pre-team. In the summer, she also works as a camp counselor.

She was trained as a dance teacher by being an assistant here at Flair for four years and had been teaching ever since.

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Juliana

Juliana

Acro
Juliana has been a gymnastics coach for over eight years at the Greater Somerville YMCA.

Juliana

Juliana has been a gymnastics coach for over eight years at the Greater Somerville YMCA. Her journey with gymnastics began when she started taking gymnastics classes at the YMCA at the age of 9. Soon after, she grew to love the sport and became a competitive gymnast at the YMCA and a 4-year varsity gymnast for the Somerville High School team. While still in high school, she started her coaching career by working gymnastic summer camps, where she taught the beginner levels. After graduating high school, she began coaching the team girls and devoting more time to the program. Within the last five years, Juliana has helped develop their skills, leading them to win numerous meets. Her passion for the sport has also led her to become an official judge at high school meets.

Juliana’s formal experience with dance has been limited to gymnastics floor routines. However, that has never stopped dance from being a big part of her life. As part of her cultural heritage, she has learned traditional dance styles such as Salsa and Merengue from her family. Outside of her family, she has always enjoyed dancing to all types of music. After all, she was crowned “Most Likely To Be Caught Dancing” by her high school gymnastics team!

Juliana is super excited to be part of the Flair team and ready to use her gymnastic prowess to help develop the dancer's acrobatic skills.

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Mariah

Ballet
Mariah is a Spanish American choreographer/educator and a graduate from Rider University with a degree in Dance and International Relations.

Mariah Ballet Teacher

 Mariah is a Spanish American choreographer, educator, researcher, and painter. Mariah is a graduate from Rider University with a degree in Dance and International Relations, graduate from Dance ICONS Choreographic Institute, and a graduate from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee's MFA program for Dance and Choreographer under an Advanced Opportunity Program Fellowship. Mariah has been commissioned / performed in New Jersey, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., and Virginia. Recently she has shared her research with the American College Dance Association on new pedagogical methods in Dance education in Wisconsin. Mariah's movement style is derived by emotional risks leading to discovering and exposing truths about social inequality and exploring somatic movement and its relation to cross generational trauma. As an instructor, Mariah uses dance history, conditioning work for strength, mental training for clarity and articulation, and strong performance skill that emphasizes intent. Mariah’s current focus is teaching part time, raising her daughter, dance research, and oil painting. 

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Front Desk

Alex
Brionna
Kristin
Chloe

Assistant Teachers

We believe that allowing young dancers to learn and work side by side with our professionals is an invaluable experience. We train dancers to one day become dance teachers while instilling in them the importance of responsibility, gaining social skills and leadership qualities. Our Assistant Program not only extends our dancer's training to another level but helps shape them for their future endeavors in more ways than one, no matter what their career goals are.
Katina- Student Teacher
Madyson- Student Teacher
Sam
Skylar
Gabby
Maddie
Lila
Faith
Becky
Matthew
Jocelyn
Kylie
Isa
Isabella
Hailey
Marilyn
Angie
Kaya
Aubrey

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