Meet the DWD Staff
Danielle Delvescovo
Studio Owner, Director, Teacher
Danielle specializes in teaching Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical and Hip Hop to recreational dancers of all ages, and Pilates to teens and adults. In addition to over twenty years of performing, Danielle has extensive experience in teaching, choreography, staging, costuming, and show direction and cueing.
Danielle began her dance training at the age of three at Gail De Santis’ Dance and Performing Arts Studio. She was selected to be a student demonstrator and, at the age of twelve, became an assistant teacher. By the age of seventeen, Danielle was qualified to teach her own classes and soon became a favorite instructor at the school.
Danielle Delvescovo is a certified member of Dance Educators of America and Associated Dance Teachers of New Jersey. She is also certified by “Pilates on Fifth” in mat, reformer/tower, and Cardiolaties style Pilates. Certification in these organizations requires extensive training and examinations.
Danielle continues to study at workshops, conventions, classes, and teacher training intensives to ensure her students receive the finest in dance education and Pilates training. Her desire is to continue to share her passion and love of dance and performing with students of all ages – beginner through advanced.
Associations & Certifications
Dance Educators of America
Associated Dance Teachers of New Jersey
Pilates on Fifth (Mat, Reformer/Tower & Cardiolaties styles)
Zumba® & Zumbini®
Dawn Afanador
Tap & Musical Theater
As a dance teacher certified by the Dance Educators of America and the Associated Dance Teachers of New Jersey, Dawn is focused on advancing her student’s capabilities and self-esteem while instilling a love of the arts. She specializes in teaching musical theater, jazz, and tap to all ages and levels – and has a special affinity for teaching adults to tap dance!
Dawn has been dancing since she was 3, and has taught dance since 1998. Her love of the arts started at Mary Lou Hale’s School of Dance in Lake Hiawatha, NJ, and continued while she studied at Montville Township High School, where she participated in the plays and musicals, as well as band and chorus.
She earned her Bachelor of the Arts degree in Theater Arts from Drew University and has directed, choreographed, and performed as a dancer, singer, and actress in more than 30 shows at a variety of semi-professional, community, and university-based theatres throughout the state.
Affiliations and Memberships:
Dance Educators of America
Associated Dance Teachers of New Jersey
Emily Burnett
Ballet
Emily Burnett is our enthusiastic Ballet teacher and she is happy to be part of the Dance with Danielle family! Emily has her Bachelors of Arts in Dance from DeSales University and is licensed in Zumba, Zumba Kids, and Strong by Zumba and is a certified kids yoga instructor. She has been working as a certified K-12 dance teacher at Fourteenth Avenue School in the Newark Public Schools for the past 14 years.
Gail De Santis-Di Domenico
Jazz, Tap & Theater
Gail De Santis-Di Domenico is President Emeritus and Faculty Coordinator of Associated Dance Teachers of New Jersey, a past member of Dance Masters of America, Dance Educators of America, and Professional Dance Teachers Association. Gail studied with countless well-known teachers in NY, at dance conventions and workshops and continues to study as all good dance educators do. Gail is the proud author of “The Teaching of Dance - Fundamentals for the Dance Educator”, a teacher training manual and reference book.
In addition to owning Gail De Santis’ Dance and Performing Arts studio for forty-three years and being a veteran performer, she choreographed all of her own shows, many high school musicals, Little Theater productions, community performances, and church shows. Gail has taught for the Orange Board of Education, Music and Arts Day Camp, National Association of Dance and Affiliated Artists, Mary Lou Hale’s School of Dance, and Maria Priadka School of Dance. She has taught teacher training programs for dance educators both new and seasoned.
Her goal has always been and continues to be to give her students the best possible dance education and to pass on the joy and passion for dance, performing, and the arts. As Danielle’s teacher, former boss, second mother, and now her employee, she is thoroughly honored to be a part of Dance With Danielle’s talented and loving faculty and DWD family.
Lisa LoPinto
Acrobatics
Lisa LoPinto is our delightful and talented Acrobatics teacher. She has a degree in elementary and special education from Seton Hall University and currently teaches Italian at the East Hanover Middle School. Through the years Lisa has performed in and choreographed many musicals and concerts. Lisa was a competitive gymnast for 14 years of her life and was on her high school dance team for three years
Deanna Sanders
Tap
Deanna started her dance training at the age of 3 and studied at The Dance Connection. Deanna graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance and is a current member of Associated Dance Teachers of New Jersey.
Deanna has more than 20 years of dance, teaching, and choreography experience in many forms of dance including tap, ballet, and jazz. Deanna loves dancing and loves teaching students of all ages to dance and could not imagine her life without dance in it. The enjoyment in watching a student learn and master a new step makes all of the hard work worth it.
Deanna is excited to be joining the dance family at Dance with Danielle!
Jackie Sierchio
Contemporary
My first dance lesson was taught to me in my home at age 4. My dance teacher instructed me in ballet using a folding chair as a "makeshift" barre. My enthusiasm during my home lessons leads my mom to enroll me in my first group ballet class the following September. I continued ballet lessons during my early childhood and added jazz lessons by the age of 12. My passion for dance and the arts continued to escalate throughout my teens. I was hired to teach my first ballet and jazz classes at the age of 19 at Pat Limandris School of Dance.
Since then, I have been blessed with the opportunity of teaching the art of Ballet and various forms of Jazz over the decades throughout my adult life to students of various ages and skill levels. Most recently I have been proudly teaching and receiving continued dance education at Marylou Hales School of Dance. I continue to attend dance workshops provided through Associated Dance Teachers of NJ of which I am a current member and certified in Jazz. In addition, I am an NJ licensed Physical Therapist Assistant, specializing in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients at skilled nursing facilities. I am also a Nationally Certified Personal Fitness Trainer. I am so happy to be part of this enthusiastic talented staff at DWD and I am excited to share my passion and education for dance and fitness with the DWD family.
Judie Wrobleski
Hip Hop
My dance journey kicked off when I was in Kindergarten and has been going strong ever since. Through the years, I have studied Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theater, Lyrical, and Ballet. My skill set is focused on Hip Hop, Jazz, and Tap. I continue to participate in a variety of Dance Workshops/ Conventions. I have trained with Master Teachers through ADTNJ, where I am a member in good standing. I am a yearly attendant at the Monsters of Hip Hop Convention where I train as an “industry” level dancer. When I get a chance, I drop into Broadway Dance Center to groove it out in a few Hip Hop classes.
I am where I am today because of my hometown studio with a big heart. I am a proud alumnus of Mary Lou Hale’s School of Dance where I studied and taught the art of dance for many decades. This studio fostered my passion for dance. Here, I have had the opportunity to teach Hip Hop, Jazz, and Tap. My students ranged in age from preschool to adult and ranged in skill levels from Beginner to Advanced.
I have participated in National Dance Day as a dancer and as an instructor, I also participated in a Flash Mob in NYC.
I am a Montclair University graduate, where, I studied to be an early childhood educator. I am currently employed as a certified Preschool teacher in the East Orange school district.
I hope to share my love of dance and fuel the fire in my students, by providing solid training in an atmosphere that is welcoming, engaging, and embraces the talents of each and every individual.
