Denise and Richard met as professional dancers in New York City while studying with jazz legend Charles Kelly and ballet master Don Farnworth. After opening Denise Daniele in 1972, Denise asked her colleague Richard to come down and teach some master classes. Soon after they were dating and eventually married.
As teachers, Denise & Richard have nourished and cultivated a huge pool of young dancers that have gone on to have great success as performers, teachers, choreographers, etc. Most of the faculty at Denise Daniele are alumni of the school and pass on the principles and values that they have learned firsthand from Denise and Richard. Denise continues to study dance twice a week in New York City as she has for 35 years at the Broadway Dance Center, New Dance Group, and Steps On Broadway. She believes that a teacher must keep up with the advancements in their field and has kept Denise Daniele’s curriculum consistently cutting-edge. She was named the 2005 Tremaine Dance Teacher of the Year presented by dance-legend Joe Tremaine. Chita Rivera was present at the ceremony. Denise and Richard are also accomplished ballroom instructors and continue to teach and perform on cruise ships throughout the season.
Denise and Richard are immensely proud of the amazing dynasty of dancers who have touched their lives and hope to remain examples to the dance industry for another 35 years!
Kristen Bellog
The daughter of a director and choreographer, Kristen Bellog has been performing since the age of five. Taking advantage of the theatrical knowledge available to her growing up, Kristen soon became a regular performer in her community and transitioned into choreography by age 16. Well into her second year with the Denise Daniele Dance Studio, Kristen is employed by the New Jersey Devils hockey team and fills her down time by taking classes in New York and teaching private acting lessons.
Al Blackstone
Al most recently performed in the First National Tour of WICKED the musical. He began his training with his parents right here at Denise Daniele. Since graduating, he has been featured in various television and live events including NBC's American Dreams and dancing with Paige Davis in a commercial for TLC's Trading Spaces. Al was a performer and Assistant Choreographer for an episode of Nickelodeon's Drake & Josh Show and was dance captain for a revival of AC Ciulla's Footloose in 2005. He has performed at the International Dance Festival of Korea with Liz Imperio's Instincts Live Media Dance Co. and in Nights on Broadway 3 at Caesars in Atlantic City. Al's choreography credits include choreographing a piece on cast-members of Broadway's The Lion King for a benefit concert called Defying Inequality; a Broadway Benefit. He is known nationwide for his creative choreography and motivational teaching style. He currently resides in New York City and is proud to be on faculty at Denise Daniele where it all began!
Danny DeFranco
Danny DeFranco is a hip hop dancer, instructor and choreographer with extensive knowledge of Popping, Locking, B-Boying, Waacking, Waving, Tutting and House. Although he has trained in several forms of dance, including Jazz, Tap and Ballet, as well as Tae Kwon Do, Danny began to focus solely on Hip Hop in 2002. He competed at the regional and national level with the Wildstyle Hip Hop Company, and also assisted company director Eric Samson for several years. Danny has performed at numerous venues throughout the tri-state area including The State Theater, The Count Basie Theater, The Copacabana, The Opening Act of UNITY at Stevens Institute of Technology, numerous colleges and universities, and more. Danny has been featured in commercials airing in the United States and Europe. He is the Owner/Co-Owner of Soul Sessions, a concept developed by 02 Crew. Soul Sessions is a Hip Hop workshop held several times throughout the year giving students a taste of genuine styles of the dance. He is also the Owner of a DJ entertainment company, Round the Clock Entertainment, which compliments his dance career very well. Danny looks forward to teaching students not only the proper techniques and approaches to the dance, but also about Hip Hop culture and its roots in American history. Danny has taught at several dance studios in the area, and is highly sought after throughout the state of New Jersey. He feels it is important to not just do hip hop, but to understand the history of hip hop and focuses on teaching the technique, not just choreography, to each of his students.
Konstantin Dournev
Konstantin Dournev graduated the Novosibirsk Academy of Ballet and he performed with Novosibirsk Theatre of Opera and Ballet, Moscow Classical Ballet Theatre, and the Russian State Ballet Company. His repertory includes Principal roles in Giselle, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty and Don Quixote, Spartacus, Nutcracker, Swan Lake and many others. Mr. Konstantin won silver and bronze medals in international ballet competitions and was a guest star with the Russian Imperial Ballet under the direction of Maya Plisetskaya. He has a degree as a ballet teacher and choreographer from Russian Academy of Theatre Arts (GITIS). Since 1997 he has been working with The NJ Ballet as a dancer and choreographer.
Joella Hengeveld
Joella Hengeveld graduated with her B.A. of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Nevada – Las Vegas. She began dancing at the age of 3 and has studied more than 35 genres of dance. She has competed in many Pro-Am and Professional Ballroom Dance competitions in California and Nevada in which she has taken home many Gold with honors. She is also a substitute teacher for 3 year old classes through 12 grade in Ocean County and has started a Ballroom program for middle school students at St Paul’s Christian School in Brick. She is excited to return to the Denise Daniele family with her energetic and outgoing personality and choreography.
Colleen Poalillo
An advocate of the arts, Colleen continues to influence lives with the creativity and artistry of dance education in the public and private realm. Colleen completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, as well as pioneered an entirely new education program for the state of New Jersey while studying at Montclair State University. The Dance Education Bachelors program created at MSU, including a Standard Teaching Certificate K-12, will help to change and improve the education many students receive about the arts in the public school system. While teaching dance full-time at the public high school level, Colleen has also heightened her professional resume as well. She has had the pleasure of working personally with some of the finest artists in the New York City Area; such include: Bill T. Jones, Denise Vale, prodigy of the Martha Graham Dance Company, Sebastian Smeureanu of Pilobolus Dance Company, Joao Mauricio of Paul Taylor Dance Company, Maxine Steinman of Maxine Steinman and Dancers and the Limon Dance Company and Institution, Donna Scro Gentile of Freespace Dance and Sean Curran Dance Company, Maureen Glennon Moe-tion Dance Theater, Kim Whittam and Company, JT Jenkins, George Smallwood of Robert Battle’s Battleworks Dance Company, Nancy Lushington and the May O’Donnell techinque, Lynn Grossman of the Israel Ballet, Austin Ballet Company, and Radio City Ballet Theater, and Caitlyn Trainor of Sean Curran Dance Company, as well as many others. She looks forward to her career as she continues to pursue her passion as a dancer and educator.
Chelsea Rittenhouse
Chelsea began her training here at Denise Daniele. She went on to study classical ballet at the Academy of Dance Arts in Red Bank, New Jersey under the direction of Jennifer James Church. While at the Academy of Dance Arts she danced with their resident pre-professional company the Company of Dance Arts. Here she had many performance credits such as Clara, in Peter Anastos’ the Nutcracker and then progressing to Sugar Plum and Snow Queen; Yvonne Lamb Scudiery’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as Sleepy and her Wizard of Oz as Dorothy; Peter Anastos’ Sleeping Beauty and Daniel Catanach’s Tangoed as the Lead and Pas de deux. Chelsea attended summer programs at prestigious schools such as Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Washington Ballet of D.C in the highest level and two summers at the Miami City Ballet in their trainee level Advanced II. After graduating performing arts high school in 2007 with a Rising Star award and scholarship Chelsea went on to join New York Theatre ballet under the direction of Diana Byer and Christina Paolucci. Here she toured and performed many corps to soloist roles. Performance credits include their Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella. She performed in Antony Tudor’s Lilac Garden as the girl in green, coached by the late romantic ballerina Sallie Wilson; This kicked off the Antony Tudor Centennial Celebrations in 2008 and is recorded on file in New York City’s Arts Library. Chelsea also performed in excerpts from Agnes de Mille’s Brigadoon, Carousel, and Oklahoma; coached by Gemze de Lappe. She then moved on to perform with Daniel Catanach’s Urban Ballet Theater performing the principle role of Snow Queen in his Nutcracker in the Lower. Chelsea continues to perform with Urban Ballet Theatre.
Dana Shenloogian
Dana Shenloogian earned her BA in Fine Arts from Point Park University as a Dance Major. She began her training at Denise Daniele at the age of 3. Dana has trained in all dance styles and went on to study with such notable educators as Mike Minery, Sheila Barker, Wade Robson, and Frank Hatchett. As a dance major, she performed in and choreographed for numerous concert productions. Recently, Dana was Assistant Choreographer for the Broadway cast of The Lion King in a piece for Defying Inequality; A Broadway Benefit. She has taught at studios and colleges throughout New Jersey and is sought after for her cutting edge choreography.
Chrystie Shimko
Chrystie is an accomplished performer with over ten years of dance training and experience. She is a dynamic teacher who is currently the assistant coach for both the Blueclaws and Trenton Thunder Dance Teams. She has studied here at Denise Daniele and at schools such as Broadway Dance Center and New Dance Group in New York City. Chrystie has performed all over the New Jersey area and as far west as Los Angeles. and is currently a full time student.
Yekaterina Strelnikova
Yekaterina was born in Russia and has danced professionally both in her native country and here in the US. She graduated from the acclaimed Perm Choreographic Academy. Her training included classical, neo-classical, and contemporary ballet, as well as modern and folk dance. In 1997 Katya became a soloist with the Moscow City Ballet. She was also a principal dancer with the Shore Ballet Company.
Julia Vorobyeva
Julia Vorobyeva graduated at the Moscow Academy of the Bolshoi Theatre and performed as a Principal dancer with the Moscow Classical Ballet Theatre and with the Russian State Ballet Company. Her repertory includes White Swan, Nutcracker Pas de Deux, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle and other classical ballets. Ms.Julia has toured with the Bolshoi Theatre in Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America. Since 1997 she has working with NJ Ballet and has introduced New Jersey audiences to such contemporary Russian works as Macbeth and Spartacus, and scored tremendous critical success in the title role of New Jersey Ballet's Esmeralda. She has a degree as a ballet teacher from Russian Academy of Theatre Arts (GITIS).
Al most recently performed in the First National Tour of WICKED the musical. He began his training with his parents right here at Denise Daniele. Since graduating, he has been featured in various television and live events including NBC's 
Danny DeFranco is a hip hop dancer, instructor and choreographer with extensive knowledge of Popping, Locking, B-Boying, Waacking, Waving, Tutting and House. Although he has trained in several forms of dance, including Jazz, Tap and Ballet, as well as Tae Kwon Do, Danny began to focus solely on Hip Hop in 2002. He competed at the regional and national level with the Wildstyle Hip Hop Company, and also assisted company director Eric Samson for several years. Danny has performed at numerous venues throughout the tri-state area including The State Theater, The Count Basie Theater, The Copacabana, The Opening Act of UNITY at Stevens Institute of Technology, numerous colleges and universities, and more. Danny has been featured in commercials airing in the United States and Europe. He is the Owner/Co-Owner of Soul Sessions, a concept developed by 02 Crew. Soul Sessions is a Hip Hop workshop held several times throughout the year giving students a taste of genuine styles of the dance. He is also the Owner of a DJ entertainment company, Round the Clock Entertainment, which compliments his dance career very well. Danny looks forward to teaching students not only the proper techniques and approaches to the dance, but also about Hip Hop culture and its roots in American history. Danny has taught at several dance studios in the area, and is highly sought after throughout the state of New Jersey. He feels it is important to not just do hip hop, but to understand the history of hip hop and focuses on teaching the technique, not just choreography, to each of his students. 
Konstantin Dournev graduated the Novosibirsk Academy of Ballet and he performed with Novosibirsk Theatre of Opera and Ballet, Moscow Classical Ballet Theatre, and the Russian State Ballet Company. His repertory includes Principal roles in Giselle, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty and Don Quixote, Spartacus, Nutcracker, Swan Lake and many others. Mr. Konstantin won silver and bronze medals in international ballet competitions and was a guest star with the Russian Imperial Ballet under the direction of Maya Plisetskaya. He has a degree as a ballet teacher and choreographer from Russian Academy of Theatre Arts (GITIS). Since 1997 he has been working with The NJ Ballet as a dancer and choreographer. 
An advocate of the arts, Colleen continues to influence lives with the creativity and artistry of dance education in the public and private realm. Colleen completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, as well as pioneered an entirely new education program for the state of New Jersey while studying at Montclair State University. The Dance Education Bachelors program created at MSU, including a Standard Teaching Certificate K-12, will help to change and improve the education many students receive about the arts in the public school system. While teaching dance full-time at the public high school level, Colleen has also heightened her professional resume as well. She has had the pleasure of working personally with some of the finest artists in the New York City Area; such include: Bill T. Jones, Denise Vale, prodigy of the Martha Graham Dance Company, Sebastian Smeureanu of Pilobolus Dance Company, Joao Mauricio of Paul Taylor Dance Company, Maxine Steinman of Maxine Steinman and Dancers and the Limon Dance Company and Institution, Donna Scro Gentile of Freespace Dance and Sean Curran Dance Company, Maureen Glennon Moe-tion Dance Theater, Kim Whittam and Company, JT Jenkins, George Smallwood of Robert Battle’s Battleworks Dance Company, Nancy Lushington and the May O’Donnell techinque, Lynn Grossman of the Israel Ballet, Austin Ballet Company, and Radio City Ballet Theater, and Caitlyn Trainor of Sean Curran Dance Company, as well as many others. She looks forward to her career as she continues to pursue her passion as a dancer and educator. 
Chelsea began her training here at Denise Daniele. She went on to study classical ballet at the Academy of Dance Arts in Red Bank, New Jersey under the direction of Jennifer James Church. While at the Academy of Dance Arts she danced with their resident pre-professional company the Company of Dance Arts. Here she had many performance credits such as Clara, in Peter Anastos’ the Nutcracker and then progressing to Sugar Plum and Snow Queen; Yvonne Lamb Scudiery’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as Sleepy and her Wizard of Oz as Dorothy; Peter Anastos’ Sleeping Beauty and Daniel Catanach’s Tangoed as the Lead and Pas de deux. Chelsea attended summer programs at prestigious schools such as Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Washington Ballet of D.C in the highest level and two summers at the Miami City Ballet in their trainee level Advanced II. After graduating performing arts high school in 2007 with a Rising Star award and scholarship Chelsea went on to join New York Theatre ballet under the direction of Diana Byer and Christina Paolucci. Here she toured and performed many corps to soloist roles. Performance credits include their Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella. She performed in Antony Tudor’s Lilac Garden as the girl in green, coached by the late romantic ballerina Sallie Wilson; This kicked off the Antony Tudor Centennial Celebrations in 2008 and is recorded on file in New York City’s Arts Library. Chelsea also performed in excerpts from Agnes de Mille’s Brigadoon, Carousel, and Oklahoma; coached by Gemze de Lappe. She then moved on to perform with Daniel Catanach’s Urban Ballet Theater performing the principle role of Snow Queen in his Nutcracker in the Lower. Chelsea continues to perform with Urban Ballet Theatre. 
Dana has trained in all dance styles and went on to study with such notable educators as Mike Minery, Sheila Barker, Wade Robson, and Frank Hatchett. As a dance major, she performed in and choreographed for numerous concert productions. Recently, Dana was Assistant Choreographer for the Broadway cast of The Lion King in a piece for Defying Inequality; A Broadway Benefit. She has taught at studios and colleges throughout New Jersey and is sought after for her cutting edge choreography. 
Yekaterina was born in Russia and has danced professionally both in her native country and here in the US. She graduated from the acclaimed Perm Choreographic Academy. Her training included classical, neo-classical, and contemporary ballet, as well as modern and folk dance. In 1997 Katya became a soloist with the Moscow City Ballet. She was also a principal dancer with the Shore Ballet Company. 
Julia Vorobyeva graduated at the Moscow Academy of the Bolshoi Theatre and performed as a Principal dancer with the Moscow Classical Ballet Theatre and with the Russian State Ballet Company. Her repertory includes White Swan, Nutcracker Pas de Deux, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle and other classical ballets. Ms.Julia has toured with the Bolshoi Theatre in Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America. Since 1997 she has working with NJ Ballet and has introduced New Jersey audiences to such contemporary Russian works as Macbeth and Spartacus, and scored tremendous critical success in the title role of New Jersey Ballet's Esmeralda. She has a degree as a ballet teacher from Russian Academy of Theatre Arts (GITIS).