Faculty
DANCE
Kelly Harris / Claasical Ballet, Modern, Contemporary
Kelly has recently arrived here from Germany she holds a degree from the New World School of the Arts, and has been a dancer, teacher, and choreographer for 20 years. She danced professionally in New York and toured the U.S. and Europe with professional dance companies and Broadway musicals. Kelly is an internationally recognized dance educator, and her students have gone on to perform with Phildanco, the New York City Ballet, and appeared in films such as Center Stage. Her theories on dance pedagogy “Improvisation for the Children’s Classical Ballet Class” have also been published in Dancer Magazine.
Michele Rose Peterson / Creative Dance, Jazz, Tap
Michele is a graduate of the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey with a BA degree in Dance. A professional dancer for eleven years in Las Vegas Michele brings her knowledge of classical jazz technique, pre-school and tap. Her choreographic credits include numerous musicals, pageants and tap ensembles.
Daisey Buckmuse / Creative Dance, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Ballet Daisey began her education in dance as a member of the children’s’ dance company Les Enfants de la Dance. In her late teens she became a soloist as well as a choreographer for the company. In the early eighties she attended Temple University as a Dance Major. Later she furthered her education at the Richard Stockton College of NJ as a Dance / Arts Administration Major. Daisey has been teaching dance for over twenty-five years.
Allison Holibaugh / Modern, Classical Ballet Allison is currently pursuing a degree in Dance/Studio operations at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. She has been dancing there since the age of 3 and has trained exclusively at Cygnus prior to entrance into college. Allison training includes styles ranging from classical ballet, jazz and modern. She is often referred to as Cygnus’s “First Dollar” because she was the first student to arrive on opening day of for class registration.
Allison just finished her first season as a professional dancer for the Arena Football League’s Philadelphia Soul as a “Soul Mate”. She was featured as a dance soloist with choreography by Henry Van Kiken at the 2010 American College Dance Festival and performed at the Gala performance. Her choreographic credits include Stockton choreographed projects and performances, Cygnus recitals, and various musicals.
Yolanda Yeung / Classical Ballet Yolanda Yeung is from Hong Kong, China, where she studied classical ballet and national character dance, followed with Royal Academy of dance syllabus and passed the examination from primary to advanced level with honors results.
Throughout her career she has had numerous performing and competition experiences. In 2006, She was awarded The Tsinforn C. Wong Scholarship by Jean M. Wong School Of Ballet which enable her to continue professional training at The Washington School Of Ballet, where she studied for two years. In 2008, she became an apprentice dancer with the Atlantic City Ballet Company.
Jennifer King Pullman,Ph.D. / ZUMBA!! Jennifer has been an artist-educator for over 20 years, weaving together her roles as an elementary school teacher, art educator (pre-school through college levels), and a fitness instructor more with each passing year!
Currently, Jennifer works as a high school art teacher in the Atlantic City School District, where she also joyfully provides Zumba classes for students and staff. She is a Zumba instructor at Island Gym and Fitness as well. Jennifer is certified as a Primary Aerobic Instructor and Holistic Health Consultant (American Aerobics Association International/International Sports Medicine Association), and is licensed to teach Zumba, having earned multiple training licenses including Zumba Basics 1, Basics 2, Zumba Gold, Zumba Toning, and Zumbatomic.
Jen holds a BA from Stockton College (Studies in the Arts), an MA from Margrove College (Art of Teaching), and a Ph.D. from Walden University (Education with a specialty in Art Education K-12). As a fine artist, her focus is primarily watercolor and pastel “portraits” of beloved people, animals, gardens, and moments in her life. Home is in South Egg Harbor with her human and furry family!
Julia Allen / Modern, Classical Ballet Julia is a graduate of The University of the Arts in Philadelphia with a B.F.A. in modern dance. While there she had the opportunity to study with professors such as Roni Koresh, LaVaughn Robinson, Ruth Andrien, and Andrew Pap. She participated in a semester intensive at Philadanco studying Horton, Graham, and classical ballet. The University of the Arts gave her many opportunities to perform and choreograph in student productions at the Drake Theater and the Merriam Theater.
After college, Julia went on to teach in South Jersey and then in the state of Kentucky. While in Kentucky, Julia taught classical ballet, modern, jazz, tap, and hip-hop and held various administrative duties in a private dance studio. Concurrently, she taught the dance portion of the Arts and Humanities classes to students at the middle and high school levels. Julia returned to New Jersey after the birth of her son to be closer to family. She is very excited to be back in her home teaching children and adults her love and passion of dance.
Theresa Zollicoffer / Inspirational Dance Ms. Theresa is a Jersey girl who loves to dance! Her inspiration to dance began with a high school field trip to a dance concert at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. All the dancers were terrific! One dancer stood out when she performed a poetic dance to a poem about a baby being born entitled “P-E-A-C-E.” It was the most beautiful “peace” and she quotes “P-E-A-C-E” of performing art I have ever seen!”
Ms. Theresa has been teaching all age groups Inspirational Dance for over 10yrs and she feels “teaching children is so rewarding that it is an honor to be blessed to do so.” Ms. Theresa believes “the youth have so much creativity stored within them that when you introduce them to new moves, they are willing to follow your every step, literally.” Ms. Theresa also works with the senior population addressing their movement skills and modifying the class to fit their needs.
Dance is a passion for Ms. Theresa, choreographing, the music, the rhythm, the world beats is truly inspirational. “Life without rhythm is life without dance. So dance away and live by the beat!”
Victoria Papale “Athene” / Belly Dance In 1999 Victoria Papale took her first Belly Dance lesson and she was hooked ever since. She has studied with such esteemed dancers such as Dr. Mo Gadwahi, Morocco, Fatiem, and Athena Najat of Athens. She also takes great inspiration from International Belly Dance Star Soraya . VictoriaAthene is her official Dance name and has performed at prestigious Weddings, Museums, Casinos and Fund Raisers.
Victoria encourages self expression while emphasizing proper execution of the Middle Eastern Dance Movements. Her interest in Greek Culture and Mythology influence much of her choreography, using poses from Greek Statues and figures from ancient Greek Pottery. One of her favorite quotes by Greek philosopher Plato 3rd century BC is…….”To sing well and to dance well is to be well educated”.
She is founder of the Troupe, “The Daughters of Terpsichore”, who perform locally. Victoria is on YouTube, type in VictoriaAthene. Presently, she teaches and choreographs at the Cygnus Creative Arts Center in Egg Harbor Township. Students are taught the basics of beginner class while the more experienced attend the intermediate advanced classes.
Susan Maclean / Art of the Young at Heart and special constituents program, Classical Ballet, Modern. Susan began an early dance career under the supervision of Mary and Phyllis Papa of the Royal Academy of Ballet, Trenton, NJ. She attended Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and was a member of the original Stockton Dance Company. This company toured professionally in Boston, Philadelphia and New York. Her teaching and professional performing career is on-going. She is currently an adjunct professor of dance at Atlantic Cape Community College. Susan spends some time teaching at the Atlantic County Special Services School each year since 2001. From 1987 to 1992, in yearly productions of “Nutcracker Suite”, performed by Atlantic City Ballet, she played Frau Staulbaum. Susan also teaches ballet basics at Ocean City Cultural Arts Center and instructs 4 to 10 year old children dance at Jazz Rock Ballet Studio.
ACTING
Kelly Briggs / Musical Theatre Kelly Briggs grew up in Bordentown, NJ. He received a full scholarship to attend The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC., and became the protege of the first female conductor of Broadway, Karen Gustafson. After graduating, Kelly appeared in many regional, stock and concert performances around the country, joining the National Tours of “Les Miserables” and “Cats.” Kelly hosted the syndicated television show “Debates/Debates” produced by National Review. In 2000 Kelly founded his own casting company and serves as a casting consultant for regional theatre companies and corporate entertainment firms. He has produced “Broadway on the Boardwalk” with Keith Cooper for a series of fundraising performance for the South Jersey Aids Alliance, headlining Broadway performers such as Andrea McArdle, Melba Moore, Gary Beach, Frank Gorshin and Julie Budd. Kelly is a casting director for TriArts at The Sharon Playhouse, Sharon, Ct., and a casting consultant for Cohoes Music Hall in Cohoes, NY. He received the Backstage Magazines Bistro Award and is the recipient of the first Nightlife Award for Musical Comedy Performance along with Jerry Christakos for the continuing musical comedy show “Lovely.” Currently, Kelly serves on the Board of Director’s for the Theatre Collaborative of South Jersey, saving the Gateway Playhouse in Somers Point. Kelly has directed many readings and Cabaret Acts in NYC, continues to perform in concert and develops new projects for the theatre.
Lynsey Hehre: Acting /Theatre Arts Lynsey was born in Somers Point, NJ. She graduated last may from Wagner Liberal Arts College in Staten Island NY with a double major in Education and Arts. She also received a voice scholarship as a soprano I all four years of college. Lynsey has been involved in theater her whole life. Some of her theater credits include Mrs. Webb in Our Town, Ms. Sherman in Fame, Paula in the Goodbye Girl, Susan in Big, and Bonnie in Applause. She has also directed children’s theater at a school in Staten Island where she student taught. Lynsey continues to be involved in various theater projects and productions in the area and is very excited about being apart of the Cygnus Creative Arts Centre.
PRIVATE MUSIC/VOCAL
Karissa Davis / Vocals
Mrs. Davis is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music with a major in classical vocal performance and also attended the American Music and Dramatic Academy in New York City for musical theatre. Her performing career has taken her around the world including a performance with Pavarotti at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Natalia Matijasic / Classical Piano Natalia Matijasic is a conservatory trained graduate from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. A classical pianist who has trained since the age of 4 years, she is a product of the performing Arts High School in New York City. Natalia has performed a vast repertoire of chamber music and solo piano concentrating on Contemporary and Impressionistic Music. Twentieth century composers range from Samuel Barber, Bela Bartok, Aaron Copland, John Cage, George Crumb, Rodger Sessions, Igor Stravinsky, Anton Webern, Charles Wourinen, and Edgar Varese. Natalia has performed the French Impressionistic piano works of Claude Debussy, Gabriel Faure, Francis Poulenc and Maurice Ravel as well as the evocative Latin dance music from Brazil.
Steven Mento / Classical Piano
Steven Mento received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Delaware, studying applied piano with Leon Bates. After piano study with Annie Petit of The Curtis Institute, he enrolled in a Masters program at Temple University and worked with Harvey Wedeen in piano pedagogy and Maurice Wright in composition. Steven Mento completed doctoral studies in piano performance at the University of South Carolina where he studied piano with Dr. Charles Fugo, studying composition with Dr. Richard Goodwin.
Dr. Mento has performed in various locations in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, South Carolina, Florida, and in Vienna, Austria, and has performed at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. His violin concerto was performed and recorded at the Orvieto Festival in Italy in July of 2007. Duo Mento performed the world premiere of ‘Dies Irae’ for two pianos on October 23, 2008 at Merkin Hall in New York City.
Steven Mento has composed and performed ‘Elegy’, for piano and orchestra, commissioned by the Bay-Atlantic Symphony and awarded a recording contract with Naxos/ERM Media. His compositions have been performed by the Amael Trio and by pianist Wei Leng.
He is a concert reviewer for the Classical New Jersey Society Journal, and teaches music and piano at Burlington College and the McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. In 2002 ‘Duo Mento’ was formed with his sister Loretta (chosen by Sony Films to play Mozart in ‘Seven Pounds’) to perform four-hand piano literature; four hand and solo CDs are available on Eroica Classical at www.eroica.com
Ruth McBride / Classical Piano
Mrs. McBride received her BA in Music fromThomas Edison State College. Her diverse professional career includes numerous performances at the Nuremburg Opera House, Music Director for Theater of Arts and Entertainment Branch for the U.S. Army in Germany, along with many years as the church pianist for the Main Post Chapel Schofield Barracks, Hawaii and choir director for Edgewood Proving Ground, Maryland. As a classical pianist since the age of seven, Mrs. McBride focuses her lessons on method, theory and technique and has had the privilage to have taught hundreds of beginning and intermediate students throughout 22 years of practice.
Fred Rushmore Percussion
A graduate of West Chester University, Fred’s 20 years in the music industry and music education is diverse. Honored as 2005 Educator of the Year, Fred’s comprehensive knowledge of music theory and pedagogy is shared with his students in the Elementary Band at the Hess Complex in Mays Landing. Along with his life in music education, Fred plays professionally evenings and weekends for a variety of contractors in and out of the casino industry.
Ed McCabe / Guitar
Ed McCabe is a professional band musician and has performed with Borzoi, New York Rock Ensemble, Walt’s Garage, Trilogy and Ed Manion of the South Side Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. He is a New York City session player with Lifelong Records and plays a wide range of styles to include: rock, jazz, contemporary, acoustic styles to name a few. Ed is a knowledgeable guitarist with 30 years of succesful private lesson instruction and is experienced in repair and setup of string instruments and associated electronic equipment.
Jacob Smith / Saxaphone, Clarinet, Oboe
During my 20 years of service in various Army Bands playing saxophone, oboe, and clarinet, I have performed in Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Japan, Guam, Germany, France, Belgium, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Macedonia, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, and Tunisia.
I also arranged music for 40 piece concert band, Big band, and Woodwind Quintet.
I studied oboe with Dr. David Picthorn of Cameron University. Attended master’s class with oboist Joseph Robertson. During High School studied saxophone with Berklee graduate Raymond Johnston Jr. Recently, I studied saxophone with Mike Pedicin, a local saxophone whose reputation is well known throughout the tri-state area.
Since my retirement from the army band field in 2000, I have made a living performing dinner music at local fine dining restaurants, as well as performing at weddings, Bat/Bar Mitzvahs, and private parties. I’m available to teach on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursday. Make up days for lessons will Saturdays
VISUAL ARTS
Stephen Stuart Gibson
Stephen Gibson was born in Philadelphia and raised in South Jersey. Recognition for his artistic talents began at a young age as he was enrolled in adult drawing and composition classes by the age of eight at the Ocean City Arts Center. He is a 1999 graduate of Flagler College St, Augustine Fl, having earned a BA in Fine Art. Mr. Gibson offers a wide variety of instruction in painting and drawing and believes that development and understanding of these fundamental disciplines is at the core of any artistic endeavor, whether the aim is that of a professional or avid art enthusiast. Stephen maintains a competitive exhibition record and completes projects for private and commercial and corporate entities alike. His work related travels has taken him through Europe, the Caribbean, Canada and various parts of the United States.