Staff
KATHY COSTA MCKEOWN, Owner/Founder/Artistic Director, is a seasoned dance professional with over 30 years of experience as an artistic director, teacher, choreographer, and performer. She holds a BFA in Dance from Montclair State University and has an extensive background in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, and Choreography, which allows her to train versatile, well-rounded dancers.
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Kathy's dedication to lifelong learning is evident in her ongoing studies in New York City and her recent certifications, including Pilates Mat and The Ellové Technique. She is also the author of "How to Heal a Cracked Heel; Let's Google It" and an early childhood specialist, bringing her expertise to the youngest dancers with patience and creativity.
She began her teaching career at the Montclair Cooperative School, where she led the dance program and choreographed for productions for six years. She then taught and choreographed at Montclair Kimberley Academy Upper School for three years, further expanding her influence in dance education.
Kathy’s performance credits include work with The Other Dance Company, DownTown Dance Co., PM Dance & Video Works, Montclair State University Dance Co., and Colorado College under Bill Evans & Co. She has also been featured in showcases across New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
For the past 27 years, Kathy has served as the Artistic Director of DanceWorks & Company, a teen touring company that has performed internationally in cities including New York, London, Barcelona, Milan, Verona, Athens, and Rome. The company has been recognized for its excellence and has brought global exposure to young dancers under Kathy’s leadership.
Her international teaching experience includes workshops at studios in Cape Town, South Africa, and dance programs for children at Syrian refugee camps in Beirut, Lebanon. Kathy’s work reflects a passion for using dance as a universal language and a tool for empowerment and healing.
Beyond the studio, Kathy has studied Anusara Yoga for five years, adding depth to her understanding of body awareness and alignment. She is a certified Life Coach from The Life Coach Institute of Orange County, with a focus on adolescents and young adults.
Kathy’s leadership extends to the broader dance community: she serves on the Board of Dance New Jersey, is part of the NJPAC Advisory Council for Dance, and is a Board Member of the Montclair Dance Festival. In recognition of her contributions to the arts and education, she received the Del Keiffner Award in 2016 from Performing Arts Educators and is listed in Marquis Who’s Who.
Kathy Costa McKeown continues to inspire students of all ages through her energy, compassion, and commitment to dance education and advocacy around the world.
TAYLOR CAREY is a full time dance educator, choreographer, 200 hour certified yoga and Ellové instructor and holds a Bachelor of the Arts in Dance Education and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance, from Montclair State University. She is currently in her 10th year as a high school dance educator. Taylor is additionally DanceWorks Studios Co-Manager.
Taylor is the High School Dance Teacher at Abraham Clark High School, in Roselle, NJ. Before this role, she was the Dance Teacher at Rosa Parks High School of Fine and Performing Arts in Paterson, NJ and developed the dance program at Marion P. Thomas Charter High School in Newark NJ. In 2016, Taylor created and directed the dance program for four years at Timber Creek High School in Sicklerville NJ. In 2021, Taylor became the full-time Dance teacher at Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, NJ. While at Montclair State University Taylor performed works by artists including Doug Varone, Chase Brock, Carolyn Dorfman, Karen Gayle, May O'Donnell, Jessica DiMauro, Joao Carvalho, Lynne Grossman, Francesca Harper, and Nicole Smith. Taylor has also performed at the American College Dance Festival. After graduating from Montclair State, Taylor performed with Free Space Dance Company, and Erin Pride Dance Project. Taylor also had the opportunity to perform as a main dancer with Cooper River Ballet, Ritz Theatre Company, in Scrooge the Musical, and Philadelphia with a.Dance theatre.
Taylor grew up dancing at DanceWorks Studios at the age of three and has never left since.
NELL CONWAY has been DanceWorks Studios Production & Marketing manager and instructor for the past 6 years. She started her dance journey with Kathy Costa at three years old. Since her first class, Nell's passion for the dance community and the DanceWorks philosophy has continued to grow and flourish. In addition to being a DanceWorks student and company member, Nell worked as a studio manager and teacher from 2001 - 2005. She also studied with Freespace Dance, The American Dance Festival, and other various companies in the tri-state area. After graduating from Montclair High School, Nell attended Virginia Commonwealth University as a dance major, learning from esteemed choreographers from all over the globe. Nell graduated with a degree in Arts Management with a focus in dance and events management. Nell serves as a Board Member for the Montclair Dance Festival. She enjoys sharing her passion for choreography and teaching with the students at DanceWorks.
JEFFRY FOOTE is an actor, singer, and tap dancer. Jeffry has been performing for many years in the tri state area. Some of his credits include Shades Of Harlem, Dance Bojangles Dance, Riffin & Tappin, 42nd Street, and is a principal member of the NJ Tap Dance Ensemble. He has also performed in venues such as NJPAC, BergenPac, and Mayo Arts. He also teaches tap in Morris and Essex Counties, and has been teaching rhythm tap for 13 years. He has also appeared in short films, and has some various voice over projects as well.
EMMA GENTILE is a Montclair dancer who recently graduated from Temple University, where she received her BFA in dance. She has been immersed in the dance world since birth but officially started her training at age 12 at DanceWorks Studios in Montclair, NJ. Gentile is trained in ballet, modern, tap, jazz, hip hop, African Diasporic techniques, and improvisation. In addition to her technical training, she is passionate about choreographing and film dance. Throughout her dance career Emma has had many amazing opportunities to perform locally and even globally in dance festivals throughout New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia and Europe.
KIERAN MCBRIDE started her early training at Nunnbetter Dance Theater in Northern New Jersey. She later went on to train at the Royal Danish Ballet School and Gelsey Kirkland’s Academy of Classical Ballet. Kieran has previously danced professionally with American Repertory Ballet, South Carolina Ballet, and is currently a dancer with Ballet Nepantla and New York Theatre Ballet. Throughout her career Kieran has had extensive experience with a range of styles, and the opportunity to dance works by renowned choreographers. Kieran is passionate about teaching ballet as a strong foundation for any other genre of dance, and she is extremely excited to join the DanceWorks family!
KAYLA MCKEOWN has been DanceWorks Studios Studio Manager and on staff since 2014. Kayla received her BA in Psychology from Montclair State University in 2018, and recently received her MA in School Counseling from Montclair State University in May 2021. Kayla studied dance at DanceWorks from the age of 8-18, and was an active member of DanceWorks & Company from 2008-2014, where she performed at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in New York as well as at the Summer Olympics in London, England in 2012. Ms. McKeown continued her dance education at MSU, where she danced as a non-major for four years during her undergraduate studies. Kayla was on faculty for our Summer Dance Camp staff from 2014-2016, and works as an assistant with all children’s birthday parties at DanceWorks Studios as well. Kayla enjoys working closely with all of our students and families and looks forward to building ongoing relationships with our clientele.
AMANDA PAPA is a dancer, choreographer, and dance educator with more than 20 years experience. Amanda received her BFA in Dance Performance from Montclair State University. She is also certified through Dance Educators of America and is a proud member of Dance NJ and NDEO. She began dancing at the age of 3, competing at age 8, and dancing professionally at 16. She was twice named an All-Star by the Universal Dance Association as a teenager, where she first performed internationally.
As an original company member, soloist and dance captain of The Dawn Lau Dance Company, Amanda performed throughout New York and New Jersey. She spent time studying, creating and performing her art in Italy, where she truly found her passion for and refined her skills as a choreographer.
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Amanda has been on Faculty at over a dozen NJ Dance studios. She was an Adjunct Professor at Mercer County College for 7 years. She is a Guest Teacher at Montclair State University, Kean University and Fairleigh Dickinson University. She is currently on tour as a Judge and Master Teacher for Groove, Beyond the Stars, Breakout and DECAdance competitions. Amanda has expanded her love for dance into the Ballroom world, where she is currently training as a competitor in Smooth & Rhythm Ballroom Dance..
QUINN SOUSA started out dancing in high school with the dance club, learning from the captain who was actually the student of his future teacher. After graduating Quinn connected with John “Comix” Barrella at a workshop and that summer joined his dance company. Quinn quickly became one of the principal performers of The Redef Movement and has experience in all street styles including breaking, popping, hip hop, and locking. Along with being a Dance Professional through Dance New Jersey he is a tri state area performer in places such as Philly, the 5 boroughs, and New Jersey. Through years of training with other teachers heavily rooted to the core of Hip Hop he has attained the foundation necessary to properly modernize these dance styles without losing its integrity or value. It was through this training that The Redef Movement was invited to perform for The New York City Breakers at their 20 th reunion and at “Chaos” presented by TedX Asbury Park. While continuing to further his training he travels solo
performing, hosting workshops, and educating at many different events.
JASÓN WELLS is a singer/dancer/ actor/ choreographer from New Jersey and is a Montclair State University Alumnus with a BFA in Musical Theatre (Spring 2022). He is the director and Co-founder of Transcendence Dance Collective- an NJ based contemporary dance company that trains adults to be the best that can collectively. Jasón has performed in company works, commercial dance, dance visuals, and for upcoming artists in the city. He’s been in tons of musicals, and has taught at dance schools across New Jersey. Some of Jasón’s most recent on stage credits would include Beetlejuice- Norwegian Viva, TYA Equity Tour of Duke Ellington’s: Sophisticated Ladies, World of Dance, A Chorus line, Bring it On, and Newsies.