Maria Agabiti-Battista, Owner and Artistic Director of “Class Act”, has been dancing and performing professionally for over 25 years. Most recently taking her vast knowledge of dance and dance education to her own students, she has created some of the most talented individuals in our area. In only a few years, Maria’s students have successfully won various gold and platinum awards at national talent competitions, danced center court at the Wachovia Center in front of millions of fans at a Philadelphia 76’ers game and are always somehow involved in the community, dancing at various charity events. The studio offers challenging Master Programs for the advanced dancer, or weekend workshops for the younger, less serious student. Maria is devoted to her students and asks for the same respect and loyalty in return, which makes for a fun, light-hearted atmosphere at the studio, with a little “tough training” along the way.

A five-year veteran of the Sixers Dance Team, Maria is able to bring the most up-to-date and latest Hip Hip, Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet and technique styles to her own students. Appearing in various shows, commercials and print ads across the country, including but not limited to: Showboat AC, Tropicana AC, Four Star Entertainment (Six Flags), The Philadelphia 76’ers, nationally televised commercial for the Tommy Boy record label (Jock Jams) and on the cover of the CD. She has also appeared as the feature model on a Rt. 95 billboard in Philadelphia. Her television, video and commercial experience extends from NBA Inside Stuff, to The FOX Morning Show, music videos for Will Smith and G-Love, ESPN Fitnesss Specials and various performances on Comcast Sports Net for her dance team experience. Most recently she has directed local high school dance teams, teaches workshops all over the country and is the Dance Coordinator for Master DJ Entertainment. She keeps busy and up-to-date with the latest choreography by studying under such greats as Frank Hatchett (Broadway Dance Center), Joe Tremaine, Doug Caldwell and Wade Robson, all of Tremaine Dance Conventions LA California, Chip Gentles and Liz Casale of the former Professional Center for Dance, and various studies at Koresh in Philadelphia PA. She is also a certified group fitness instructor for Robert Wood Johnson. Along with her professional staff, Maria hopes to bring her knowledge, professional experience and unique choreography to your children - making them our future stars!

Erika Mero began her dance training at Princeton Ballet School. As a dancer in the Professional Training Program, she studied with Elisabeth Carrol, Septime Webre, Maria Youskevitch, Kyra Nichols, Mary Pat Robertson, Mary Barton and Douglas Martin. Ms. Mero was a member of American Repertory Ballet Workshop, a pre-professional company of the school. As a dancer in ARBW, she appeared in the premiere of Graham Lustig’s Standstill, and also danced the ballerina role of Swanhilda in Coppelia as a senior in high school. As well as dancing at PBS, Ms. Mero attended Liz Casale’s Professional Center where she studied ballet, tap and jazz. She was featured in several performances and also taught ballet. During these years, she also attended The Juilliard School’s summer intensive for two summers. In 2006, Ms. Mero graduated Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance Performance from SUNY Purchase, where she studied with Ted Kivitt, Rosanna Seravalli, Betijane Sills, Kazuko Hirabayashi and Richard Cook. While at Purchase, Ms. Mero appeared in The Nutcracker, Balanchine’s Serenade, and as the soloist in Nijinska’s Les Noces. After graduation, Ms. Mero continued teaching at ARB’s Princeton Ballet School, where she had started in 2003. Recent performance work includes two seasons with Stuart Loungway’s Terra Firma Dance Theatre, and productions of Romeo et Juliette, Rigoletto and The Merry Widow with Opera New Jersey. Ms. Mero will start work on her Master’s in Ballet Pedagogy this fall at New York University.

Jillian Potash As a lifelong New Jersey resident, Jill has studied at many local studios. She is very active in choreographing musical productions at Mercer County College’s Kelsey Theatre including Disney’s High School Musical, The Rocky Horror Show, The Full Monty, Elegies, Once on this Island, For the Glory: The Civil War Musical, The Who’s Tommy, and Fame: the Musical. Jill holds a B.A. in English from the College of New Jersey, where she performed as a member of their dance team, participating in the United Dance Association’s national competitions and camps.

Lynn Armano As Miss Maria’s assistant, Miss Lynn acts as both Head Instructor and Office Manager at “Class Act”. She has been dancing for over 20 years at the former Professional Center for Dance under Liz Casale, and has 15 years of teaching experience. Lynn has accompanied Maria to several dance conventions and workshops and is always learning new choreography to pass on to her students. She has also taken classes across the country from famous choreographers such as Doug Caldwell, Wade Robson, and Dan Karaty. Lynn specializes in lyrical dance and teaches the Intermediate and Advanced classes, but also has much experience teaching all ages and levels of jazz, tap and ballet. She also is a certified Nia instructor, and teaches Nia at several studios and gyms. When she is not teaching classes, you will see Lynn at the desk recording payments and performing all of the bookkeeping duties for the studio. She is a Certified Public Accountant full-time, but loves being at the studio in any capacity in the evenings!

Katie Malone will be entering her 5th season teaching and performing for Class Act A Center for Dance. She trained under the direction of Liz Casale at the former Professional Center For Dance for 20 years. As a young teen she joined a competitive dance team, was entered in many competitions, and has also tried out for the tv series Star Search. Having attended classes directed by Joe Tremaine in Las Vegas and NYC she travels to workshops and conventions with Class Act all over the country. Katie also has much experience in musical theater having performed in various shows such as Bye Bye Birdie and Grease. Specializing in Acrobatics and stretching techniques, she keeps up to date in all aspects of dance by attending classes in NYC at Broadway Dance Center and Steps NYC.

Mr Corey Tuccillo currently attends THE NEW SCHOOL UNIVERSITY in NYC and will be graduating with a BA in Film and Screenwriting. He teaches acting and voice at Class Act. His first screenplay entitled: MY NEW YORK hopes to start filming in Fall 2010. Corey has starred in many shows with leading roles, Carney (Biloxi Blues), Peter (Prelude to A Kiss) , Romeo (Romeo and Juliet.) As a trained singer and dancer he currently performs at The National Underground in NYC. Corey has 15 years of dance training with his grandmother, Liz Casale at Liz Casales Professional Center for Dance and Drama and was a private student of Maria Agabiti- Battista at Class Act – A Center for Dance. Corey hopes to obtain his masters in film from the prestigious TISCH School of the Arts in NYC.

Mr Brian Soames is a graduate of Fordham University. He is a self taught Hip Hop and Break dancing teacher. Currently the HIP HOP teacher at Princeton University and Hip Hop and Break dancing teacher at Class Act- A center for Dance. He teaches workshops and classes in Hip Hop and breaking all over the country.

Denise Schaffer After a lifelong love of dance prompted her to join Class Act Center for Dance in 2004, Denise trained for four years before teaching for the first time in 2008. She studied Jazz, Ballet, Hip-Hop, and Lyrical under Maria Agabiti-Battista, and teaches Acro. Denise also twice enjoyed the unique experience of dancing on the court for the 76ers basketball team, and has participated in several competitions for the studio. She has a passion for the arts, and attended Mercer County Community College and graduated with a degree in Fine Arts. Having become a certified personal trainer in May of 2008, Denise’s’ classes specialize in core strengthening exercise formatted perfectly for a dancer’s body. Denise is also a photographer specializing in headshots, performance photos of many kinds and modeling.