Teaching Artists

Our beloved former instructors and consultants:

Miss Michelle, founding Artistic Director and former Encore Teacher with student.

Michelle L. Marigliano,  is native from New Jersey. She received her fitness specialist certificate from Raritan Valley Community College, with an interest in education Michelle continued her studies at Kean College of New Jersey. Her love for dance motivates her to continue her education and share her passion for the arts.  Michelle has performed in ensemble and solo pieces; working with Ringling Brothers Barnum and Baily Circus, Saint Luke's Liturgical group, Kean College, Raritan Valley Community College and Deanna Tomasso-Addeo. Michelle is the artistic director and owner of Encore Center For The  Performing Arts. For the past 13 years Michelle has taught Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modem, Acrobatics, Movement and Choreography at Encore. In addition to her work at Encore Michelle has taught dance in Bridgewater and Marlboro elementary schools, at the Giving Nest Pre-School, and Plaza Child Care. Michelle is a teaching artist with Creative Beginnings a subdivision of Young Audiences, www.yanj.org. Creative Beginnings is a nation wide program offering continuing education opportunities to early childhood educators. Having special education experience allows Michelle to diversify her teaching approach. Michelle's class provides inspiration, creativity and independence for young people with a supportive program.   Michelle also has received an advanced degree in the Usui System of Natural Healing. Michelle utilizes the universal healing energy throughout her life. Michelle is available for private session by appointment. She is practicing in Somerset, Middlesex and Bergen counties.

Elisabetta Spuria, Encore Educator

Elisabetta Spuria is currently living in New York. She has studied with A.C. Clulla, Michele Assaf, Ray Leeper, Terry Beeman, Madame Darvash and Emma Prioli. Elisabetta has performed at the Houston Grand Opera, for Terry Beeman and Michelle Assaf. Among numerous choreography experiences Elisabetta was the assistant choreographer for the Michael Bolton 2002 USA Tour and the assistant direct for the Miriah Carey World Tour. In addition to five seasons of teaching at Encore, Elisabetta is an instructor at Broadway Dance Center in New York City. She brings New York style to all her Dunellen classes. Elisabetta encourages students to refine their technique while developing style. Packed with trend you will love to move in this supportive and challenging environment.

Andrew Brady, Encore Educator

Andrew Brady moved to Princeton, New Jersey in 1993 from Kansas City, Kansas. He has studied piano with Dorothy Brandwein, Paul Barns, Phyllis Lehrer, and currently, Grammy Award winning jazz pianist and composer Laurie Altman. He has studied voice with Charles Beard, Stanley Invin, and most notable Elem Eley- He has studied composition with Joel Phillips- As a member of the Westminster Choir, Drew performed works with the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia orchestra, the LA Philharmonic and more, under the direction of Kurt Masur, Wolfgang Sweleish, Helmuth Reilling. He has sung on several Recordings. Drew was a founding member of the Princeton based a cappella groups Voice Versa and the Perfect In Between. He also played with the experimental musical experience known as Ooglebe: for three years. Drew has recently produced an album for Ooglebee. He holds a bachelor's of music education from Westminster Choir College with a double concentration in piano and voice. He has taught piano, voice, guitar and harmonica at Encore Center for the Performing Arts for seven years.

Karen Senko, Encore Educator

Karen is currently living in New York City. She holds a B.A. from Stanford University with majors in Drama and Psychology and a Pilates certification from the Kane School of Core Integration. Her love for movement arts has motivated her to study with many dance educators including Christine Wright, Lisa Burnett and Aaron Osborn. Karen's classes encompass a strong, technical integration of Ballet, Jazz and Modern. Each class emphasizes how movement through lines creates its own language, through which each student can speak. Working through this type of curriculum, students learn to speak through movement, understand how to correct themselves and never loose their 'organic' sense of movement. Students then become beautiful, thinking dancers.  I train people who dance and not ballerinas, jazz dancers or modern dancers, because in the future these are the skills dancers will need as the lines of dance styles begin to blur, Karen Senko. In addition to teaching at Encore Karen owns and operates a private movement program, working in a one- on-one environment with adult and teenage clients in Pilates, emphasizing movement integrity, and core strength.

Marie J. Strano, Encore Educator

Marie received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication studies from The College of New Jersey. Her love for dance has inspired her to always continue studying with a variety of dance educators. Marie has been teaching dance to young dancers  for several years.  Marie's classes are packed with a strong technical foundation and lots of support. 

Mallory Chesler, Encore Educator

Mallory currently is a dance major at Montclair University. her love for dance brings a fresh and exciting energy to all her classes. Mallory is thrilled to be teaching at Encore this season.

The program at Encore Center for Performing Arts seeks to inspire all students to have a passion to succeed and to feel great about ones self.

The program at Encore Center for Performing Arts seeks to inspire all students to have a passion to succeed and to feel great about ones self.

Call Michelle L. Marigliano,
Artistic Director today at:
732-752-2011