Kimberly Kunkel has been dancing since she was three years old. She studied ballet, jazz and tap, and later lyrical, pointe, modern and yoga. She attended Howell High School’s Fine and Performing Arts Center where she was recognized for her fine tuned dancing and creative choreography. She then went on to pursue her dance training at Montclair State University studying under Nancy Lushington, Linda Roberts, Lori Katterhenry, and Donna Scro-Gentile. During her time at Montclair she performed with the Sebastian Sextet Dance Company, a contemporary ballet company based out of Montclair State University.
In the summer of 2003 Kimberly attended the American Dance Festival at Duke University. ADF was a two month intensive dance program where she had the opportunity to take class with the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Twyla Tharp, David Dorfman, and the Pilobolus Dance Theater to name an impressive few.
In the fall of 2004 she transferred to Point Park University in Pittsburgh P.A. to complete her degree at one of the most prestigious institutions for dance in the country. Here she studied Dance Pedagogy under the direction of Ronald Hutson. The Dance Pedagogy curriculum included studies in child, adolescent, adult and educational psychology, anatomy, kinesiology, and choreography, along with daily technique classes in Ballet, Modern and Jazz. During her time at Point Park she had the pleasure of studying under Peter Merz, Jay Kirk, Ron Tassone, Pearlann Portor, and Doug Bentz.
After graduating in May of 2006 from Point Park University, Kimberly sought out a teaching position at Dance For Joy. Call it good luck or (as Kim likes to say) call it destiny, that after 18 wonderful years at Dance For Joy, Caryl Voorhees, artistic founder and director of DFJ was ready to retire. In February of 2007, Kimberly and her parents became the new owners of Dance For Joy. Under the careful mentoring of Caryl, Kimberly has visions to take the excellent foundation that Caryl has paved and continue to expand on it.
Coreen was born and raised in Ft. Worth, Texas. She resided in the NewYork area for over seven years. In TX, Coreen performed as a professional ballet/ modern dancer with North Central Civic Ballet, Irving Ballet, and PIECES. She also studied at Joffrey, NY Summer Program, at the age of fifteen. Before dance, Coreen was trained as a competitive gymnast, winning TX state champion and Pepsi Jr. Olympics. Musical theater training at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy brought her to New York City. After graduation, Coreen booked film/commercial credits, worked as a back up dancer for a hip hop artist, and performed in numerous stage productions including “Pippin”, “Joseph…”,“Sweet Charity” and many more. She then worked as an assistant casting director for over 4 years.
Coreen now lives in Asbury Park with her husband and continues her training, as a dancer, at Broadway Dance Center. She is a judge and guest teacher for Ticket to Broadway dance competitions and loves teaching and choreographing for the NJ/NY area. But most of all Coreen loves DANCE FOR JOY and all of her wonderful, talented students!!!
Laraine Kauffman started her dance education at seven years of age. During her childhood, she received advanced training at “Joffrey Ballet” in New York City under the direction of Dorothy Lister. Later, Laraine auditioned and was accepted into the Fiorello H. La Guardia H.S. of Music and Art and the Performing Arts (Also known as The Fame School in New York City) under the direction of Michelle Mathesius. There she studied with Master Teachers Michelle Benash, Elisa King, and Penny Frank. Laraine graduated and received her dance diploma in 1988. During her time at the Performing Arts School, Laraine also trained in modern dance (Martha Graham Technique) and drama taught by actor James Moody who appeared in several movies including “Fame.” Due to Laraine’s passion for dance, she now looks forward to teaching at Dance For Joy to further encourage and educate others in the art of dance.
Miss Mickey is Dance For Joy’s finest Tap teacher! She has taught dance for the past 19 years and owned her own studio for 6 years. She has attended Dance Educators of America’s teacher training school and has been taught by various teachers such as Frank Hatchett, Bob Rizzo, and Chuck Goddertz.
Miss Mallory began her dancing career at Dance for Joy at the age of four. She danced under the instruction of Caryl Voorhees and studied aspects of dance such as Classical Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop. During Mallory’s high school years she attended Ocean County Performing Arts Academy where she enhanced her dancing knowledge and expanded her fields of dance to Modern, Musical Theatre and Lyrical. Also during these years, Mallory had the opportunity to dance at the Orange Bowl in Miami Florida as well as attend various seminars and master classes. Miss Mallory graduated from Dance for Joy in May 2006 after fourteen consecutive years of dancing. In pursuit of her dreams in becoming a dance educator and continuing to be a part of Dance For Joy, Miss Mallory began teaching Pre-Ballet and beginner Tap in September 2006. During the summer of 2007, Mallory become a member of the Dance Educators of America dance teacher certification program. After completing her first year of the program Miss Mallory is a certified Level 1 dance instructor in the techniques of Classical Ballet, Tap, Modern Dance, Jazz, Acrobatics and Tumbling. In prospect of her future in dance, Mallory intends to complete Levels 2 and 3 of the Dance Educators of America teacher certification program as well as continue to pass her dancing knowledge and passion on to the students here at Dance For Joy.
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Laraine Kauffman: