Jasmin Cicchino

Ballet, Intro to Pointe, Pointe

Jasmin is an Italian dancer and teacher. She began her path in dance through ballet following the academic program of the Royal Academy of Dance of London by obtaining her advanced degree in ballet. She subsequently obtained the National Diploma as a ballet teacher with the CSEN (Italian National Educational Sports Center). In 2019 she began a new academic path at the musical academy "MTS- Musical! The School" in Milan where she had the opportunity to refine not only other dance styles such as musical theater and jazz, but also other artistic disciplines such as singing and acting. In the same year she participated in The BLUEPRINT Summer Intensive (classical and contemporary dance circuit) with the Peridance Capezio Dance Center in New York. Finally, Jasmin is also an Aerialist specializing in Lyra Hoop and earned The National Diploma of aerial acrobatics instructor 1st lev. (Lyra, Silks, Trapeze, Hammock and Rope) with CSEN. Accustomed to being on stage since childhood, Jasmin has performed in many productions as a classical dancer. Credits include: "Swan Lake" , Sleeping Beauty”, "Don Quixote" with Style Dance Company and also for “Opera Studio Molise” productions like “Don Giovanni” and “Barbiere di Siviglia."  In addition, Jasmin was a member of the ensemble for the film/ musical “Pippin” produced by “MTS Musical! The School " and in the ensemble for the musical" Hair "organized by" MTS Entertainment " with " Compagnia della Rancia ." She also starred as "Esmeralda" in the musical "Notre Dame de Paris" organized by the “Tre Torri” Association . In 2021, she joins DDWECO, the “Drum Dance Women Company” based in Milan.  

Lyrical , Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop 

Maria has been  dancing since the age of three, studying at different schools in the  South Jersey and Philadelphia areas before finding her home at Next  Stage. She has trained in various dance styles and techniques including  ballet, pointe, tap, hip hop, modern, and jazz. She graduated from  Haddonfield Memorial High School in 2020 and spent a year training on  the Saint Joesph’s University Dance Team before finding her way to the  University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where she currently studies  dance with plans to graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2025. Maria  has studied under a variety of professional  performers,  including former  members of Pennsylvania Ballet, Complexions Ballet, LINES ballet, and  Philadanco!, as well as current Broadway performers. Maria is thrilled  to be a part of the Next Stage Staff, and is looking forward to helping  her students learn and grow in their love of dance.  

Early Childhood

 ERICA SCANLON HARR holds an MFA in Acting from Manhattan's New School for Drama as well as a BA in Musical Theater from WV Wesleyan. She has been seen Off-Broadway in One Funny Mother (New World Stages), but some of her favorite performance experiences have been with Disney Cruise Line, performing in both Europe and the Caribbean. In 2004, she won the title of Miss New Jersey and went on to compete in the Miss America Pageant (ABC Broadcast, non-finalist talent winner) and spent her year bringing awareness to her platform: Autism Advocacy and Awareness. Erica serves as the Producing Artistic Director at Mainstage Center for the Arts. Together with her husband, Greg, Erica runs the theater program at Moorestown High School (nominations in Outstanding Direction - Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star). She firmly believes in the value and importance of dance education, especially for our youngest dancers, as a way to encourage creativity, awareness, confidence, and building relationships all while teaching the fundamentals of movement.  

Early Childhood  Dance 

Kara started her dance training in South Jersey at age three. She continued her dance  education through high school  and continued to perform during and after college, currently performing for Collingswood Theatre Company.  She is an alumna of the Paul VI high school dance program,  where she performed in the musicals and was a member of the dance team,  both under the direction of Courtney Daniels.  Kara is an experienced preschool teacher and caregiver of young children.  She is currently earning her Masters degree in early childhood education. She is honored to share her love of dance with our youngest Next Stage students.   

Tap, Modern, Ballet 

Erica Isakower is a choreographer, educator, and dancer from New Jersey, USA. Erica aims to push the boundaries of dance through layering movement, creating work that reflects life’s dynamic and complex experience. She is currently an MFA in Dance candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee after earning her BFA from Hofstra University. Erica is the artistic director, choreographer, and dancer for Chutzpah Dance, presenting her work in prominent cities throughout the United States such as New York City, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Detroit, various cities throughout New Jersey, and made her international choreographic/producing debut in Edinburgh, Scotland. After curating two dance showcases for emerging artists in NYC that prioritized women artists, LGBTQAI+, artists of the global majority, and disabled artists, she curated a showcase at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, following her mission as founder and Artistic Director of Chutzpah Dance to create opportunities for marginalized artists and break barriers of accessibility. Erica was a guest artist at Bucks County Community College (PA) and in residence at Broward College (FL). She also taught and presented work at Nazareth University's MAD festival (NY). Erica danced with Hanna Q Dance Company, Allegory Dance Theatre, Laura Ardner, and at Dorney Park, contributing to the rehearsal processes. During her time at Hofstra University, she had the privilege of performing in works by Larry Keigwin, Anita Feldman, Luiza Karnas, and José Limón. Sharing her knowledge and nurturing the next generation of dancers is a vital part of Erica's artistic journey. She teaches at multiple dance studios in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Her commitment to education extends beyond local boundaries, as she taught workshops abroad in Panama as part of the Movement Exchange Organization in 2019. In 2021, Erica was awarded the South Jersey Artist & History Professional COVID Relief Grant award, recognizing her commitment as a choreographer, dancer, and dance educator within the community. 

Acro 

 Bridget Killion has been teaching dance, gymnastics/acrobatics and cheerleading for over 25 years. As a former competitive gymnast and cheerleader, Bridget has coached, judged and choreographed for many local gymnastics/dance schools, competitive cheerleading squads, afterschool programs and summer camps. Bridget is a Rutgers graduate and a former member of the competitive Rutgers Dance Team which was ranked third in the country. Bridget specializes in hip-hop dance and has performed with many Philadelphia based hip-hop dance companies. As a professional NFL Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleader, Bridget has performed in front of 70,000 fans. As an Eagles Cheerleader, she traveled to Bosnia to entertain troops oversees for the USO and cheered at Superbowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, Florida. As a model, cheerleader, and dancer Bridget has been featured in numerous magazines and television networks, including South Jersey Magazine, Philadelphia Style Magazine, ESPN, ABC, CBS, NBC and MTV. 

Early Childhood

Matilda “Tilly” LuBrant has been dancing since she was a kid, first stepping into her ballet slippers at three. She danced with the Little Gym and the now-defunct studio, And All That… Jazz.

Tilly was the youngest person to join her school’s dance team/educational program at thirteen. She competed with them the following year. As a part of the Vixens Dance Team (Moorestown Friends School), she learned to choreograph and dance Lyrical/Contemporary.

Since then, Matilda has danced with the Broadway Theater of Pitman, choreographed musicals, and went on to pursue a Performing Arts degree. She has frequently worked with the Ritz Theatre Co. and CHAOS Theatre Co. on several productions. She has worked in children’s education, spending three semesters working as a teacher’s aid in a kindergarten classroom, and as an assistant director in the Ritz’s educational program, Stage Starz.

Jazz. Modern, Ballet, Pointe

Company Director

Marcia of Sewell, New Jersey, started her dance training at Tricia Sloan Dance Center and received her B.F.A. in Dance from Montclair State University. She also received the “Choreography Excellence” Award, along with academic honors (magna cum laude). At Tricia Sloan, Marcia had performed as Clara and Dew Drop in The Nutcracker, and Belle and the Rose in Beauty and The Beast, along with many other roles. At Montclair, Marcia has performed in works by Stefanie Batten Bland, Jessica DiMauro Marks, Kathleen Kelley, Michelle Manzanales, Bradley Shelver, Maxine Steinman, and Urban Bush Women. As a freelance dancer, Marcia has performed in Tricia Sloan Dance Center’s Nutcracker, and is an assistant for Bill Hotaling’s Manhattan Dance Project. As a choreographer, Marcia has had her works presented at ACDA’s Gala performance, the Koresh Artistic Showcase, MSU Alumni Showcase, and shows by Arts by the People. Currently, Marcia is a teacher and choreographer at Next Stage Dance and Theater Academy.