B.A., Dance / K-12 Education

Member, Studio Owner Alliance (Formerly International Association of Dance Entrepreneurs a.k.a. I.D.E.A)

Leader, The Gold Alliance

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Faculty, 2021 DanceLife Teacher Conference Do No Harm. Take No S***

Faculty, 2021 Dance Entrepreneurs Summit Small Studio Success

Panelist, 2022 I.D.E.A Member Seminar Genius Scheduling

Faculty, 2022 DanceLife Teacher Conference What Experience Has Taught Us

Panelist, 2022 I.D.E.A Member Seminar Downsizing

Panelist, 2023 DanceLife Teacher Conference The Right Fit for Me (Right Now)

Presenter, 2024 The Gold Alliance Leader Seminar Pas De Dialogue

Presenter, 2024 I.D.E.A Member Seminar Kind, Not Nice

Presenter, 2025 Dance Teacher Alliance Seminar Know Your Worth

Presenter, 2025 Dance Teacher Alliance Seminar Setting Healthy Boundaries

Presenter, 2025 Dance Teacher Alliance Seminar Adaptability in Different Teaching Environments

Panelist, 2025 DanceLife Teacher Conference The Next Chapter

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Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Jaime Gong holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a concentration in K-12 Education from Marymount Manhattan College. A dancer all her life, she has been privileged to train under, and work with, some of the finest artists in the dance field since 1984. 

Early experience as an intern/assistant to master teachers at 92Y Harkness Dance Center and STEPS on Broadway provided a solid foundation in effective teaching techniques which— with continued professional development— have carried Jaime through nearly three decades of teaching in studios, theaters, community centers, public schools & private schools throughout New York City and Northern New Jersey.

After facilitating a series of community dance programs for the Mill Basin Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library; piloting a school-wide dance program at P.S. 251 in Flatlands; and joining the faculty of The Performing Arts School@bergenPAC, Jaime transitioned into the field of arts administration as a member of the Education Department at New York City Center. There, she assisted the coordination of non-profit programs and professional development workshops inspired by the world-class artistry presented on NYCC’s Mainstage (i.e., Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, Paul Taylor Dance Company), reaching hundreds of NYC public school students and teachers each season. She was also a member of the Junior School dance faculty at the famed Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre, where she enjoyed two terms as Summer Intensive Director.

In 2012, Jaime founded Performing Arts Workshop in Jersey City, building on best practices cultivated throughout a multi-faceted career. Her personal mission is to foster an environment where children recognize and define their own worth, while partnering with families to instill the discipline and determination needed to succeed in dance and in life.

Ember Arp is a dedicated dance artist and educator, currently pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance at Montclair State University, with concentrated coursework in dance education. She began dancing at a young age and went on to attend performing arts high school, where she specialized in dance and began developing her own artistic voice.

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Throughout her training, Ember has worked with a range of accomplished choreographers and teaching artists who have shaped her technical precision and expressive depth. Her foundation lies in ballet and modern, complemented by extensive study in contemporary, West African, jazz, musical theater, hip-hop, and tap.

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Ember views dance as both a means of communication and a catalyst for connection. She is passionate about creating inclusive, creative spaces where dancers of all ages can explore, grow, and discover confidence through movement. She looks forward to sharing her artistry and love of dance with her students, who, in turn, continue to inspire her curiosity, imagination, and joy in teaching.

Ruth Ann Batista was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico and moved to South Florida at a young age, where she has been a local for nearly 20 years. She trained as a competitive dancer for over a decade, with experience spanning musical theater, stage performance, and technical dance. In 2020, Ruth Ann earned her B.A. in Dance Pedagogy from Palm Beach Atlantic University, continuing her training at Sean's Dance Factory in West Palm Beach.

In 2022, Ruth Ann relocated to Atlanta, GA to further explore her passions in dance. While in Atlanta, she performed at music festivals such as PumPum Fest and Oye Fest, choreographed original pieces for local showcases, and taught at several studios including TADA, Fleetwood Dance Studio, and CRS. She also trained with XCEL Talent Agency, KikiKastings, and Groove2Musik Studios.

In 2024, Ruth Ann moved to New York City to continue her artistic journey and deepen her professional training. She is currently on staff as an instructor at Ballet Hispánico and now Performing Arts Workshop, where she continues to share her passion for dance while expanding her reach as both a performer and educator.

Chloe Russell is a ballet dancer, choreographer, and instructor based in New York City. She received her early training from Ballet Memphis, Collage Dance Collective's trainee program, the Ailey School, and The San Francisco Conservatory of Dance.

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She received her teaching training in the RAD Method while dancing with Chattanooga Dance Theatre and Chattanooga Ballet in Tennessee.

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She currently enjoys freelancing with various companies around the New York area including Jersey City Ballet, City Dance NY, American Ballet Russe, and City Ballet of Boston as well as choreographing her own projects.

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Chloe is currently a faculty member with Jersey City Ballet School. She is an instructor for a variety of classes within the Youth Program. Performing Arts Workshop is excited to welcome her as part of our partnership with Jersey City Ballet, bringing her range as a dancer, choreographer, and instructor to our students.

Sonya has been part of the Performing Arts Workshop family since the age of three, growing from a bright and curious young dancer into a thoughtful, dedicated leader and role model. She is a high school sophomore, studying graphic design, and has always admired the visual arts. She hopes to pursue a future that allows her to continue using her creativity.

"I have  been dancing for as long as I can remember, and it remains a meaningful part of my life. The studio has become a place of comfort and community for me, and dance continues to help me channel my creativity and emotions."

Over the years, Sonya has trained in our Youth Performance Program, performed and competed with our Company, and served as Junior then Senior Class Assistant, demonstrating exceptional patience, empathy, and communication with younger students.

Stepping into her first year of Assistant Teaching, she brings a rare blend of warmth, discipline, and generosity to the classroom. Sonya has an intuitive sense for guiding children with care as she helps them focus, learn, and feel confident in themselves. Known for her strong work ethic and collaborative spirit, Sonya continues to inspire our community of young dancers through her example and genuine love of dance.

Michelle Stroffolino is a Brooklyn, NY native and a passionate dance educator and therapist. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Dance from Hunter College and her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California (USC). Blending her background in dance, education, and social work, Michelle is dedicated to using movement and creative expression as powerful tools for connection, healing, and personal growth. Her work reflects a deep belief in the transformative power of dance to support emotional well-being, build confidence, and nurture the whole person.

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Michelle's relationship with Performing Arts Workshop began in 2015, when she joined our faculty. In the years since, she has returned again and again, leading limited-run programming and offering mindset coaching to our Company dancers. That sustained, hands-on presence gives her a rare vantage point as Board Chair: she isn't leading from the outside, but from a decade invested in the success of PAW, understanding firsthand what they need to grow both as artists and as people. Paired with her professional grounding in both dance and social work, this deep institutional knowledge makes Michelle uniquely equipped to steward PAW's vision; one that keeps the wellbeing of its dancers at the center of every decision the Board makes.

George Giordanella serves as Board Secretary for Performing Arts Workshop and plays an essential role behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly. A civil engineer and electrical engineer by trade (a woodworker, pianist and brilliant mathematician in his spare time), George brings a thoughtful balance of precision, patience, and care to everything he does.

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He has been a trusted part of the PAW community since 2012 and remains deeply invested in the mission and spirit of the organization. When he’s not helping manage the details that make big things possible, you can often find him cheering on the creative work of others, including our teaching team and students. His quiet dedication and steadfast support are a large part of what makes PAW feel like family.

Jacquie Bird has enjoyed a lengthy and fulfilling career as a triple threat, appearing on Broadway, film and television.  Currently a master-teacher/choreographer as well as a singer, writer and the designer/creator of SilkWire Jewelry, she has worked in close association with the Young People’s Chorus of New York City for the past 12 years as their choreographer extraordinaire.  She has been the director/choreographer for their fundraising galas at Carnegie Hall and Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall for the past 10 years, the chorister roster growing to over 425 young singers ages 7-18 along with guest artists such as Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty, Lester Lynch, BeBe Winans, Norm Lewis, The New York Voices and Mandy Gonzalez.

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The Brooklyn native enjoys guiding aspiring performing artists and has taught and choreographed in Japan, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Hong Kong, the Dominican Republic, Canada, Bermuda and is a frequent guest in Bogota, Colombia at the Misi Escuela Teatro Musical and Colegio Rochester.  Domestically she has taught for numerous dance studios as well as organizations such as Dance Masters, Dance Olympus and Showstoppers. Jacquie has been a part of the faculties of Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University (Theatre Department’s M.F.A. program); Lehman College; Steps on Broadway; Ballet Arts, and at the Broadway Dance Center, where she was a long-time assistant to the legendary Frank Hatchett and sometimes subs for Sue Samuels’ Broadway Jazz classes at the Broadway Dance Center and the Peridance Capezio Center.  

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Jacquie has also served as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance at Hope College and was a guest teacher/choreographer at Stephens College, the University of Las Vegas and has been guest lecturer of Swing Dance at Hofstra University and at Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts since 2009.

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Jacquie holds a B.F.A. from the Leonard Davis Center for the Performing Arts at City College and for more information or to contact visit her site at www.jacquiebird.com .

Bio coming soon!