Staff

Stina Smith

The owner and artistic director Stina Smith incorporated the Jersey Cape Dance and Gymnastics Academy Inc. in 1985. Mrs. Smith a native of the city of Cape May, recieved her initial dance training from Joanne Reagan and then Glassboro State College now Rowan Univerisity. Mrs. Smith continued her dance training under the guidance of many of the top dance instructors, master teachers and chorographers in New York City where she studied with Luigi, Phil Black, Joe Tremaine, Shimon Braun, Frank Hatchett and David Howard. Still to this day Mrs. Smith continues her studies as the dance world is ever changing. After a successful modeling and performing career, which included print work for international and national magazines as well as runway, featured dancer at Resorts International, the lead role of Cassie in " A Chorus Line" and performing with Bill Cosby, Ben Vereen, and Gene Kelly, Stina returned to her home town to open her own dance studio. From a rented building with a modest amount of students the business has grown over the past 23 years to become the most successful dance studio in Southern New Jersey. In 1997 Dancer Magazine a nationally published dance trade magazine named the Jersey Cape Dance and Gymnastics Academy among the top ten dance studios in the country. In 2002 again another national dance magazine , Dance Teacher Now claimed the Dance Academy amoung the top 50 schools in the United States and Canada to "watch out for".

The studios competition team over the past 14 years of competing has won numerous national awards and recognition for their outstanding work in all areas of dance. Mrs. Smith and her staff have won several national choreography awards in jazz, lyrical, tap, gymnastics and contortion. Mrs. Smith was honored by yet another national magazine, Dance Magazine when she was given the distinguished Bill Como Award For Excellence for her Holocaust piece "Suffer the Innocence. The New Jersey State Commission of Holocaust Education then backed the piece for its school programming . The Students in this piece have performed and educated on the horrors of the Holocaust and on the importance of tolerance for tens of thousands of children throughout the state of New Jersey for the the past 8 years. Today the vidio of this award winning piece is still used in classrooms throughtout the state to educate children on the atrocitys of the Holocaust.

 The success of the studio has lead to requests for Mrs. Smith and many of her staff members to teach seminars, master classes and choreograph for many studios across the country. Stina and her staff also judge for many national dance competitons throughout the United states and Canada.

Many of Mrs. Smiths alumni have gone on to professional careers on Broadway in such shows as, Cats, A Chorus Line, Grease, Peter Pan, Annie and Mama Mia as well as performing for Disney, dancing back-up to Mariah Carey, crusise ships, television, film, print work, teachers of dance and choreographers. Mrs. Smith believes in a dance education that inspires young people to be the best that they can be. A child that goes to the Academy will experience proper dance training and a physical activity that will inspire dedication teamwork and disipline , as well as other qualities that will last long after their dance and gymnastics classes are over.

Annika Nash

Annika Nash has been the Gymnastics Director at the Jersey Cape Dance and Gymnastics Academy for the past nine years. Annika started teaching for the Academy as a junior staff member in 1985 and later taught dance and gymnastics in Massachusetts and also in Germany. Shortly after her return from Germany Annika took a position teaching pre-school for the Kindergarden for five years and later became their tumbling and dance teacher for an additional two years and an additional year in the same capacity for North Cape May Kids pre-school.

Annika is a member of USA Gymnastics as a safety certified coach. She has been safety certified with USAG for more than ten years. Annika coaches all levels of gymnastics and contortion and her reputation as a coach and a teacher is outstanding. Her classes are energetic,exciting and always full of fun! She has been sought after as a master teacher and has tought master classes throughout the country.

For the past eight years Annika has been working with the Academy's National Award winning Competiton Team and in doing so has won Regional and National recognition as an outstanding teacher in the field of Acrobatics/ Gymnastics and Contortion. Annika has been recognized by some of the country's top Directors, Judges and Teachers on the dance competition circuit such as Starpower, Showbiz, Rising Star, All American Talent Awards, Star Systems, On Stage America, Showstoppers, Jump, United states Tornement of Dance and Access Broadway. Annika's students have won some of the country's top titles such as Miss Acrobat of the United states for 2005-06, Petite Miss Acrobat of the United States 2005-06 and Junior Miss Acrobat of the United states 2006-07.

Twelve of Annika's students from the Jersey Cape Dance and Gymnastics Academy have been named to the prestigious United States Acrobatic Team and have performed for the New York Liberty WNBA at Madison Square Garden and for DRA Solstice in Times Square. One of Annika's students Bryce Sol Hoffman, was featured on the CBS Morning Show and this student was also choosen to work for the New York Knicks as a featured half-time performer with the New York Knicks Acro Break Team. In 2005 Annika and her sister Stina were extreamly honored when the Academy was named the TOP ACROBATIC/GYMNASTICS STUDIO FOR 2005-2006 at the Acrobatic Nationals. In 2007 Annika's contortion / gymnastics choreography was featured at the Showstopper National Dance Championships on a live web-cast viewed by more than one million people. Today some of Annika's students are currently working for World Cruise Lines, National Touring Companies, College Dance Teams and Coaching around the country.

Annika is very proud of her position at the Academy and is extreamly proud to be a part of this family run business, working side by side with her sister Stina , the Academy's Director and her neice Kendra.

 

Kendra Heminway

     

                    Kendra has been dancing since the age of two and soon after started singing and acting. It only seemed natural due to the fact that her mother was a professional dancer. As a teenager she received many awards and scholarships and was chosen to study at the Governors School of the Arts. Kendra started her professional career as an entertainer at Walt Disney World. She has performed in several live shows and industrials for Toyota, Microsoft, Benjamin Moore, House of Blues, and many others. Her dance talents have also been featured on the Regis and Kathy Lee Show and a Disney Christmas Special. Kendra can also be seen in the Block Buster hit Catch me if you Can. While living in New York, she continued to study at the Broadway Dance Center to further her training. She also teaches and choreographs for several competition teams. Her work as a choreographer has been awarded numerous times on the competition circuit. Kendra feels she has a lot to share with the competitors, as she once was a competitor herself and now a performer, teacher, and a choreographer.   

Louise Marshall

Louise has a diversified background in all disciplines of dance and gymnastics. She recieved her initial dance education from Stina Smith at the Jersey Cape Dance Center. Louise has achieved expertise in Tap and Jazz having studied with Joe Tremaine, Marcia Lane, Doug Caldwell, Tony Cappola and Barry Lather.

Louise has now extended her education to include gymnatics and cortortion. Louise has obtained her USAG safety certification. Having the paitience of a saint Louise has developed and directed our pre-school program for over ten years, which now includes several advanced pre-school classes. Louse instills the basic fundamentals to all of her students, but most of all she gives her students the love of dance, that will last a lifetime.

Working closely with the Academy's National Award Winning Mini Competition Team, Louise's tap choreography has been regognized all over the National Competition Circut, with numerous awards at the Regional and National Level.

We at the Academy credit Louise with being the stepping stone for many of our Academy's alumni  who have contiued with a career in dance. These students have never forgotten where there passion for dance was first cutivated.

With the help of her wonderful and supportive family, she looks forward to many more excieting years at the Academy 

Kelly Rossi  

 

Kelly Rossi has been a part of the JCD&GA since the age of two taking her very first gymnatics class with Stina Smith. Now 22 years later Kelly is the Assistant Director of Gymanstics at the Academy having trained with some of the countries top gymnastics coaches. Working with a USAG safety certification, Kelly brings an exstensive background in the field of gymnastics and cheerleading to all of her students. Teaching all levels of gymnastics , contortion and cheerleading Kelly's classes are full of high energy, fun, and always exciting!

Kelly also has a background in the competitive world competing at the regional and National level she has been recognized with top honors such as Jr. Miss Starpower and Jr. Miss Acrobat of N. J.. She recieved top honors placing at Nationals in Dallas Texas, Orlando Florida and Myrtle Beach ,South Carolina with her All Star Collegic Cheerleading Team. Kelly has credentials with the National Cheerleading Association and has been an instructor for NCA Cheerleading programs throughout the United States. Sharing her cheerleading expertise, Kelly has coached many local teams such as Margaret Mace, Crest Memorial, Tietleman, Wildwood High, Lower Cape May Regional and Wildwood Cathlic. Chorographing Individual routines for many cheerleaders who have placed 1st at the National level.

Recently 12 of Kelly's students have had the honor of being choosen for the United States Acrobatic Team being highlighted performers at such venues as Madison Square Garden, Walt Disney World and Times Square in New York City with DRA., One of Kelly's students who held the title of Miss Acrobat of the United States 2005 was a featured performer on the CBS morning show. Kelly is extreamly proud of her students and their accomplishments, many of which hold some of the countries highest titles, such as Petite Miss Acroabat, Jr. Miss Acrobat and Miss Acrobat of the United States.

Kelly is looking forward to many more rewarding years at the Academy , and feels very blessed to call JCD&GA her home.