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Meet the professionals

MarDelDance is comprised of professional dancers and dance educators as well as musicians and actors. We take pride in the diveristy of our company and the accomplishments of all members. 

Marianne Delehanty Bator
artistic director/dancer

 

Marianne Delehanty Bator, a native to north New Jersey, has studied ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, pointe, hip-hop, voice, and acting from a young age. Marianne competed in many regional and national dance competitions and has worked with numerous professionals, such as Anita Ehrler, Frank Mastrocola, Norma Riester-Smith, and Jennifer Marquardt to name a few. Marianne continued her dance education at DeSales University where she studied ballet and modern dance. She graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. While at DeSales, Marianne has worked with professionals such as Trinette Singleton, Tim Cowart, Kristin Fieseler, Tara Madsen, Kate Jewitt (of Shen Wei Dance Arts), and Ashleigh Leite. She has also taken her dancing worldwide with DeSales dance majors to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where she took classes with famous Brazilian choreographers as well as taught dance to underprivileged children. While at DeSales, Marianne also founded her own dance company, MarDelDance, a contemporary dance company aimed at introducing audiences to dance-drama. In the summer of 2011, Marianne traveled to Ireland where she was asked to teach master-classes and set work. Marianne’s work has been performed and adjudicated at the American College Dance Festival, and has been seen throughout the NJ, NY, and PA area. Her work has been performed at the Detroit City Dance Festival in Detroit, Michigan, Steps on Broadway in NYC, the Painted Bride Arts Center in Philadelphia, The Carnegie Arts Center in Ireland, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater in NY, and Rosa Parks High School and Bridgeton High School in New Jersey to name a few. Her work has been commissioned by Gallaudet University, a school for the deaf and hard of hearing in Washington D.C. in 2013 and again in 2014. She has also won Dance Magazine’s Editor’s Choice Award for her piece Patsy. Marianne's choreography has been inspired by current events and those of others that have touched her heart. With a focus on dance-drama, Marianne’s works have collaborations with musicians, artists, multi-media, singers, and actors.

Molly DeFalco
dancer

 

Molly started dancing at the age of 3. She grew up studying dance with broadway professionals Anita Ehrler and Frank Mastrocola. With them, Molly was trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, modern, hip hop and musical theatre. Under their instruction, Molly was able to compete both at the regional and national level. Growing up, Molly has been invited to spend her summers learning from and dancing with the Rockettes and studying under well respected ballet mentor Mignon Furman at the American Academy of Ballet Summer School of Excellence. At age 14, Molly received an invitation from the Professional Performing Arts High School to attend their pre-professional dance program at the world famous Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre. There, Molly was thrown into the professional dance world and was trained in Martha Graham technique, Lester Horton technique, West African dance, as well as ballet and jazz. Unfortunately, after her freshman year there, Molly was faced with a life changing situation and had to undergo scoliosis correction surgery. Fearing that she would never be able to dance again, Molly proved doctors wrong and was actually able to use dance as a tool to rehabilitate and completely recover. While recovering she began learning ballroom dance under the same roof as Dancing With The Stars professional, Maksim Chmerkovskiy. There, Molly was trained in the Waltz, Quickstep, Cha-Cha, Jive and many other types of ballroom and Latin dance styles. After graduating from high school, Molly attended Sacred Heart University and was a member of their nationally ranked division 1 dance team. Molly enjoys passing on the gift of dance and is most looking forward to inspiring dancers the same way her teachers had inspired her.

Samantha Deily
dancer

 

Samantha began her dance training at a local studio, Dance Works. When she was older she realized how deep her passion for dance was and attended the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Performing Arts as a dance major. Upon graduating high school Samantha continued her dance training at DeSales University where she obtained her bachelors in dance. While at DeSales Samantha had the opportunity to perform works by Sean Curran, Twyla Tharp, Gerald Arpino, Trinette Singleton, Ashleigh Leite, Kate Jewett of Shen Wei Dance, as well as various faculty and student pieces. Post college Samantha has had the opportunity to dance for Keila Cordova Dances, CoExistDance, Sarah Parker & Continumm Dance Theater as well as dancing for the Philadelphia Fight Vixens Dance Team. Currently she has been sharing her love for dance by teaching at local studios.

Heather Fibkins
dancer

 

Heather has been dancing for 17 years and competitively danced for 12 years. She has been teaching dance for 4 years at Mariann's School of Dance and choreographing for 3 years there as well. She has choreographed two dances that recieved 2nd and 3rd place at Starbound National Dance Competition's Nationals in Atlantic City in 2012. Heather is a current dance minor at Montclair StateUniversity and dance is her passion and her life.

Jen Gill
dancer

 

Jennifer earned a BA in Dance at DeSales University. She has been dancing for the Mardeldance Company, and her solo, Patsy, won Dance Magazine’s editor’s choice video of the month in October 2009. She was also featured in the January issue of Dance Magazine. Jen performed for Sesame Place for three summers and appeared on CN8 and CBS and is continuing her training while pursuing a career in dance.

Holly Jarboe
dancer

 

Holly  Jarboe has been a professional dancer/performer in New York City since 2006. She holds a BFA degree in Dance from Stephens College, Columbia Missouri. Her college experiences provided a wide range of opportunities where she excelled in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Tap, Singing, Acting, Improv and Choreography. Holly participated in a number of dance productions with the college’s Dimensions Reparatory Dance Company from 2004-2006. While in college, she studied dance with Mary Rotella, Gower Champion, Joe Lyton, Bob Andy, Scott Thompson, Karin Baker, Jim May, Deborah Carr, Sandra Kauffman, Liliana Morales, Karen Kristin, Jimmy Hao and many others of world dance! Holly was in many musicals as well and one in particular was “Cabaret”, where starred in the female role of the “Kiss Couple”. Holly has extensive musical theater experience beginning in high school where she worked in dinner theaters up until she graduated and had gone to college!

 

Holly’s professional dance experiences have been equally diverse. Holly has modeled for a number of events. She has modeled wedding dresses during the Royal Wedding, in which gave predictions on what was to be expected to be worn by Kate Midelton. She has been in short films including, “Henry” role as Young Girl #2 and in an Internet Spoof w/ Donnell Rollings (Aka Ashy Larry from the Dave Chappelle Show) in “From Ashy to Classy”. Between gigs Holly has taught and choreographed for many dance/arts schools throughout NYC and New Jersey. Currently she teaches, choreographs and gives master classes for City Moves Dance Center in NYC and for Sukha Arts Dance/Yoga studio in Harrington Park, NJ. Holly has extensive choreography experience including: “Daddy”- Soloist/Dedication Internet Video, “One Heart Too Many”-Macklanburg Playhouse, “A Day In The Life Of A Cat”-New Works Concert, and for most all dance companies she has been associated with. The professional dance companies Holly has worked with include: The Movement Collective(Modern Co.), Merce Cunningham Studio, Teatro La Tea Theater, Taste Ladies(Hip Hop Dance Crew), Viva Glamour (Jazz/Burlesque Group) from Cassie Russo’s CaRu Entertainment and was a member of the Bearfoot Dancers Dance Team and was a member of the Unofficials of the New York Giants Dance Team of the Championship Winning Season 2011-2012!

Michelle LoGuercio
dancer

 

Michelle LoGuercio began her dance training at Mariann's School of Dance in Paramus, NJ. She graduated from DeSales University in Center Valley, PA in May of 2011 with B.A. degrees in Dance and Communication and was the recipient of the 2011 Dance Ensemble Award. While at DeSales, she had the opportunity to perform works by Twyla Tharp, Charles Weidman, Trinette Singleton, Sydney Skybetter and KristinFieseler. In the Spring of 2010, Michelle traveled to Italy to study dance at the Accademia dell' Arte under the direction of Gianni Burschi. Michelle began working with MarDelDance in 2009.

Chelsey Nagy
dancer

 

Chelsey Nagy has been dancing since age 3. She has studied ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, modern, and hip hop. Chelsey competed for 8 years with Anita Ehrler's Dance Extensions in Park Ridge, NJ. She graduated from Montclair State University in May 2014 with a Bachelors Degree in Public Relations and a Dance minor. Chelsey has been teaching dance in various styles from hip hop to ballet at Sukha Arts Center in Harrington Park, NJ since fall 2011. In addition to teaching at Sukha, she set a a hip hop piece on the dance major students at Rosa Parks Performing Arts High School in Paterson, NJ in January 2014 for their yearly showcase. Although Chelsey enjoys choreographing and dancing hip hop, modern and contemporary dance are just as prominent for her. Although Chelsey has a full-time marketing job, Chelsey feels incredibly lucky to still fulfill her passion for dance with Marianne and the rest of the Mardel dancers. She's been a proud member of MarDelDance since 2010.

Christine O'Donnell
dancer

 

Christine Chan has been studying dance for more than twenty years in various disciplines, including ballet, jazz, lyrical, modern, hip-hop, and contemporary. She graduated magna cum laude from New York University with a Concentration in the Social and Psychological Construction of Mind and Body, focusing on healing through Eastern and alternative medicine techniques. During her college tenure, she participated in a work-study program at Peridance Center in New York City, where she continued her dance education. In the years since, Christine has taught dance classes that range from ballet to Zumba from ages three to adult, all while obtaining her 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher Certification and deepening her knowledge as Reiki master practitioner. Currently she dances professionally and is on the board of directors for MarDelDance and co-directs MarDelDance Youth and MarDelDanceMini, the pre-professional dance companies affiliated with MarDelDance. Their goal is to educate and inspire young dancers in a way that is non-competitive and healthy and to aid in the development of professional young adult dancers. Christine believes that movement, especially dance, is a window to the soul. Her choreography is organic and lyrical, and merges contemporary movement with nostalgic styles. When not dancing or practicing yoga, you’d probably be able to find her doubled over laughing with her friends or indulging her other passions… food, running, coffee, and adventures!

Erin Pride
dancer

 

Erin Pride a New Jersey native, graduated from Montclair State University with a B.F.A. in Dance and received her M.A. in Dance Education from New York University.  Erin has danced for companies nationally and internationally.  She is currently touring with Pilobolus.   Her choreography has been presented at The Henry Street Settlement Theater, St. Marks Church, Dance New Amsterdam, The Outlet, Greenspace Presents, Silk City Arts Festival and commissioned by Ballet Forte in Chester, NJ and King Performing Arts Center in Wanaque, NJ.   Erin is the Founder/Artistic Director of Silk City Arts Festival a Non- Profit Organization and EDP Dance Project both based in Paterson, NJ.  The mission of both the festival and company is to rebuild inner cities through exposure to the arts.  Erin has produced many shows in the Tri-State Area such as Silk City Summer Arts Festival’s summer arts festival and Mix It Up winter dance series bringing dance to the great city of Paterson. 

David Smith
dancer/actor

 

David has been dancing with mardeldance since 2010. He is a graduate from DeSales University where he received a Bachelor’s in Musical Theatre. He has a background in acting, singing, and dancing. He is honored to be a member of mardeldance and considers joining to company one of his greatest achievements. David has been featured in “Patsy”, “Save Her”, “Tainted Love”, “Picture Perfect”, “Avarice”, and most recently “Transmission” along with his company members. He has also worked as an actor on the stage but has recently starting a career in film and television.

Barbara Tsaousis
dancer

 

From age 3 until she graduated high school, Barbara studied classical ballet at Nunnbetter Dance Theatre in Bergenfield, New Jersey, under the direction of Artistic Director Leath Nunn and faculty. She also trained in jazz and tap, and she began contemporary training when Marianne joined the NDT faculty in 2011. Barbara has had many solo and lead opportunities in Nunnbetter productions, such as Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, including the roles of Clara in 2010 and the Snow Queen in 2013. In 2014, Barbara competed at the Youth America Grand Prix Semifinals in Providence, Rhode Island with other NDT dancers in a neoclassical ensemble piece, and later competed in the International Finals after the piece was chosen to advance. Since joining MarDelDance in 2014, she has had the opportunity to perform at several locations throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and NYC.

 

Currently, Barbara is a sophomore studying molecular biology at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where she is a member of several clubs and activities ranging from dance to the American Medical Student Association. She is also a member of a research lab that studies the effects of heparin on vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells, and has even performed at Carnegie Hall with Lehigh Choral Arts! Through her work with underrepresented and underserved populations, she has developed a passion for global and public health studies, and now aspires to become a successful surgeon and someday open her own free clinic to help those who can’t afford health insurance.

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