Mariann Paul
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Mariann Paul is a dedicated and visionary leader in the dance community, known for her commitment to excellence in both education and artistry. She received her early training under the guidance of Helena Baron, as well as Paul Sutherland and Brunilda Ruiz of the Joffrey Ballet. As a principal dancer with the Baron Ballet Company, she performed at the PNC Bank Arts Center and in numerous dance festivals throughout New Jersey and the Northeast.

A celebrated choreographer, Mariann has earned numerous awards for her innovative and inspiring work, and has served as an adjudicator for the prestigious Star Systems National Talent Competition. Her leadership is rooted in a deep respect for tradition, combined with a passion for growth and continued learning. She consistently seeks out opportunities to evolve her teaching and leadership through advanced training and professional development.

Mariann has attended a wide range of renowned programs and conferences, including the Vaganova Seminar at the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet Society, Jazz Dance World Congress, David Howard Ballet Workshop, Broadway Dance Center Teacher’s Workshop, Rhee Gold’s DanceLife Teacher Conference, Dance Teacher Summit, IDEA Conference, and the Dance Teacher Web Conference & Expo. Her dynamic leadership continues to shape a studio environment where dancers and educators alike are inspired to grow, thrive, and shine.

Lacee Severino
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR & DANCE EDUCATOR

We’re proud to share that Lacee Schuck continues in her role as Assistant Director of Mariann’s School of Dance, bringing her leadership, creativity, and dedication to even more aspects of studio life.

Lacee began dancing at the age of two and joined Mariann’s at 12 to further her training. As a member of the Terpsichore Dance Company, she competed regionally and nationally for six seasons. She deepened her love of the performing arts while attending Bergen County Academies, where she appeared in eight productions, three dance concerts, and four mainstage shows. In 2017, she became the first student from BCA to be inducted into the National Honor Society for Dance Arts.

She went on to dance with the Seton Hall University dance team for four years, serving as head coach during her senior year. In May 2023, Lacee earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University.

Now in her sixth season at her home studio, Lacee continues to take on a more active leadership role. Her passion for dance and commitment to our students make her an invaluable part of the MSD team!

June Chin
DANCE EDUCATOR
June Chin started ballet at age 3 and trained with Helena Baron in New Jersey beginning at the age of 6. She studied at the School of American Ballet for 2 years before going on to train with Madame Gabrielle Darvash, who was named as one of the ten great teachers of the 20th century. Miss June won first place in the New Jersey Teen Arts Festival two years in a row and has performed as a principal dancer with The Staten Island Ballet, The Ilya Gaft Ballet Theatre and the Whitney Ballet in Upstate New York. She was a principal guest artist with the Atlanta Ballet and Sawnee Dance Theatre. In 1998 she choreographed the "Mulan Parade" for Disney Land and Disney World. Miss June was Assistant Artistic Director of the Peninsula School of Performing Arts in Los Angeles for 13 years, restaging many of the classic ballets as well as teaching and coaching dancers to compete at the Youth America Grand Prix and the Beijing International Ballet Competition. Most recently she received the Bolshoi Teaching Certificate for grades 1-8. This is Miss June's 14th season at the studio.

Stephanie Domnitz
DANCE EDUCATOR
Stephanie Domnitz began dancing at the age of 5 in Lincoln Park, New Jersey and quickly found her passion for telling a story through movement. Raised as a competition dancer and training under Heather Soccio, she trained in ballet, tap, jazz, and contemporary. During this time Stephanie competed and won regional and national titles for her solos and group pieces as well scholarships to several different dance intensives. She was also invited to dance in the halftime show for the Orange Bowl where she performed alongside Kool & The Gang. She has attended conventions and workshops throughout the east coast as well as taken classes with several talented artists at Broadway Dance Center. Miss Stephanie has a love and a passion for working with young children and helping them reach their fullest potential. Miss Stephanie is entering her fourth year at the studio and is excited to continue to watch her students grow as artists! 

Alina Dronova
DANCE EDUCATOR
Alina Dronova was born in the Ukraine and began her ballet training at Kharkov Choreographic School at the age of five. In 1996 she enrolled at the School of American Ballet on full scholarship. She perfected her technique with such notable teachers as Antonina Tumkovsky, Helen Dudin, Andrey Kramarevsky, Suki Schorer, Kay Mazzo and Susan Pilarre. In the fall of 2000 Miss Alina was invited to join the New York City Ballet as an apprentice and became a member of the company in 2001. During her 17 years as a member of NYCB, Miss Alina appeared in numerous works by founding choreographer George Balanchine. She has performed over 70 ballets of the company’s repertoire, including Concerto Barocco, The Four Temperaments, Serenade and Symphony in C. She was a featured soloist in many full length productions, including The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. She has also originated a notable role in “Russian Seasons “by Alexei Ratmansky. Ms. Dronova left the stage in July 2017 to concentrate on teaching. She is the proud mom of a daughter, Beatrice. This is Miss Alina's 8th season at the studio.

Liv Ice
DANCE EDUCATOR 
Liv Ice grew up training under Maryen Lorraine Miller and Abby Lee Miller from the TV show Dance Moms. She quickly began competing and traveling the country with the national award-winning Abby Lee Dance Company, eventually becoming a faculty member and choreographer. While she loves all styles of dance, her passion for Musical Theatre, Jazz and Tap grew after obtaining her Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre at James Madison University. She performed at the Disney World Theatre in Orlando’s theme park, was a featured dancer in the 2013 Jazz Dance World Congress (placing in the top five) and was handpicked by Broadway’s own Ben Vereen to be the featured dancer in his Broadway Theatre Project production, Journey to the Footlights. She has worked at many regional theaters on the East coast. Liv’s choreography of the musical Parade at the Forbes Center for Performing Arts was recognized by the Kennedy Center in Washington DC at their 2018 KCACTF Awards. Miss Liv is excited for her 3rd season at the studio!
 

Kathlyn Ianos  
ADMINISTRATION

Kathlyn Ianos is a graduate of William Paterson University with a major in Psychology. She has interned at Mighty Minds and Muscles Clinic in Tribeca, New York as well as Care One in New Milford to observe the therapists at work. Currently she is going to school for Occupational Therapy. Kat is excited to join MSD as an administrative assistant and is ready to help our students and families by providing exceptional customer service.

Kelly Kline 
DANCE EDUCATOR
Kelly Kline, originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, is a New York City based dancer, teacher and choreographer. Her training began at Just Off Broadway Dance Studio where she was a member of their national award winning competition team. She holds a BFA in Dance from Shenandoah University, where she was awarded the Terpsichore Award and the Elizabeth Weil Bergmann Choreography Award for her excellence in both performance and choreography. Kelly has performed works by artists including Mike Esperanza, Tiffanie Carson, Christopher K. Morgan and Stephanie Martinez, to name a few. She is an Acrobatic Arts certified teacher and a Balanced Body certified Pilates instructor. She has been teaching and choreographing for dance studios all over the country for over 10 years and loves sharing her passion and creativity with her students! This is Miss Kelly's 5th season at the studio!

Elise Mitchell 
ADMINISTRATION
Elise Mitchell studied at Temple University with a major in Media Studies and Production. She then went on to intern at Fever / Clearlake Recording Studios and later worked for Gramophone Media, a music publicity company. In addition to doing freelance work as an audio editor, she is the Administrative Assistant at Mariann’s School of Dance and is always happy to assist our dance families.

Tierney Sorensen 
DANCE EDUCATOR
Tierney Sorensen is a dance artist and teacher born and raised in New Jersey.  She began her training at Jamie’s Dance Odyssey under the direction of Jamie Down. She also received private ballet training from Barbara Sandonato and Gabriella Yudenich. Tierney trained with The Koresh Dance Company in Philadelphia and was a member of the Koresh Youth Ensemble, directed by Melissa Rector. She attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, under the direction of Susan Jaffe and Brenda Daniels, where she received her BFA in Contemporary Dance in May of 2018. 

At UNCSA, Tierney performed works by Trish Casey, Natalie Desch, Sean Sullivan, Dawn Bazemore, Merce Cunningham, Brenda Daniels, Paul Taylor, Shen Wei, Aszure Barton, Robyn Mineko Williams, and Martha Graham. She attended Shen Wei Dance Arts and Paul Taylor intensives and American Dance Festival’s Summer intensive. She was also selected to attend the Kyoto International Dance Workshop Festival in Kyoto, Japan where she took classes with artists from all over the world. Tierney worked as a Kenan Fellow with Lincoln Center Education where she continued to learn skills to be a teaching artist and presented her first full-length work at Lincoln Center’s Clark Studio Theater. Tierney performed professionally with Bryce Dance Company based in New York City and taught in New York City public schools with Lincoln Center, Dancing Classrooms, and FEMCHO. In the Summer of 2022, Tierney was chosen as a Dance Artist to attend Moulin/Belle in Mareuil en Périgord, France for a dance residency.   

Currently, Tierney teaches all over the New Jersey and New York areas with Alvin Ailey Arts in Education and the Kupferberg Center for the Arts. Tierney loves sharing her passion for dance with students of all levels and ages and she hopes to instill that love of dance into her students. This is Miss Tierney’s 2nd season at the studio.

Meagan Salma
DANCE EDUCATOR
Meagan Salma began her dance training right here at Mariann's School Of Dance. She has performed in New Jersey Ballet's "Nutcracker", at Disney's MGM Studios and Magic Kingdom, and received a scholarship to study with Frank Hatchett at the Broadway Dance Center. In May 2009 she showcased on the B.E.T. network performing with the Hip Hop group Physha P, and has danced on tour with the group in venues throughout the metropolitan area. She has performed in Boston, Washington D.C., Ohio, San Francisco, Jersey City, and New York City. Other performances include the "Reach Out Charity Foundation" at various benefits for AIDS and Drug Awareness and Prevention forums, the WPIX Channel 11 Entertainment Stage-NYC 2nd Avenue Street Fair Festival, and the ICF Reachout Festival. Miss Meagan graduated from Montclair State University with a BA in Dance Education and has received her Standard Certificate to teach dance in public schools, grades K-12. In completing her program, Miss Meagan also received the MSU Dance Education Award for her achievements throughout her college career and student teaching experience. Most recently, she started the dance program at Mary Help of Christians Academy for middle school and high school students. Miss Meagan is the proud mother of Brandon and Mia and begins her 21st season at her home studio.

Isabella Verma  
DANCE EDUCATOR

Isabella Verma began her dance education at the age of 4 at Mariann’s School of Dance. As a member of our New Millennium and Terpsichore Dance Companies, Isabella performed at nursing homes, malls, and charity events as well as competing at regional and national competitions. She has attended the Peridance Summer Intensive, Rockette Mini Summer Intensive, and the Joffrey Ballet School Contemporary and Jazz Summer Intensive. She has attended the Disney Dancin’ workshop and performed at Disney Springs in Florida with the Paramus High School Spartanettes Dance Company. In 2020, Isabella was announced as an Honorable Mention for the NHSDA in the National Dance Education Organization and was also a recipient of the NJGAAE Student Award for Artistic Excellence and Leadership. In 2021 she was announced as a State Level Winner and awarded for Artistic Merit for her student choreography. Isabella is currently attending Montclair State University studying for her B.A. in Studio Teaching and Business. This is Miss Izzy’s 3rd season teaching at her home studio!

Eddie Rothkopf  
DANCE EDUCATOR

Eddie Rothkopf is a New York City–based performing artist and educator dedicated to nurturing individual artistry in young dancers. Originally from Buffalo, New York, Eddie began dancing at the age of three at the Sherry Martin School of Dance before joining the competitive company at Spezio’s Dance Dynamics. Since moving to New York, Eddie has immersed themself in the city’s vibrant dance community, working with choreographers such as Camryn Brothers, Gwen Potter, and Michael McCrary. They were honored to serve as the very first ProApprentice with Koin & Co and have presented original choreography in productions including Anthology33 and From All Perspectives. In addition to their performance and choreographic work, Eddie has a growing presence in dance education. They recently served as guest faculty for Soul De Soul Dance Convention, after previously assisting as a SoulElite. This season marks Eddie’s debut with our studio, and they are thrilled to share their passion, artistry, and experience alongside such an inspiring team of educators.

Dolon Franklin  
DANCE EDUCATOR

Dolon Franklin is a dynamic hip-hop educator with more than 14 years of teaching experience. He discovered his passion for dance at just 13 years old, instantly captivated by the energy, creativity, and rhythm of hip-hop. Dolon’s classes are celebrated for their powerful, high-energy choreography infused with smooth, intricate grooves—hallmarks of his unique style and deep love for the art form. With a true heart for teaching, he inspires dancers not only to grow in their technique, but also to build confidence, discipline, and life skills that extend far beyond the studio. We are beyond excited to welcome Dolon Franklin to our MSD family of educators and can’t wait for our dancers to experience his passion and artistry!

Michal Ben Lior  
DANCE EDUCATOR

Michal Ben Lior is an Israeli dance artist from Tel Aviv, Israel, now based in Tenafly, NJ. Since 2001, Michal has taught Modern Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Improvisation to dancers of all ages and skill levels. Her professional career also includes choreographing music videos, live performances, and competitions, as well as producing immersive dance shows that bring audiences into the heart of the art form. As an educator, Michal is known for pairing rigorous technical training with a deep focus on self-expression and individuality. She believes in fostering a space where students can uncover their own potential, viewing dance not only as an art form, but also as a language for healing and a pathway to self-discovery. Through this philosophy, she has inspired countless dancers to grow both artistically and personally. Michal’s artistic vision and unyielding dedication have earned her both critical acclaim and a loyal following. With her ability to push creative boundaries while nurturing the next generation of dancers, she continues to shape and inspire the contemporary dance community. We are excited to have Miss Michal as part of the MSD Team!

Erica Peréz-Gotay  
DANCE EDUCATOR

Erica Peréz-Gotay is a dynamic New York City–based performer, educator, and choreographer with a lifelong dedication to dance. Originally from Westchester, NY, she trained and competed for over a decade at her home studio, building a strong technical and performance foundation from an early age. She holds a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance Performance from Oklahoma City University, where she refined her versatility across multiple styles. Erica has trained with renowned NYC artists including Michelle Dorrance, Jimmy Tate, Tracie Stanfield, and Josh Walden, and she has furthered her development through programs such as Broadway Dance Center’s Professional Semester, the American Tap Dance Foundation’s Tap City, and the Broadway Theatre Project. Her performance career includes regional and national productions across the U.S., with favorite credits such as Diana Morales in A Chorus Line and Stephanie in Saturday Night Fever. With more than a decade of teaching experience, Erica brings energy, discipline, and enthusiasm to every class. She emphasizes strong fundamentals, stamina, and pushing beyond limits while creating a joyful, supportive environment where dancers can thrive. We welcome Miss Erica to our MSD Team!