Debbie Gatto
Miss Debbie was six years old before taking her first dance class, and she quickly caught up with the dance world. A talented dancer and quick study, she began her dance teaching career after winning the title of Miss Marlton. After placing first in the talent event in the Miss Burlington County Pageant, Miss Debbie was offered her first teaching job at a local dance studio.

Miss Debbie has served as both judge and choreographer in several Miss America pageants. She has been a guest instructor at the Dance Masters of America, Professional Dance Teachers Association, and the International Dance Teachers Association.  "Show me a tap shoe and I'll make it tap" Debbie Gatto believes in a very regimented style of teaching that leaves each student who passes through her class with a very strong understanding of what makes a dancer the best performer they can be...repetition, repetition, repetition.

Miss Debbie has trained some of the most outstanding young performers in the Mid Atlantic Region. Under the direction of Debbie Gatto Master Shane Rutkowski became one the "Netherlands Kids' and performed in Amsterdam for the Queen of the Netherlands.

It is Miss Deb's insistence that all dancers have a solid foundation in the basic rudiments of tap. This insistence has led her dancers to unwavering success. During her thirty years of teaching, Miss Debbie's students have won over 200 first place awards in various dance competitions, many of them dancing to original choreography by Miss Deb herself. Deb is especially proud of her Junior and Senior Tap Ensembles for being awarded Critics Choice Award at the New York City Dance Alliance Regional Competition in 1999. In 2003 Miss Deb served as Artistic director of Jazz Unlimited Tap Ensemble and received numerous awards for Back to Broadway and the most entertaining in 2004 Jocks Jam.  In calibration with various artists Miss Deb has received top awards as CO-choreographer of Jazz Unlimited Jazz Dance Ensembles original performance of Le Carnival and Asian Couture.

Miss Deb is very proud of her children David and Sommer. Sommer was married in May 2009 and resides in Moorestown with her husband Brad.  David has received his Masters in January 2010 in Elementary Education at the University of Wilmington in Delaware.  Miss Deb is happy with the competition team at Cedar Brook Dance Academy and looks forward to their continued success.

Eve Persicketti
Eve Persicketti believes that grace grows from strength, and she has spent many years combining her dance and fitness backgrounds to develop a teaching style that nurtures both sides of her students.

Miss Eve is certified in numerous dance and aerobics organizations, including Dance Educators of America and Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. She holds a Masters certification from AAAI/ISMA.

Miss Eve has studied with many dynamic and talented artists such as Shimon Braun, Rex Henriqu, and New York City Dance Alliance founder Joe Lanteri.  She had the opportunity to work with Scott Jocovich of Joffrey Ballet.

From 2001-04 she had been the jazz teacher/choreographer for the Metropolitan Ballet until the opening of our studio.  She continues to teach jazz at the Metropolitan Ballet Summer Dance Program each year.

To her credit, Miss Eve has trained many company dancers and was founder of the dance troop "Portfolio". This group went on to receive Critics Choice Award at New York City Dance Alliance competition.

In calibration with various choreographers in 2003, Miss Eve developed the Jazz Unlimited over all top score and choreography award for her original version of Le Carnival and Asian Couture in 2004.

Miss Eve is very proud of her children Jason and Justin.

Jason was married to Debbie Vento on April 18^th 2009.  Jason and Deb welcomed their first child, Jonathan Cole Persicketti on January 27, 2010.  Miss Eve and her husband Joe are so very excited and proud of their very first grandchild!

Justin graduated from Stockton College in 2008 with a BS in Business Finance.

Miss Eve is very happy about the Dance Company here at Cedarbrook Dance Academy.  The company has been working very hard this year and has received many high scoring awards at competitions.  Miss Eve applauds their efforts and takes great pride in the strong company they are quickly becoming!

Sommer Bayard
As the daughter of a dancer and choreographer, Sommer Bayard is excited to keep the performing arts alive within the family. She was a dancer for the tap ensemble at Jazz Unlimited for many years and received many top awards as a member of the company.

Sommer graduated from Stockton College of New Jersey with a BA in Public Relations and a minor in Performing Arts where she received her modern and ballet training.

As a dancer, Miss Sommer has a wide range of disciplines, including tap, clogging, jazz and hip-hop. She performed in New York City under the direction of Frank Hachett of Broadway Dance Center and other hot spots such as Disney World, Florida. 

Sommer has an extensive background in fitness as well. She was an instructor for various gyms in the area such as Planet Fitness and Shapes to Come and has taught classes at Virtua Wellness Center, a top fitness center in South Jersey.  Sommer is now a fitness instructor at Versa Fitness in Voorhees, New Jersey.

To her credit, Sommer is a unique teacher/choreographer with a contagious enthusiasm for dance. She has won many awards for her edgy style in both jazz and hip-hop.

Sommer is an Account Executive for On Time Industrial Staffing LLC and still finds time to teach evenings at Cedarbrook Dance Academy.

She is indeed our best cheerleader/mentor here at the Cedarbrook Dance Academy and we hope she continues to encourage our youth in such a positive way. 

Denelle DiClaudio
Denelle began her dance training at Dance Center of South Jersey at the age of four. She studied under the direction of Sandy Delio as her passion was always “ballet”. She went on to study tap for many years with Debbie Gatto.

To her credit Denelle had the opportunity to perform in Pennsylvania Ballet’s version of the “Nutcracker” and received a scholarship to Alvin Ailey Summer Dance Program.

As a talented and technical dancer Denelle continued training for many years at Chez Dance Center.

Three years ago Denelle reunited with Debbie Gatto and began training under the direction of Eve Persicketti.

Denelle is proud of her son, Carmen. She continues her education at Camden County College where she will earn her Associates Degree in Social Services.

Sara Lonngren
Sara began her training with the National Ballet of New Jersey and went on to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts in ballet performance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia in 2005.  While attending college she studied under such renowned teachers as Christine Cox, Eva Szabo, Andrew Pap, Brian Sanders and Scott Jovovich to name a few.  

After graduating, she joined the Atlantic City Ballet (formerly the Atlantic Contemporary Ballet Theater).  She currently performs with them as a full-time company member.  Her favorite roles performed while with the ACB are Dew Drop and Arabian in the Nutrcracker, Bride in Dracula, and Helena in A Midsummer Nights Dream. While not in the studio rehearsing, she enjoys teaching and choreographing in and around the New Jersey/Philadelphia area.

Jennifer Mooney
Jennifer first started dancing at the age of three.  Her first few years of dance training were spent concentrating seriously on her ballet technique.  She studied mostly under the instruction of Michele DiCola-Sasse, Shaun Doyle, and Viktor Yeliohin.  She continued her study of dance at Goucher College in Baltimore, MD for one year before transferring to The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA.  During her college experience, Jennifer grew much more diverse as a dancer, studying all dance forms and concentrating seriously on modern dance.  At The University of the Arts, she had the opportunity to perform at the Merriam Theater and at the Drake Theater, where she also showcased her own choreography. 

She has worked with choreographers Silvanna Cardell, Matthew Neenan, Andrew Pap, and Brian Sanders and also had the privilege of performing “Steps in the Street” (1936) Excerpts from Chronicle, which was restaged for the university by Joyce Herring of the Martha Graham Company.  Jennifer recently graduated from UArts in May 2006 with her BFA in dance Education, with a concentration in modern dance.  She is now performing with Enso Ensemble, a modern dance company in New Jersey, and for Kinetic Outlaws, a newly developed modern company in Philadelphia. 

Jennifer has also discovered her love of teaching dance to others.  She recently attended the Dance Masters of America Teacher’s Training School in Buffalo, NY and is excited to be teaching at Cedar Brook Dance Academy.

Christine Pitman
Christine began dancing at the age of three at Dance Center of South Jersey and is proud to say Debbie Gatto was her first teacher.   Thanks to Miss Debbie, she received many awards for dancing over the years.  Christine has also attended schools such as Jazz Unlimited and the Professional School.   While attending Camden County College she continued dancing and performing.

As a dancer, she has performed with The Pennsylvania Ballet in The Nutcracker.  You could also see her in television shows including Al Albert’s Showcase and Chief Halftown. 

When she's not dancing, Christine is also a realtor with Re/Max of Ocean City and does sales and marketing for Servpro.

Christine is very proud of her two daughters Abigail and Ava.  Abigail is in her third year of dance at Dance Web.  Ava will be starting her first year this fall. 

Kristin Reim
Kristin Reim is thrilled that she has found Dance Web. Kristin is a former student of Miss Eve's and feels at home here. Kristin began dancing at the age of three. She was a dancer for the Jazz Unlimited Dance Ensemble for many years, where she participated in many performances and competitions. At competitions, she won many awards as a member of the ensemble.

Kristin began teaching dance and performing arts with ESF summer camps. She was the creative and performing arts specialist at the Moorestown Friends site for two years. This position allowed her to choreograph and direct two shows during each summer.

Kristin graduated from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania in 2003. She has a BA in special education and a minor in dance. Her dance training at Mercyhurst College was an experience she will never forget. Her four year study there consisted of classes in ballet, jazz, tap, swing, salsa, and modern.

Now, Kristin is teaching special education at Winslow Township School #2. This is her first year in the district and has been enjoying building up the preschool disabled program. Kristin hopes to stay with the district and see this program grow.

Kristin thanks Miss Debbie and Miss Eve for taking her under their wings. She always had a dream to start a dance program for children with special needs. With a lot of hard work and help from the staff at Dance Web, they were all able to create that program. Reach for the Stars is an example of Kristin's dedication for children and her love for dance.

Emily Royston
Emily Royston started dancing at the age of three, and began training strictly in ballet at the age of 6. She studied under Deborah Blume Byers at the Hanover School of Ballet in Hanover, Pa. At the age of 9 Emily became a part of the performing company known as the Hanover Children’s Ballet Theater. With that company she performed all over the United States. In 2005 Emily performed in the opening ceremonies of the U.S. Tennis open, and in October was casted as an extra in the hit movie “Step Up.”

From 2005 to 2009 Emily traveled around the country with the Dance Olympus dance conventions as a ballet demonstrator. She was also cast in productions of “It’s a Dog’s Life”, “Toyland”, “The Wizard of Oz”, and the “Millennium Showcase” at Eichelberger Performing Arts Center.

Emily is now a freshman dance major at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She was awarded the Presidential Scholarship for her high academic achievement and promise in dance.

Erin Royston
Erin Royston is a 2006 graduate of The University of the Arts in Philadelphia.  Erin obtained a BFA in ballet performance.  She graduated with honors and received the prestigious Aleksei Jadanic Ballet Award.  While studying at UArts, Erin performed principal roles in many ballets including Raymonda, Markintenka’s Pas de Six, Napoli, Mathew Neenan’s Roadblock and numerous other teacher and student choreographed ensembles.

Previous to college, Erin was a member of The Hanover Children’s Ballet Theatre and Company in Hanover, PA.  With them, Erin traveled as an Ambassador of Dance throughout the People’s Republic of China. 

Erin recently spent the summer training at the Joffrey Ballet School in NYC.  Erin is currently on staff at Camden County College teaching ballet and dance appreciation.