KICKS Staff

Teaching Staff

Ms. Angela

Miss Angela Bates Majewski started dancing at the age of five at the Anna Marie Dance Studio in Wilmington, Delaware. She was trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, tap, and musical theatre. She continued her dance education with The Young Americans in CA while touring with them around the US for 2 years. She has also worked with Ann Reinking and the Broadway Theatre Project in FL. She received her B.A. in Elementary Education with a minor in Music and Mathematics from West Chester University. She has been performing all over the area in many musicals, and has also done some industrial work including performances at Radio City Music Hall with the Rockettes. Favorite roles include Lola in “Damn Yankees”, Judy Turner in “A Chorus Line”, Babette in “Beauty and the Beast”, Mazepa in “Gypsy”, June in “Chicago”, Kit Kat Girl in “Cabaret”, DeLee in “Smokey Joe’s Café”, Phyllis and Annie in “42nd Street”, and many others. She has also had the privilege to choreograph “The Full Monty”, “Footloose” and “Black Patent Leather Shoes” at the New Candlelight Theatre, “West Side Story” at Three Little Bakers, “The Wiz”, “Seussical”, and “Urinetown” at the Wilmington Drama League, and many other musical at local high schools. She currently teaches all styles of dance for different levels and ages all over the Delaware Valley and has been for the past 24 years. She has received prestigious awards for her choreography at many national dance competitions. In June of 2016, she opened the Angela Bates Dance Academy in Newtown Square, PA. In August of 2020, she became the new owner of Kicks Academy of Dance in Glen Mills, PA. When she is not teaching, choreographing, or performing, she is being a mommy to her two boys, Charlie and Max, and little girl, Claire, while owning and running two separate dance studios of her own. She LOVES her job! The support from her family and husband Mike is like no other. Angela is extremely grateful and blessed. Kindness, Positivity, and Resilience always wins!

Ms. Aleyna

Aleyna Kitapci started dancing at the age of 3 and was a member of the KICKS Company Program for 10 years. There, she competed both regionally and nationally. She was exposed to professional dancers and Broadway performers. During her time as a competitive dancer, she gained an interest in choreography, after co-choreographing a competitive group dance with her peers and choreographing competitive solos for herself. She knew that she wanted to be a teacher that would set dances for ambitious students. She is going into her sophomore year at the University of Delaware as an English major. For the past year, she has been assisting master classes and substitute teaching classes at several studios including; KICKS, Angela Bates Dance Academy, Lionville School of Dance, and Villa Maria Academy. This is her first year teaching at KICKS! She is thrilled to be a member of the faculty. She looks forward to creating bonds with her students and being able to act on her passion of teaching.

Ava Jackowsky

Ava started dancing at 3 years old at The Anna Marie Dance Studio in Wilmington, Delaware, training for over 15 years in styles like ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary. In high school, she danced with the Garnet Valley Dance Team. Ava continued her dance journey at Saint Joseph’s University, where she was a four-year member of the Division I dance team. She competed at UDA Nationals every year and was proud to be named the 2023 D1 Pom National Champion. Throughout college, she focused especially on pom and hip hop, sharpening her technique, performance skills, and precision. Beyond performing, Ava loves giving back through dance education. She’s volunteered as an assistant instructor at Anna Marie Dance Studio for many years and Tyler’s Camp, and recently returned to choreograph for her former high school dance team. She believes in creating a positive and encouraging space where dancers can grow and find their confidence. Ava recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Graphic Design minor from Saint Joseph’s University and is now working toward her MBA. She combines her dance background with her passion for creativity and leadership, both in and out of the studio. Ava is excited to inspire the next generation of dancers, not just in technique, but in confidence, passion, and purpose.

Ms. Bethanne

Bethanne Margies has over 20 years of experience teaching dance and choreographing for students of various ages and levels. She teaches students as young as 2 years old, as well as teens, adults, and every age in between. She teaches many disciplines of dance, such as ballet, lyrical, jazz, theater dance, improvisation, tap, and hip hop. She also taught yoga at the Ridley Sports Club for six years. Bethanne grew up on Long Island, NY, and moved to PA in 2005. She taught at many studios all over Long Island (Northport School of Dance, Tappin’ Feet, Center Stage); and PA (KMC, Dance Zone, Koresh School of Dance). Bethanne currently teaches at the Conservatory of Music and Dance (Eagleville and Worcester), and has been an instructor at Kicks for 17 years. Bethanne’s career includes experience as a choreographer for musical theater. As an employee of the Plainview-Old Bethpage school district in NY, she choreographed the middle school musical productions for 10 years. Bethanne also choreographed two shows for the Best of Broadway Summer Theater Troupe in Hewlett, NY. She is currently the choreographer for Mother of Providence Regional School in Wallingford. Bethanne has a wide variety of performance experience. She has performed in New York City at such venues as Danspace, Construction Company, and Lincoln Center. She has been in two Greek plays, The Bacchae (Loft Theater, Oakdale, NY) and Electra (City University of NY). Other favorite shows include Camelot, Godspell (St Francis Summer Repertory, NY), An Act of the Imagination, and Extremities (Molloy College, NY). Additionally, as a member of Nassau Dance Theatre Troupe for 6 years, she performed all over Long Island and regionally, including Jones Beach, Hershey Park and Disney World. Bethanne earned her Bachelor Degree in Dance from City University of New York (Queens College campus). She has continued her dance education by attending various workshops and conventions, including the Rhythm Works Integrative Dance certification. In addition to teaching and choreographing, Miss Bethanne is also the busy mom to her son and daughter, Alex and

Elizabeth!

Miss Brooke Beheran

Miss Brooke Beheran is a new teacher with past experience teaching lyrical, contemporary, ballet, and tap to various ages. She is also trained in pointe, jazz, hip-hop and modern. She grew up in northeast Pennsylvania dancing at Dance Connections. She now attends West Chester University where she majors in Interdisciplinary studies and minors in dance. Brooke is a member of West Chester’s University Dance Company. She is also a choreographer for the dance concert performed by the company. She is a certified Barre instructor with the American Barre Technique and teaches group fitness classes. Brooke is excited to share her love for dance and fitness with her students.

Cade Bolz

Cade grew up in North Carolina. He started dancing recreationally at the age of 12 and soon moved to Pennsylvania to begin his professional training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under the instruction of Marcia Dale Weary. After high school, he moved to Virginia to dance with the Richmond Ballet. He spent two years there as a trainee and was promoted to the Studio Company before his third year, before coming to First State Ballet Theater. During his career he has performed in many ballets, including Ben Stevenson’s Dracula, George Balanchine’s Serenade, and Zachary Kapeluck’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He enjoys teaching ballet and hopes to promote a generation of dancers with technique, artistry, and a passion for the arts.

Ms. Caitlin

Caitlin McQuade began dancing at the age of two at Anita Ehrler’s Dance Extensions in Bergen County, New Jersey. Growing up in Northern New Jersey, Caitlin had the privilege of living in close proximity to New York City, where she was able to be introduced to the professional dance industry at a young age. At her studio in NJ, she competed for seven years, starting at the age of ten, and has won various awards and scholarships, both in the competition and convention spaces. She’s most proud of becoming a Prodigy at Artistic Dance Exchange where she was able to travel the country and assist the choreographers on faculty at convention.

When Caitlin was thirteen years old, she knew that dance was not just a passion, but more of a career path. This is when she began dancing in New York City, and prioritized her training at the world-renowned Broadway Dance Center. For her senior year of high school, Caitlin made the choice to stop competing, and train in New York full time, which created a more seamless transition into her professional career. Being a high school student with accolades and a professional dancer booking jobs simultaneously was definitely a challenge at times, but Caitlin lives by the quote, “She believed she could, so she did,” and that is what motivated her.

Some of her credits include: MTV Flashmob for “Be Myself” by Montana Tucker and Todrick Hall under the direction of Theresa Stone, The Society New York Fashion Week under the direction of Lane Napper, Broadway Dance Center Student Showcase performing choreography by Nijawwon Matthews, Josh Assor, and Sheila Barker, Dumbo Dance Festival, Brooklyn Youth Arts Festival, and a multitude of other performances across the city. Caitlin has also been able to experience working on set of many movies and television shows including High Strung Free Dance, Fuhgeddabout Christmas, and Gravesend. She has also been a backup dancer for many artists including Jenna Rose, Spencer X, and others, with the opportunity to choreograph routines for performances as well. She also attributes so much of her growth as a dancer to her mentors, Tracie Stanfield and Nijawwon Matthews, who saw something in her at a young age, and helped mold her into the dancer she is now.

Throughout her professional career, Caitlin began experimenting with her own choreography, which led to setting pieces on her friends in the city, and eventually teaching in New Jersey. Teaching is where she fell in love with dance in such a new way. If you talk to her, she will tell you all about how being “Miss Cait” is her favorite thing in the world. Caitlin believes that dance education is just as much about nurturing the mental as much as it is about coaching the physical. Her pedagogy is built upon foundational technique, self-expression, and artistry. She believes there is a special place in between structure and spontaneity where magic happens. Caitlin promotes creativity in her class and loves getting to see her dancers have breakthroughs when they discover they are capable to do so much more than what they believe they can.

Since moving to Pennsylvania, Caitlin’s mission as a dance educator is to bring New York to the dancers here, who don’t have the same opportunity to travel to there every day to get industry training. What keeps Caitlin inspired is always remaining a student herself, to continue to learn and grow, and be better for not only herself, but for her students as well.

Caroline started dancing at age 3 and attended the Anna Marie Dance Studio until she graduated high school. From early on, Caroline had a real passion for dance. She attended Cab Calloway School of the Arts for grades 6-12 and was a part of the competitive varsity dance team for her last three years at Cab, where she would be co-president her senior year. Through this dance team, Caroline found her passion for hip hop and commercial dance. While attending the University of Delaware for her undergraduate degree, Caroline joined the student-run dance team Delaware Dance Fever her first semester freshman year. There, she taught many open classes to all UD students, weekly hip hop classes for team members, and would go on to be vice president her junior year and president her senior year. As president, she planned the intercollegiate competition, Evolve, where schools from the East Coast would come to UD and take master classes from LA/NYC based choreographers and compete against other school dance teams. While being president, Caroline found a passion for leading dance-based organizations and teaching dance. This is Caroline’s first year teaching at Kick’s and she cannot be more excited to challenge her students and show them the fun that is her hip-hop style!

Diana started dancing at the age of 6 at Anna Marie’s Dance Studio. Diana fell in love with the art watching her big sister, Angela, dance and was inspired to follow in her footsteps. She continued to dance throughout high school at Paul Klocke’s Studio of Dance studying all styles of dance, participating in their competition group, and performing in many shows. She is trained in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, and musical theatre. Diana began teaching a variety of dance classes while she was enrolled at West Chester University where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition & Dietetics. Diana is currently a barre instructor at Barre Balanced in Glen Mills and general manager of the family business, Bates Motel Acquisitions. She has three beautiful children that make her heart full and keep her very busy when she is not working.

Ms. Emma

Emma Holt began dancing in elementary school and was a part of the KICKS Company Team for 9 years. Within this team, Emma attended numerous competitions year round, and even had the experience of dancing in the Disney parade! Throughout her competition years, she fell in love with the progress of not only improving as a dancer, but also as a team member and a person. Emma fell in love with the faculty members, and the experience of getting to express herself through dance. To continue her passion for dance, Emma joined a dance team at the University of Delaware, where she has hosted open dance classes, and has choreographed dances for the team to perform on stage. Emma knew after her memorable years within the KICKS family that she had to return and give dancers the same amazing experience she once had. This is Emma’s first year teaching at KICKS, and she can not wait to challenge her students and build special connections with the faculty and students.

Miss Kelly Eckstein

Miss Kelly Eckstein began her dance training at a small studio in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She studied with several renowned instructors and danced competitively. She attended Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio where she received a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree with a focus in Dance. Kelly has studied with the Giordano Jazz Dance Company in Chicago, under full scholarship. She has worked for Royal Caribbean Productions and was a performer on the Freedom of the Seas ship. Kelly served as the Jazz Instructor at Turning Pointe Dance Studio in Falmouth, Massachusetts. She is Acrobatic Arts certified, module one, and was the Acrobatic Instructor at Maddox Dance Studio in Warrenton, Oregon. While in Oregon, Kelly co-coached the Astoria High School dance team and took them to three state competitions. Kelly then moved to Sitka, Alaska and brought Tap to the Sitka Studio of Dance. She was a dancer for The New Archangels and performed for many cruise ship audiences. In 2021, Kelly moved to West Chester, PA. She began working behind the scenes as the office manager for Kick’s Academy of Dance, while continuing to teach and rehearse the company dancers. Kelly loves sharing her passion with dancers of all ages. When Kelly is not dancing or teaching she proudly holds the title of Mommy to three beautiful girls, Zoe, Vivian and Hazel and is a proud military wife.

Ms. Kristin (MK)

Kristin Hackney has been dancing since the age of three and has been teaching for over 20 years. While her foundation was received locally, Kristin has trained extensively in Philadelphia and New York and has had the privilege of apprenticing with Tap Team II & Co. Kristin has choreographed and taught for many studios throughout the tri-state area and has showcased her work at Walt Disney World. In addition, Kristin has choreographed for various high schools, theater groups and dance teams, and has led many competitive teams to victory. Kristin is a member of the International Tap Association and has been a longtime Board member of International Teachers of Dance, Inc. where she currently serves as President. Kristin has been sharing her talents with our KICKS students since 2012.

*Ms. K is certified in Child & Adult CPR and Emergency First Aid. She is also a certified Rhythm Works Integrated Dance instructor.

Ms. Mary

Mary Weese grew up dancing at KICKS in the pre-professional Company Program. During that time she competed and performed regionally, attended dance conventions, and gained experience in student teaching and choreography. In 2017, she graduated summa cum laude from West Chester University, earning a B.S. in Mathematics and a minor in Dance. While at WCU, Mary was heavily involved with their University Dance Company, serving as both Vice President and Secretary. Mary was also a student choreographer many times for the company and was able to showcase her choreography twice at the prestigious American College Dance Association conference. While studying dance in college, Mary won multiple scholarships including the WCU Student Research and Creative Activities Award, the Barbara J. Lappano Dance Scholarship, and the Alumni Dance Chapter Choreography Award. This is Ms. Mary’s fifth year teaching at KICKS! Her pieces that she has choreographed for the company have won numerous overall high scores and choreography awards at dance competitions. Teaching the students at KICKS is her greatest passion in life. Ms. Mary feels as though she is living her dream job teaching the next generation of dancers at her home studio!

* Ms. Mary is certified in Child & Adult CPR and Emergency First Aid. She is also a certified Rhythm Works Integrated Dance instructor.

Maryella started dancing at the age of 2 and trained at Paul Klocke Dance Studio. Her passion for dance performance led her to The Boston Conservatory, where she received her BFA in dance performance graduating Summa Cum Laude. During her Junior year, she attended the Jacob’s Pillow Musical Theater program, performing Hamilton with Andy Blankenbuehler, training with world renowned legends such as Stephen Schwartz, Peggy Hickey, and Chet Walker. After graduation, she choreographed her first musical, The Wild Party, for The Boston Conservatory musical theater graduate students. She moved to NYC and began performing professionally in touring Broadway musicals all over the country. Her favorite credits and roles include, Graziella in West Side Story (Opera North), Mamma Mia at Ogunquit Playhouse, Jeannie Muldoon in Nice Work if You Can Get it (Musical Theatre West), Music Man (Cape Playhouse), Best little Whorehouse in Texas at The Palace Theatre, Cinderella (Gateway Playhouse), and The National Tour of Elf the Musical. She has had the privilege of assisting and being dance captain for many well-known dance educators and choreographers such as Peggy Hickey, Nancy Braun, and Richard J. Hinds. Maryella believes deeply in the power of dance, community and kindness. She is passionate about helping her students develop confidence and a love for performance that has been instilled in her throughout her life.

Vivian Schreiber

Vivian Schreiber has been dancing since she was 4 years old. She specializes in Contemporary and Jazz, and is proficient in Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, and Pointe as well.

Interested in teaching at KICKS Academy?

Send a cover letter and resume to:
KD@kicksacademy.net