Kim began her dance career at an early age. After training with Michael Lanning, she was picked up by a talent agency and began performing professionally at age 14. She continued performing and began a career in dancing, acting, & modeling in New York City and Philadelphia. Her credits include TV commercials, day-time television, theater, runway, and print work. Kim continued her dance training at the Jazz Dance Center and the Susan Hess Modern Dance Center both in Philadelphia. She was then accepted into the dance program at Rowan University and continued her training under Melanie Stewart, Alexi Yudenich, Victor Moreno, Shaun Doyle, & Barbara Sandonato. During this time, Kim was a member of the Ballet South Dance Company and the Contemporary Modern Dance Company. Her choreography for "Par Vi Sinatfa" was recognized by the University and was presented at the 1993 Center for Performing arts graduation ceremony. She had received numerous awards including the prestigious Bryna Goldhalf Dance Medallion Award. Kim graduated with top honors earning a Bachelors Degree in the Arts. Kim then went on working as Managing Director with Melanie Stewart Dance, Philadelphia, where she was responsible for the successful execution of their first European tour to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Scotland and the Philadelphia Artist-in-Education program. She also performed in the company's popular piece "Beauty & the Beast", as seen on PBS-TV. Kim's other performance credits include Stephan Koplowitz, NYC, Wendy Perron, NYC, Independent Choreographers Exchange, PA, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, PA, Next Step Dance Company, NJ and has worked with Tap Team Two & Company, PA. Kim is the founder & Artistic Director of KAOS Dance Company which premiered in 2010 at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival with sold out performances & continues to be presented at the ETC Performance Series, PA, InHale Performance Series, PA, Alvin Ailey Theater, NYC, NJ Dance Festival, Rosemont College DFL Performance, PA, Show Up & Dance NJ, to mention a few. She has worked with Melanie Stewart in conjunction with Rowan University’s Dance/Theater Program, Phyllis Papa and the Atlantic City Ballet, as well as with Ann Trenka and Cooper River Ballet. Presently, Ms Sparks is an adjunct professor at Eastern University and was a presenting master teacher at ACDFA (American College Dance Festival) at West Chester University. She is the director & owner of Today's Dance Center, Medford, NJ and a member of the Advisory Board for Broadway Artist Connection, NYC, Costume Gallery, NJ & for the Academy of Performing Arts in Burlington County. Her other teaching credits include master classes and workshops for BCIT (Burlington County Institute of Technology, Medford Campus), Eastern University Dance Department, International Teachers of Dance, Glassboro State College/Rowan University, La Salle University, Atlantic City Dance Project, and many local schools, theaters, and dance studios in the Tri-State area. Kim is a member of the Sigma Rho Delta, Fine & Performing Arts Society, National Dance Educators Organization (NDEO), Dance NJ, Dance USA, NYC Dance, and the Philadelphia Dance. Kim is a distinguished member of the Cambridge Who's Who among Executive professionals and is a charter member of I.D.E.A (International Dance Educators Associaition). She also judges talent competitions nationally and internationally and has a Master's Degree from Temple University.
Devon began dancing at a young age at TDC. She went on to train in all genres of dance acquiring herself a spot on the TDC Company & Sr Company. During that time she received numerous awards for her performances and competitions and studied with many of the finest teachers in the country. She then went on to become a student teacher and a junior teacher at TDC. After graduating from Shawnee High School, where she was a member & the captain on the SHS dance team, she went on to Penn State University. There she was a dance team member and the chair person go the famous THON event held annually at PSU. Presently, Ms Devon is living in Philadelphia and working in corporate America. She is super excited to get back in the classroom at TDC ad share her love of dance with our TDC students. We welcome Miss Devon to the TDC Teaching Staff!
Ariana began her dance career at Mulford Dance Studio in South Jersey at age two. She has danced for Intrinsic Dance Company and has trained with many dance conventions such as The Pulse, NYCDA, Tremaine, Monsters of Hip-Hop, and Jump. Her performance experience includes numerous years in the competition world, the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, 76ers games, Carnival Cruise Lines, and Walt Disney World. She continues to train in New York City at Broadway Dance Center and Koresh in Philadelphia. Ariana plans to continue to teach her love of dance for many years to come and is excited to be part of the Today’s Dance Center Team!
Amy Megules began dancing in her hometown of Vineland, NJ, with the Vineland Regional Dance Company. She went on to receive her BFA in dance from State University of New York at Purchase, where she received the Bert Terborgh Dance Award. She apprenticed with the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, and then danced with American Repertory Ballet. She has taught on the faculties of Princeton Ballet School, Todays Dance Center, the National Dance Institute of Trenton, and Mercer County Community College. While living in Cincinnati, Ms. Megules taught and choreographed for the Otto M. Budig Academy of Cincinnati Ballet, the College Conservatory of Music Preparatory Division of the University of Cincinnati, and was the ballet instructor for the elite and accelerated gymnasts at the Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy. Presently, she is on faculty with Today's Dance Center and Princeton Ballet.
As a resident of South Jersey, Ayla L. (Kaminski) Price began her training at Today's Dance Center in Medford where she focused her technique in ballet. Graduating in 2006 from The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey with a BA in Psychology and a BA in Criminal Justice, Ayla kept dance in her life by helping out at TDC and taking classes through out college and in Philadelphia & NYC. Though she was able to expose herself to a variety of disciplines while studying at out-of-state summer dance programs when she was younger, Ayla had found a new found love for movement through Modern dance. Presently, She is a core member of KAOS Dance Company and acts as the rehearsal assistant to Director, Kim Sparks
Lauren Frazier- Gebhart began her dance training as a small child and later trained at The Southern New Jersey Academy of the Performing Arts at GCIT under the tutelage of David Kloss, Althea Leslie and Dale Schmid. She graduated from Goucher College with degrees in Dance and Political Science. During her time at Goucher, she had the opportunity to study with many guest artists including Adrianne Clancy, Christopher Fleming, Amy Marshall, and Kevin Lega Jeff. Ms Lauren has also trained in Rio de Janiero, Brazil at The Federal University, Deborah Cocker Modern Dance Company, Studio de Angel Vaianna and the Manguiera Samba School. She also studied English Folk Dance at The Cecil Sharp House in London, England.
Lisa Burdette started dancing at the age young of four years old. Through her years of dance she has studied ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and modern. At the age of thirteen, Lisa earned a scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet in New York City. After studying for a period of time at Joffrey Ballet, Lisa then moved on to the Rock School of Philadelphia for Dance Education. After graduating from high school, Lisa began her professional career. Beginning in the summer 2000 Lisa performed in the Basin Street Follies in the Showboat Casino Hotel, Atlantic City. In that same year she began working for Legends in Concert at the Claridge Casino Hotel. Lisa continued to perform in Legends in Concert for the next four years. In June 2004 and 2006 Lisa was invited to perform for Donald Trump’s birthday party. From then on she had been asked to perform in numerous shows, from New Year’s Eve celebrations to special event dance performances. While Lisa was engaged in her professional dance career she also attended college where she earned her associates degree in early childhood development. She has taught dance education to students of all ages in studios from Bristol Township, Pennsylvania to Hammonton, New Jersey. Lisa became part of the Today’s Dance Center family in January 2011, where she is now teaching ballet, tap, jazz, modern and hip hop & is an active choreographer for the TDC Company, Ensemble, & Hip-Hop Crew.
Morgan began dancing at the age of three years old at Today’s Dance Center, where she was trained in ballet, tap, jazz, and modern. Morgan then studied ballet and pointe at South Jersey Ballet, where she performed in Nutcracker and Swan Lake. In 2011, Morgan returned to Today’s Dance Center to continue her dance career and joined the company. She has since been a part of the Today’s Dance Center family! Morgan attended and recently graduated from Montclair State University with a Bachelor of the Arts in Family and Child Studies with a concentration in School Settings, Preschool through Third grade. Throughout her college years, Morgan wanted to continue her love of dance so she took ballet and modern classes and received a minor in Dance, as well as, a minor in Psychology.Morgan began dancing at the age of three years old at Today’s Dance Center, where she was trained in ballet, tap, jazz, and modern. Morgan then studied ballet and pointe at South Jersey Ballet, where she performed in Nutcracker and Swan Lake. In 2011, Morgan returned to Today’s Dance Center to continue her dance career and joined the company. She has since been a part of the Today’s Dance Center family! Morgan attended and recently graduated from Montclair State University with a Bachelor of the Arts in Family and Child Studies with a concentration in School Settings, Preschool through Third grade. Throughout her college years, Morgan wanted to continue her love of dance so she took ballet and modern classes and received a minor in Dance, as well as, a minor in Psychology.
TDC welcomes Michelle, a graduate of Rowan University's Dance & Theater Department. She was the first class to graduate with a Dance Major where she was an active member of CODA dance company and the theater departments annual productions. She has a minor in writing and is originally from North Jersey. Michelle continues to be active in the performance field dancing for local companies on an annual basis. She started with TDC as an office administrator and has moved into a teaching and choreographic role with our recreational and performance group students. We are so happy to have her as part of the TDC family.
