Miss. Maritza Barrios has recieved extensive training and built her foundation of dance under the supervision of Miss Susie for over 10 years. Her caring demeanor has allowed her students to grasp the quality dance lessons that SKDS has been known to offer. With a dance background that is comprised of ballet, lyrical, tap, jazz, contemporary, pointe and hip hop, she has performed in Walt Disney World, on Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas cruise ship, as well as the NJ Nets half time show. Maritza is a licensed ZIN Zumba Instructor and has trained for various dance programs. She is also part of our "Dance Time is Fun Time" program, visiting preschools in our area to work with children 4 and under. Teaching them to learn through dance & creative movement.
Graduated from Berkeley College for Interior Design, Maritza continues to strive for excellence on the dance floor while pursuing her career. Her love for dance shows through her commitment and dedication to all her students.
Miss Gianna has been studying dance at SKDS for 13 years. She is trained in Ballet, Tap, Lyrical, Jazz. Hip Hop, Contemporary, Musical Theater and Acro. While currently a member of the studios competition company she was back to back solo title winner at DECA Dance Competition and That's Entertainment where she won scholarships, top overall high scores and filmed at DECA’s FACES of DECA event. Over the years Gianna performed at RP’s Winter market, holiday showcases, Jamez Eli Fashion Show, several feasts, Hershey Park and Walt Disney World's Magic Music Days.
Gianna continues to further her dance education at her high school, The Academy for Performing Arts where she studies Modern under Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company, Bollywood, African dance, Jazz under Shelia Barker from Broadway Dance Center , Ballet under Paul McCrae director of NJ School of Ballet.
Gianna enjoys working with children of all ages and passing on her love of dance to them.
Ms. Bo began their dance journey at SKDS when the studio first opened in 1998, training in ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical before developing a passion for hip hop. They have received Susie Karlik’s Dance Sensation Dance of the Year award, as well as titles for solo hip hop dances along with top overall high scores for group performances at many national competitions. Over the years, Ms. Bo has danced and competed with teams including Project D and Wannabes, competing on both the East and West Coasts. They continue to train and take classes, always looking for new ways to grow as both a dancer and instructor. As a teacher, Ms. Bo strives to create a fun and encouraging environment where dancers can build confidence, strengthen their musicality and groove, and develop their own individual style.
Hip-Hop Instructor
Bo Bautista
Our Dance Instructors
Miss. Ariana is an instructor and receptionist at Susie Karlik's Dance Sensation, where she has been dancing since she was young. Growing up at SKDS, she trained in ballet, jazz, tap, and lyrical, and the studio quickly became her second home. The dedication and encouragement of her teachers inspired her love of dance and helped shape the educator she is today. Miss. Ariana is passionate about creating a fun, welcoming classroom where every dancer feels supported, challenged, and confident in their abilities. She hopes to inspire her students to find the same joy, confidence, and sense of family that SKDS has given her throughout the years.
Dance Instructor
Receptionist
Ariana Dias
Sam Behrens
Master Class Teacher /
Choreographer
Originally from New Jersey, Sam Behrens is a graduate from Marymount Manhattan College in NYC, where she received her BFA in dance with a dual concentration in Jazz and Choreography. She was the recipient of Marymount’s Gold Key in Jazz, for the highest achievement in her concentration. Sam is signed as a performer with Resolute Artists Agency in NYC. Some professional dance credits include the Capezio ACE Awards, Bridesmaids: A Dance Narrative at Symphony Space in NYC, and the HBO series, Love Life. Sam is also member of the NYC based commercial dance company, TreadFAST. She has appeared as a featured dancer in several commercial campaigns. Sam has worked on several independent films in NYC as a choreographer and associate director, as well as presented choreography at several venues in NYC, including the Steps on Broadway Choreography Lab.
Sam is also passionate dance educator and a part of the adjunct dance faculty at Kean University. She can also be found judging for multiple dance competitions, teaching for conventions, as well as working with studios and setting choreography around the country.
Bio Coming Soon
Dance Instructor
Isabel Goode
Bio Coming Soon
Dance Instructor
Tara McKinnon
Natalia Panciello
Dance Instructor
Miss. Natalia has been a part of the SKDS family for over 15 years. Along with her extensive training in ballet, lyrical, tap and jazz she attended the Academy of Performing Arts as a dance major. She furthered her knowledge of dance at APA studying modern, contemporary, improvisation, aerial arts, as well as anatomy, dancer health, and dance history. Over the years Natalia preformed at local feasts, Hershey Park, APA Main Stage and Art of Creation, Union County Teen Arts Festival, and No Place for Hate Organization at NYU's Skirball Center.
Miss. Natalia is currently attending Seton Hall and in majoring in elementary education and speech pathology. She hopes to inspire her dancers to have a true passion for dance and always takes every dancer into account while keeping her classroom a safe space for all ages.
Tara is currently a professional working dancer and choreographer in the Tristate area. She is trained in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, and HipHop/Foundation styles. Tara has danced with Jennifer Lopez for her VMA Vanguard Performance at Radio City, and her Live Concert on The Today Show. As well as with BTS on their “Love Yourself” tour stop in NYC, and a dancer in the film “In The Heights.” Most recently she has performed with Julianne Hough during her performance on NBC’s 2020 New Years Eve special and with BTS at the United Nations General Assembly.
Tara performed at venues such as NY/LA Carnival, Sybarite, World of Dance, ACE Awards and more. She also has been recognized and won awards for her own choreography at numerous competitions and got selected to showcase her work at the 2019 Young Choreographers Festival in New York. Currently on tour teaching with Artistic Dance Exchange and signed with Clear Talent Group NY.
Master Class Teacher /
Choreographer
Tara Vecchio
Tara Vecchio
Assistants & Substitutes
Miss
Julia
Miss
Mayaliz
Miss
MaKayla
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Miss
Adrianna
Miss
Emma
Miss
Ella
Miss
Emilia
Miss
Alex
Dance Instructor
Gianna Baiamonte
