Staff

Rita Ogden

Owner, Director & Instructor (Ballet, Jazz, Acrobatics, Creative & Combo Classes)

has been involved in many genres of performing arts including dance, theatre, print, TV, and film. She has studied ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, gymnastics, clogging, square dancing, lyrical, liturgical, theatre dance, hip-hop, Celtic, ballroom and Latin jazz. She received her dance instruction certification in ballet, jazz, tap and acrobatics from Dance Masters of America and sits on the board of directors for chapter #25. She is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild, and most recently has appeared in such movies as Shooters, Rocky Balboa, Lady in the Park, My Sassy Girl and Invincible. She graduated from Drexel University with a BS in Design & Merchandising, with a concentration in small business and show production. Rita’s choreography has appeared in a Glaxco SmithKline commercial and on the Tomorrowland stage in Walt Disney World. Rita enjoys how eager her students are to learn and execute new skills and their determination to give it their all.

Angela Ball

(Tap & Combo Classes) has studied various forms of dance including jazz, ballet, modern, lyrical, Celtic and hip-hop, with her first love being tap. She has studied with such choreographers as Judy Bassing, Gil Stroming, Colin Dunne of Riverdance, and Tap Great Brenda Buffalino. Her choreography ha been seen in several competitions and has appeared in the Disney Magic Music Days program in Orlando , Florida , in 1997 and 2004. She is a member of Dance Masters of America through DMA’s Teacher Certification Program. She made her NY debut in Gil Stroming’s production of Break the Floor . She has plans to continue her study of Latin and Ballroom dancing this summer. Angela is thrilled to have the opportunity to pass on her experience and love of dance to her

Jamie Lee Dain

(Acrobatics, Jazz, Lyrical, Jazz tech) is currently on faculty at the McHenry Dance Centre in Havertown, PA and at Ovations Dance Studio in Oaklyn, NJ and has been a guest teacher at several conventions and universities throughout PA, DE, MD, NJ and NY. Jamie is a long standing member of both Dance Masters of America and International Teachers of Dance, Inc. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Chapter #25 Pennsylvania Association of Dance Teachers as President and as Chairperson of their Annual Performing Arts Competition which raises money to further the dance education of both students and teachers. Jamie is a Nationally Certified Examiner for DMA and has happily served on the National Board of Directors as PADT’s DelagateJamie is a graduate of St. Joseph’s University with a Masters degree in Education as a Learning Specialist and is certified by test to teach all phases of dance. Her dance and teaching experience span a wide spectrum, including: ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical and acrobatics. She has choreographed many award winning pieces for several national championship studio and college dance teams and has earned numerous awards for outstanding choreography. Several of her students have gone to study dance in college, work for recording labels, have been spotted on VH1, the “Ellen” show and gone on to tour with world renowned pop stars. However, she is most proud of the three little dancers she has at home…her daughters Isabella, Thalia & Sabrina

Stephanie Bennett

(Hip-Hop) “Street dancer/hip-hopper”, whatever you want to call it – that is her. She is familiar with various styles of dance, but this particular one took hold of her soul when she was young and has never left her. She teaches the original positive aspects of hip-hop dance culture. From old school to new schools styles, she instills rhythm, confidence and individual flavor in her students. She has studied with Rennie Harris (Pure Movement), Rhapsody James, Dave Scott (You Got Served), and Sammy Reyes (Koresh) to name a few. She appeared on several televised dance shows and picked up many shows supporting established artists, such as Destiny’s Child, Sir Mix a Lot, and 2 Live Crew, to name a few. She is a member of ITDI-International Teachers of Dance, the Camden Children’s Music Project, where she volunteers dance instruction during gym at local schools in need, and a Garden State Dance Festival participant. Her choreography has appeared on NBA/MTV “Stay in Schools Jam”, radio station Q102's annual concerts, and in many competitions. Stephanie is passionate about teaching, true to her craft, and appreciative to all her students for their interest and effort.

Rickey Evans

(Hip Hop)

Ricky “Glytch” Evans is a street dancer from Pennsauken, NJ. He has been dancing for over 10 years, but continues to be a student of his style, always looking for more historical knowledge as well as keeping up to date with the latest Hip Hop trends. His professional career started in 2005 with Face Da Phlave Entertainment, a dance crew that bridged the gap between Philly and Jersey dancers with the purpose of educating the community about the origins of Hip Hop dance. The crew also preached using dance (and the other arts as well) as an alternative to drugs, bullying, and violence. His first few years at Face Da Phlave was spent solely on training in the styles of Hip Hop, and at the same time he was studying for his B.A. in Economics at Seton Hall University. Once he graduated, the wheels on his dance career would start turning and take him places. He began teaching at various colleges and dance studios, and he would make his way into fitness centers with a Hip Hop aerobics class called Groovics. Glytch’s dance would also go around the world. In the past few years, he has traveled to Paris to represent the U.S. in an international dance battle called Juste Debout, and from there he would start giving workshops in Colombia, South America. Other notable accomplishments were ventures with his crew, The Hood Lockers. They were featured on So You Think You Can Dance, the NYC couture fashion show; and most recently, an off-Broadway production written by Dr. Rennie Harris entitled “LUV American Style.”

Micah Geyer

(Tap and Modern)

Raised in North Carolina, Micah started dancing at a young age with Nina’s School of Dance in Durham. He later joined the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble under the direction of Gene Medler. Throughout his career, he has had the privilege to perform at the Kennedy Center and the Joyce Theater for Tap City, as well as tour throughout Europe and South America. He later received his BFA in Dance Performance and Psychology from East Carolina University. Micah is currently in his fifth season with Koresh Dance Company.

Carol Howley

(Yogaloties)

Is is a certified ACE personal trainer. She has been working in the fitness industry for over ten years, specializing in weight training, yoga, pilates, core strength and cardio fitness. Carole’s many fitness certifications include YogaFit, AAAI Level 3 Pilates, yoga and group fitness, and Madd Dog spinning. Carole danced as a young girl and now takes pleasure in watching her daughters, Olivia and Laura, dance. Carole graduated from the University of Delaware . Carole teaches Pilates for Dancers here at Ovations. Pilates is a form of exercise that focuses on core strength, flexibility and breathing.

Lauren Kinker

(Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Technique, Acrobatics)

recently relocated to Philadelphia from Cincinnati, Ohio for work. Lauren is employed as a full-time Pharmaceutical Healthcare Representative for Pfizer Inc. and recently graduated with her Masters in Business Administration from Xavier University. She graduated from Slippery Rock University in 2004 with a BS in Exercise Science and with a BA in Dance. Lauren is an active Member of Dance Masters of America and Dance Educators of America and is AFAA certified. Lauren was a finalist for the Cincinnati Overtures Awards. Lauren has danced at Paramount Kings Island, Cincinnati Children’s Theater, the Cincinnati Ballet and most recently with the Demetrius Klein Dance Company. She has choreographed many high school musicals, full-length productions for Cincinnati Musical Theater and Beechmont Players, and college dance team routines. She teaches dance and choreographs solos and group numbers for regional and national competitions. In her free time, Lauren is a volunteer with the Big Brothers, Big Sisters organization and has recently completed her fifth marathon and will be running her 6th in October 2015.

Melanie Ledoux

(Acro, Jazz, Lyrical & Hip Hop)

Melanie started dancing at the age of 3, and has studied many different forms of dance at Ovations Dance Studio. She was a part of Ovations Dance Ensemble and was a student teacher/assistant under the supervision of Miss Rita Ogden for many years. Melanie graduated from Collingswood High School in 2011 and since then has been attending Camden County College, while continuing her dance career. Melanie attended the Student Honors Intensive Program at the University of Buffalo and is currently a member of Dance Masters of America. Some of Melanie’s greatest accomplishments include modeling for A Wish Come True Dance Costume Company, and Capezio Dance Makers Inc. as well as being a proud member of the 2012 Philadelphia Soul Dance Team, of the Arena Football League.

Irina Louzganova

(Ballet)

Irina graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow in 1987. She danced as a soloist and principal for the Russian State Ballet for six years, performing with that company in Russia, Europe, and the United States. In 1992, Irina moved to the United States and settled in Southern New Jersey. She has been teaching here ever since, bringing her love and knowledge of classical ballet to hundreds of students in the area.

Brianna Luciano

(Hip Hop)

was born and raised in Camden NJ. At a young age of seven years old Brianna had a strong passion for dance. She was caught dancing anywhere that had music playing as well as mocking other artists on television. After a while her parents but her into a Hip Hop class at the Atrium Dance Studio, and that’s where it all started. She immediately got asked to join the dance company Face Da Phlave after back to back training with each of the members. Brianna got into a car accident the following year and had to take a year off to recover. During that time off her parents trained her mentally to keep her away from depression as the doctors were preparing her physically. When Brianna returned to dance she knew this was for her. Brianna broadened her dance genres at that time and dabbled in ballet and jazz to learn the more “technical side” of dance. She was even a member of the Ovations Dance Ensemble for a year. Being in the Ovations Ensemble and Face Da Phlave Company for five years, gave Brianna a great foundation that she still goes back to till this day. Growing in the industry, the company then expands and Brianna follows, becoming a member of In Da Clutch company crew by the age of thirteen and is still currently involved in IDC as a leader, choreographer, and performer. At the age of seventeen Brianna was signed to Bloc NYC agency. Brianna has done many things besides dance including sports and received two scholarships for college for soccer and cheerleading. She also earned her Cosmetology license while still in high school. Brianna has also been an office administration for a few years and is highly respected in the Board Of Education office. Brianna may be involved in many things, but nothing fills her heart more than dance and dance history and getting to share that with her students.

Andrea Mychaels

(Jazz & Modern)

Based in the Philadelphia Area, Andrea has been immersed in the theatre and live production business as an educator, freelance choreographer, vocalist and dancer for more than 20 years. She recently earned her Ed.M. in Dance Education at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ and attended The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey where she earned a B.A. in Dance, where she is an adjunct Professor in the Stockton Dance Department, teaching Jazz (Broadway and Street Style), Tap, Modern and Ballet. Her repertoire includes jazz, funk, hip-hop, ballet, contemporary, modern, tap, theatrical movement and Las Vegas-style Review. Andrea has performed as both a dancer and a vocalist throughout the country, including Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Philadelphia, New York and Branson, MO. She has worked with Shawn T. (Hip-Hop Abs), International Award winning Neo-Burlesque Troop “The Peek-A-Boo Revue” (as seen on America’s Got Talent, season 5), New Jersey Nets Dance Team, Kathy Sledge, Taylor Dayne, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes and The Trammps, and was the Choreographer for the Philadelphia Soul (AFL) Dance Team for the 2011 season. She has choreographed several musicals at various East Coast Regional Theaters, which won her two “Outstanding Choreography” awards. After being picked as a finalist in the 2012 Jazz Dance World Congress International Choreography Competition, she started her own dance company in October of 2012, AMDP (Andrea Mychaels Dance Project).

Kennith A. Thomas

(Hip Hop)

was born on April 15, 1984 in Newark, NJ. Kennith moved to Willingboro, New Jersey at the age of 6 where he was raised. Kennith first started dancing in the sixth grade perfroming Billy Jean in the sixth grade play. From there he would pick up the new hip-hop styles of dance. In late 2003, Kennith linked up with Brice Johnson to form the company Faceless Entertainment. Kennith and Brice linked up with other members Joshua Polk and Derek Gains to complete the group. Together they made it their business to learn and understand the history of Hip-hop dance. With the help of Mrs. Carol Davis and Tamiko French, they had a better understanding on how to move their body’s to the music and not so much on being worried about moves. In January of 2005, Kennith linked up with Partner Marcus Tucker of Illadelph Phlave. Together the two would put their companies together to form one group you as today the illest hip-hop and funk group on the east coast Face Da Phlave Entertainment.