Faculty

Ms. Russo is a choreographer and dance educator certified in K-12 education in both New York and New Jersey. Emma is an alumnus of UCHS and its dance program graduating in 2011.  During her time at UCHS as a student, she was a part of the original UCHS Dance Company in 2009 and danced for the Drillettes Dance Team. She also choreographed and asst. choreographed the following musicals here at the high school: Smoke Joe's Cafe, The Wiz, and Pippin.

She is a graduate of Brown University, where she earned her BA in Performance Studies, and New York University, where she received her MA in Dance Education. She currently teaches and choreographs for dance programs, universities, intensives, studios, and showcases across the tri-state area. She also is a member of AND Formation a professional bachata dance company under the direction of Desiree Godsell of Alex & Desiree Worldwide.

As an artist, she has created a large body of work. Her work as a choreographer has been showcased at various venues like Ailey Citigroup Theatre, Queens Theatre in the Park, Gibney Dance, Baruch Performing Arts Center, Symphony Space, Triskelion Arts, Salvatore Capezio Theater at Peridance, Thespis Theater Festival, and Highline Ballroom.

Ms. Rivas is a dance artist and educator born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She has her MA in K-12 Dance Education at the Graduate School of Education, Rutgers University. In May 2021, Ms. Rivas graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance from Rutgers’ Mason Gross School of the Arts, where she was a recipient of the Victoria J. Mastrobuono Memorial Scholarship. Ms. Rivas completed her full-time students teaching at  Middlesex County Vocational and Technical School under the mentorship of Cleo Mack. She also teaches at Washington Rock Dance in Warren, NJ, working with a variety of ages and dance styles.

Throughout her time at Rutgers’ Mason Gross School of the Arts, Cassidy worked and collaborated with various artists including Earl Mosley, Rennie Harris, Stefanie Batten Bland, BennyRoyce Royon, Kim Elliott, Shannon Gillen, Alexandra Beller, Christal Brown, and Shay Bland. In 2021, Ms. Rivas was selected to represent the Dance Department at the Mason Gross Martin Luther King Jr Celebration. In addition, Ms. Rivas Senior Solo, Saturation, was chosen to represent Mason Gross at the American College Dance Association National Dance Film Presentation. During her studies at Mason Gross, Ms. Rivas interned at Ballet Hispanico. In addition to training with Rennie Harris’ Illadelph and at the Earl Mosley Institutes of the Arts (EMIA). 

Mrs. Pennello began her training at age two, at local dance studios in NY and NJ. Mrs. Pennello went onto perform in regional and national competitions throughout the tri-state area, as well as performing in the half time shows of the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida and Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. She has also done print work for various costume catalogs. Mrs. Pennello received a B.F.A. in Dance from Montclair State University and her M.A. degree in Dance Education from New York University. She has performed with various professional dance companies, such as NYC Hip Hop Company From the Ground Up, and is a founding company member of moe-tion dance theater, established in 2007, and continues to perform professionally in NYC and NJ.  Mrs. Pennello spent a summer studying, creating, and performing in Montescuidao and Castiglioncello, Italy. She was a guest choreographer and has also taught as an Adjunct for a number of years at Middlesex County College. She has performed lecture demonstrations for Rutgers University: Mason Gross School of the Arts. 

Mrs. Pennello was the Head Dance Instructor at Mercer County Performing Arts High School from 2006-2009, and pioneered the dance program at Union City High School in 2009. Mrs. Pennello was the Co-Director with her colleague and long-time friend Mrs. Amanda Papa, of their dance company, Solo Danza from 2013-2018.  While at Union City High School, Mrs. Pennello pioneered and developed the dance program. She established the UCHS Dance Company in 2009, coached for the Drillettes Dance Team, and choreographed the following musicals here at the high school: The Wiz, Pippin, West Side Story, Urinetown, In the Heights, and Xanadu. Mrs. Pennello is now the District Performing Arts Supervisor for Union City Board of Education.

Mrs. Pennello founded the New Jersey High School Dance Fest in the spring of 2013, and runs this annual festival every year at Union City High School. With the help of many important Dance Professionals, including fellow colleague Erin Pride, it was made possible and has continued annually ever since. For her efforts, Mrs. Pennello was presented with the very first "Jete Award" by members of Dance New Jersey in June of 2013 for 'Taking a Leap of Faith' and creating this festival for New Jersey's High School dance students. The festival was also featured in and included a presentation by ArtsEdNow, as well as in a webinar with The NJ School Board Association in 2021. Mrs. Pennello is a member of Dance NJ and NDEO, is an active advocate for Dance Education, and truly believes in having Dance for Every Child as a crucial component to NJ's education system.