Teri Velardi is certified to teach Classical Ballet (Cecchetti method) and Tap through Dance Masters of America, Dance Educators of America and Associated Dance Teachers of New Jersey. She has been teaching in the performing arts field since 1972. Teri has an extensive training background. She studied at Perry and Keller School of Dance, East Orange, NJ under Mary Ann Perry and Gail Keller where she trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Precision Dance, Acrobatics, Hawaiian and Tahitian. She also studied at the New Jersey School of Ballet under Carolyn Clark with Edward Villella. She also studied under Charles Kelley and Phil Black while attending classes at the Broadway Dance Center in NYC. Teri also studied with Luigi at the Luigi Dance Center, NYC and at the Raul Gilabert Dance Center, NYC.

Before opening her own schools, Teri was on faculty at Mary Ann Perry School of Dance, East Hanover, NJ where she taught Tap, Acrobatics, and Middle Eastern Dance, and Woodbridge School for Performing Arts, Woodbridge, NJ teaching Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hawaiian and Tahitian. She was also the director/teacher at the DeBellis Music Center, Newark, NJ. In addition, Teri held position as a ballet teacher at the Donna Frech School of Dance in Norwich, NY and taught all dance genres of dance at the LA Dance Academy in Edmeston, NY.

Teri owned 2 dance schools, T & C Dance Company North, which was located in Bloomfield, NJ and T & C Dance Company South in Bayville, NJ. Teri was a member of the New Jersey Dance Theatre Guild where she held the position of Tap Syllabus Director. She created a graded tap syllabus and choreographed routines for beginner through advanced tap training which was used by Guild members. As a member of the New Jersey Dance Theatre Ballet Company, she was a Nutcracker Rehearsal Teacher for first act and second act Russian and Waltz of the Flowers. In addition, Teri has been involved in many dance ministries where she taught and performed Ballet, Israeli Folk Dance, Mime, Sign Language to Music, and choreographed for holidays and special events.

Micaelina Velardi has been dancing since she was three years old and began teaching at the age of seventeen. She recently graduated with a B.S. Degree in Theatre and a minor in Dance. During her time in college, she was a Teacher’s Assistant for upper level Modern Dance classes and was a substitute teacher for the Ballet professor and Dance Survey of America professor.

She has been both performer and theatrical; technician in theatre for the educational, community and professional worlds, including positions as actor, designer, stage manager, director, electrician, and worked as a lighting programmer for the West Fulton Puppet Festival.

Jennifer has been dancing since age 5. She has studied various styles of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, pointe and hip hop. In her high school years, she was involved in musicals, cheerleading and with Orpheus Theater in Oneonta.

Jennifer began teaching in 2010. She began teaching for Otsego School of Dance and Performing Arts at it’s inception in 2015. In 2017, Jennifer took time off from teaching to begin her family, but continued her dance training with Teri Velardi. Jennifer was also available to help as a substitute teacher when needed.

Craig Velardi has been involved in the performing arts field since 1977 with the opening of T & C Dance Company North, which was located in Bloomfield, NJ. During the next 16 years and the opening of T & C Dance Company South, Craig functioned as School Administrator, assistant acrobatic teacher, and also taught Tai Chi Chuan at the schools. With the preparation of yearly productions, he worked as Technical Director where he designed and constructed professional scenery and as Stage Manager during the productions.

Craig was a member of the New Jersey Dance Theatre Guild and served as a Board Member, as well as a judge, along with NYC teachers, at Guild competitions. Craig helped design and create scenery for the New Jersey Dance Theatre Ballet Company's yearly production of the Nutcracker. Craig was also a member of the Associated Dance Teachers of New Jersey and served there too, as a Board Member.

At Otsego School of Dance and Performing Arts, Craig serves as School Administrator. He is also part of the staff as an on call Holistic Health Counselor for students who are looking for a more healthier lifestyle. Craig holds a Doctorate in Naturopathy and is a Certified Herbalist.

Craig has also authored his first book called “Dietary and Lifestyle Choices and their Effects on the Body”, which can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, as well as other online sites. Excerpts and more information on his book can be viewed at CraigVelardi.com.