teacher bios
JAVIER MARTINEZ
OWNER, SALSA AND BACHATA
HOPE LANE
STEP TEAM, MUSICAL THEATER
Javier Martinez, the owner of LGDA, was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where he was exposed to salsa and other Latin rhythms at an early age. Javier always enjoyed music and dancing, but it was in 1999, when he moved to New Jersey from Puerto Rico that he got heavily involved in dancing salsa. He has a unique combination of the Puerto Rican flavor and the technique from New York. Javier believes that for anyone to become an expert at something, you have to be a beginner at some point. Therefore, he focuses on the fundamental concepts of the dance to allow students to build a strong foundation and be able to execute more complicated moves applying those same concepts.
Hope Lane is the Musical Theater teacher, LGDA's Step Team Coach and the 'Heels & Hips' instructor. Hope is an Aspiring Actress with a B.A in Musical Theater Performance, which she obtained from NJCU in 2015. Hope has always had a love and true passion for the stage ever since she was four years old and has been singing since she was 2. Her uncle, Nathan Lane, has been her inspiration all her life and she strives to follow his unforgettable legacy. She has been in a large number of recitals, showcases, and musicals throughout her life; in school and out. Some of her favorite credits include Smokey Joes Café (Ensemble), Into the Woods, (The Witch), and The Wiz (Dorothy). During her high school career, Hope has also had the honor to perform in Carnegie Hall alongside national choirs. Hope is also a songwriter and is a part of a local recording label, where she writes and records her own R&B music. Hope also offers Vocal/Acting Training privately. She is looking forward to doing GREAT things at Latin Groove Dance Academy and anticipates the many successful years to come!
DANIELLE JACKMAN
ADULT TAP I & II, LYRICAL JAZZ, LYRICAL KIDS, COMBO, JAZZ/TAP
Danielle Jackman is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, where she attended Dekalb School of the Arts. She graduated from Columbia College Chicago, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Musical Theatre with a minor in Dance. She was a teacher’s assistant for multiple dance classes at Columbia, and found such joy in helping students grow. Her favorite dance styles are tap, ballet, jazz, and musical theatre.
Danielle is also a member of Actor’s Equity Association, and has performed professionally in musicals such as: SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (Drury Lane Theatre - Oakbrook), SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (Marriott Theatre - Lincolnshire), HAIRSPRAY (Paramount Theatre - Aurora), RENT (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre), and many more.
JULIE CAMACHO
BALLET TECHNIQUE, BALLET I, ADULT BALLET
Julie Camacho started dancing at the age of 3 under the instruction of Miss Evelyn Brown. Teachers picked up on her talent early, and she began assisting dance classes at age 10. The following year, she began studying at The Staten Island Ballet Company, which lead to her apprenticeship, and many professional performances during her 8 years with the Company. While attending college, Julie developed an interest in Human Development throughout the lifespan. Her studies included both the psychological and physical development. She became a Child Developmental Specialist with a focus in Early Childhood Development. This diverse background allows her to create a unique learning experience for her students.
Jonathan 'Shwing' Peña
HIP HOP GROOVES & CHOREO
Jonathan Manuel Peña, who is popularly known as "Shwing" , is a young dancer who started his performance career in the rough and competitive yards of Greek life. He has won numerous step and stroll competitions and later on continued his passion for performing arts by pursuing dance. He started dancing this year and has already toured with renowned choreographer J Romeo 2 times in both Miami and the Tri-state area. He is also a brand ambassador/Athlete for New York based Urban Dance League. He also has performed for Telemundo and has been featured in several music videos. Shwing has performed for numerous events and is ready to give back to the community of NJ as a young choreographer. Shwing is the 'Hip Hop Grooves & Choreo' Dance Instructor at LGDA.
Credits:
El Duo Perfecto, Opened up for Nicky Jam, Luis Vargas, Urban Dance League and more.