Faculty

Meet Our Amazing Staff

Tim Chester (Artistic Director/Owner)

Tim took his first dance class at the age of 12. He attended college at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater Arts.   At Stockton, Tim worked on over thirty productions in all capacities, including actor, dancer, director, designer, choreographer, and producer. While in college, Tim danced with the Philadelphia based jazz company Monarch. He also trained and apprenticed with the Atlantic Contemporary Ballet Theatre, where he danced many professional parts in such ballets as, Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker, Carnival of the Animals, Vision’s, and Etudes.

Upon graduation at Stockton, Tim was hired as a production cast dancer for Celebrity Cruises aboard the ship Horizon. After sailing on the Horizon, he went on to sail on the Celebrity Millennium, Infinity, and two contracts aboard the Constellation. With Celebrity, Tim performed all over the world, including Russia, Scandinavia, Argentina, Spain, Alaska, and Brazil. While sailing, Tim became the choreographer and dance captain for singer/musician Perry Grant and his one-man show.

Between performing on the seas, Tim came back to the states, and joined the Atlantic City Ballet as a company member. With ACB, Tim performed in several ballets including new works, originating the roles of Demetrius in Midsummer’s Night Dream and Van Helsing in Dracula.

During this time, Tim also started attending graduate classes at Temple University where he studied not only modern dance technique but also Martha Graham technique with former Graham Company member Kun-Yang Lin, Dance Improvisation with Merian Soto, and Choreography with former Limon Company Principal Dancer, Anne Vachon. While at Temple, he studied at one of Philadelphia’s most renowned modern dance companies, Koresh, where he studied with Roni Koresh, Melissa Rector and many members of Pennsylvania Ballet.

Tim has also performed with Figments Dance Ensemble, a New York City based company that brings modern dance into elementary schools. Besides company work, Tim has performed in many industrials in Philadelphia including performing as a back up dancer for 80’s pop star Deborah Gibson.

In June of 2010, Tim joined In-Sight Dance Company, a Queens based contemporary ballet company as a company member and has danced in three of their ballets and also choreographed the pieces Rewind and Right Angles for the Company.  Tim had his first Off-Broadway experience in February 2011, performing in Maria Colaco Dance's Eye Candy. Also in February, Tim appeared in Brice Mousset’s Gala at Manhattan Movement and Arts, performing in his piece Temptation. He joined Becky Radway Dance Projects to perform in her piece Roam at Triskelion Arts and the 92nd Street Y Theater. Tim danced for choreographer Diego Funes and his company in the PeriDance showcase. Tim also appears in artist Dan McCarthy’s video Two Left Feet and J. Michael Reeds’ video Unwell.

Since opening TLC, Tim has also had the pleasure of dancing in both DIVAS DO AC and DISCO LADY with MAXINE NIGHTINGALE at Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He has also set choreography for South Jersey Wind Ensemble and the Wax Works Dance Festival in NYC. Tim is also a certified teacher of the prestigious Acrobatic Arts program and works at a head adjudicator for various dance competitions throughout the country.

Tullio Cata
(Assistant Director/Ballet)

Tullio’s dancing career began at the age of 12 at “Centri Studi Musical” in Rome, Italy under the direction of Ranko Yokoyama, principal dancer of “Louis Falco Dance Company” and Lucia Colognato Principal dancer of “Opera di Roma”. From there he went on to study at the Accademia Nazionale Di Danza(Rome) and in 2011 he joined the American Repertory Ballet Trainee Program in Princeton, NJ where he completed his technique training with teachers such as Maria Youskevitch and Kathleen Moore and had the chance to dance company repertoire like Viva Vivaldi(Gerald Arpino) and George in Our Town (P.Jerry). After joining the Atlantic City Ballet in 2014 he had the chance to dance several roles such as Cavalier in The Nutcracker, originating the role of Christian in Moulin Rouge, Demetrius in Midsummer Night Dream, Prince Sigfried in Swan Lake , Prince Florimund in Sleeping Beauty and many other like Drums, Tango, Clear Water, Mountain Legend, Dracula and Come Join the Dance.
Tullio holds teaching certifications from Progressive Ballet Technique and is a certified teacher with American BalletTheatre National Training Curriculum from pre-primary through Level 7.

Healani Harper
(Ballet/Pre-K Director)

Healani Harper began dancing at the age of three, taking ballet/tap
combo classes reminiscent of the ones she now teaches. For several years she performed various ballet, lyrical, and jazz numbers with her studio’s competition team before leaving to focus on her classical ballet training at the Atlantic Contemporary Ballet Theatre. After graduating
early from their academic program, where she earned dance credits from The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, she became a resident instructor at ACBT and joined the school’s parent company—the Atlantic City Ballet. There she had the opportunity to dance in classical ballets such as The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and
A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She was also in the originating cast of Dracula and danced a featured role in the ballet Drums. After leaving ACB, she spent time as an instructor at a Montessori preschool while pursuing higher education. She graduated from Drexel University with a 4.0. GPA and then earned her master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University. Healani is thrilled to be combining her two passions of dance and working with young children as the Pre-K and Kinder-Dance Director at TLC!

Kirra Matthews (Ballet/Lyrical)

Kirra began dancing at the age of three at New Motion Dance Studio in Southern New Jersey, where she studied ballet, tap, jazz, and modern dance. She quickly realized her particular affinity for ballet, and began more serious ballet training with Phyllis Papa at Atlantic Contemporary Ballet Theatre. At the age of fourteen Kirra moved to Washington, DC to attend high school at the Kirov Academy of Ballet with a partial scholarship. In 2016, she graduated from Kirov as valedictorian and received both her high school diploma and a certificate for four years of Vaganova training. Upon graduation Kirra was invited to dance in the corps de ballet with Universal Ballet Company in Seoul, Korea for the 2016-2017 season. She danced in many ballets with UBC, including Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, and The Nutcracker. Kirra is currently dancing with the Atlantic City Ballet and is also a degree candidate at Harvard Extension School, studying psychology. Kirra is very excited to be joining the TLC family! She hopes to instill in her students her passion for ballet and encourage them to grow in confidence.

Sami Sinopoli (Jazz/Acro)

Sami Sinopoli is thrilled to be joining the TLC staff this year! Sami has been training at TLC since she was 14 and has been competing since she was 9. She has trained at many well known dance intensives including: Joffery Ballet, TheSpaceTV, and Expressenz. Sami is currently an apprentice with the Atlantic City Ballet. She is very excited to share her love of dance with the TLC students this year!

Deneen Mick (Modern)

Deneen began training at the age of 2 in the field of dance at Jersey Cape Dance and Gymnastic Academy. Versed in various styles of dance and a competitor throughout the US, She continued to pursue her love for the craft at Stockton University. She was selected in her Junior and Senior year of college to be showcased in the dance works from guest artists in the Spring Dance Concert. She graduated with a BA in Dance Pre-Movement Science and a BA in Elementary Education.
Deneen found herself in a position that allowed her to create dance works with Atlantic City High School as their Dance Teacher in 2018. Her passion to instill a love for the art of dance is prominent in her approach to teaching ballet and modern technique, along with dance elements and improvisation. Her style is quirky and rigid with a slight softness for contrast. She was the choreographer for ACITs Musicals (Once On This Island, Into the Woods, Pippin, Tuck Everlasting, Aida, Seussical) from 2017-2023 and is able to create movement sequences for every skill level.

Aurora Migilore (Tap)

Aurora began dancing at the age of 4 and followed her brother to
TLC at the age of 9. She fell in love with tap immediately. She has also study ballet, lyrical, jazz, contemporary, musical theater, and hip hop. As an alumni of TLC’s prestigious Competition Team, Aurora has won many accolades, including multiple title wins and the Evonne Bruno Award of Excellence. She is currently an apprentice with the Lady Hoofers, an all-female tap company out of Philadelphia. Aurora loves bringing her love and passion for Tap to the classroom and helping her students develop their stage presence and confidence. In her free time she is an artist who enjoys painting and drawing.

Michaela Clovis (Modern/Tap/Contemporary)

Michaela has trained at various schools throughout the tri state area in her youth, including Center Stage, Princeton Dance and Theater, Princeton Ballet, the Rock School, Alvin Ailey, and the Royal Danish Ballet under the direction of Vivi Flindt. She was accepted into Alvin Ailey's Pre Professional Fellowship Program where she trained in West African, Horton, Graham, Ballet, Tap, and Pointe technique. Michaela obtained her Bachelor of Arts in International Business from Franklin University Switzerland where she had the opportunity to serve as Vice President and President of the University’s dance group, Lugano Street Dance which taught and performed styles of dance in hip hop, modern and Latin dance. Michaela has participated in many shows in the Philadelphia area since 2015 including The Dance Outlet Project, Koresh Artist Show & Come Together Festival, The Performance Garage, Etc Series, CHI Movement Arts Dance Center, The Ritz Theater and more. She currently is a member of Timbeque, a modern based Cuban company, under the direction of Leilani Chirino. She regularly takes classes in the South Jersey and Philadelphia.

Alexia Pendleton
(Hip Hop)

Alexia Pendleton Aka @thedancerteacher started dance in elementary school and fell in love with hip hop. After choreographing a senior piece in high school she knew she wanted to continue teaching hiphop to others. After graduating Alexia started teaching at studios throughout South Jersey.
While in college she danced for the Stockton All Starz Dance Team and served as one of the teams choreographers. She graduated with degree in Psychology and went alternative route to become a teacher. However, never gave up on my passion for dance!
She has choreographed for weddings, Quince’s and everything in between. She also instruct adults in hip hop fitness. Alexia brings dance everywhere she goes from the classroom to the studio. She is passionate about Dance and the joy it brings to herself and others. She loves the relationships it brings and is so excited to begin her new journey at TLC! When Alexia isn't dancing she is a kindergarten teacher in Atlantic City, NJ and a wife and mother to two boys.

Georgia Noon
(Jazz/Hip Hop/Acro Stars)

Georgia comes to us as an experienced dancer. She has been a dancer since she was 3 years old. Over the years she has gained experience in many genres, including Irish, Contemporary, lyrical, ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and other forms. Georgia is a recent graduate from Atlantic County Institute of Technology. During her time there Georgia was a member of ACIT’s Dance Academy for 4 years, where she earned High Academic Honors all 4 years. In addition Georgia was the recipient of the Academy’s Leadership Award her senior year. Georgia was chosen as a featured dancer for the school’s musical, as well as being chosen as a soloist 3 years in a row for the Academy’s Spring Dance Concert. Georgia has represented her high school at the Teen Arts Festival, both regional and national level. She is a former competition team member, and she was also one of TLC’s assistant teachers for 3 years, teaching acro, ballet, and tap.

Victoria DeBenedictis (Acro)

Victoria started dancing at the age of two and has always had a passion and love for dance that has made it impossible for her to ever stop. She is a former competitive dancer and also a cheerleading coach. She is thrilled to be part of the TLC team and now that she is able to teach everything she's learned over the years, she couldn't be happier.

Matt Shell (Acting)

Matt Shell began acting in while studying at Stockton State College of New Jersey. His first role was the part of Cory Maxon in the August Wilson’s, Fences. He later earned parts in such musicals as Once on This Island and The Three Penny Opera, and Little Shop Of Horrors, as Audrey II. Matt continued to audition and earned parts in such plays as, Dutchman, I Hate Hamlet, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, and How I Learned to Drive, which landed him the opportunity to compete at the Kennedy- Center American College Theatre Festival in the Irene Ryan auditions. After brief hiatus Matt was cast in his first Shakespeare play, Measure for Measure as Angelo. Which subsequently lead to the roles of Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing and Mercutio in the immortal Romeo& Juliet. Matt also has experience on camera. He's hosted the Atlantic City Air show for the Borgata Casino from 2009-2014, and has a principal role in the web series The Art Of Theatrical Ushery, a workplace comedy set in a movie theatre, and the companion series The Whitfield Communique. Most recently, Matt had a role in the play 3Wishes, which was a part of the Philly Fringe Festival. He then went on to play RJ in Problem Child of the Suburban Motel series at the Walking Fish Theatre in Kensington. Matt Shell has evolved into a dedicated young actor with a real passion for performing arts. In 2020, he released a video on social media which received over 4 million views and was featured in a Google commercial. His experience and love for performing has made him a great fit at TLC.