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-Ya Lee, 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.
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-Ya Lee, 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
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Michaela Clovis (Modern/Tap/Contemporary/Hip Hop)
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 2015including 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
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