About Us

A Jersey Shore native, Vanessa Berry has been teaching since she was 16. Her education in dance includes Red Bank Regional Dance Major, a degree in dance education from New York University, multiple fitness certifications, and extensive training in the Lotte Berke method. Performing credits include stage and television.

Before Vanessa became the proud owner of Kick Fitness and Dance she taught at some of the best studios in NY and Colorado including Equinox, New York Sports Club, Lotte Berke Method, Dance West, and the Boulder Arts Festival. Vanessa’s unique workouts were featured in articles in Self, Fitness, and Parenting magazine and she also made multiple appearances on Good Morning New York as a fitness leader. Vanessa was also chosen to lead a warm up for the Revlon Run/Walk in Times Square.As a choreographer and dance teacher, Vanessa has received many accolades including Top Studio, Best Choreography, Most Entertaining, and multiple first place awards.

Her classes offer strong classic dance technique in a fun and caring style. Her students learn confidence, grace, stage presence, and coordination while developing a love for dance in all its styles.In the 11 years that Vanessa has owned Kick, the studio has gained a reputation of being a premiere dance and fitness facility on the Jersey Shore. Her children’s classes are always popular and full of energy. With over 500 students each week, Vanessa is also known for her super tough conditioning classes, and her amazing children’s Dance Sampler, Hip Hop, Musical Theater, Ballet and Jazz dance classes.

Vanessa is also the mother of two beautiful young dancers Sadie and Henry.

Michelle Tolson (Miss Michelle)

Michelle has been dancing since the age of 10 and choreographing since the age of 15. Her students hold many regional and national titles in both dance competitions and pageants including Regional Dancer of the Year for American Dance Awards, World Talent Winner for International Sunshine Girl, and World Showstopper.

Former students have gone on to appear in regional and national tours, So You Think You Can Dance and two are currently on Broadway in Memphis and the new musical Chaplin.Michelle received the Young Choreographer of the Year Award from American Dance Awards in 1998. She is also a pageant coach and choreographer, and has had four students compete in the Miss New Hampshire Program for Miss America in the last five years. Michelle also held the title of Miss New Hampshire 1996 and competed at the Miss America Pageant that fall. Her picture and shoe can be seen in the Miss America Hall of Fame in Atlantic City. She is the choreographer and producer for the New Hampshire’s Distinguished Young Woman Program, a scholarship program for senior’s in high school and is a former Junior Miss for New Hampshire.

Her performance credits include Radio City Rockettes for six years, where she performed in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular as well as on the Today Show, the Isaac Mizrahi Show, and in the Macy’s Day Parade. She also performed in Tap Girls, 42nd Street, and numerous television, video and print works.For five years she was a Professor at Wagner College in Staten Island, NY, where she choreographed Cabaret for the main stage and implemented the Tap program. Currently she is a guest artist at Georgian Court University where she works with the dance club and is the dance advisor/coach for the Neptune High School dance team and the choreographer for the musicals. Her dance team was chosen out of 90 teams in the NY/NJ/CT area to compete on the new MSG Varsity Talent Show. While at Neptune she choreographed A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Guys and Dolls. She continues to teach at dance studios throughout New York and New Jersey, and works as a Master Teacher throughout the country.

Michelle is the Head of Dance at Camp Vega in Kents Hill, Me. She has held this position for nine years Dance at Camp Vega is considered the number one all girls camp in the country.Michelle also tours the country as a master teacher, adjudicator and director for various dance competitions. She was a director for Dancers Inc for five years and now works as a judge for three competitions throughout the country. She has been judging for ten years and enjoys teaching new talent every weekend.

Dore A. Rogers (Miss Dore)

Dore is a New Jersey native started dancing to the beat, and moving her feet at an early age. Her love affair of the arts began when her mother took her to see the Broadway production of Annie! Her high school years were spent studying with the Red Bank youth ballet, performing in various productions and ballets. Chamber choir, drama club, and piano also played a big part in her life, winning her numerous state and national awards. With a dance scholarship in hand she went on to attend the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Studying with dance legends, Judith Jamisen of the famed company Alvin Ailey, Milton Meyers,and various other acclaimed instuctors.Dore has spent several years traveling and performing, for the past 12 years she has been mastering her teaching skills. Teaching ballet, tap, jazz, modern, musical theater, as well as preschool dance to children of all ages in the area. It is Dores’ belief that dance truly does come from a special place In the heart. In her classrooms she works hard to help each student find that special place. Through dance and music Dore hopes to build their confidence. So that they may enjoy success in whatever they do, both inside and outside the dance classroom. When she isnt teaching she is busy moving to the beat with her adorable son Chase, who is quite the lil mover himself!

Laura Schwamberger (Miss Laura)

Laura started taking dance lessons at the age of 5 years old at a local dance studio and studied Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Pointe and Tap though college. When she was 11 she was accepted onto their competition team for jazz, tap, and ballet. She competed regionally and nationally with the team for 9 years and earned “Gold” status or higher at every competition. She began assistant teaching at the studio at the age of 12 years old and was given her own classes to choreograph at the age of 17.Laura also studied at the Ocean County Performing Arts Center, performed at Walt Disney World in Orlando for Disney’s Magical Music Days, and has taken private workshop lessons with a Rockette. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Montclair State University with Bachelors in Communications and Public Relations in May of 2008. Since then she has been a Marketing Coordinator for Woodlake Country Club and has continued to teach dance at a studio in Point Pleasant. In her spare time she likes to go to the Broadway Dance Center in New York as well as attend various conventions. Laura is excited to start teaching at Kick 2 in Rumson NJ!