Love of Dance Staff
Renée Robertson
Owner and Director
Renée is a graduate of Montclair State University receiving a BFA in Dance, a BA in Family and Child Studies with a concentration in Family Services, and a Minor in Psychology. Renée began her dance training at Laura’s Dance Studio at the age of three. She studied Ballet, Pointé, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre and Hip Hop. Renée went on to further her concentration in Ballet and Pointé at the Mill Ballet School in Lambertville, NJ and New Jersey School of Ballet in Livingston, NJ. She danced with New Jersey Ballet Company for three years as a member of their Junior Company. Renée performed in productions of "Don Quixote", "The Nutcracker", and in NJB's 2012 Gala performing in theatres throughout New Jersey such as Mayo PAC, Bergen PAC, Middle Township Performing Arts Center, and NJPAC.
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At MSU Renée trained in Ballet and Modern. She also studied improvisation, choreography, dance history, Laban movement analysis, rhythmic analysis, anatomy & physiology, pedagogy, and repertory. As a member of Montclair State University Dance Repertory Company, Renée performed works by leading choreographers including Frederick Earl Mosley and Martha Graham. She also performed at the Martha Graham Studio Theatre in NYC.
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In recent years, Renée has further developed her dance training by learning Bollywood and other forms of Indian dance. She has performed professionally with Kavi’s School of Dance in numerous events throughout New Jersey, Delaware, and Connecticut. Renée will continue performing and expanding her dance repertoire to extend her experiences and knowledge to her students.
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Renée’s teaching experience includes Ballet, Pointé, Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Jazz. During her time at MSU, Renée taught dance at Oasis, A Haven for Women and Children in Paterson, NJ. As Oasis' Dance Coordinator she developed and established a curriculum for the inception of the Oasis Dance Program, teaching children ages 8-13 hip hop/jazz. Renée has also collaborated with surrounding schools such as the Primrose School of Berkeley Heights, offering summer dance programs to children ages 3-5. Renée is entering her seventh year as director/owner of Love of Dance Studio. She feels it is the students’ joy, desire, and love of dance that inspires her creativity. Renée is committed to offering students her knowledge and passion for dance.
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Laura Quickstad Draus
Founder and Former Director
Laura began her dance training at the age of eight. She studied Ballet, Jazz, and Tap. She began intensively training in ballet at the New Jersey School of Ballet in West Orange, NJ. Laura went on to recieve a scholarship at the School of American Ballet and was asked to join ABT's Ballet Repertory Company now known as ABT 2. She spent three years dancing in association with American Ballet Theatre in NYC. As a member of Ballet Repertory she danced in the 1979 film "Hair" under the choreographic direction of Twyla Tharp. Following Laura's professional dance performing career, she began teaching for several local studios in NJ. During this time she found her love for teaching and desire to open her own studio. As owner/director of Laura's Dance Studio for 31 years, Laura has offered her passion for dance and devotion for teaching to her students.
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Dance Training:
Zena Rommett Studio, Dance Association Ltd., 70 West 34th Street, New York City, Morelli Ballet Inc., 69 West 14th Street, New York City, Mme. Darvash Ballet Studio, 1845 Broadway, New York City, Jurgen Schneider, Ballet Master (Private Training), American Ballet Theatre, 3 W. 61st St.,New York City, School of American Ballet Scholarship -3 years in association with American Ballet Theatre, New York City, New Jersey School of Ballet, West Orange, New Jersey.
Christy Quickstad
Instructor
Christy began her dance training at Laura’s Dance Studio at the age of two, concentrating on Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre and Hip Hop. During the summers, Christy attended several Rockette Intensives in Pittsburgh, PA and NYC. Christy went on to study at Rider University where she received a degree in Fine Arts with a concentration in Dance as well as a degree in Journalism. At Rider, Christy continued her dance instruction at the Princeton Ballet School where she took classes in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Pilates, and World Dance. Christy performed in several dance concerts through Rider’s dance program and appeared as a featured dancer in Rider University’s production of the Broadway show Sweet Charity. Her teaching experience includes teaching Hip Hop & Jazz at Laura's Dance Studio and at Oasis, A Haven for Women and Children in Paterson, NJ. Christy creatively combines her music theater background, love of performance and different dance styles to choreograph a thematic ensemble number each year.
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Micayla Rose Frank
Instructor
Micayla Frank grew up in Bridgewater New Jersey and began her training at New Jersey School of Ballet in Somerville, New Jersey. At age twelve, she trained with Nadege Hottier at Premier Division and French Academie of Ballet in New York City. Micayla has attended ballet summer intensives at Kirov Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, The Rock School, Premier Division, French Academie of Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Manhattan Youth Ballet, Kaatsbaan Extreme Ballet and Orlando Ballet where she received a partial scholarship. Micayla was also a dancer for the NBA G League Erie Bayhawks for their 2018 and 2019 seasons. She performed in The Nutcracker with Lake Erie Ballet in Erie, Pennsylvania. Micayla graduated from Mercyhurst University, Erie, Pennsylvania in May 2020 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. While at Mercyhurst University, she danced in full staged performances of Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, On Broadway, and The Nutcracker. Micayla then joined Savannah Ballet Theatre in Savannah, Georgia as a lead Company dancer. She has been with Savannah Ballet Theatre for three years.
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