Our Leadership Team
Established in 1990 by Rocco Santorufo, Broadway Bound Dance Center is the premier dance and performing arts studio in New Jersey’s Bergen County. Over the years, the studio has evolved and grown, providing the utmost in dance instruction and training for thousands of students – all in a fun, challenging, and nurturing environment.
Maureen Strehl joined the studio in 2006 and has been an integral part of the growth over the years, managing many aspects of the business including back-office operations. Her daughters Allison and Caroline Strehl started at a very young age and experienced the culture of Broadway Bound Dance Center as students and instructors.
In 2022, Rocco, Maureen, Allison, and Caroline formalized a partnership, representing the next chapter of Broadway Bound Dance Center, furthering the studio’s mission of “More Than Just Great Dancing.”
Mr. Rocco, a native New Yorker, discovered his love of the performing arts, especially dancing, as a very young child. Performing gave him a smile that began in his heart, which shined through his dancing. No matter what else he found happening in his life, he could get lost in the dance.
Rocco is a member of the Actor’s Equity, Screen Actors Guild, and AFTRA. Since age 10, he has enjoyed a professional acting and dancing career in national advertising and television commercials for Burger King, Wendy’s, Jell-O, Ray-O-Vac, Hires, Bubble Yum, and as the Hi-C Kid. He performed in a national touring production of Jerome Robbins’ West Side Story, was a contestant on Star Search, and performed in many industrials. He has performed alongside celebrities such as Sammy Davis, Jr., Nell Carter, Lola Falana, Debbie Gibson, Jack Wagner and Prince. His professional acting training includes the renowned The Acting Studio Inc. in New York City.
Rocco founded Broadway Bound Dance Center in 1990, with the first studio located in a modest VFW building teaching 20 students. He continued to expand his curricula and student enrollment, relocating to larger spaces, such as the Dumont studio which was built in 2009.
Rocco Santorufo
Owner / Director
Maureen was first introduced to Broadway Bound as a mom searching for the right dance school for her daughters. She and her family knew BBDC was the right place as soon they stepped into the studio and met Mr. Rocco. For them, the right studio was not just about the dance training, but also about the studio environment. Maureen, with a background in Finance and Technology started slowly helping out in the office in her downtime and officially joined the company as an employee in 2006. In addition to her role at Broadway Bound, Maureen is a co-owner of CompuDance Software, a studio management software for dance studios across the country. She has assisted and consulted hundreds of dance studios over the past 10 years on processes, procedures, organization and technology. Her experience at BBDC and CompuDance Software has prepared her for her new role at Broadway Bound.
“Being able to merge my love of the arts with my business background is a dream come true” says Strehl. The studio was a second home to my daughters and to be able to continue that with this generation of dancers fills my heart with joy.”
Maureen Strehl
Owner / Director
Allison Strehl grew up in New Jersey, started dancing at the age of 3, and came to Broadway Bound Dance Center at the age of 9. Where she fell more in love with dance each day, training in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, Lyrical & Hip Hop. At her last BBDC recital, she remembers begging Mr. Rocco to let her choreograph a trio over the summer before she left for East Carolina University. He agreed and that was her first taste at choreography.
During her four years at ECU where she studied dance and ultimately received her Bachelor's Degree in Communication, she continued teaching and choreographing at BBDC every summer. When she graduated from ECU she wasn't quite sure what path she wanted to take and she got a job at a Property Management Company in NYC still teaching one night a week at BBDC.
After 10 months of trying that out she realized how unhappy she was and needed dance as more of a constant in her life. That is when she left her job and began teaching at BBDC full time. Six years later she feels this is exactly where she needs to be. Strehl's choreography is always led by the music and the story she wishes to tell. Always aims to have her students allow themselves to fully dive into the movement/moment and let themselves be open and vulnerable. She believes dance is something that is so much more than the competition stage, it is somewhere you get to 100% be yourself and she hopes all of her students can feel that way in her classroom.
Allison Strehl
Owner / Associate Director
Caroline Strehl started dancing at age 3 and came to BBDC at age 5, she is so excited to start a new part of her journey here. Caroline received a Bachelor if Arts degree in Dance and Rowan University and was on the Rowan University dance team. During her time at Rowan she has worked personally with award winning choreographers. Miss Caroline is elated to share her passion of dance with her new students and cannot wait to watch them grow.
Caroline Strehl
Owner / Associate Director
Our Artistic Director
Miss Christine has been on staff at BBDC since 2001 teaching, mentoring and sharing her love of dance and theater. Her choreography has garnered multiple awards at competition and is a highlight at the BBDC annual concert. Miss Christine has performed throughout the United States, Europe and Japan in productions of West Side Story (Anita) Sweet Charity (Nickie), 42nd Street (Lorraine), The King and I (dance soloist), Cactus Flower (Toni Simmons), The Music Man (Zaneeta Shinn) and A Chorus Line (Diana Morales). Miss Christine performed as a featured dancer in both the Broadway, National and International companies of Jerome Robbins’ Broadway and on Broadway as Rumpleteazer in Cats.
In the role of Ermengarde, Miss Christine performed with Carol Channing in the Broadway and the National companies of Hello, Dolly!, directed by Lee Roy Reams. She received her formative Ballet and Theater training at The School of Performing Arts in New Milford, CT (under the direction of Arlene Begelman). While at SOPA she performed in their theater company “Conn. Stage” in productions of Roar of the Greasepaint…, Grease (Jan) and Carnival.
Miss Christine also danced in Candlewood Playhouse’s production of Oklahoma!, staged by Gemsy Delapp. Miss Christine attended the Boston Conservatory of Music, Dance and Theater, earning a BFA in Musical Theater and a minor in Directing. Conservatory credits include: Chicago, Street Scene, Iolanthe, Kismet, Sweet Charity and Smashing Times (an original musical by Gerard Alessandrini).
Other credits include the Madison Square Garden production of The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy understudy) starring Mickey Rooney and Eartha Kitt as well as the 1st National Tour of Disney’s Beauty and The Beast (Silly Girl). Miss Christine is a certified Pilates instructor through Power Pilates in NYC, offering the students of BBDC the opportunity to strengthen their mind body connection by studying this wonderful method.
Christine DeVito
Artistic Director
Our Faculty
BBDC alumni, starting her training here at age 3. Throughout her time here she studied jazz, ballet, and lyrical styles. From here she went on to be a 4 year member and captain of the nationally recognized Holy Angels Dance Team. She also danced for the Saint Joseph’s University Dance Team as a 2 year captain, winning 3 UDA National Championships in the hip hop and pom divisions.
When Miss Alyssa is not at BBDC she is a dance camp instructor for Universal Dance Association, traveling the nation teaching all styles to dancers of all ages. She is also an assistant coach of the Holy Angels Dance Team as well as the Saint Joseph’s University Dance Team. In addition to dance, Miss Alyssa graduated from Saint Joseph’s University in May 2016 with her Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences and is currently in her first year of nursing school.
Alyssa Mecca
Miss Julianne was raised in Bergen County and began dancing at the age of 3. By the age of 9, she knew that dancing was her passion. She was accepted as a member of a dance company and performed in the New Jersey Ballet’s Nutcracker. She continued her training more intensively as a teenager with a focus in ballet, jazz, lyrical and modern. Miss Julianne Rizzitello graduated from Montclair State University with a Bachelor of the Fine Arts in dance. Her genuine enjoyment of being be part of Broadway Bound Dance Center’s teaching staff shows through her instruction and her passion for working with children inspires her to share her love of dance with BBDC’s students.
Julianne Scholtz
Edson Maldonado was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey of Afro-Latin heritage, which gave him the opportunity to grow up around individuals of many different cultures and backgrounds influencing his interpretation of music and movement. Starting off as a self-taught dancer during his youth, it wasn’t until years later in the summer of 2011 that he auditioned for and would go on to become a director of New Jersey's, Project D Dance Company, contributing his artistic voice and vision to performances, some of which placed at many competitions along the East Coast. After stepping away from the competitive scene, he began shifting his focus to teaching and creating more art as a working commercial dancer under MSA Agency. Today, Edson likes to foster an environment of growth, hard work and appreciation of the journey. Now dancing with The Grit collective and Beyond Babel, he hopes to instill these traits in anyone open to receive them. Catch his regular class at Modega!
Edson Maldonado
Ellen Mihalick grew up dancing at the Art of Dance on the competition team. Since she was walking, Ellen trained in all styles right here in New Jersey! Every weekend through 2009 was a different convention and competition, including NYC Dance Alliance, West Coast Dance Explosion, Jump, NUVO, Starpower, Starquest, and so many more! The Art of Dance Comp Team brought Ellen all over the USA as well as England, performing at Sadler's Wells Theater in London when she was in 5th grade. Also in 2005, Ellen danced at the Marriot Marquis, a Broadway stage in NYC. Competition dance was a huge vital part of Ellen's training, and a crucial experience forming Ellen into the performer she is today.
In high school, Ellen focused on Ballet at NJ Dance Theater Ensemble (Nancy Turano) and NJ Ballet (Carolyn Clark) Other training includes the inaugural season of Complexions Contemporary Ballet’s Pre Professional Program (Dwight Rhoden/Desmond Richardson) performing with the company CCB at the Joyce Theater, Axis Connect (Barton Movement), pre Movement Invention Project (Alexandra Wells), and Vancouver Arts Umbrella/Ballet BC (Emily Molnar). Her repertoire embodies work by Sidra Bell, Kate Skarpetowska, Belinda McGuire, Bradley Shelver, Adam Barruch, and Roman Baca.
Ellen has been a Radio City Rockette since graduating high school in 2013. Performing at Radio City Music Hall for 6000 people up to 4 times in one day is a dream come true! With the Rockettes, Ellen has also danced in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, on 5th Avenue for the Sak's Christmas windows, Good Morning America, and so many more including teaching Michael Strahan and other celebrities the iconic eye high kicks. In 2016, Ellen taught a Rockette Master class at Broadway Bound Dance Center and has been teaching at BBDC since!!
Other credits included West Side Story (original choreography/Graziella & DC), Shrek the Musical (ensemble & DC), and Grease (choreographer). Ellen walked in 2017 NY fashion week (model/dancer), and was in season 1 of the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon TV). She spent the summer of 2019 touring throughout Europe with the American Swiss Ballet Company (Sonia Melo).
Ellen is a certified barre teacher (NASM) as well as a certified group fitness instructor (AFAA). She is currently studying and earning her Personal Training certification (NASM). She is the recipient of NJ Governor’s Award for Artistic Excellence and Leadership in Dance.
Before COVID forced this quarantine, Ellen was an ensemble dancer on the US National Tour of the Broadway Show An American In Paris! The tour hopes to be back performing in August. Until then, let's stay fit and active together as a BBDC family!
Ellen Mihalick
Guest Artist
Miss Kris started dance when she was 3 years old. She has studied ballet, tap, hip hop, and jazz. Miss Kris has traveled with the New Jersey ballet to perform The Nutcracker and attended competitions and workshops throughout the Tri-State area from ages 8-14. Miss Kris attended Northern Valley Regional High School in Demarest where she danced on their dance team, Kinesis, and cheered for the cheerleading squad for four years. Miss Kris graduated Montclair State University with a BA in Early Childhood Education and a minor in Dance Education. She has an MA in Educational Leadership and is currently teaching her 11th year of kindergarten. She coaches elementary school cheerleading and also choreographs the spring musical for Fort Lee High School since 2012.
Miss Kris is happy to be part of the BBDC staff and is excited to share her love and passion for dance with her students. She looks forward to helping her students grow and form bonds to last a lifetime. She is looking forward to another wonderful year building relationships to help young children gain confidence and self esteem to last forever in and out of the dance studio.
Kris Rodriguez
Nicole Bourdage has had an exciting dance career in both performance and choreography. Her work has landed on stages such as the famed Apollo Theater, the Hard Rock Hotel, and Casino in Las Vegas, and has earned her students countless first overall scores at national and regional competitions. Nicole is also a regular recipient of choreography awards and performance awards for her students.
After earning her BA in Dance from Hunter College she lived and performed as an NYC-based contemporary dancer for nearly 15 years, and has fallen in love with teaching and choreography over the past decade. While in New York she studied daily with the best teachers and dance companies in the business including Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane, and David Dorfman Dance. She also became a NASM certified personal trainer and studied injury prevention and anatomy at length.
Nicole prides herself in bringing out the very best in each dancer she works with. She believes that dance is truly for everyone and that the art of dance can heal us from the inside out.
Nicole Bourdage
Elisa Toro Franky is a professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer based in New York City. She is featured in works that integrate ballet, tango, ballroom, and Middle Eastern styles. Elisa currently performs with JFK Dance, with whom she toured China in 2017. She also worked as Program Director of Accent Dance NYC, an education and performance organization that provides access to dance in underserved communities. Elisa has performed with Dardo Galletto Dance at the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, and with Christopher Caines Dance. In May of 2021, Elisa was invited to collaborate with El Puente Presente and a New York Philharmonic string quartet as part of the Bandwagon series. In June of 2021, Elisa performed at I Heart Dance NYC, where dancers from top NYC companies are invited.
Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Elisa trained with Cuban mentors and traveled twice to Cuba for international ballet intensives and competitions. She came to the United States in 2004 to train at the Miami City Ballet School, to later dance with the Washington Ballet Studio Company, the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble, and the New Jersey Ballet.
Elisa Toro-Franky
Miss Selena Mercado is a dancer, singer, actress and choreographer as well as a BBDC alumni and graduate of The Boston Conservatory with a BFA in Musical Theater. Selena began her training at Broadway Bound at the age of 2 years old and after graduating, at the age of 17, has been teaching and choreographing for the studio ever since.
Selena has performed in regional theatres all over the country. Regional credits include: In the Heights (Ensemble), In the Heights (Ensemble u/s Nina & Vanessa) `{`2018 IRNE Award Winner: Best Musical, 2018 Norton Award Winner: Best Ensemble`}`, West Side Story (Anita), Chicago (Mona/Dance Captain), The Drowsy Chaperone (The Chaperone).
Her love for performing has led her to her passion for choreographing and teaching children of all ages. Selena has been a part of the BBDC family for over a decade and is beyond grateful to continue to share her love for dance where she first fell in love with this art form.
Selena Mercado
My name is Miss Shannon and I am so excited to dance with you! Dance has been a love of mine since I was little. I was lucky enough to be given the gift of dance classes as a child. I continued my love of dance throughout college, choreographing and running a dance club at Montclair State University (MSU).
I studied at MSU where I received my teaching certification for grades K-6, all while working here at BBDC! Now I have two beautiful little ones of my own who are starting dance here at BBDC. Once they started asking for classes I knew I had to come back! I truly believe dance is a way to express yourself in a beautiful, and individual way. This is why I will work with each of my students to bring out their unique and fabulous qualities! Cannot wait to meet you all, and see some of you again!
Shannon
Fedakowski
Camryn Mulpagano is from Syracuse, NY and fell in love with the art of dance when she was only two years old. She grew up learning several different styles of dance: ballet, jazz, tap, modern, musical theater, pointe, and hip hop. Camryn attended West Genesee High School in Camillus, NY and was given the position of dance caption of the WG Dance Ensemble from 2016-17.
Throughout all four years of high school, she was apart of the West Genesee Marching Band Colorguard as well as the Dance Line for school musicals. In May 2021, she achieved her Bachelors Degree of Science in Chemistry at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY with minors in Dance and Environmental Studies.
While in college she was also apart of the Koshare Dance Collective as a dancer & choreographer while also serving on the Executive Board. Upon graduating from college, Camryn moved to Bergenfield, NJ to begin her current job as a Cosmetic Chemist at Cosmax USA. Wanting to keep such an important part of her life during this transition from NY to NJ, Camryn began teaching classes at Broadway Bound Dance Center to spread her love of dance to her students.
Camryn Mulpagano
Alex Schmidt’s pursuit of dance began at an early age at a studio in Tampa, FL. She spent her first three years of high school attending Next Generation Ballet’s trainee program, under the direction of Peter Stark. During her senior year of high school, Alex moved to San Francisco where she graduated from the two-year Alonzo King LINES Ballet training program in 2017. She currently lives in New York where she is a dancer, choreographer, creator, and teacher. Alex is a dance artist with Michiyaya Dance Company, LooseKanonDance, and a freelance artist producing her own work. Alex is also one of the two co-founders of the physical dance company TWO IN SEVEN BILLION where she collaborated to produce, create and dance in evening-length performances.
Alex graduated from the University of Florida in May of 2020, with degrees in Criminology and Psychology that she completed while in the LINES training program. Alex recently finished her Master’s in Forensic Psychology with certification in Victimology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.
Alex Schmidt
Richard Spitaletta is an actor and writer currently based out of New York City. He recently starred in the national tour of Something Rotten! as Nigel Bottom, and later reprised the role in the regional premiere at Le Petit Theatre in New Orleans. Additionally, he was in national tours of the Lightning Thief as Grover and A Charlie Brown Christmas. He was also seen Off-Broadway in Me The People, and has performed at regional theatres all over the country. He just completed his MFA in Acting at Brooklyn College and is excited to enter the world of education/teaching!
Richard Spitaletta
Nicolette Otero is a hip-hop trained teacher who has trained with a multitude of choreographers including Keenan Cooks, Phil Wright, The Wolfpack, Charles Smith, etc. She has been dancing for over seventeen years and has won a number of national titles, scholarships, and awards commending her talent, dedication, and skill at hip hop dancing.
Nicolette has performed on the Ice Spice Campaign, Brooklyn Nets Half-Time Shows, World of Dance, etc. She has continued her passion for teaching studios all over New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, and enjoys instructing at special workshops and master classes.
Nicolette Otero
Kalena Brown was born in the Bronx, NY and raised in New Jersey. She is an Alumni from Penn State University with a dual degree in Dance and Psychology (BA). She began dancing at the age of 4 years old and has studied and trained in various genres of dance such as West African Dance, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and modern dance and attended Five Star Dance Center. She was a part of the Repertory Company at Center for Modern Dance (CMDE) in Hackensack, New Jersey. She also attended Dancemaker, the NYU Tisch Dance Program for high school students as well as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Professional Division Summer Intensive Program where she studied with some of the most prestigious choreographers and teachers such as Keith Alexander and Quenia Ribeiro.
While at Penn State, Kalena was part of the Afi-Mojah Dance Company and also attended the American College Dance Festival Association (ACDFA). She has completed many different dance intensives and teacher workshops at the Martha Graham School in New York City and also attended and danced at the Dance Teacher Web Conference and Expo in Las Vegas to broaden her dance portfolio. Kalena danced and choreographed for Forza Malizia Dance Company in NYC. Kalena also danced with Vashti Dance Theatre, and continues to dance, teach and choreograph throughout the New York/New Jersey area. She has choreographed many different musicals such as Footloose, FAME, Lion King Jr. and more. Over the years, Kalena has also taught dance at different prestigious places such as 92nd Street Y (Center for Arts Learning & Leadership), Dance Theatre of Harlem (Dancing Through Barriers), Lennox Hill Neighborhood House (RealArts Summer Camp) just to name a few. Currently, Kalena is a professional full-time dance teacher and choreographer in New York City and also teaches dance and choreographs for local studios. Kalena continues to train and work on her craft as a dance educator and performer.