MEET THE TEAM

Meet our team of skilled and dedicated choreographers! 
​Our team knows each dancer is unique and strives to offer the best for all their students. This team's expertise has been recognized throughout the last 10+ years with numerous choreography awards. 

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Jacqueline Blankenburg

Owner/ Director, Choreographer

Jacqueline has over 40 years of dance experience! Starting at the age of 3, Jacqueline danced at Paula Coffey Dance Center for 14 years, learning Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop and Lyrical. At Paula Coffey, she was a student teacher and competed competitively in Tap, Jazz and Lyrical, winning 1st place and best overall. Jacqueline graduated with her BA from Bridgewater State University, where she studied dance and communications/public relations, was part of their dance team and specialized in ballroom dancing. After graduation, Jacqueline ran Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Bedford while teaching tap and jazz at Cindy's School of Dance. In 2006, she joined the staff of The Dance Studio of Norwell. She began teaching full-time and became the Studio's Assistant Director, Company Director (competition) and main dance teacher (teaching Jazz, Ballet, Tap and Lyrical). Throughout her entire dance career, Jacqueline has continued to expand her knowledge in dance by attending classes, dance conventions (Dance Olympus), and dance retreats/conferences (Rhee Gold's Dance Life Retreat/Conferences). Jacqueline has also been taught by the great Savion Glover and Gregg Russell. Dance is Jacqueline's passion and she loves to share her passion with children and adults of all ages. Opening her own dance studio has always been her dream.

Muriel Corbett

Co-Director, Pre-school Director, Choreographer

Muriel loves the joy of dancing! In middle and high school she danced ballet, tap, modern, jazz and pointe at the New School of Dance Arts in NJ. In college, she danced for Boston College's Dance Team for 2 years. Miss Muriel is also a registered nurse receiving her Bachelor’s of Science degree from Boston College and obtained her Master’s degree for Child Life and Family Studies from Wheelock College.  Miss Muriel has 4 children, 2 of which are on the JDS competition teams and who share her love of dance!  Miss Muriel has the honor of teaching most of the preschool dance classes at JDS and is the Assistant Director at JDS.

Hayley Mangino

Acro Director, Choreographer

Hayley grew up in Boston where she started dancing at the age of 2. Her dance training mainly focused on Acrobatics, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip hop and Lyrical. While dancing competitively, Hayley won 1st place trophies as well as regional and national titles. She is a graduate of Dean college, Cum Laude, where she received her BA in Dance and was part of the National Society of Leadership and Success. She has won many choreography and entertainment awards including Star Dance Alliance’s Circle of Excellence in entertainment and choreography of the year. She is also the co-founder of “Soarin’ Forces” acrobatic dance company. Hayley has been apart of the Boston Cannons Dance team and is currently cheering with The Massachusetts Pirates football team and The Worcester Railers hockey team! 

Jacilyn Allen

Music Director, Choreographer

Jaci grew up in Norwell, dancing at JDS and being taught by Jacqueline since we opened! She danced on our competition team, while learning Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical, and Ballet. Jaci recently graduated from Providence College where she received her BS in biology. Throughout college she helped run our summer camps and cut music for our competitions and shows. Her love for dance will continue by teaching classes at JDS!

Rebecca Ford

Choreographer

Rebecca is a former professional dancer with Peninsula Ballet Theatre in San Mateo, CA under the direction of Anne Bena, Rosine Bena, and Sam Weber. She danced in numerous Classical Ballets and was part of a documentary called "A Life of Dancing" by Stewart Cheifet. She then performed with Redwood Empire Ballet under the direction of Antonio Mendes and Roberta Phiel before moving to New England. She owned her own studio for 17 years and now enjoys teaching her love of ballet on the South Shore.   

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Ella Menendez

Choreographer

Ella began her training at 2 years old under direction of Marylou Cunningham where she studied Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, and Hip Hop. In her teen years, she began expanding that eduction at the Jeannette Neill Dance Studio under direction of Jeannette Neill and Jim Viera, and many summers in New York studying with the Joffrey Ballet School and Broadway Dance Center. Ella has been teaching, choreographing, and working professionally for the past 8 years and is excited to be a part of the JDS Team!