Michele Burell is a dance teacher extraordinaire. She is a graduate of Brookdale College and Kean University. She is certified as a dance instructor by the Dance Educators of America. Ms. Burrell is the the founder, the owner choreographer, and teacher at the Asbury Park Technical Academy of Dance. The school has grown from 4 students at its inception to 180, for the arts, providing a safe, family atmosphere. Ms. Burrell teaches inner city young people the art of ballet modern dance, and jazz. Many of her students ave cintinue their ar9ts education in college and in competitive, prestigious performing arts schools, including the the American Ballet Theater, Alvian Ailey Dance Troupe Ballet Hispanica, Joffrey Ballet, Princeton Ballet, and The Dance Theater of Harlem. Paramount Theater. The school''s recital are legendary; the 2004 recital sold out Asbury Park''s Paramount Theater. The School has become a village of its own where each student can''t flourish and grow, helping children who normally would not have the opportunity or the finances, not only to learn an art form, but to gain discipline and self respect. Festival Community Service Award. She has been employed by the Asbury Park Board of Education for 13 years. Over the door of the dance room is a sign that exemplifies the philosophy she tries to instill in her student, "Strive for Excellence".