Kids Jazz and Tap Instructor:

Gemma Richardson

Gemma Richardson is a 17-year-old Rising Junior at the Arts Academy of Benjamin Rush. She is a Vocal and Band major and performs in the annual Spring and Winter showcases. Gemma was selected to perform a vocal solo to On and On by Erika Badu while playing the piano for the African American History Assembly where she arranged the piano cords. Gemma has been in the Dance Company since Freshman year where she has performed to Jazz, Contemporary and Modern pieces. Gemma has been dancing since the age of three when her mom enrolled her in Ballet at Dance Kidz in Philadelphia, PA. Gemma then started to take Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary and Hip-Hop classes. She joined the Dance Competition team at age 8. She has participated in Dance Competitions at Starbound, OnStage America, National Dance Showcase and That’s Entertainment Dance Competition. Gemma has been a student at the Elite music Academy for Classical Vocal and Classical piano since 2022. After graduating from High School Gemma would like to attend a college where she can continue to develop her Vocal Musical Skills and Dance skills while majoring in Vocal Music and minoring in Dance. Gemma has also participated in Community Service at the Star of Hope Baptist Church, Martin Luther King Day of Service, collecting coats through One Warm Coat for The Center for Families and Relationships. She recently made inspirational cards for Backpacks for the Cradles to Crayons Organization that will put cards in Backpacks that will be distributed to students before they go back to school in the Fall. Gemma also loves to spend her time writing music, listening to music, singing, playing the piano, dancing, cooking, making jewelry and making arts and crafts.

Kids Ballet and AdultBallet Classes Instructor:

Jenn Sykes

Jenn Sykes started dancing at the age of three and has continued to dance for the last 30 years. She originally trained in ballet, modern, tap, and jazz at Wendy’s Dance Center for 12 years and grew up competing in those fields for 9 years. At the age of 15, she begin studying ballroom and Latin dancing at La Luna Dance Studio. In college, Jenn continued ballet and modern classes, and ballroom and Latin dancing, often teaching classes as well. As an adult, she has continued taking ballet, modern and Latin dance classes in the Philadelphia and Princeton area. Jenn’s main philosophy for dance is that technique is the foundation to excelling and to always be a student, dance will always have something to teach.