Meet The Team
Danielle Brindisi
Voice & Acting Teacher
Danielle’s career stems from an education derived from NYU, Temple University, & Stockton University, in conjunction with specific training in the methods of Stanislavsky and Seth Rigg's speech level singing. Her experience spans from regional and celebrity tours, backup singer, Equity dinner theatre, Broadway readings, to credits from memorable roles such as Adelaide in "Guys & Dolls" & Cassie in "Chorus Line", as well as a jazz vocalist for various venues including, Chris's Jazz cafe & Sardies. Danielle focuses on not only her performance training studio and her love of performing, represented by Frontier Booking International, but also working as a licensee of mentor Badiene Magaziner. Many of Danielle’s students can be found at top universities, such as NYU & Belmont, with top agents, such as Nancy Carson, and leads in local, regional, and national productions, such as Matilda and Shrek. Danielle’s teaching style is nurturing yet truthful, allowing her students to have the resiliency to withstand the complex performance arts industry.
Kristen Barnes
Choreographer & Film teacher
Kristen Barnes started dancing at the age of 2. She studied tap, ballet, jazz, and acro at a local studio in North Carolina. At the age of 9, Kristen was accepted to The North Carolina School of the Arts pre-professional program, became a full time student in eighth grade and continued her ballet/modern education there throughout high school, all while studying tap, jazz, musical theater and lyrical at the local studio on weekends. Directly after graduation, she was hired by Celebrity Cruises for their inaugural run of the MV Mercury. After her contract, Kristen was hired by Jean Ann Ryan Productions to perform on the Japan Cruise Line Pacific Venus. Her dreams then came true when she became a Radio City Rockette in the Detroit, MI cast for 2 seasons. When Kristen returned to New York, She performed on several episodes of SNL, MTV video awards (Featuring Kristen's choreography), and A Night of Too Many Stars with Jon Stewart. She also appeared in national and international commercials for Coca-cola, TV Land, and Papa John's Pizza, as well as industrials for Bloomingdales, CMT, Paul Mitchell, and Sam and Libby. Kristen is now beyond proud to be sharing her knowledge with today's up and coming entertainers!
Michelle Sayah
Guest Acting Teacher
Michelle is a theatre artist, teacher, and director based in New Jersey. Michelle graduated from Point Park University's Conservatory of Performing Arts with a bachelors degree in theater arts. She then went on to work in the field of casting, assisting with the casting for national tours, Off-Broadway, and Broadway Productions. Since her time in casting, Michelle has taught all grade levels, Pre-K-12. Her students have placed in the top categories at the NJ Thespian Festival, the Speech and Theatre Association of NJ awarding students the Governor's Award for Excellence in acting, and New Jersey's State Teen Arts Festival. It is truly Michelles joy to see young artists grow and flourish in the realm of theatre arts. Currently, Michelle is pursuing her Masters Degree in Arts Administration from Rowan University.
James Craver
Teacher in Training
James began his musical theatre endeavors at the age of 5, working with Fox Vocal Arts and the Greater Ocean City Theatre Company. Coming from a family of thespians, it was natural for him to follow suit. During his teen years, he founded a non-profit theatre company based at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Ocean City. The performance group was called The Eighth Street Players, where James served as the founding director from 2017-2019. During the 2020 covid pandemic, James found himself relocated in the northern Kentucky area with family. During his time in Kentucky, James served as a production assistant and choreographer for the local school’s productions of Into the Woods and Mary Poppins. After his stay in Kentucky, he returned back to southern New Jersey and began working with Be You Arts in 2021, he has since booked memorable roles such as, Ms. Trunchbull in Matilda, Gomez Addams in The Addams Family, King Julien in Madagascar, and Patrick Star in The Spongebob Musical to name a few. James booked his first professional theatre contract in July of 2021 working as a performer in Ocean City’s Theatre for Young Audiences Children’s Series, and began working as a full time teacher for Be You Arts in May of 2022. He is now attending Stockton University studying Theatre with a concentration in Acting and a minor in Dance, while continuing to perform professionally. He is so excited to help the next generation of artists blossom.
AmandaDeSouza
Guest Teacher
Amanda DeSouza is a multidisciplinary artist, dance instructor, and makeup artist located in the South Jersey/Philadelphia area. Amanda specializes in Jazz, Musical Theatre, and Contemporary Dance. She received her BFA in Musical Theatre from The University of The Arts in Philadelphia in 2016, and is currently dance coordinator and professor for the Musical Theatre department. Amanda has performed in various professional musicals and concerts, including “Sweet Charity”, “Anything Goes” and “Divas In A Man's World.” From 2017 through 2019 Amanda traveled the world singing and dancing for Aida cruise line. Amanda also works as a dancer in “Simply The Best, a Tina Turner Tribute show” that tours the United States. She has choreographed many musical productions at various theatres and high schools in South Jersey. Amanda is also a dance instructor for the Viktor Yeliohin International Ballet Academy, teaching jazz and contemporary to many young prospective dancers.