MEET THE DIRECTOR
(Scroll down for the judges)
Janet LaCava resides in Pennsylvania but was born in and lived in New York City until 1992. She began teaching dance in 1973.
Janet trained at NYC schools, starting with George Connelly Dance Center, (the owners established the United States Tournament of Dance), in Queens with ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics and ballroom. She was a 1969, full scholarship recipient to the Joffrey Ballet School (then called the American Ballet Center for the Joffrey Ballet), Janet also attended Phil Black's Dance Studio, Broadway Dance Center, and other NYC schools.
Many of her students have, or had, careers in major ballet companies, professional theater, television, theme parks, cruise ships, Radio City Music Hall, Las Vegas, and other dance venues, as well as dance teachers, studio owners and choreographers. Many of her students have graduated from Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, and The High School of Performing Arts, now known as Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art & Performing Arts. Additionally, they have attended, top college dance programs includin The Julliard School, N.Y. University Tisch School of the Arts, Point Park University, and University of the Arts.
Ms. LaCava performed professionally in night clubs, musical theater, and special events for major New York professional sports teams, on television, for the armed forces, plus has choreographed for regional ballet companies, theater productions and competitions, and winning several choreography awards at national dance competitions.
Janet ran her own successful dance academy, for several years, before retiring from studio ownership, after which she continued to teach dance at area dance schools.
She was a member of Dance Educators of America, and a past guest instructor for National Association of Dance and Affiliated Arts, Inc. (NADAA), In the past she founded and organized The Road to Broadway Talent Competition, and the Road to Broadway Pageants.
Additionally, Janet had worked as a stage manager for dance performances for dance schools and other charitable dance events, and judged for many, regional and national competitions in the USA, and Canada. Ms. LaCava has years of experience as an amateur competitor in ballroom, and performing arts dance competitions, winning many awards in the USA and the UK. such as in the Blackpool Dance Festival, as a member of the 1973 USA Formation Team.
Additionally, Janet has written columns and articles on dance for newspapers and dance periodicals and magazines, is the former Vice President of Dancers for Dimes, a dance performance charity event to raise funds for the March of Dimes, and a past board member, Vice President, and later President, for the Arts Academy Elementary Charter School.
Janet recently, and happily, added substitute teaching at the Pottstown Dance Theatre in addition to enjoying traveling with her husband, running the Road to Broadway Mini Dance Competition, spending time with family and amateur, nature photography. She is happily married, since 1975 and a proud parent and grandparent of two. She enjoys keeping in touch with her past dance students, and her many colleagues on social media.
Janet trained at NYC schools, starting with George Connelly Dance Center, (the owners established the United States Tournament of Dance), in Queens with ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics and ballroom. She was a 1969, full scholarship recipient to the Joffrey Ballet School (then called the American Ballet Center for the Joffrey Ballet), Janet also attended Phil Black's Dance Studio, Broadway Dance Center, and other NYC schools.
Many of her students have, or had, careers in major ballet companies, professional theater, television, theme parks, cruise ships, Radio City Music Hall, Las Vegas, and other dance venues, as well as dance teachers, studio owners and choreographers. Many of her students have graduated from Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, and The High School of Performing Arts, now known as Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art & Performing Arts. Additionally, they have attended, top college dance programs includin The Julliard School, N.Y. University Tisch School of the Arts, Point Park University, and University of the Arts.
Ms. LaCava performed professionally in night clubs, musical theater, and special events for major New York professional sports teams, on television, for the armed forces, plus has choreographed for regional ballet companies, theater productions and competitions, and winning several choreography awards at national dance competitions.
Janet ran her own successful dance academy, for several years, before retiring from studio ownership, after which she continued to teach dance at area dance schools.
She was a member of Dance Educators of America, and a past guest instructor for National Association of Dance and Affiliated Arts, Inc. (NADAA), In the past she founded and organized The Road to Broadway Talent Competition, and the Road to Broadway Pageants.
Additionally, Janet had worked as a stage manager for dance performances for dance schools and other charitable dance events, and judged for many, regional and national competitions in the USA, and Canada. Ms. LaCava has years of experience as an amateur competitor in ballroom, and performing arts dance competitions, winning many awards in the USA and the UK. such as in the Blackpool Dance Festival, as a member of the 1973 USA Formation Team.
Additionally, Janet has written columns and articles on dance for newspapers and dance periodicals and magazines, is the former Vice President of Dancers for Dimes, a dance performance charity event to raise funds for the March of Dimes, and a past board member, Vice President, and later President, for the Arts Academy Elementary Charter School.
Janet recently, and happily, added substitute teaching at the Pottstown Dance Theatre in addition to enjoying traveling with her husband, running the Road to Broadway Mini Dance Competition, spending time with family and amateur, nature photography. She is happily married, since 1975 and a proud parent and grandparent of two. She enjoys keeping in touch with her past dance students, and her many colleagues on social media.
MEET THE JUDGES FOR 2025
Our judges are always dance educators with immense experience in teaching multiple disciplines.
They are either currently teaching, or retired, but only the most brilliant teachers will be judging the dancers at R2B.
They are either currently teaching, or retired, but only the most brilliant teachers will be judging the dancers at R2B.
Erika Speer has judged for us, several times, and is now a permanent judge for us, each year, because the feedback on her judging, over the years, has always been so positive, from studios and students.
She is a teacher and choreographer for many dance studios around the Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey area. After graduating from Brentwood High School, Erika moved to Philadelphia where she received her BFA in Dance Education from the University of the Arts.
She had the opportunity to receive instruction and take the stage with LaVaughn Robinson and Germaine Ingram. Her choreography has won high accolades, special awards and title winnings in many competition platforms.
Erika’s varied dance training affords her expertise experience in Ballet, Modern, Tap and Jazz and allows her to teach students of all ages in every genre of dance. Erika is a certified Level 1 and 2 tap teacher through the ITAP Program and currently teaches at Pennsylvania Leadership Charter school for the Performing Arts and hopes that her love and passion for dance will inspire others to pursue their dreams as well.
Erika’s dynamic and well-rounded experience and teaching styles allows her to teach students of all ages, preschool to adult, in almost every dance genre. Erika's love and passion for dance is evident in her day-to-day life as she continually seeks ways to further her own dance education and that of her students.
She is a teacher and choreographer for many dance studios around the Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey area. After graduating from Brentwood High School, Erika moved to Philadelphia where she received her BFA in Dance Education from the University of the Arts.
She had the opportunity to receive instruction and take the stage with LaVaughn Robinson and Germaine Ingram. Her choreography has won high accolades, special awards and title winnings in many competition platforms.
Erika’s varied dance training affords her expertise experience in Ballet, Modern, Tap and Jazz and allows her to teach students of all ages in every genre of dance. Erika is a certified Level 1 and 2 tap teacher through the ITAP Program and currently teaches at Pennsylvania Leadership Charter school for the Performing Arts and hopes that her love and passion for dance will inspire others to pursue their dreams as well.
Erika’s dynamic and well-rounded experience and teaching styles allows her to teach students of all ages, preschool to adult, in almost every dance genre. Erika's love and passion for dance is evident in her day-to-day life as she continually seeks ways to further her own dance education and that of her students.
Aileen Bjelland started dancing when she was 3½ years old, with Janet LaCava as one of her instructors, for many years, at George Connelly Dance Center. She also continued her dance education at Broadway Dance Center, in Manhattan, and at Broadway Bound Dance Centre, Garden City, NY where she is currently a teacher and the Assistant Director for the last 20 years.
As a student, Aileen won competition titles such as Miss Road to Broadway, Miss Dance of Long Island, and 2nd Runner-up Miss Dance of the United States. She has performed in Nickelodeon and MTV commercials and danced professionally at Hershey Park. Aileen also has a background in theatre and performing arts. Her professional credits include: A Chorus Line (Connie), Crazy for You (Tess), Singing in the Rain (Ensemble) and West Side Story (Anita).
Many of Aileen’s students have won local, regional, and national dance competitions, performed in Broadway shows, theme parks, appeared in various television commercials, attended many intensive dance programs. Most recently one of her students became a Radio City Rockette and another a Dallas Stars Ice Girl.
Her studio has won the title of Best Dance School and Best Musical Theatre School and has won the Broadway Cup several times over the past 21 years at Access Broadway and were named the ADDC Studio of Excellence 2024. Aileen has been recognized with awards for her choreography at several competitions. Aside from teaching dance, Aileen is an assistant teacher for a nursery school, in charge of their Music and Movement department and enjoys working with children of all ages.
Dance has always been her life and is grateful to have met her husband through dance and now have three beautiful, and talented daughters who are just as passionate dance as their mother. Aileen is very excited to be judging at The Road to Broadway for the first time and cannot wait to see the amazing talent!
As a student, Aileen won competition titles such as Miss Road to Broadway, Miss Dance of Long Island, and 2nd Runner-up Miss Dance of the United States. She has performed in Nickelodeon and MTV commercials and danced professionally at Hershey Park. Aileen also has a background in theatre and performing arts. Her professional credits include: A Chorus Line (Connie), Crazy for You (Tess), Singing in the Rain (Ensemble) and West Side Story (Anita).
Many of Aileen’s students have won local, regional, and national dance competitions, performed in Broadway shows, theme parks, appeared in various television commercials, attended many intensive dance programs. Most recently one of her students became a Radio City Rockette and another a Dallas Stars Ice Girl.
Her studio has won the title of Best Dance School and Best Musical Theatre School and has won the Broadway Cup several times over the past 21 years at Access Broadway and were named the ADDC Studio of Excellence 2024. Aileen has been recognized with awards for her choreography at several competitions. Aside from teaching dance, Aileen is an assistant teacher for a nursery school, in charge of their Music and Movement department and enjoys working with children of all ages.
Dance has always been her life and is grateful to have met her husband through dance and now have three beautiful, and talented daughters who are just as passionate dance as their mother. Aileen is very excited to be judging at The Road to Broadway for the first time and cannot wait to see the amazing talent!
Andrea Lesnick has been dancing for over 35 years and has been sharing her talents as an educator for over 20 years. She received her formal training at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia as a student of Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Tap and Modern.
She is the owner and Artistic Director of the Bucks County School of the Performing Arts in Doylestown, PA. She has performed throughout the Tri-State Area in landmark venues such as The Merriam and Painted Bride Theatres and was a regular at the historic Bucks County Playhouse for several years. Among her numerous regional theatre performances, some favorites include A Chorus Line, Cabaret, 42nd Street, The Wedding Singer, Footloose, Oklahoma!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Jesus Christ Superstar.
As a choreographer, her work has earned her great praise from Main Stage Credits across New Jersey regional theatres and with other Performance Based Dance Programs in the greater Philadelphia area. Her work with the BCPA Dance Company has been the recipient of technical excellence, top choreography, and creativityawards.
Most recently, Andrea led her team to many victories which included several nominations for the Industry Dance Awards. Adjudicating dance competitions is yet another outlet in which she loves to be a part of educating young dancers and sharing her passion for dance.
She is the owner and Artistic Director of the Bucks County School of the Performing Arts in Doylestown, PA. She has performed throughout the Tri-State Area in landmark venues such as The Merriam and Painted Bride Theatres and was a regular at the historic Bucks County Playhouse for several years. Among her numerous regional theatre performances, some favorites include A Chorus Line, Cabaret, 42nd Street, The Wedding Singer, Footloose, Oklahoma!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Jesus Christ Superstar.
As a choreographer, her work has earned her great praise from Main Stage Credits across New Jersey regional theatres and with other Performance Based Dance Programs in the greater Philadelphia area. Her work with the BCPA Dance Company has been the recipient of technical excellence, top choreography, and creativityawards.
Most recently, Andrea led her team to many victories which included several nominations for the Industry Dance Awards. Adjudicating dance competitions is yet another outlet in which she loves to be a part of educating young dancers and sharing her passion for dance.
OUR PHOTOGRAPHERS
R2B does not charge for performance photos.
They are included in our, already low, entry fee rate.
|
STEVE PESTROCK PHOTOGRAPHY
Steve Pestrock has been R2B's photographer, since the 1st year, and the director's studio photographer, starting in 1993. www.pestrockphoto.com 
|
THOMAS KAY PHOTOGRAPHY
Thomas joined us for the first time, in 2023 and we are thrilled to have another, wonderful photographer join our team. www.thomaskayphotography.com 
|
OUR DISC JOCKEY
We added the wonderful DJ, Russell Tolson, to our staff, in 2023. Russell has been doing disc jockey work since his teen years and makes our competition more enjoyable.
We added the wonderful DJ, Russell Tolson, to our staff, in 2023. Russell has been doing disc jockey work since his teen years and makes our competition more enjoyable.
OUR TABULATOR
Logan McDonald has been our tabulator since our first year. A highly degreed IT man, and college professor, he not only does our tabulation but works on set up and breakdown and many other things that we could not live without! Without him, R2B could not happen.
Logan McDonald has been our tabulator since our first year. A highly degreed IT man, and college professor, he not only does our tabulation but works on set up and breakdown and many other things that we could not live without! Without him, R2B could not happen.