Our Faculty
Kelly McEvoy
Founder/Artistic Director
Being a studio owner for 25 years, Kelly McEvoy is the former owner and founder of The Dance Centre in Skippack PA. She sold her Pennsylvania business after moving to begin her family in Manasquan, NJ. She then founded Grace Kelly Studio in 2009 with the mission of introducing children to the magical world of dance in a caring environment.
Kelly is known as a distinguished educator featured in Dance Teacher Magazine. Her students have gone on to receive college scholarships for dance, scholarships to The American Academy of Ballet, The Governor’s School of the Arts, performed on cruise ships, Walt Disney World and professional companies in NYC.
Kelly McEvoy graduated dean’s list from DeSales University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance. Miss Kelly is certified to teach the Vaganova Ballet Syllabus and Ballet Barre exercise technique, attended The American Dance Festival at Duke University, The American Academy of Ballet Teacher Seminar in Purchase, NY and the Rhee Gold teacher Seminar in Arizona.
Since deciding to bring her mission to educate young dancers to New Jersey in 2009, she has loved the joy of teaching children dance and helping them grow as individuals. Miss Kelly takes great pride in sharing her enthusiasm and love for dance with her students. She encourages them every “step” of the way!
Jackie Jackson
Assistant Director/Instructor
Jackie Jackson is a 2016 graduate from DeSales University with a BA in Dance and Business Administration. She has trained in many dance genres throughout her life such as ballet, pointe, modern, tap, jazz, and theatre. Jackie has had the pleasure of training with renowned instructors & choreographers such as, Trinette Singleton (Joffrey Ballet), Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Jessica Chen (Jchen Dance Company), Tara Madsen-Robbins, Julia Mayo and more. She has performed works choreographed by Antony Tudor, Trinette Singleton, J Chen Project, BodyVox, and more.
Jackie has choreographed and performed in multiple public showcases and festivals in Philadelphia, NYC, and San Francisco: Koresh Dance Festival, Philly Fringe Festival, Translate Voices of Dance, DUMBO Dance Festival to name a few. She was an intern for The Joffrey Ballet School, trained under the Alonzo King LINES Training Program, and J Chen Project Mentor Program. Among others, Jackie has performed for multiple dance companies including Mook Dance Company, J Chen Project, Emme Dance Collective, Bugge Ballet, and Joyce King Dance Company.
Jackie began teaching at Grace Kelly Studio in 2016 and has loved being a part of the GKS family. She loves sharing her knowledge and passion of dance with her students. She strives to educate, inspire, and create new opportunities for all young dancers.
Morgan Pascali
Shore Feet Dance Company Director/Instructor
Morgan Pascali is a 2012 graduate from Montclair State University where she received her BFA in Dance. At MSU, Morgan was featured in pieces choreographed by Paul Taylor, Donald McKayle, Jose Limon, and Earl Mosley.
Along with taking classes with the Amy Marshall Dance Company of NYC and the Koresh Dance Company of Pennsylvania, Morgan is trained in Horton, Limon, and Taylor techniques. She was honored to be featured as a solo performer at the 92nd St Y's celebration of Americana Choreographers and she also performed in the original piece "Breath" choreographed by Earl Mosley at the 2012 American College Dance Festival.
Morgan graduated from Howell High School's prestigious performing arts program (FPAC) with a focus in dance. She started her dance training at the age of three under the direction of Nicole Tiedemann, Colleen Guy, and Dan Barris at the Monmouth Performing Arts Center in Howell, NJ.
As well as teaching dance, Morgan is the Membership Director for the YMCA of Greater Monmouth County. She also was the program coordinator for Monmouth County Recreation's department of Theater and Dance.
Miss Morgan has happily been a part of the Grace Kelly Family since September 2012.
Riley Schmidt
Instructor
Miss Riley has been dancing since the age of 3. She began her training at Grace Kelly Studio in 2013 and has completed 10 recitals and 4 holiday shows with them. She has extensive training in ballet, pointe, lyrical, modern, and jazz. As a recent graduate from Manasquan High School, Riley was involved in the MHS dance program where she was expected to enhance her dance training, learn many pieces, and perform multiple times throughout the school year. Under the direction of Melissa Galano, Riley was also graded on her ability to showcase her own choreography and knowledge of dance on the stage as well as in her writing.
During her years at Grace Kelly Studio, Riley attended multiple competitions/conventions including Sheer Elite, Dancers Inc., and Access Broadway. She competed and attended classes from renowned choreographers & instructors from around the US. Riley has receive multiple scholarships/awards including: Sheer Elite NY Intensive & UNLV Dance Summer International Intensive. In 2019, Riley accepted the Sheer Elite Summer Dance intensive scholarship in NYC, where she had the opportunity to further her training in ballet, jazz, contemporary, and hiphop.
Riley is currently a dance major and minoring in dance therapy at Georgian Court University. She is hoping to pursue her love of dance & teaching in the future. This is her first year as an instructor at GKS and she is beyond excited to share her love of dancer with our younger students!
Rachel Muhleisen
Instructor
Miss Rachel has been trained at the King Centre for the Performing Arts in Wanaque, Mahwah, and Butler, New Jersey, since she was two years old. Throughout her dance career, she has performed multiple lead roles in the American Youth Dance Companies' "The Nutcracker." Clara's sister Louisa, Clara, lead Chinese, Marzipan lead, and the Dew Drop Fairy, to name a few.
Rachel received numerous awards and scholarships as a competitive dancer. At the American Dance Awards, she was one of the "Elite 6". In 2017 and 2018, she was a part of two pieces that won National Critics Choice and National Entertainment Awards at the OnStage New York nationals. Rachel was awarded the Outstanding Dancer scholarship by NYCDA (New York City Dance Alliance) in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Along with the Hollywood Summer Tour Scholarship in 2019, the LA Dance Magic convention scholarships in 2019, 2020, and 2021, and the 2021 Final Cut Scholarship from LA Dance Magic. She also received a Technical Excellence Award in 2020 and 2021, as well as a photogenic award at the Breakout Dance Competition. Rachel was also awarded the 2021 Overall Highest Score at USTD ( (United States Tournament of Dance) in addition to all of these scholarships and awards.
Rachel was a model for Curtain Call Dance Magazine for two years in a row when she was younger. She traveled to Hershey, Pennsylvania, for photoshoots in all of the costumes that studios across the country use for their recitals.
Rachel had the honor of working with Sean McKnight and being a part of a piece he choreographed for So You Think You Can Dance. She was given the opportunity to travel to New York City and perform in front of the So You Think You Can Dance staff and choreographers. Rachel is continuing her training by taking classes at Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway.
She is excited to be sharing her knowledge and love of dance for her 1st Season at Grace Kelly Studio!