A Rockettes influence is seen in the kick line in front of the Milltown studio. MILLTOWN — Susan Sinibaldi has always aimed high throughout her dance career.
F
rom her kicks that reach for the stars
with the Rockettes to her lofty level of community support, the award-winning owner of Middlesex Academy of Dance has shown over the decades that she truly is a woman who makes magic.
“I think dance isn’t just a performance of art,” Sinibaldi said. “I think it’s a body strengthening, inside and out.”
Sinibaldi’s dedication to dance and her passion for it helped to make this year a special one for her, in more ways than one. As she celebrates her studio’s 30th anniversary, the Little League team she has sponsored all of those years won its first championship. To top it off, a nomination by one of her students won Sinibaldi a Greater Media WMGQ “Women Who Make Magic” award.
Unaware of her nomination until she was chosen as one of the 20 award recipients, Sinibaldi said she was “delighted” with the news.
Susan Sinibaldi is celebrating 30 years at the academy. She was recently named among the “Women Who Make Magic” by radio station WMGQ. “It was a very, very nice surprise,” she said. “The dinner, and everything MGQ did, it was wonderful.”
Apparently the New Brunswick-based radio station felt the same about things Sinibaldi has done. Donna Farrell, an adult student who has been with the studio since it opened, wrote the nomination essay outlining her teacher’s positive contributions.
During the early years at the studio, while Sinibaldi was raising her son Kenny, who is now 27, she was still able to find the time to give to the community in a number of capacities, Farrell said. A couple of decades later, she is still keeping up the good work.
The former Radio City Music Hall Rockette has remained involved with the renowned dance troupe, as both a past member of the alumni board of directors, and a current member of the alumni association. She called her time with the Rockettes a major career highlight.
“I spent five wonderful years performing [with the Rockettes],” Sinibaldi said.
After auditioning at the age of 16, Sinibaldi went straight from high school to the stage, performing 365 days a year at Radio City Music Hall. When the famed theater almost closed its doors for good in the late 1970s, Sinibaldi took part in successful efforts to keep the landmark going, petitioning the state of New York to declare it a historic place.
Sinibaldi took part in the Rockettes’ 75th anniversary show last year and performs at the annual charity gala with other alumni. She performed most recently with the Rockettes in celebration of International Women’s Day.
Just as Sinibaldi has been a loyal devotee to the Rockettes, her own students stay dedicated to her and the studio, she noted. Amazingly, every student in her adult class has been with her since day one, 30 years
ago.
“I have some who have left, had kids and come back,” Sinibaldi said. “We’ve seen each other through births of our children, deaths of our parents, divorces [and] marriages. We support each other. Where else can you say you’ve been friends for 30 years?”
A shining example of the dedication displayed by Sinibaldi’s students is one who moved from her local home to Easton, Pa. The hour-and-a-half drive does not deter her from commuting three days a week to Sinibaldi’s classes.
Sinibaldi is known to employ a unique approach.
“For someone in the dance field, Susan has a refreshingly unique philosophy when it comes to acceptance of who you are,” Farrell wrote. “In today’s world of low self-esteem, eating disorders and ‘perfect body’ images, Susan is always welcoming to her students and encouraging them to participate in dance, no matter their size, shape or age.”
Sinibaldi said she makes it her goal to foster positive self-esteem for all of her students, which involves embracing themselves just the way they are. Her opting against pushing students to take part in competitions is a part of that.
“A lot of dance studios and dance troupes make the kids diet and look a certain way, and I don’t do that,” Sinibaldi said. “I don’t hold anybody back.”
Aside from providing an environment of self-acceptance and good body image, Sinibaldi takes advantage of her leadership role to help young students in other ways, too. She said teaching kids respect for each other, as well as for their parents, is a major priority.
“There isn’t enough of that right now,” Sinibaldi said.
Another part of Sinibaldi’s instruction that helps to build character is the inclusion of visits to nursing homes and other senior facilities, where students perform and then pay visits to individuals who are bedridden or otherwise too ill to have made it to the performance.
Though there are some classes taught by other instructors, Sinibaldi oversees every class offered at the studio, she said. Other teachers are all former students who earned teaching certificates from Dance Educators of America. Some of them have been with the studio since its inception, according to Farrell.
“Her main focus is teaching the proper dance technique and for everyone to enjoy what they learn,” Farrell wrote.
Sinibaldi’s commitment to her students extends to those of all levels of ability. Over the years, she has taught many students with a variety of special needs. Those with special needs are integrated among the general population of students, and Sinibaldi always has an additional teacher on hand to provide additional help to those who need it, she said.
Due to a lack of teacher availability, Sinibaldi has been unable to offer the wheelchair classes that were once a part of her course offerings, but she said the classes will start up again as soon as circumstances allow.
“I … enjoy teaching the children, especially disabled children,” she said.
Evidence of Sinibaldi’s extensive community involvement can be found on the bulletin board in the waiting area of the studio, according to Farrell. Plaques of recognition adorn the board, including one for “Extraordinary Support of Milltown DARE and Award Winning DARE Dancers,” and “With deepest appreciation to Middlesex Academy of Dance for tireless support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.”
“I try to do whatever I can to help out the kids,” Sinibaldi said.
As of this year, the studio has been named a Special Olympics Partner.
Sinibaldi served for a number of years on the borough’s DARE committee, and established the Middlesex Academy Dancers (MAD) troupe, a nonprofit organization that performs at schools and churches throughout the community

