Karen Cleighton has a BFA in Dance Education from The University of the Arts, where she teaches tap in the musical theater department. Karen also taught jazz and tap at Temple University in the Musical Theater program. Ms. Cleighton has her New Jersey teaching certification in dance and theatre and is currently teaching at Chartertech HS for The Performing Arts in their dance and musical theater programs. 

Ms. Cleighton put together “Tapping in the Streets” for the NJ fringe festival along with fellow tappers Rochelle Haynes & Corrine Karon. She has also performed alongside her mentor, LaVaughn Robinson at the Merriam Theatre. Karen has  choreographed many professional shows which have landed her  numerous awards (Barrymore nomination for best choreography, broadwayworld.com for best choreography). 

Karen has dedicated her life to teaching and sharing her love for the arts to as many people as she can in as many different ways as she can: University teaching, High School teaching, private dance studio teaching professional choreography, grade school & high school choreography and choreography at local theatres. She is currently on the board of directors of Dance NJ and The Somers Point Arts Commission.

In her "spare time" she works at various entertainment companies providing dancers, choreographing, producing shows and DJing. She is a certified Zumba and Spin instructor!