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EDUCATIONAL ARTS

Axelrod Performing Arts Academy Educational Arts is a new branch of the Axelrod Performing Arts Academy at Bell Works designed to help college-age students and adults build confidence, communication, leadership, and self-expression through the tools of the arts. From public speaking and self-care to creative problem-solving and personal growth, these classes support real-world skills that can be used in school, work, performance, and everyday life.

2026-2027 CLASSES

COMMUNICATION AND ASSERTIVENESS

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Course Instructor

Elise Feldman

Elise Feldman is President of FBS Consulting, Inc, a leadership development, business management, and not-for-profit consulting company. Elise recently retired as Regional VP from Economic Group Pension Services, a national actuarial firm with whom she merged her companies Feldman Benefit Services, Inc. and Outsource, Inc. over seven years ago. Elise is also a retired wealth advisor from 1792 Wealth Advisors, a Raymond James office. Currently, Elise serves on the Board of the Small Business Council of America, on the Board of the Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey and is a Vice President of the Center for the Arts Boca where she produces or consults on their annual dance production in March. On the creative side, Elise is Board President of the Axelrod Performing Arts Center which encompasses both the stage in Deal, NJ and the Bell Theater at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ. Elise Founded the Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Company and the Axelrod Performing Arts Academy. Elise’s dance training was in Graham technique, including at the Martha Graham school in NYC at Martha’s invitation. She has choreographed summer stock productions in Pittsburgh of “Pal Joey” and “Guys and Dolls”, consulted with the Pittsburgh Ballet Company, and led the Israeli Dance Troupe “Rishona” in Pittsburgh, PA.

PUBLIC SPEAKING

FIND YOUR STORY, TELL IT ANYWHERE

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Course Instructor

Aransas Savas

Aransas Savas is a speaker coach, author, and behavioral researcher with a career built on helping people find their voice and share it. She holds an MFA in Acting and a BFA in Theater Directing. She began her career teaching presentation skills to executives and coaches, and has spent the decades since at the intersection of behavioral science and human performance, working with Fortune 500 companies including Disney and Best Buy, and on Oprah Winfrey's 2020 Vision Tour. Aransas is currently co-producing TEDxAsbury Park and coaches TEDx speakers through the full arc of developing and delivering talks that are both authentic and impactful. She coaches clients privately on building thought leadership platforms and stepping into visible authority, and she is a speaker coach at 826NYC. She is the host of The Uplifters Podcast (Signal Award-winning, 500,000+ downloads) and the author of the forthcoming Courage Capital: It's Not Too Late to Do Big, Brave Things (Hachette/GCP Balance, 2027) — a book about building the confidence and self-belief women need to do meaningful work. Her coaching draws on certifications in behavioral and neuroscience-based coaching (PCC/ICF, CPC/iPEC, NLP, i4 Neuroleadership).

Two sessions: October 5 and 26, 2026

Tuition: $250 for two sessions, $150 for one session

 

Strengthen your ability to communicate clearly, confidently, and professionally in the workplace. This workshop focuses on practical communication tools for building trust, reducing conflict, giving and receiving feedback, setting expectations, and improving cooperation between employees and managers.

Participants will explore assertive communication, appropriate responses to challenging conversations, and strategies for creating a more respectful, productive, and accountable work environment.

Oct 5: Communication and Connection - How to Get Your Way Without Being Aggressive This workshop is designed to enhance your communication with workers, friends, and family to reach mutual expectations, shared responsibility for actions to be taken, reduce stress and encourage cooperation. Learn the skills of what to say and how to say them. This also enables you to control a meeting or conversation when you have to. Oct 26: The Power Tilt - How to Stay on Your Pedestal Learn where your “Power” comes from, how to get it and how to stay on top. Learn how to not tolerate bad behavior; how to be respectful and to gain respect from those you deal with.

Two sessions: September 14 and 28, 2026

Tuition: $250

 

Find Your Story, Tell It Anywhere is a two-session speaker coaching workshop that uses the tools of the performing arts to help adults become more confident, expressive, and effective communicators.

 

Through storytelling, improv, voice, movement, presence, and guided feedback, participants will learn how to shape a personal story and share it with clarity and confidence. The workshop connects performance skills to real-life speaking situations, from meetings and presentations to community events, interviews, and personal conversations. No prior public speaking or performance experience is required. Participants will leave with a story they have developed and practiced out loud, along with practical tools they can continue using in any setting.

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