Art of Dance Staff
Susan Smith - Director/Instructor/Choreographer - Susan Smith has been teaching dance for over 20 years throughout New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania. She specializes in teaching dance technique to children of all ages and levels. She was a former student of the Peterson School of Dance where she later became an instructor. She furthered her education at Union County College, The Broadway Dance Center and Steps in New York City. She has studied with some of the great master teachers Frank Hatchet, Bob Rizzo, Bill Dericco, Alan Onickel, Patricia Dickinson, Joe Lanteri, Michele Assaf and Mia Michaels, to name a few. She has attended numerous conventions, workshops and has also spent several summers touring with Dance Camp America in Texas, Missouri and New Jersey. Susan has choreographed for the famous Paper Mill Playhouse and Florham Park players throughout New Jersey and for Lafayette College’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors”. Some of her other works include West Side Story, Gypsy and a Chorus Line. Susan has served as an adjudicator for dance competitions throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She is the founder and director of Centre Stage Dance Company. Her choreography has lead to numerous awards in dance competitions and have been performed at Disney World, National Cherry Blossom Parade, Ikea Thanksgiving Day Parade, National Tap Dance Day, and numerous events throughout the Lehigh Valley. Susan continues to strive to provide the best dance training in a positive, fun, family atmosphere for each and every student.
Amy Browne Smith -Sr. Instructor/Choreographer - Amy Browne Smith is a graduate of the University of the Arts with a BFA in Modern Dance. Amy has been a member of two tap dance companies including Lehigh Valley¹s T.A.P. with whom she is currently a soloist, choreographer, and company member. She has performed in many venues including The Painted Bride Arts Center and Arts Bank in Philadelphia, in New York City¹s Towne Hall and in Austin TX. She has taken class and performed with many tap legends such as, LaVaughn Robinson, Buster Brown, Diane Walker and Savion Glover. Amy has been involved in producing National Tap Dance Day Celebrations in Philadelphia and The Lehigh Valley since 1994. She is the former Program Director of The Lehigh Valley Dance Forum. She has been teaching for the past 17 years and has been invited to teach at many performing art schools and universities including The University of the Arts. Amy is very excited to be a part of her new venture, Tap Ties.
Rachel Agretto – Instructor/Choreographer - Rachel is a graduate from East Stroudsburg University where she is majored in Early Childhood Education with concentration and minor in dance. While attending East Stroudsburg Rachel was a part of the University Dance Company where she performed and choreographed many dances; she also taught Adult Ballroom classes for the community dance program. Rachel is no stranger to Art of Dance as she began dancing at this studio when she was five years old. She was a member of the Art of Dance Family for 14 years. After graduating from high school, Rachel was accepted at DeSales University as a dance major and was a teacher of young students in the DeSales Conservatory of Dance program. Rachel left DeSales University to live in New York City to pursue her dance education further by studying at the Broadway Dance Center. While a student at Art of Dance, Rachel performed in Disney World, the Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia, the Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington, DC, and won many awards when competing as an Art of Dance student. Rachel’s accomplishments include performing at the Duke Theater in New York City in a show called the “11th Hour” choreographed by Eddie Garcia and Katherine Murphy. Rachel has attended the “Pulse” where she had the opportunity to work with Mia Michaels, Shane Sparks, Chris Judd, Wade Robson, and Laurie Ann Gibson. She has also been a part of numerous dance companies throughout the Lehigh Valley. Rachel continues to study dance throughout the Lehigh Valley and New York City. She is passionate about each and every one of her students and is thankful to share the love of dance.
Lindsay Deemer – Instructor/Choreographer - Lindsay is an accomplished and diverse performer with a passion for dance and a commitment to excellence in instruction. She has a B.A. from Rutgers University and started teaching dance in New Jersey and North Carolina for 6 years. She is the hip hop instructor at Art of Dance, as well as the co-creator of a local dance team called The Fly Chix. She will also be choreographing for the Nazareth Dance Team. Lindsay enjoys integrating the hottest new dance moves into her routines, and instilling her motto to others: "In life and in the studio, keep it fun and funky." She also loves to teach theatre dance and has performed in shows such as Fame, Cinderella, and Thoroughly Modern Millie in North Carolina. From Broadway to B-boy style, Lindsay is inspired by all genres of dance and hopes to influence other dancers, from beginner to advanced, to dance forever! Lindsay currently lives in West Easton with her puppy Dre. Her boyfriend, Matt (Dj Fly!) has assisted in many of the awesome music combinations for the students! She would like to thank Sue, Dave, fellow teachers, parents, and students for embracing her style and being her inspiration!
Jenna Lancaster - Instructor/Choreographer/Administrative Assistant - Jenna Lancaster is a graduate of East Stroudsburg University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management with a minor in Dance. She began her dance training at the age of three and spent most of her dance career at Art of Dance. Jenna has performed at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and at the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade. She has taken workshops at the Broadway Dance Center and has taken many other workshops from various instructors including, Ginger Cox, Thomas Hanner, Victor Rojas, Joshua Widdick and Renee DeJohn. While at ESU, Jenna performed and choreographed for numerous shows. She also received the Society of the Arts Dance Scholarship her senior year. After graduating from ESU, she came back to Art of Dance as a teacher.
Lissa Longley - Instructor/Choreographer- Lissa Longley has been dancing since the age of 4, with the variety of dance styles including Ballet (Cecchetti training), Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, and Contemporary. Most of her training was done by Broadway stars Ken and Jean Phifer and Darcy Fields at Ken & Jean’s Dance Studio in Pittsburgh, PA. Along with training at the studio she has competed in the Dance Master’s of Pennsylvania Competitions’ and dance intensive training classes. Many dances in the Dance Masters were rewarded First Place. Lissa has taken various classes at Lehigh University and other studios surrounding the Lehigh Valley. She is also a member of the Serendipity Dance Ensemble located in Bethlehem since 2008. Lissa is also the Co-Creator along with Lindsay Deemer of a local dance group called the Fly Chix located in the Lehigh Valley. Lissa is a 2004 graduate of McKeesport Area High School, located near Pittsburgh, where she had also participated in four years of cheerleading and was captain her senior year. In May of 2009, Lissa graduated from California University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Sports Management: Fitness and Wellness. While attending CAL U, Lissa has taken many dance classes on campus, performed showcases, and also was a part of the 06-07’ Vulcanettes Dance Team. Along with receiving her B.A., Lissa is also a Certified Personal Trainer through AAAI. Lissa is thrilled to share her love for dance with each and every talented student. “I feel truly blessed and honored to be a part of AOD year after year!”
| Contact Us | 2011 Art of Dance Centre Stage Productions Inc
