Faculty
We are proud to boast that all of our instructors have current Pennsylvania Child Abuse and Pennsylvania and Act 141 Criminal Record clearances.
Missy Goelz
Missy Goelz graduated from Point Park University with a degree in Elementary Education and Minor in dance. As a dancer, she has won regional and national titles and high scores, and she was honored to perform at Gus Giordano's Jazz Dance World Congress. She has been teaching children ages 2-18 for over 20 years. As a teacher, she has received numerous choreography awards. Her students have won high scores and titles at regional and national levels. Many of her students have moved on to have successful careers in dance including dancing for Gus Giordano, Thodos Dance Chicago, C5, cruise ships, and college dance teams.
Regina Joyce
Regina holds a BS in Computer Science with a Minor in Dance Studies from Allegheny College as well as an MS in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh. Regina grew up as a competitive dancer training in jazz, acro, tumbling, ballet, pointe, lyrical, hip hop and tap styles and completing an internship at Pittsburgh's Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) high school. She then went on to minor in dance in college, where her studies deepened her knowledge in the styles with which she was familiar but also her introduced her to additional styles, including contemporary and modern and even social and ballroom dance. Her focus became contemporary and modern dance, and she trained extensively in the Hawkins technique. She also studied the art of improvisation and the creative process in depth. Also while at Allegheny, Regina directed the Allegheny Repertory Dance Company as well as the Orchesis Dance Company where she was also a choreographer. Regina continued to train and compete through adulthood and is a Dance Worlds finalist.
Regina has been teaching dance for over 25 years and has worked with ages 18 months through adult. She has choreographed for recreational and competitive studio dance as well as allstar dance teams. Her students and choreography have won numerous awards. Her dance philosophy is the expression of feelings and emotion (life!) through creative movement while stressing and without sacrificing a strong technique base. Regina is a firm believer in continuing education, and she continues to attend instructional classes as well as dance educator conventions and classes. She believes it is important to stay current and to remain knowledgeable with the latest teaching and training techniques.
Emily Fagler
Emily Fagler (Heinicka), earned her BA in communication with a minor in business and dance from Seton Hill University in 2010, followed by her MBA in 2012. Emily began her dance education at 4 years old, exploring the genres of tap, ballet and jazz. After her first Nutcracker performance at the age of 8, she decided that ballet was her passion and decided to pursue formal, classical ballet training at Laurel Youth Ballet in Greensburg, PA. Performance opportunities included lead roles Clara, Dew Drop Fairy & Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Stepmother & Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, and Snow Queen in Snow Queen. From 2008-2010 she attended the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), majoring in dance and was also accepted into Pittsburgh Ballet Theater's pre-professional program. While in college, Emily began her teaching career, spending a combined 10 years teaching ballet technique, pointe, contemporary and preschool combo classes throughout Westmoreland County, while working in non-profit fundraising. Emily and her husband have 3 children and live in South Park. Emily spends her time with her children and as a professional photographer. Her daughters have been attending Studio 412 since the spring of 2023 and have loved their experience. Emily is excited to join the faculty and share her love of dance once more.
Gretchen Hurd
Gretchen Hurd (formerly Moore) is originally from Brookville, PA. She received her BA in Dance from Slippery Rock University in 2002 and relocated to Pittsburgh in 2003 to perform with Laboratory Company Dance (LABCO) for five seasons - most notably performing works by Kyle Abraham, Kevin Wynn and Pavel Zustiak. For the 2009-2010 season, Hurd performed with the August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble as a founding company member and rehearsal director. She performed works by Robert Battle (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater), Crystal Frazier (Rennie Harris Puremovement), Christopher Huggins, Greer Reed, and others during her short time with AWCDE. This company catapulted her into a company member position with the Dance Alloy Theater where she performed work by Nora Chipaumire, André Koslowski, Ursula Payne, and Pearlann Porter. Since DAT disbanded, she has performed with STAYCEE PEARL Dance Project, The Pillow Project, Gia T presents, and TanzTheatre André Koslowski. Her choreography has been performed by West Virginia Dance Company, August Wilson Dance Ensemble, West Virginia Wesleyan College, and by West Virginia University in Guatemala.
Brooke Postler
Brooke began her dance training at the age of 2, studying many genres including tap, ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, hip-hop, etc. She began her competitive dance career at the age of 4, collecting top scores regionally and nationally along the way. Brooke has received the highest scoring "Break the Ice" award, along with the highest 13 and over score at the Fire & Ice National Dance Competition. She has worked with many well known choreographers such as Billy Larson, Emily Shock, David Mann, Hannah Wintrode, and Braham Logan Crane. Brooke has worked aside teachers as an assistant for 5 years before leading her own classes. Brooke is currently continuing her education majoring in Speech Pathology and Audiology.
Zac Starr
Zac began his dance training at age 4 in tap and jazz. At this early age, Zac decided to concentrate solely on tap dancing. He competed from ages 7 to 12, excelling at record speed in tap, taking first place and highest scores at competitions in the advanced category. Zac also apppaeared on Dance Moms and took 5th place in a Season 8 episode! And he began attending tap festivals nationwide at age 8. Zac was given a tap scholarship at Point Park University from ages 12-14, where he trained at the college level. At age 13, Zac was discovered at a New York City jazz club event, where he entered a cutting (tapping) contest and was awarded first place. This is also when he met his mentor Jason Samuels Smith who hosted of the event, . At age 14 he also connected with well renowned tap dancer Jared Grimes and began to also be mentored by Jared. He is also mentored by Sarah Reich, and he has assisted her teaching at Nuvo Dance Conventions since November 2020. Zac has also assisted professional tap instructors at Radix, Revel, and LA Dance Magic. Zac currently performs solo acts at nursing homes, senior centers, libraries, and community centers, and he also has his own band which he performs shows with in and around the city of Pittsburgh. Zac is also a Bloch Young Artist and an O’Mara Floors Ambassador. Zac continues to attend tap festivals throughout the country to continue his training and to remain current with his teaching skills.
Leah Stauffer
Born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Leah began dancing, at Tiffany & Company Studio of Dance. She continued to hone her technique by studying ballet at Project Ballet. Leah had the opportunity to work with choreographers Sonya Tayeh, Martha Nichols, Brooke Pierotti, Andy Pellick, and Lauren Adams at the Community School of the Arts' Dancers Edge Company. She also had predominant roles in productions of The Nutcracker and Alice in Wonderland. In addition to her training, Leah has attended intensives such as: the Eisenhower Dance Detroit Winter Intensive, BODYTRAFFIC Summer Program, and New York City Dance Alliance Summer Dance Intensive. Her experience led to her receiving a college scholarship from both Point Park University and the New York City Dance Alliance Foundation. At Point Park University, Leah had the honor to work with choreographers and perform works by Martha Nichols, Robyn Mineko Williams, LeeWei Chao, and Jason McDole. Leah graduated from Point Park University in the Spring of 2023 with a BFA in Dance and a concentration in Modern. She has a passion for choreography and educating young dancers.
Shannon Stella
Shannon has been teaching gymnastics, dance, and cheerleading for 22 years. She holds a BA in Psychology and
Minor in Dance from Slippery Rock University and is USASF certified to teach level 1-5 tumbling. Shannon danced competitively from age 7-18 and then went on to be a member of Slippery Rock's nationally ranked cheerleading team, where she was Captain for 2 years. While growing up and during her college time, Shannon was a member of the semi-professional singing and dance group JAM KIDS, performed on the Gateway Clipper opening for the Vogues and much more, performed in the Pro-bowl halftime show in 1998, taught the Pro-bowl halftime routine in 2002, won UCA Partner stunt National college championship for Slippery Rock University in 2003 (aired on ESPN), and won COA partner stunt National title in 2003. And as an adult, Shannon even competed at The Cheerleading Worlds in 2009 and 2011!