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.

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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.

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Tony Bazemore

Tony Bazemore Jr is an experienced Hip-Hop/Krump dancer from Pittsburgh PA. With more than 10 years of dance and choreography experience, Tony has trained with dancers such as Ian Eastwood, Tight Eyez (creator of Krump) along with Veteran krumpers:  Outrage, Solow, Spartan, and Crush.  

He has competed in all styles and Krump dance competitions across the United States including World of Dance. He has toured with the Allegro Dance Company and has taught his own masterclass. As a perfectionist in his craft he trains constantly to improve to bring the best out of himself.

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Lexy Bittner

Lexy is currently training at Boston Conservatory at Berklee to receive her BFA in contemporary dance. She graduated from Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School where she received an Associates Degree for dance arts. Lexy got the opportunity to train with the faculty from The Juilliard School in their summer intensive. She has also trained with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Joffrey Ballet School, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and Elite Dance by Damian. She has performed in numerous productions as well as competed in many competitions growing up. Some of her best achievements have been receiving 1st place at Yagp for contemporary, 5th runner up outstanding dancer at NYCDA Nationals, and top 18 at TDA this summer. Throughout all that Lexy has experienced, she cannot wait to pass on her knowledge and advice!

 

Heather Carpenter 

Heather Goelz-Carpenter is a native of Pittsburgh, were she resides in the South Hills with her two children. Heather is a 97’ alum of the dance program at Point Park and MBA SAEM at Point Park. As her performance career ended she came back to teach adjunct jazz for Point Park. Currently she teaches all the tap dance courses at the university. Performance credits include Civic Light Opera, American Music Theater, Celebrity Cruises, and performances as a Radio City Rockette in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular in NYC and on tour.

She co-owned a long time family business, Carpelz Center for the Arts, LLC, where she taught and mentored young dancers alongside her mother. Heather teaches master classes all over the country. Notable past credits include Dance Masters of America, Dance Educators of America, American Dance Awards, StarQuest International, North American Dance Championships, Point Park International Summer Dance, and assistant to Andy Blankenbuehler at Broadway Dance Center. Heather was also among the first to teach The Rockette Experience at Radio City Music Hall and on tour with The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. She is certified to to teach ballet, tap, jazz, and acrobatics by Dance Masters of America and Dance Educators of America. Heather served on the board of directors for Dance Masters of PA, chapter 10. Heather also served on the faculty of the National High School Dance Festival hosted by Point Park University.

Heather is active on the dance competition and convention circuit and is qualified to adjudicate through the United States Sports Federation. She adjudicates for Dance Masters of America, Dance Educators of America, American Dance Awards (USA and Canada), and North American Dance Championships. Heather also served as tap and jazz adjudicator for International Dance Organization, USA qualifying rounds.

Heather attended a seminar for the International Dance Organization (IDO). There successfully tested in ballet, tap, jazz, and modern to be licensed to adjudicate internationally for IDO.

Heather choreographs all over the tri-state area. She created numerous works on her former youth company “Visionz In Motion”, which performed at Art All Night and Beauty & Bravery a charity fashion show event. Past credits include Coleman/Fleetwood Dealer conference, Fiddlesticks with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Celebrate the Seasons parade in Pittsburgh, Kennywood’s Holiday Lights Event, and assistant to Andy Blankenbuehler Bells Are Ringing at Civic Light Opera. Heather received many awards from major dance organizations including “The Diamond Award” for outstanding choreography for her jazz work Black Coffee. Her tap work, “Sing & Swing” was featured in Point Park University’s Pittsburgh Connections show.

Most recently, Heather was on faculty for both Dance Educators of America & American Dance Awards national summer events where she taught jazz, tap, contemporary, & musical theater classes & also judged. She also teaches tap at Carnegie Mellon University for their Pre-College Summer Program.

Her newest endeavor is an exclusive tap dance club & youth company, “Generation Sole Pittsburgh”.

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Gionna D'Alessandro

Gionna is a dancer with a background in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Acro, Lyrical, Salsa, and Contemporary. She has been dancing since the age of 2 and has won numerous awards and National titles over the past 15 years of competitive dance. Gionna received Top 18 at The 2020 Dance Awards and Top 26 at Radix Nationals, 2020. She has worked with many choreographers such as Rudy Abreu, Lucy Vallely, Chelsea Sebes and many other well known choreographers. Gionna has choreographed solos, competed at YAGP and Break the Floor conventions. She is currently in the dance program at Westinghouse Arts Academy Charter School and is a member of the National Honor Society of Dance. 

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Tricia Dietrick

Tricia Dietrick is currently studying to earn her BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance at Boston Conservatory. She grew up training in many styles and competed at various competitions throughout highschool. She has danced at summer intensives such as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and participated in Dancewave: Through College & Beyond. She graduated from Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School and was the president of Lincoln Park’s National Honor Society of Dance Arts her senior year. Aside from performing in many Lincoln Park productions, she also choreographed for several including 60x60 and Choreography Project. Tricia is a former member of the Creative Team for Lincoln Park's Ensemble Immersion where she choreographed and developed original works. She is thrilled to keep creating and share all that she has learned!

 

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.

 

Shawnee Peterson

Shawnee received a BA in dance pedagogy (teaching of dance) from Point Park College. While in college she continued her dance education in ballet, jazz, and modern along with ethnic styles, Dunham and numerous dance academics. Shawnee has been teaching dance for for 25 year at various studios throughout the Pittsburgh area. When she is not at the studio, she is home with her 7 children, and of course she shares her love of dance with her 4 daughters.-

 

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.

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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!