Pennsylvania Youth Theatre: School of Performing Arts: Meet the Instructors

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	ARTIST/TEACHERS MADELEINE RAMSEY Founding Artistic Director Educator, Actress, M.Ed. Lehigh University. Under Mrs. Ramsey's guidance, PYT's School of Performing Arts has developed into one of the state's most respected arts education programs, and includes comprehensive outreach and arts-ineducation initiatives that support the theatre's artistic work for young people.
	DENISE BINDER Dance Instructor BA in Dance, DeSales University. Ms. Binder has choreographed, performed and taught dance in New York and Pennsylvania.
	SUSAN CHASE Instructor/Director BA Brandeis University. Ms. Chase is a director, actress, dancer and playwright, and has performed at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall and in the Lehigh Valley. She has also directed and appeared in several PYT MainStage productions.
	LUNDA A. CORNELIUS Voice Instructor MA Vocal Performance, Ohio State University. Ms. Cornelius has taught voice to students of all ages. She performs throughout the Northeast and Europe in musical theatre productions, opera, and pop concerts.
	LILLIAN FREEMAN Dance Instructor BFA in dance, Kutztown University. She held a position as Interim Professor at Kutztown University and has instructed in private studios for the past ten years. Mrs. Freeman recently opened Allegro Dance Studios LLC. in Emmaus, PA. She is on the board of directors of the Topton Arts Alliance, and continues her dance education through various dance classes in the Lehigh Valley, New York, and Philadelphia.
	JESSICA GREENER Dance Instructor Ms. Greener is currently working towards her BA in dance, Muhlenberg. She has taught and choreographed in the Lehigh Valley and recently attended NYU’s Tisch Summer Residency and the American College Dance Festival.
	DARREN MICHAEL HENGST Drama Instructor MFA in acting, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign’s Professional Actor Training Program. Recognized by the Society of American Fight Directors, Mr. Hengst is a professional actor and fight director in the Philadelphia region. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association. His acting credits include the Barrymore Award winning musical Winnesburg, Ohio at the Arden Theatre, Of Mice and Men at the Walnut Street Theatre and upcoming The Glass Menagerie at People’s Light and Theatre Company.
	YU HONG Dance Instructor Mr Hong has performed professionally with Cincinnati Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Southern Ballet Theater (Principal) and Central Ballet of China (Soloist). He has taught for many professional ballet schools and is also currently on faculty at the Performing Arts High School Bethlehem.
	TORI JANUARY Youth Drama Specialist BFA in Theatre Studies, University of Utah and MFA in Youth Drama from University of Texas- Austin. Ms. January has led the Pegasus Project since 2002 and is a PA council on the Arts rostered teaching artist.
	BRIAN H. KUNSMAN Kung Fu Instructor A 25-year practitioner of Pai Lum Martial Arts, Mr. Kunsman founded the Bethlehem Kung Fu Center in 1988. He teaches classes in Expressive Youth Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and Weaponry.
	J.C. LEE Drama Instructor An accomplished actor, director andplaywright, J. C. has extensive training inShakespeare, Viewpoints and Suzuki Technique. Credits include: Romeo & Juliet, As You Like It, suburbia, Angels in America, and many others. J.C. was a member of the 2006 Williamstown Theatre Festival Directing Corps. His own play Night of the Wannabes: An Exorcism was a finalist for the Kennedy Center's National New Play Award. Mr. Lee is currently on Faculty with the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Performing Arts.
	LYNNE MARIANI Dance Instructor Ms. Mariani began her professional career in Bob Fosse's Dancin', where she served as dance captain for Mr. Fosse. Her credits include the European company of Cats, Hollwood Beat, Chicago, Red Hot Broadway and national TV commercials. Lynne's teaching experience includes Bravo Dance, DeSales University, Regional Dance Theatre, Wilkes University, and King's College.
	NANCIANNE METZ Musical Director/Voice Instructor BM Mansfield University. Ms. Metz is Minister of Music at St. Peter's UCC in Seemsville, and Musical Director for MORA Chorus of the Lehigh Valley. She serves as accompanist for Muhlenberg Theatre Department and DeSales University Theatre.
	REBECCA MOORE Dance Instructor BA, Moravian College. She has been a choreographer and teacher throughout the area. Rebecca is also a principal dance member of the Serendipity Dance Ensemble.
	DANA NEDEROSTEK Dance Instructor Ms. Nederostek has danced professionally with Cincinnati Ballet, Georgia Ballet, and Northern Plains Ballet. She has taught at The Academy of Ballet Arts, The Georgia Ballet, and Repertory Dance Theatre.
	KIMBERLY PATTERSON Dance Instructor BA in Dance, DeSales University. Ms. Patterson has choreographed and performed many works, and has taught dance to students of all ages in PA, NY and Australia.
	DANIELLE SIRINSKY Drama Instructor BFA in Musical Theatre Performance, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She performed professionally in a variety of theatre and musical theatre venues, her favorite roles being A Chorus Line (Bebe) and West Side Story (Margarita). She has taught, directed, and choreographed throughout the Chicago area.
	AMY BROWNE SMITH Dance Instructor BFA in Modern Dance and Ballet, University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She is currently a soloist, choreographer and company member of Lehigh Valley's T.A.P. (Teach All People). Ms. Smith has performed in many venues in Philadelphia, New York City and in Austin, Texas. She has been teaching for the last 15 years at many schools and universities.
	JEANETTE L. SOMMONS Voice Instructor MM in Vocal Performance, University of Miami. Ms. Sommons has performed as a soloist with the Miami Bach Society. For the past 4 years, she has taught voice to students as they prepare for professional careers.
	TRISHA PONGRACZ ZEHNER Dance Instructor BA in Dance, Allentown College. She is a judge for the Governor School of the Arts. She teaches for the Sharon Plessl School of Dance and for local middle school dance programs. Ms. Zehner is Co-Director of Excel, a dance company which has performed nationally.

Pennsylvania Youth Theatre:
The Banana Factory, 25 West 3rd Street, Bethlehem, PA, 18015 :: 610-332-1400
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Photo Credit: All photos by Hub Willson