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-in-education initiatives that support the theatre's artistic work for young people. In 2007, Mrs. Ramsey was honored with the YWCA's Golden Laurel Award for her artistic and educational work with children and youth. In 2008, she received the Bethlehem Business Council's Priscilla Payne Hurd Award in recognition of her impact and influence on the enhancement of life in the Bethlehem community.
	DENISE BINDER Dance Instructor B.A. in Dance, DeSales University. Ms. Binder has choreographed, performed and taught dance in New York and Pennsylvania and has taught dance to many children and adults with disabilities at Rockland Children's Psychiatric Center, Mercy Learning Center, Good Shepard, and Vitalistic Therapeutic Charter School.
	JOHN ANKER BOW Drama Instructor/Director John is a graduate of Rider University's education department, is the founder of Surflight Theatre's highly successful Educational Outreach Program, and is the author of several musical plays for young audiences.
	SUSAN CHASE Drama Instructor/Director B.A. 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 directer and appeared in several PYT MainStage productions.
	LUNDA A. CORNELIUS Voice Instructor M.A. 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.
	JILL DUNN Instructor / Outreach Director M.A. in Educational Theatre, New York University, B.S. Elementary Education and B.A. Theatre Studies, Boston University. Ms Dunn is a certified Elementary Education teacher and has taught drama accross all NYC's boroughs for The New Victory Theater. She has taught PYT's literacy-based drama program, Curtains UP on Reading, in several public schools in the Lehigh Valley and is on the Lehigh Valley Arts Council Education Committee.
	AMANDA EBERT Dance Instructor Ms Ebert is currently working towards her B.A. in Dance from Muhlenberg College. She has taught, performed, and choreographed in the Lehigh Valley and Maryland.
	TORI JANUARY Youth Drama Specialist B.F.A. in Theatre Studies, University of Utah and MFA in Youth Drama from University of Texas-Austin. Ms. January is a PA Council on the Arts rostered teaching artist. She taught creatice drama at the Jewish Community Center and currently teaches drama at Lehigh Valley Academy.
	LYNN FLICKINGER JONES Vocal Instructor B.A. Vocal Performance Greensboro College. Ms. Jones has performed in Europe, throughout the Lehigh Valley, and is a vocal instructor at DeSales University.
	JACLYN KOKOLUS Dance Instructor B.A. in Dance, DeSales University. Ms. Kokolus has choreographed, taught, and performed in Pennsylvania.
	LYNNE MARIANI Dance Instructor / Choreographer 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, Hollywood 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 B.M. 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 and has been Musival Director for dozens of PYT Mainstage musicals.
	LAUREN SION Dance Instructor BA Dance, Muhlenberg College. Ms. Sion has been a ballet instructor in the area for several years and is looking forward to her first year with PYT.
	AMY BROWNE SMITH Dance Instructor B.F.A. 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.
	MELISSA SMITH Dance Instructor Ms. Smith is currently working towards her degree in Psychology and Dance at Muhlenberg College. She has choreographed and performed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
	JEANETTE L. SOMMONS Voice Instructor M.M. in Vocal Performance, University of Miami. Ms. Sommons has performed as a soloist with the Miami Bach Society. For the past 5 years, she has taught voice to students as they prepare for professional careers.
	BRETT STURGIS Dance Instructor / Choreographer Mr Sturgis began his training at the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club. He has performed with numerous dance companies including Opus Dance Theatre, Ballet Hispanico and Eddie Torres Dance Co. He danced internationally for Disney in Aida and performed in the national tour of Sweet Charity alongside such notables as Paige Davis and Molly Ringwald.

Pennsylvania Youth Theatre,
located in The Banana Factory, 25 W 3rd Street, Bethlehem, PA, 18015 :: 610-332-1400
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