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| Meet Our Staff |
| Teachers affect eternity, one can never tell where their influence ends |
Shari Opfermann
Shari holds her B.A. in Dance from Point Park University. During her college years, she had the opportunity to travel internationally performing with a dance company. Although performing was fun, Shari's true love is to teach & choreograph. For the last 16 years, she has owned and operated one of |
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| the finest studios in the area. Her philosophy of “Dancing for a Difference” inspires her students and reinforces her belief that each person can make a difference in someone else’s life. Shari has had the oppoett County Dance Camp, inrtunity to teach master classes in Jazz and Lyrical at the Garrstruct at Slippery Rock University, as well as judging various dance competitions. She is an award winning choreographer who has developed an outstanding dance company, the SuperStars. She has had the privilege of having several of her students chosen as PA Title winners for the Dance Masters of America organization. As a member of Dance Masters, she continues her education with workshops & seminars. Her choreography could also be seen in the Upper St. Clair spring musicals "Singing In the Rain" and “Into the Woods”. Shari is blessed with the ability to teach and inspire her students to always do their personal best! |
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Cathy Lavin
Cathy has served as Studio Administrator since 2000, but she has been associated with the studio from the earliest days. Her daughters were students of Miss Shari's for 15 years. Cathy retired from a senior management position with a Pittsburgh software company in 2000, after a 24 year career. Since then, she has been able to blend her management experience with her love of the art of dance. Cathy is responsible for correspondence with the students and parents, marketing programs, website content, and developing new projects, such as the "Have A Heart" and "Gifts Of Dance" benefits as well as the Senior Citizen's Fitness program. |
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Sandra Nunley
A graduate of Point Park College, Sandra holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. She has grown up with a true love of dance, starting in her early years as a member of an award winning competitive group under Shari's direction. During her years at Point Park, she had the opportunity to participate in ballet and modern productions at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. And Sandra has never stopped learning. She regularly attends classes and workshops to further her skills in dance techniques and teaching methods. Her innovative choreography has earned her several awards at local and national competitions. She currently works with students of all ages, sharing her love of the art and motivating them to do their best! |
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Nikki Daley
As a young member of a competing and performing group, Nikki has had the thrill associated with working hard and performing well. Her time dancing with Sandra and Shari while growing up inspired her to want to share what she learned with other dancers. She is an energetic and exciting teacher of all age groups and all dance disciplines, but tap is her passion. She has passed her love of dance on to her son, Zack, who is a member of the Dance Workshop SuperStars and the Dream Team. He is also the former Junior Mister Dance of Pennsylvania 2005! |
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Launda Waterman
Gymnastics has been her life! She is very accomplished in this field and has been able to use her skill and talents to teach and inspire confidence in her students. Launda was a member of competing teams during her high school years. She is USAG Safety Certified and has won numerous awards for choreography for her group and solo acrobatic routines. Being honored at the many local and national competitions doesn't thrill her as much as watching her students master that difficult move that they have been working on. She encourages the students to work hard and keep trying while still making it fun for them. |
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Janet Wilkes
Ms. Janet received her B.A. in Dance from Point Park College with a concentration in Jazz and Ballet. Prior to attending Point Park, she attended the Pittsburgh High School for Performing Arts (CAPA). She also had the opportunity to study with the Civic Light Opera and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. In addition to her expertise in jazz, tap, ballet, pointe, and modern, Ms. Janet also has trained and taught gymnastics. She has been teaching since 1997, and has received many awards for her choreography. |
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Monica Milani
Monica is a graduate of Point Park College with her B.A. in Dance. She developed a love of dance at an early age as a student in Shari's classes. She is an accomplished performer and was a member of a very successful competing group while growing up. She is an award winning choreographer and has continued her dance education through attendance at many conventions and workshops throughout the year. She is a talented, inspiring teacher for students of all age levels. |
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Megan Kamberis
An exciting and talented instructor joining us this year. Megan is a 2001 graduate of Point Park University with her Bachelor of Arts in Dance. In addition to her training at Point Park, she also apprenticed at Dance Alloy. Her performance experience spans 12 years and includes everything from University Showcases, to Musicals, to Contemporary Ballet, to Dance Teams. Megan has 7 years of teaching experience in a studio environment, instructing all levels from Pre-School to the advanced student. We are thrilled to have Megan join our Team. |
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April Kavulic
We are very happy to have April on our Gymnastics teaching staff. April has been instructing pre-school through high school gymnastics for over 15 years. She is a Professional Member of the USA Gymnastics Association, with Safety and Professional Development Certifications. As a highly regarded WPIAL Gymnastics Coach, she has worked with high school teams and also provided private instruction at all ages levels. April has been on teaching staff at Dance Workshop by Shari for the past 6 years. |
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Katie Kaufmann
Miss Katie is a graduate of Indiana University of PA with a degree in Exercise Science, minoring in Dance. She is currently employed at a Chiropractic and Rehabilitation center, working with patients who are on a prescribed exercise routine. She has been teaching dance to students aged 3 - 18 for nearly 10 years in State College and eastern Pennsylvania. Her experience is in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop and contemporary. Miss Katie was also the dance coach of the State College High School Dance Team. |
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Stacey Brett
Stacey is joining our Team this year to provide Vocal Instruction. Stacey is a 2002 graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College with her degree in Music Education/Vocal Performance. She went on to Duquesne University to receive her Masters in Vocal Performance. Stacey is also certified to teach Music, Kindergarten through 12th grade in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. She has taught music and vocal instruction at the elementary, high school and university level. |
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Sara Canter
Sara will bring her expertise and skill to our Musical Theater program. Sara is a graduate of Seton Hill University, majoring in Theater and Music. She has extensive performance experience, including shows with the CLO Gallery of Heroes, McKeesport Little Theater and Seton Hill University Theater. Her performances with the CLO Gallery of Heroes allowed her to present original productions to elementary and middle school students in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas. These productions were educational presentations of historical figures and events. She is also a skilled vocalist, and musician. Sara will bring real-life experiences to those hoping to audition for school or professional performances. We are happy to have her on staff. |
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| We are also fortunate to have several of our former “SuperStars” still actively involved with the studio. Vanessa Garraway has been an award winning choreographer for our Musical Theater Dance program and the 2007 1st Place National Award-winning Brentwood Dance Team. Katie Boyle and Christina Liebert are graduating College Seniors who have continued their dance training while in college. Katie is graduating from Point Park with a degree in Dance. Christina is graduating from Penn State and is a member of the nationally acclaimed Lionettes Dance Team. Both Katie and Christina work with our dance and Acro students to pass on their skills as former stand-out dancers and acro/gymnasts. They have both been recognized for their choreography at recent competitions. The younger students love to see them, and we love having them with us! |
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