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| Meet Our Staff |
| Teachers affect eternity, one can never tell where their influence ends |
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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 and choreograph. Shari has had the opportunity to teach master classes in Jazz and Lyrical at the Garrett County Dance Camp, instruct at Slippery Rock University, as well as judge various dance competitions. She is an award winning choreographer who has developed an outstanding competing dance company, the SuperStars, as well as a performing company, the ShiningStars. She has had the privilege of having several of her students chosen as PA Title winners for the Dance Masters of America organization. Shari was also the choreographer for Upper St. Clair High School musicals for 5 years. For the last 20 years, she has owned and operated one of 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. In 2008, the step was taken to incorporate Dancing for A Difference™ as a non-profit organization to facilitate the growth of the fundraising efforts that were being undertaken. As of 2011, over $64,000 has been raised and donated to organizations such as Children's Hospital, Make A Wish, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Autism Speaks, Juvenile Diabetes and more. Shari is also a Zumba instructor, completing certifications in Zumba, Zumba Gold, Zumba Toning and Zumbatomics. In 2010, she received AFAA certification from the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America and is also certified to teach Kick-boxing. Shari is blessed with the ability to teach and inspire her students to always do their personal best while maintaining a healthy lifestyle! |
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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", "Gifts Of Dance" and "Unity In Community" benefits programs. |
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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 2011 graduate of the Dance Workshop SuperStars. 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.
Launda is a certified Zumba instructor and has her AFAA certification from the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. She is also certified to teach Kick-boxing. |
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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.
Janet has also inspired her daughter, Ashlyn, who is a member of the Dance Workshop SuperStars. |
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Megan Kamberis
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 9 years of teaching experience in a studio environment, instructing all levels from Pre-School to the advanced student. Megan is also the coach of the Keystone Oaks Dance 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 10 years. |
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Heather Rosemeier
Heather graduated from The University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Exercise Science. She is a certified Zumba instructor and provides the perfect workout class – cardio, weights and toning. In 2010, Heather received her AFAA certification from Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. |
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Christina Liebert
Christina grew up at the studio as an award winning member of the SuperStars. She trained in all disciplines of dance and was especially accomplished in acro-dance. Christina graduated from Penn State with a degree in Elementary Education and is currently teaching in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District. While attending college, she was the captain of the nationally recognized Lady Pantherettes Dance Team. Through her leadership, they advanced to the highest national placement in the history of the team. We are excited to have Christina on staff teaching hip hop and other dance styles. She also received her Zumba certification in 2011. |
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Katie Boyle
After 15 years of dance education at Dance Workshop by Shari, Katie went on to Point Park University to receive her bachelor's degree in Dance. She graduated in 2009 and has been performing on Royal Caribbean cruise ships since her graduation. While she is between cruises, she works with the studio to teach dance and acro classes and set choreography for performances. |
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Leah DeSimone
Leah has been a member of the Dance Workshop family since she was a 3 year old. She graduated from our program at age 18, and continued dancing at University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown where she received her degree in Biology. Leah is pursuing her Masters in Exercise Science at California University of Pennsylvania. Recently certified to teach Zumba and Zumbatomics, she is excited to be continuing her love of dance and fitness at the studio. |
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