WEST END ACADEMY OF DANCE - Key Persons
Mary Louise Behrends, co-founder and director, has been teaching dance for over 20 years. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she majored in Business, minored in Economics, and has a Dance emphasis. Mary Lousie was a member of the IUP Concert Dancers under the direction of Jane Dakak, where she served as its president her senior year. She also studied with Carmel Ardito of Scranton where she still is a current member of the staff. Mary Louise attended the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts which was held at Bucknell University. She participated in classes with Constance Reynolds, founder of the Ballet Theater of Scranton, Catherine Kingsley, founder of The Anglo-American School of Ballet as well as Ballet Master Edward Villella. Mary Louise loves seeing her students progress and become talented dancers as well as choreographers. She is the mother to Abigail and Stephanie, both dancers.
Rena Williams, co-founder and director, started dancing in Johnson City, N.Y. She then attended The Carmel Ardito School of Dance and was a member of The Ballet Theater of Scranton, under the direction of Constance Reynolds and Helen Gaus (now director of Scranton Civic Ballet Company). She attended Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA where she majored in Dance. She was a member of the staff of the Carmel Ardito School of Dance for twenty years. Rena has attended ballet master classes with Edward Villella and David Howard as well as tap master classes with Anthony Locasio, Debbie Dee, Charles Kelly, and Ray Hesselink. She is mother to her daugther Stephanie as well as a recent grandmother.