STUDIO WEST DANCE CENTRE - Key Persons
Miss Alexa is a graduate of DeSales University, where she earned her BA in Dance. She studied both Ballet and Modern technique. Alexa has focused on Jazz dance through the DeSales University dance team and Step Hip Hop through the LeGit Step Team. She has also trained in classes taught by the Pennsylvania Ballet School as well as the Boston Ballet School. Alexa is incredibly excited to teach at Studio West and share her love of dance with others who love dance too! This is Miss Alexa's fourth season at Studio West.
Miss Allison received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from DeSales University in Center Valley, PA. At DeSales she studied Ballet and Modern technique, Musical Theater, Classical Jazz, Dance Composition, as well as Theater Technology. She also served as "Dance Director" for the Conservatory of Dance at the university, a group in which dance majors instruct local students. Since earning her degree, Allison has performed in a number of musicals, and served as head choreographer for several school musicals including: "Anything Goes", "Beauty and the Beast", "Guys and Dolls", "Annie", "The Music Man", and "High School Musical". Miss Allison now has more than 20 years of professional experience teaching dance. This is Miss Allison's fifth year at Studio West. She is constantly working to pass on her love of dance to all of her students, as well as her 3 children: Dean, Clare and Cecilia.
Erin Puskar, originally from Allentown, PA, earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance Education ('15) and her Master of Science degree in Performing Arts Leadership and Management ('16) from Shenandoah University Conservatory in Winchester, VA. Erin began dancing at age four and graduated from the Lehigh Charter High School for the Arts in Bethlehem, PA with a concentration in dance. Throughout high school, she studied with the Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and performed numerous roles in The Nutcracker and other classical productions.
Throughout college, Erin performed in dance and musical theatre productions, includingAll Shook Up and American Idiot. Erin also participated in dance workshops in Chicago, Washington D.C., New York City, Sweden, and Italy. Erin has served the community through dance education by choreographing for musicals and show choirs and teaching in local dance studios in Virginia, West Virginia, Chicago, and Pennsylvania.
Erin performed professionally for three seasons with Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre. Her show credits include Oklahoma!, Hairspray, Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, West Side Story, Mamma Mia!, and Young Frankenstein. Recently, Erin has worked as a singer-dancer for Norwegian Cruise Line, which has allowed her to fulfill her dreams of seeing the world. Erin just earned her personal trainer certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and started her own business called ShowBizFit dedicated to cross-training performing artists!
Erin is excited to return to Studio West to share her love of dance!
Miss Laura earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Jazz Dance with a performance concentration from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. After graduating, she performed professionally in a national tour, several Off-Broadway shows, and a modern dance company based out of New York City. Since then, Miss Laura transitioned her career path into childhood education. Miss Laura has found her true happiness combining her love of dance and her love of working with childhood education by teaching dance at the Arts Academy Charter Middle school, as well as with Miss Shannon for the past 10 years at Studio West Dance Centre.
Megan grew up dancing in the Lehigh Valley. She decided to continue her training at Ursinus College, where she graduated with a BA in Dance and English in 2018. While at Ursinus, she choreographed several pieces for the student-run dance company and performed for choreographers like Melissa Chisena and Lindsey Pierce in the performance company. She was also able to intern at Feet First Dance Center in Phoenixville, PA where she learned the ins and outs of studio management while assisting Mommy and Me classes. Since graduating, Megan enjoys taking technique classes in the Lehigh Valley and New York City. She is currently pursuing an MS in School Counseling at Kutztown University. This is her third season at Studio West and she's very excited to continue her story in dance as a teacher. Megan looks forward to sharing her passion with the dancers here at Studio West!
Shannon (Connellan) Krische is the owner and director of Studio West Dance Centre. She started dancing at the young age of 3. Shannon has studied ballet, pointe, modern, tap, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary. She is a graduate of DeSales University with a BA in Dance and minor in Psychology. While at DeSales, she performed and choreographed for numerous shows. She taught for three years at the community dance program at DeSales called the Conservatory of Dance. She held the position of Student Assistant Director of the program her senior year. She attended the American College Dance Festival Association and has taken many workshops with various artists throughout her college years such as Jacques D'Amboise National Dance Institute. As a DeSales dance major, she studied Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Teaching Methods for Dance, Kinesiology, Dance Composition, and Dance History. Shannon has choreographed for the Parkland dance team. She danced professionally with the Lehigh Valley Outlawz dance team for two years. Shannon has also danced professionally with Serendipity Dance Ensemble. With Serendipity, she was able to perform in many different shows and dance festivals such as the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Mountain Dance Concert, and Mayfair to name a few. Shannon has taught locally for the past 20 years in area studios as well as local college community dance programs. She has exprience teaching all ages and ability levels. Her choreography has earned numerous awards at competitions and has been performed in Disney World, The Channel 6 ABC/Ikea Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia, The National Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington DC, Hershey Park, as well as events throughout the Lehigh Valley. Shannon spends her free time with her husband, their two little boys Nicholas and Aiden, and their daughter Charlotte. She is passionate about teaching and looks forward to sharing her love of dance with her students.
Miss Tracey started her dance training in first grade and has been dancing ever since. She has many years of experience in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Acrobatic Jazz and Competitive dance. She has won many awards not only as a dancer, but also as a choreographer. Miss Tracey has been teaching dance for seven years and coached two professional teams in the area. She was named the first dance team coach of the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks. In her free time Miss Tracey enjoys photography and spending time with her family. She is an aunt of 5. This is Miss Tracey's fourth year at Studio West.
Miss Vic is a recent graduate of DeSales University with a B.A. in Dance. In her four years at DeSales, she has studied ballet and modern technique, as well as modern partnering and tap. She also focused her studies on dance pedagogy and composition/choreography. Throughout high school, she has performed throughout the Lehigh Valley, as well as performing in New York City and Disney World. Miss Vic is thrilled to be teaching at Studio West this fall and is excited for the chance to spark artistic individuality in her classes.