Meet the Instructors
Our instructors contribute to the success of Premiere because of their diversified backgrounds and age range. Most have either a college degree or an educational field in dance, combined with many collective years of professional dance experience. Their excellent qualifications meet the needs of each individual student as it applies to their growth and development through dance and/or acrobatics.
Our parents are proud to be at a studio with such gifted, talented, caring and loving instructors who give their children dance/acrobatic instructions as well as having an influence in shaping their lives.
As artists, our instructors produce extremely creative and entertaining choreography for our dance concerts, special performances, and our Acro Exhibitions. The support that Premiere as had from its many students, their families, and the community since it began in 1996, is proof of that!
Ashley Amberik-Levengood
Ashley started dancing at the age of 2 with her mom, Stacey Levengood, and has been going strong ever since. Her love for dance grew into a love for teaching dance. She is very dedicated in motivating and inspiring her students. Ashley is a Pottsgrove graduate and is currently studying Elementary Education. She had the privilege to dance with the Cedar Crest College Dance Company and has attended many of their workshops. Ashley has choreographed for Disney’s Magical Music Days in Florida, as well as being a choreographer for Premiere Performers, our competition team. Ashley is the proud mother of 2 beautiful and entertaining daughters, Emmalynn (2006) and Gwyneth (2012). Ashley feels that dance is a wonderful way to be artistic and challenged at the same time.
Becky Szimhart
Becky started dance at the age of 3 in southern California. She trained and performed with the same studio from 1955 to 1969. Becky became an assistant teacher at the age of 16 and trained in jazz with Carlton Johnson. She performed as a young dancer with ANTA in Los Angeles, USO circuit, and Dance Masters of America. Becky was hired my NBC and Disney in 1969 to tour with Disney on Parade under Academy Award-Winning choreographer Onna White, where she toured America and South America from 1969-1974. She was hired by Tom Hansen, Emmy Award-Winning choreographer for the Carol Burnett Show, to join the cast of Peter Pan through NBC for the Asian tour from 1975-1976. Becky continued to dance in Australia in the Perth Contemporary Dance Company from 1978-1979. She also worked with the Western Australian Ballet for one season in 1979. She joined the Hanna Barbara’s production of Yabba Dabba Doo as the dance captain in the tour of Australia from 1979-1980. Becky returned to the states and became a certified fitness instructor through IDEA and later ACE and worked at Sports Connection in L.A. She moved to Gilberstville, PA and taught fitness at Final Results from 1992-1998. Becky joined Premiere Dance Studio at it’s inception in 1996, as the head of the Ballet department. Becky also teaches pre-school fitness at 5 local pre-schools for the past 14 years. She has two daughters, who also dance at Premiere, the oldest one a graduate of the Governor’s School for Performing Arts. Becky continues to further ballet education by studying with Finis Jhung in New York City and Zena Rommett who developed the world renowned floor barre technique.
Jayna Miller
MIss Jayna has been with Premiere Dance Studio since Day 1. She graduated Penn State University with a Art Education Degree, while participating in the gymnastics program. After graduating, she worked at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. Miss Janya worked as a preschool teacher, before joining the Philadelphia Freedom YMCA 15 years ago as the Advanced Aquatic Director. All three of her daughters, Aubrey, Olivia, and Samantha started dancing with Premiere at the age of 2 or 3, and danced through their senior year of high school. She also has a son, Stephen, a midshipman at the US Naval Academy. Miss Jayna resides with her husband Steve in Gilbertsville.m about? What makes it interesting? Write a catchy description to grab your audience's attention...
Kristina Dennis
Kristina graduated from Cedar Crest College earning a B.A. in Dance, where she performed all four years with the Cedar Crest College Dance Company. She was President of the CCC chapter of Nu Delta Alpha (National Dance Education Honors Society). She also teaches dance classes at the Berks Ballet Theatre Conservatory of Dance and the Yocum Institute for Arts Education. She is the Body Movement teacher for Yocum’s Preschool Program and a dance instructor for Yocum’s Summer Multi-Arts Camps. She is a resident Teaching Artist at Yocum, which leads her to bring dance into various schools and libraries around Berks County. Through storytelling, drama, creative writing and critical thinking, Kristina promotes literacy with Neighborhood Bridges in Reading School District. Choreography credits include “The Phantom Tollbooth,” “Click Clack Moo,” “Rapunzel, Rapunzel,” and “Peter Pan” (Yocum Institute), “Mary Poppins” (Berks Ballet Theatre), “Wake Up Little Suzie” (Raab Middle School) and she coaches couples for “Dancing with the Reading Stars”. She was last seen performing with Berks Opera Company presents Charles Gounod’s “Faust” (2015).
Kaitlyn Eppehimer
Kaitlyn Eppehimer started dancing at the age of 4 at Premiere Dance Studio. She started student teaching here at Premiere at the age of 13 and did so until she graduated. She also was apart of our competition team for about 6 years. After graduating she went to study Early Childhood Education and received her Associates degree from Montgomery County Community College. She is currently pursuing her BS in Early Childhood at Purdue University Global.
Michael Nguyn
Michael Nguyen is a passionate dance instructor, choreographer, and entertainment artist. He received his MFA in Choreography and Performance at Temple University where he has had opportunities to perform for many guest artists such as Kyle Clark and Jenifer Weber. Michael is also a member of Balance Dance Company, D2D: Dare 2 Dance, and is a choreographer for Beat Addikts United. His love for dance grew as a student at West Chester University. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in Professional Studies with a focus on Health Science and a Dance minor from West Chester University, Michael began working on his career as a choroegrapher, teacher and performing artist. He enjoys sharing his artistry by teaching for several dance studios throughout the local communities and is a full time dance teacher at Chester Charter Scholars Academy. Michael is inspired by other artists for their unique works with a means to continuing the exploration of methods for collaborating and building communities through dance.
Sandy Jordan
Sandy joined the Premiere Dance Studio family when it started in 1996. During Sandy’s tenure at Premiere, she has taught a variety of acrobatic classes for all ages and levels. Sandy’s gymnastic career began at age four in a small gym in Philadelphia. At age 13, Sandy began student teaching for the gym at which she was training. Eventually, she went on to coach their junior Olympic gymnastics team for ten years during which time she was a member of the United States of America Gymnastics Federation (USAGF) and safety certified. At the end of the 2003 competition season, Sandy resigned from coaching to concentrate on her family, full time work at The Vanguard Group, and part time work at Premiere. Since joining Premiere, Sandy has graduated from West Chester University with a degree in Accounting (2000), married her wonderful husband Terry (2002), and had two beautiful sons, Zack (2005) and Luke (2007).
Maggie Vaccaro
Margaret Vaccaro has been dancing since a very early age, studying a variety of styles here at Premiere Dance Studio. Her passion for dance led her to LVPA, a performing arts high school where she graduated with a focus in dance. After high school, she graduated from DeSales University with a B.A. in Dance. During her college career she studied under renowned teachers such as Timothy Cowart, Tara Madsen-Robbins, Angela Sigley, Janet Peck and Robin Gerchman. Margaret also danced with Monarch Dance Company under Tabatha Robinson-Scott where she performed at shows such as Musikfest. She was selected to be apart of the Lehigh Valley Dance Exchange's residency with Alyce Finwall, a San Francisco based choreographer, as a dancer in "Enter Demeter". Margaret also choreographed many pieces that were presented at DeSales University, which landed her being selected as one of the three choreographers to present work at the Mark Morris school in New York City. Since she graduated, Margaret has been teaching and choreographing for studios in the greater Philadelphia area, being recognized for her artistry and contemporary choreography at multiple regional and national competitions. Her choreography was recently selected as a nominee for the Industry Dance Awards. This is Margaret's first year as a teacher at Premiere Dance Studio and she is so excited to bring her passion for the art of dance back to where it all began. Teaching here feels like home to her, and she cannot wait to continue in the years to come.
Shana Walsh
Shana Walsh is a native of Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania and has been dancing since the age of three. She began her dance training at our home of Premiere Dance Studio in 1996! Her dance training is in all styles of dance; ballet, jazz, tap, modern, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop and pointe. Shana graduated from Pope John Paul II high school and Premiere in 2011. As she attended West Chester University pursuing social work, she quickly became a part of the West Chester University Dance Company. While dancing at WCU, Walsh was able to continue her passion for performing through UDC and was chosen to be a choreographer for the company. Her work was showcased with professional guest artists and fellow students in the University’s Spring concert. Her choreography reflects her passion to help others. Shana is currently the Director of Member Services and Childcare Coordinator at ACAC Fitness and Wellness Centers in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
Heather Spiece
Heather Spiece started dance and gymnastics at the age of 3. She took various classes at Premiere for dance and acro for 15 years until graduation. She was also on the gymnastics team at Berks East and took classes at Sylvia's for a few years. Her first job during high school and college was teaching gymnastics at the Philadelphia Freedom Spring Vally YMCA for 4 years and now teaches part-time all levels of acro at Premiere.
Jenn Vernon
An alumna of Premiere Dance Studio, Jenn started dancing with us at the age of 6 years old. Trained in various dance styles throughout her many years at Premiere, Jenn was also a student instructor helping to assist all age levels of students, and has continued teaching for us as a substitute whenever needed since her graduation in 2016. Jenn found her passion in teaching dance and loves being actively involved with the community of her Premiere Dance Studio family members. She earned her BA in Applied Psychology from Penn State Berks and is also working for the organization John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, helping to educate our younger generations the importance of conservation and preservation of our natural environments and ecosystems. While at Penn State Berks, Miss Jenn was a member of their dance team, became the dance team secretary, and the President and head choreographer for two years. In the hockey season of 2018-2019, Jenn was a member of the ECHL Reading Royals Hockey Team's "Ice Angels" dance team. Jenn is also a dance Instructor for the Yocum Institute for the Arts Education - Academy of Movement.
Kristine Folks
Kristine arrived at Premiere to take an Adult Ballet class when Miss Becky was impressed by her excellent training and invited her into her most advanced class. Kristine attended the class for the remainder of the year, gaining immediate respect and admiration by all of the students enrolled in that class. She started her own training in a studio in Oaks, PA. There, she studied under Gail Oldfield, Jen Oldfield, Becky Nash and Tim Early. She performed multiple roles of The Nutcracker and participated in various performances, parades, community events and the Republican National Convention. After graduation from high school, Kristine concentrated her studies on nursing at Messiah College, Mechanicsburg, PA. Never losing her love for dancing, she found a way to continue dance while in college. She was the head choreographer there for 3 years. Kristine oversaw a team of 15 dancers and choreographed full company performances. She was also in charge of meetings and team events and coordinated various performances for Messiah College and the community. Along with being a Registered Nurse with Montgomery County Health Department where she primarily is working with new mothers and babies, Kristine has been teaching dance since 1998 in studio and church settings. For the past 10 years she has been teaching dance at Hope Community Church in Gilbertsville, to students ages 5 to 18. Kristine is married and resides in the Pottstown area.
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