PSPA Teachers & Guest Teachers & Master Classes
The Pennsylvania School of the Performing Arts
Voted the #1 Best Dance Studio of Newtown Bucks County
Welcomes an exciting new addition of new teachers !
Check out the teachers that are teaching and had taught at PSPA.
Terri Garcia-Lee
Founder, Artistic Director/Company Director
Mrs. Lee hails from NYC and is a proud member of all three professional unions: Broadway Actors Equity AEA -Screen Actors Guild - AFTRA. Her students have been cast on Broadway, National Broadway tours, NYC Rockettes, SAG Movies, National TV Series, Broadway Shows on the largest Royal Caribbean tours and national television.
Lee has been in Bucks County for over twenty years inspiring her students to reach a new understanding and mastery of musicality in the arts and also reach their personal goals through the use of dance theater education. Many of her students are now living their dream performing on Broadway, in the Rocketts, film, national television, and many national and international tours. Lee founded SIMBT/PSPA with a mission to inspire a lasting passion and appreciation for theater, dance, and music through artistic excellence, exhilarating performances, touching choreography, and dominant lifetime educational programs.
After graduating from the prestigious University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Lee moved to NYC with a scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet and The Gregory Hines - Frank Hattacht Dance studios next to The David Letterman studios on Broadway, now known as the famous " Broadway Dance Center"! Lee made her Broadway debut with The Three Musketeers - with Ed Dixon, Chuck Wagner, Liz Calloway - Mark Bramble - directed by Joe Layton & Tom O'Horgan. From there, she continued to perform in many professional productions including The Big Broadcast of 1944 with Harry James and his Orchestra, the revival of West Side Story with Jerome Robbins - Tommy Abbott Directors with Rex Smith & Luis Perez. Other Lee’s extensive professional career in Broadway, film, and TV commercial’s has allowed her to travel the world and perform with many great dance legends including Bob Fosse, Pat Birch (Grease), Lester Wilson, (Solid Gold) Billy Wilson, (The Sands Copa Girls) Michael Peters (Michael Jackson's Thriller), Judy Kaye, Eartha Kitt, and many others. Additional training throughout her career included the Neighborhood Playhouse Acting (Misner technique) and at Carnegie Hall in NYC. She also trained with Scholarships from The San Francisco Ballet, The Minnesota Ballet, The Pennsylvania Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey, Steps, and The Broadway Dance Center.
After many years performing in NYC Lee moved out to Minneapolis, MN where she worked as a performer with many wonderful theater companies such as The MN Opera, The Ballet of The Dolls, Red Eye Collaboration, Chanhassen Theater, and MPLS Children Theater. Lee is a proud mother of the daughter, Paloma Garcia –Lee, an accomplished actress, singer, and dancer in New York City. Paloma joined the Broadway cast of “The Phantom of the Opera” at the Majestic Theater in New York City at the young age of seventeen. Paloma is now one of the youngest performers ever hired for the Music Box production and youngest to ever to play “Meg Giry.” Paloma has performed alongside Matthew Broderick on Broadway in “Nice Work If You Can Get It” at the Imperial Theater, Nathan Lane in "Guys & Dolls" at Carnegie Hall and was last seen now on Broadway in "ON THE TOWN" and was also the Dance Captain of On THE TOWN at the Lyric Theater NYC. Paloma's new Broadway shows " Charlie and The Chocolate Factory" with Christian Borle and Dance Captain "The Great Comet of 1812" with Josh Groban and the 2019 NEW BROADWAY SHOW "MOULIN ROUGE"!
See Paloma Garcia - Lee Dance her Resume HERE
Mrs. Lee welcomes you to PSPA, a wonderfully enriching, warm, creative, fun studio atmosphere, to learn and grow for a lifetime! A pre-professional performing arts school for children and adults of all ages. PSPA is the official training school for Spirit In Motion Ballet Theater 501-c3.
J'Loni Jones
Hip Hop/Fusion/Commercial Street Jazz
J'Loni started training and performing when she was 4 years old and her passion for dance went from hobby to career choice! J'Loni loves training with her crew, Beat Club and gets stronger every class she takes. J'Loni trains in the hip hop/urban styles (b-boying, popping, locking, house, new jack swing, waacking, vogue), industry styles (like commercial street jazz), traditional styles (contemporary, ballet, jazz, modern, and lyrical).
J’loni has performed in many different venues including Radio City Music Hall where she did “America’s got Talent” as well as the “Radio City Spring Spectacular”. She has done live performances and television performances like the Netflix Series “The Get Down” and Fox channel’s “Glee”, which other members of her crew did with her. J'loni has worked artist such as, Alicia Keys, Madonna, and Chris Brown and has danced on television networks like MTV and ABC. She has always loved to perform and now excited to teach at PSPA of what she has learned throughout her Professional career!!
Kristin Naylor
SIMBT/PSPA Dance Company
We are proud to offically announce Kristin Naylor is our Ballet Mistress and dance company choreographer and excited that she will be working with PSPA /SIMBT Director Mrs.Terri Lee . Kristin began her ballet training at the age of eight with the Fort Wayne Ballet in Indiana. Ms.Naylor graduated from Indiana University with a BS in ballet and then joined American Repertory Ballet where she danced many principal roles over ten years. She danced two years with Lustig Dance Theatre, also in NJ, and performed with Terpsicorps Dance Theatre in NC, Traverse City Dance Project and participated in National Choreographer’s Initiative in Irvine, CA. She began teaching in 2000 and has taught ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary in studios across the county. Ms. Naylor’s non-profit, COME UNITY (www.comeunitynow.org), aids third world communities in East Africa by providing for clean water and educational needs. She has taught with PSPA studios since 2003, and is glad to inspire a new generation of dancers to work hard and lend their voice to our world.
Kelli Godfrey
Contemporary & Jazz
Kelli Godfrey has worked with The Washington Redskins All-Star Dance Team, The Capitol Movement Project and performing for Marvin Hamlisch’s “Broadway’s Greatest Showstoppers” in New York City. Spending most of her years with GJ Dance Studio in Maryland, she received numerous outstanding awards and overall placements for solos, duos/trios, and group routines at the regional and national competition level. While pursuing a degree in Business Marketing & International Business, she continued dancing as a member of the University of Delaware Dance Team with our wonderful Hip Hop teacher here at PSPA. In addition to performing at all university athletic events, her dance team competed annually at the UCA/UDA College National Championships where they were the first dance team in UCA/UDA history to win the Hip Hop National Title three years in a row! Kelli has been choreographing and teaching for years and has received special awards for her choreography and most of all the children love her great classes and wonderful loving spirit and kind heart! Kelli is very excited to be working with the many talented dancers at PSPA!
Steven Vaughn
Contemporary & Ballet
Steven Vaughn, graduated with Honors and awards from University of the Arts in Philadelphia earning a BFA in Modern Dance, focusing on choreography. Steve has been a dancer with Parsons Dance (under David Parsons) since 2008 touring extensively domestically and internationally, including Italy, China, Brazil, Russia, and more. With Parsons, he worked with Monica Bill-Barnes, Kate Skarpetowska, and Robert Battle. While in Philadelphia, he was privileged to work with Brian Sanders JUNK, Brandywine Ballet Theater and more. He has taught across the nation including various dance college programs, Broadway Dance Center and The Joffrey School, as well as masterclasses in Italy and Israel. His choreography has been set on the Philadelphia based SHARP Dance Co. under director Diane Sharp- Nachsin, and was selected for the 2014 Emerging Choreographer Commission for Houston Metropolitan Dance Company. Steve is featured twice in Jordan Matter’s New York Times Bestseller, “Dancers Among Us” and TV and film experiences include Teddy Forance and Jon Arpino’s dance documentary “Movement One” starring Stephen “tWitch” Boss, “Operatic Heat: Parsons Dance presents ‘Remember Me’”, “All the Right Moves”, the feature film “Now You See Me” and “Law and Order: SVU”.
Michael Rios AEA
Ballet, Musical Theater and Contemporary
Michael Rios is back from the Broadway Hit Tour of " Newsies" Michael is a Equity NYC based perfromer, dancer, singer, actor, instructor, and choreographer. with his BFA from Syracuse University. Born in Brooklyn, NY, he has his training in everything from a wide variety of styles including ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, ballroom, tap, hip hop, Broadway styles, voice, acting and more Ballet Hispanico, Broadway Dance Center, Ballet Arts City Center, Steps on Broadway and Peridance. As a teacher, Michael has taught master classes all over the US and at Syracuse University and has been faculty at Iconic Dance Complex, Brooklyn Ballet, New York Dance Center, Broadway Bound Dance Center an assistant at Broadway Dance Center and has traveled the world. Other credits include: Hello, Dolly! (50th Anniversary Tour starring Sally Struthers) CATS (national/international tour), The Wizard of Oz (national tour), Peter Pan (Northern Stage), Fiddler On the Roof (Syracuse Stage), Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Hospice Benefit 2007/2010 (Syracuse Stage). Film: ABC Upfront (ABC Entertainment), Endangered (PSA, directed by John Caraffa). Michael is thrilled to join PSPA team of amazing teachers.
Risa Levine
Hip Hop
Risa Levine’s dance specialty is Hip Hop, which she has taught and choreographed for many years. She has performed with ICONic (of America’s Best Dance Crew) at several events, including New York radio station 103.5 KTU’s 2009 Summer BEATSTOCK concert starring Kelly Rowland, the Backstreet Boys, Pitbull, and others. She has studied dance in central New Jersey and at the BroadwayDance Center in Manhattan. Her skills were rewarded with a four-year scholarship as a member of the University of Delaware Dance Team, four-time National College Hip Hop Champions. She currently serves as hip hop choreographer for the Cabrini College Dance Team. Risa is thrilled to have joined the PSPA team in early 2012.!
Ted Keener AEA
Tap/Jazz/Ballet -Summer Workshops
Ted was Mrs. Lee's first male dancer when she opened her performing arts school in 1995. Five years later, he was awarded a scholarship to attend the North Carolina School of the Arts (Mrs. Lee’s alma mater), where he graduated from high school and was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Dance in his senior year. Ted went on to earn his Bachelors of Science from Indiana University in Ballet and Business with high honors and has danced professionally with the Richmond Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, and Smuin Ballet of San Francisco. He also danced in the National Choreographers Initiative for three consecutive years. Since switching focus to musical theater, he has performed in Young Frankenstein at Ogunquit and Gateway playhouses, and has traveled across the US and Canada with the national tours of Fiddler on the Roof and, most recently, The Phantom of the Opera in the role of Slave Master. Ted currently lives in NYC and is on faculty at the Institute of American Musical Theatre.
Jeff Sykes
Contemporary
Jeff began his dance training at the age of 16. He graduated High School from University of North Carolina School of the Arts under the direction of Susan McCoullough. At UNCSA, he had the opportunity to perform works by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. In 2011, Jeff graduated from The Juilliard School, under the direction of Lawrence Rhode where he worked with Ohad Naharin, Larry Keigwin, and Jill Johnson. Jeff is currently residing in New York City where he is a member of Company XIV, TAKE Dance, and has previously danced with Ballet Hispanico and MOVE: the company. Jeff is excited to be working with PSPA and SIMBT
Nora Minno, RD
Ballet, Nutritionist
Nora began her dance training at age 7 at PSPA/SIMBT, under the direction of Terri Garcia-Lee. There, she received professional training for 10 years from members of the Bolshoi Ballet, New York City Ballet, American Repertory Ballet, as well as various Broadway performers. Nora has received additional training from Steps on Broadway and The Alvin Ailey School. She has attended summer intensives at The Martha Graham School in New York City, Ballet Magnificat in Jackson, MS , and Ad Deum in Houston, TX. Nora continued her dance training at the University of Arizona where she also received her BS in Dietetics. Nora has performed professionally with various companies including Mikhail Baryshnikov's White Oak Dance Project, Bucks County Playhouse, and Work of Art Dance Theater. Nora is currently a Registered Dietitian and NASM Certified Personal Trainer.
Lisa Fries
Ballet
Lisa grew up in northern New Jersey and began her serious ballet training at the School of American Ballet in New York. She studied under many gifted teachers including Alexandra Danilova, Suki Schorer, Stanley Williams and Melissa Hayden to name a few. At the age of fifteen, she was chosen to dance the Vivaldi Pas de Deux for a Workshop performance and her peers became notables in the ballet world such as Darci Kistler, Jock Soto, Jeff Edwards and Louise Nadeau.
She has been teaching for almost 20 years in the Philadelphia area and has been involved in many productions of various ballets for different companies and schools. From teaching and coaching to setting choreography, what she loves to do the most is pass on the tradition of the highest levels of ballet training to all of her students.
She lives outside of Valley Forge, PA with her husband; has two grown children and three dogs.
They all know how to dance!
Akasha Alvarez
Creative / Dance Company
Akasha Alvarez - Elementary School Teacher in Bucks County -College graduate from West Chester University in Elementary Education and is head of PSPA children’s dance program. - SIMBT Alumni Company Member - Akasha has been teaching children for years and has studied all styles of dance for over 14 years with PSPA. A favorite at PSPA and the children love this amazing creative teacher. Akasha has studied under the direction of Mrs. Lee for over fourteen years. She was a full-time company member of both the 501-c3 Spirit in Motion Ballet Theater and PSPA all through middle and high school and began teaching with Mrs. Lee at a very young age.
Moira Byko-Esposito
Creative / Hip Hop
Moira Esposito has a BFA from West Chester University with a degree in Stage Management. Moira is back home where she studied and taught classes under the direction of Mrs. Lee with the first SIMBT Dance Company for 15 years. Moira was a full time company member of both Spirit In Motion Ballet Theater/PSPA for over fifteen years and traveled to Hong Kong China with the company. Moria, a new mother with a daughter and is happy to be back where it all began.
Tracey Chebra - Soprano
Voice & Acting Classes
Soprano Tracey Richards Chebra holds a Master of music degree in vocal performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has performed with numerous musical organizations including the the Boheme Society of Trenton, the Opera Repertory Theater of Greensboro, NC, and Spirit in Motion Ballet Theater of Wycombe, PA. Her performances have received critical acclaim throughout the East Coast. While at the University of North Carolina, Ms. Chebra was a recipient of the Prince Scholarship and received honors from Mu Phi Epsilon and Pi Kappa Lambda. She is also a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and is actively involved in training young singers for careers in music. Her students have won numerous competitions and she currently has two students rehearsing for upcoming Broadway productions. Ms. Chebra teaches voice at Westminster Choir College and is currently head of the voice department at Westminster Conservatory of Music.
Paloma Garcia-Lee
Broadway Workshops
Paloma Garcia-Lee Highlights: Dance captain the Broadway Show The Great Comet of 1812 with Josh Groban. She was also back in her home away from home in Broadway's The Phantom Of The Opera after a fantastic run in the BIG BROADWAY HIT "ON THE TOWN " and the Dance Captain for this amazing show featured Misty Copeland! Other Broadway shows: "Guys and Dolls" with Nathan Lane Imperial Theater in "Nice Work If You Can Get It," the smash hit Broadway musical starring Matthew Broderick and Kelli O'Hara. Paloma got her Broadway start at the young as of just 17, lighting up the stage as “Meg Giry” in Broadway's “The Phantom of the Opera.” An accomplished actress, singer, and dancer, she joined PHANTOM at the Majestic Theater at the young age of 17 and has worked non stop!. Paloma is one of the youngest performers ever hired for the production and the youngest to ever play “Meg.” and was happy to be back in Phantom for her 10th Broadway Anniversary! Paloma is also the first person hired for the Broadway show to have been born after PHANTOM began its run in New York in 1988. Paloma's other Broadway -TV Credits: The Great Comet, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Broadway's 2019 Moulin Rouge, Fosse/Verdon on the FX
For Paloma's full bio visit www.palomagarcialee.com
Eddy Tovar
Ballet
A native of Cuba, Eddy Tovar began his dance training at the National Ballet School in Havana. Mr. Tovar was a Principal Dancer with Texas Ballet Theatre from 2009-2012. Prior to this, he was principal with Orlando Ballet for nine years. Internationally, Mr. Tovar has performed in ballet galas in Japan, Canada, Argentina, and Latvia. He was the recipient of several gold medals for dance competitions in Argentina, Brazil, and Cuba. In 2008, he appeared on the television program “So You Think You Can Dance” performing the principal role in George Balanchine’s “Who Cares?” Some of Mr. Tovar's favorite classical roles have included "Romeo" in Romeo and Juliet and "Prince Siegfried" in Swan Lake. He has also enjoyed performing works by George Balanchine, Val Caniporoli and Twyla Tharpe. Mr. Tovar was on faculty of the Hartt HCD Dance Department of the University of Hartford and is currently teaching company classes for Pennsylvania Ballet. He is married and is the proud father of a beautiful little girl.
Lisa Urbanowicz
Hip Hop
A New Jersey native, Lisa began her studio training in ballet and jazz at the age of five. At eleven, Lisa began dancing with The New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble, a semi-professional ballet and modern dance company under the direction of Nancy Turano (Ballet Hispanico principal dancer.) Lisa has been formally trained from the staff of companies such as Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, New Jersey Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, and Paul Taylor. She was captain of her varsity high school dance team and choreographer and coach of her college dance team at Monmouth University.
Lisa began her hip-hop training under the direction of Geo Hubela, director of Iconic from America’s Best Dance Crew. She has worked with other talented choreographers such as Cecily Bradley of Nu-Stylz (long-time choreographer for Missy Elliot) and other up-and-coming choreographers. She has performed at events such as KTU’s Beatstock, World of Dance, with local artists in the Philadelphia area. Lisa is currently a member as well as co-director of the female hip-hop company, FloMotion. She also choreographs for Beat Addikts United, a semi-professional hip-hop organization for students 8-18. When she is not training or dancing, Lisa is a full-time special needs elementary teacher.
Mikey D'Astoli
Hip Hop
Mikey D’Astoli is a Teacher/Choreographer who is signed to Clear Talent Group agency. He started dancing at age 13 at the FUNKtion dance complex with a strong focus on Hip Hop styles such as b-boying, popping, house, locking, vogue, waacking, and industry styles. Performances include opening up for American Idol’s “Jax”, The Red Hot Chili Peppers 2017 Tour, The Cartoon Network Anti-Bullying
Tour, showcases at Webster Hall, Monsters of Hip Hop, The PULSE, and many more. Mikey has been featured on Tv commercials such as “Bop it Tetris”, “Juicy Drop Pop”, and “Jenga tetris” as a dancer and actor. You can find him in music videos for artists Jax(LA LA Land), The Red Hot Chili Peppers(Go Robot), and Vita Chambers(What If). He can also be seen in the Netflix series “The Get Down”(Directed by Baz Luhrmann), where he plays the role of ‘Crash’. A principal dancer in the Feature Film “Going in Style”(Directed by Zach Braff). Also he is featured in the upcoming TBS series “The Last O.G.”. Mikey has studied all styles of dance from Hip Hop to Ballet and all in between, he has used what he learned to derive his own unique style. Mikey’s pieces are full of storytelling and almost every dance that is made has a meaning or underlying message behind it. Mikey believes that dance is a way to express yourself and heavily incorporates improv(freestyle) into his work and teaches others how to move freely without the fear of being judged or ridiculed for their style of dance. History of Hip-Hop is also taught so students may gain knowledge of how the styles of Hip-Hop came to be and what it is all about.
THE PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL OF THE PERFORMING ARTS