MJ Dance Center is taught by an award-winning group of teachers who bring a wide range of professional performance and choreographic experience to the studio. Many of our teachers are even former MJ graduates themselves!
Miss Ashley
Owner, Artistic Director, & Teacher
Miss Ashley grew up at MJ Dance Center and went on to receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. While residing in Philadelphia, she spent four years studying with pillars of the northeast dance community, such as Molly Misgalla, Wayne St. David, Scott Jovovich, Andrew Pap, Brian Sanders, and Ronen Koresh. In 2006, Ashley became a proud faculty member at MJ Dance Center and was named Artistic Director in 2010. Miss Ashley's most recent accomplishment was being awarded dance educator of the year in 2015 by Groove National Dance. Her choreography has won some of the highest awards on the regional and national level. She is excited to share her life-long passion with the current and next generation of dancers and proud to carry on Miss Jeanne's, Miss Gwendel's and Miss Barbara's vision and legacy of the studio for another 75+ years at MJ Dance Center.
Miss Sarah
Artistic Director & Teacher
Miss Sarah was a graduate of Miss Jeanne’s School of Dance Arts (MJ Dance Center) and became a faculty member in 2009. She is also a second grade teacher at Commonwealth Charter Academy. Sarah graduated from DeSales University in May 2010 with her Bachelor of Arts in Dance and received her Elementary Education Certification in May 2012. During her time at DeSales, she had the opportunity to perform in various works in both the Emerging Choreographers and Dance Ensemble Concerts, including Twyla Tharp’s The One Hundreds. She attended the American College Dance Festival and was president of XTE, the dance honors society. Outside of DeSales, she has performed around the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia areas, and also choreographed the Lehigh Valley Charter Arts’ productions of Gypsy, The Sound of Music, and Chicago. Sarah has taught mathematics and dance at Arts Academy Charter Middle School in Allentown as well as ran the dance program at Quakertown Community High School for five years.
Miss Nicole
Recital Dancer Program Director & Teacher
Miss Nicole began dancing at Miss Jeanne's School of Arts at the age of three. She graduated from DeSales University in 2016 with a B.A. in Dance and Business Administration. Nicole continued her education at DeSales University and in 2020 received her Masters of Business Administration. During her undergraduate studies at DeSales, Nicole was the Student Manager of six productions in the dance department, including the Emerging Choreographers Concert and the Dance Ensemble Concert. She also was awarded The Jeanne Meixell Award in Dance Arts for her contributions to the dance department and high academic standing. Nicole performed in the Informal Dance Concerts and the DeSales University Dance Ensemble Concert. She has also danced at the Walt Disney World® Resort as a parade leader for Dance The World Events. Nicole is currently the Dance Events Manager for Dance The World Events (World Class Vacations). In her role, Nicole plans and organizes dance events at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida, in New York City, and Nashville, Tennessee. Nicole has choreographed parade routines for the Dance The World parades at the Walt Disney World® Resort and for Times Square performances for Dance The World Broadway. Miss Nicole joined MJ Dance Center as a faculty member in 2014 and loves to be able to share her love of dance in the same place that started it all!
Miss Megan
Director of Social Media & Communications & Teacher
Miss Megan danced her early life Miss Jeanne’s before graduating from West Chester University with a BS in exercise science and minors in athletic coaching and dance. Miss Megan started her dance career as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleading squad in 2014. Megan was also a member of the West Chester University dance team where she competed nationally in jazz and hip hop. In addition to performing, Megan has also choreographed for Allentown Central Catholic dance team as well as floor routines for gymnasts in the Lehigh Valley. Megan is very excited to be back teaching at her home studio alongside the faculty members that inspired her to continue on with her dance education.
Miss Sarah P
Teacher
Sarah Parker is a devoted force in professional and pre-professional dance education throughout the United States. Founding Artistic Director of professional dance company Continuum Dance Theater and Executive Director of the national, arts production company EVOLVE Productions, Parker holds her dual BA, BS in Dance Performance and Education and Business Management/Entrepreneurship from Point Park University.
A native of the Lehigh Valley, PA, and proud alum of Miss Jeanne’s School of Dance Arts, Parker gained early experience training and performing in New York City including performing for Mia Michaels in Mia LIVE! and at the 2002 Élan Awards honoring Ann Reinking, returning the following year as Assistant Stage Manager (Fashion Institute of Technology, NYC). Furthering her training with pursuits in Los Angeles, California and Paris, France, Parker honed her passion for dance artistry, technique and production quality through prolific choreographic and directorial endeavors.
As a dance educator, Parker has spent an 18+ year tenure instructing and choreographing work at nationally esteemed dance institutions, colleges and top ranking competitive studios. In addition to directing and instructing for six seasons of her flagship EVOLVE the INTENSIVE summer dance intensive, she has served as choreographer and faculty member or master class instructor for renowned facilities including the Western Pennsylvania Performing Arts Company, Mahoning Valley Ballet Company, Van Dyke and Company, Albright Dance Stars, Dance Alloy, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Point Park University, Slippery Rock University, Cedar Crest College, Pittsburgh’s Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) High School, Lehigh Valley Dance Exchange’s SpringUP Dance Festival and New York City’s Broadway Dance Center. Parker’s former students have gone on to perform on Broadway, in national tours, with professional dance companies and on television including SYTYCD and globally televised award shows.
Continuum Dance Theater, Parker’s professional dance company, founded in 2011, has performed in venues nationwide including the City Center in New York City (NYC), the Little Haiti Cultural Center Theater (Miami, FL), the New Hazlett Theater, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, Grey Box Theatre, August Wilson Center Theater, Pierce Theater, Carnegie Museum of Art, David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Mattress Factory Museum, Three Rivers Arts Festival (Pittsburgh, PA), Touchstone Theater, ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, Samuels Theater, Lipkin Theater (Lehigh Valley, PA) and the Sherman Theater (Stroudsburg, PA) to name a few.
Sarah is thrilled to be returning to Miss Jeanne’s School of Dance Arts to instruct ballet, pointe, contemporary and set choreography for this upcoming season.
Miss Molly
Teacher
Molly B. Misgalla was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She graduated with a B.A. in dance (cum laude) from Point Park University where she trained with Douglas Bentz, Judith Leifer-Bentz, Jodi Welch and the late Ron Tassone. While at Point Park she was a swing for the Pittsburgh Playhouse Production of “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” directed and choreographed by Rob Marshall. After graduation Molly danced with the site specific modern –based Mary Miller Dance Company and with the Philadelphia based-jazz dance company “Waves” under the direction of (Israel born) Shimon Braun. She performed in the feature film “Living Out Loud” starring Holly Hunter, Inatoriso Cabaret Show in Tokyo, Japan and in numerous industrial and commercials for companies such as Glaxo Smith- Kline. Molly is a Philadelphia-based teacher and choreographer renowned for her innovative jazz/contemporary technique. Her style blends a solid dance foundation: showcasing her characteristically bold yet fluid use of movement through unique interpretation of music, and spacing.
She has taught at The University of Arts, Philadelphia’s High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, The Rock School for Dance Education, DeSales University, Jacksonville University, Metropolitan Ballet (just to name a few). Molly was an artist in residence at Ecole de Ballet and Just Move Dance in Luxembourg. She also has taught master classes in Luxembourg, Paris and London as well as studios and conventions throughout the U.S. Molly has her MFA in Choreography from Jacksonville University/White Oak.
Miss Allison
Teacher
Allison started dancing at MJ Dance at the age of 3, and graduated in 2016. During that time, she had the opportunity to choreograph a piece for “Young Choreographers in Concert” at the Lehigh Valley Charter Arts High School. Her senior solo choreography was among one of the few chosen to be showcased in the Dance Soup Concert, as well as a group piece that she choreographed called “Flicker”. Allison was chosen to perform at the National High School Dance Festival, where she also had the opportunity to learn from many guest artists and choreographers. After graduating, she continued her education at Cedar Crest College where she received her bachelor of science in Public Health, with a minor in Nutrition. Allison is excited to continue her dance career by teaching where she grew up.
Miss Kristi
Teacher
Kristi originally hails from Allentown, PA but has been an NYC based dancer and actress for the past 13 years. Her most recent theatre credits include: Mamma Mia! (Riverside/Walnut Street Theatre), On the Town(Waxler Productions), The Music Man(Theatre by the Sea), Beauty and the Beast(Alabama Shakespeare Festival), Billy Elliot(The Media Theatre), Catch Me If You Can(Woodminster Amphitheater), and Mame(Bucks County Playhouse/Media Theatre). She has worked with many NYC choreographers such as Al Blackstone, Billy Griffin, Richard Stafford, Josh Walden, and Chip Abbott, as well as performed at Madison Square Garden as a dancer with PHISH. She was a member of the contemporary ballet company Ballet Noir and an apprentice to TAKE Dance Company. She has also had the pleasure of supporting BC/EFA in the Saks Window Holiday Reveal and Gypsy of the Year.
Kristi is a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts Dance Department and studied at the Laban Conservatoire in Greenwich, England. She grew up dancing at Steps in Time Studio for Dance and the PYBG. She is a guest teacher and choreographer for studios in the New York/NJ/Philadelphia area as well as a teacher for Motivated Movers in NYC. Motivated Movers is a premier program for professional artists seeking beginner dance training in a safe, supportive, encouraging environment. She also is a judge for VIP Dance Competition. Kristi is represented by LDC Artist Representation and a proud member of AEA.
Miss Lexi
Teacher
Alexus Mateo (Miss Lexi) has been dancing at Miss. Jeanne’s School of Dance Arts since she was three. She graduated from Lehigh Valley Performing Arts High School in 2013 and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance at Shenandoah University in 2017, where she also studied abroad at the University of Winchester in England. After graduating Alexus danced her way into New York City where she became a dancer for the New York Lizards Professional Lacrosse Dance Team 2018 summer season. In fall of 2018 Alexus became a dancer for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdingsand danced across the oceans onboard their Regent Seven Seas, Voyager & Explorer, until the pandemic hit in March of 2020. Since then she is back home, teaching and dancing where it all began while still pursing a performance career. This life is very unpredictable, however, the show must go on and whether it be by land or sea, Miss. Lexi chooses to dance it out every step of the way!
Miss Anna
Teacher
As a dancer since the age of 3, Anna Cannavo has developed a deep passion for dance, as well as for educating the next generation. Since graduating high school, she has attended Point Park University and recently graduated with two degrees; a B.A. in Dance, with a jazz concentration, and a B.A. in Elementary Education. Growing up, Anna trained in all styles of dance, began competing in middle school, and joined Mariposa Apprentice Dance Company, a pre-professional company under Tabatha Robinson-Scott. This is where Anna was introduced to Afro-Modern styles and concert dance. At MJ Dance Center, Anna was pushed to pursue an education in both dance and teaching by her teachers Ashley Mooney, Molly Misgalla and Sarah Parker to name a few. Since her time began at Point Park, she has worked closely with professors including Kiki Lucas, Kiesha Lalama, and Jason McDole, as well as within student works brought to film and stage. Last summer, she worked as a teaching artist for Attack Theatre, bringing arts curriculum to a special need’s public school in the Pittsburgh area. Most recently she appeared in a tap piece by Maud Arnold, as well as a hip-hop corporate fundraiser co-choreographed by Crystal Frazier and Kiki Lucas. She enjoys substitute teaching and choreographing on the side, as well as pursuing a group fitness certification.
Mr. Luke
Teacher
Luke Csordas grew up outside of Allentown, Pennsylvania where he trained at MJ Dance Center, graduating in 2018. He then studied at the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance where he trained with role models such as William Forsythe, Jermaine Spivey, Bret Easterling, and Jodie Gates. While studying to receive his BFA in Dance, Luke also focused on Cinematic Arts at USC's SCA. Which he hopes to use to intersecting various forms of dance and media. Luke recently joined the Charlotte Ballet under the direction of Alejandro Cerrudo.
Miss Brittany
Teacher
Brittany Hercik is a graduate of DeSales University with a B.A. in Dance and TV/Film. She also holds certification through Dance Masters of America Teachers Training School. During her time in college, Brittany served as President of the DeSales University Dance Team along with teaching for the school’s Conservatory of Dance. She also interned at Pentacle, a non-profit dance organization in NYC during her junior and senior year of college. She has performed in many dance concerts and showcases getting the opportunity to recreate work from Charles Weidman, work with the New Street Dance Group, and Natalie Desch, a former Limon Dance Company and Doug Varone member to name a few. Other performance experiences include the American Dance College Festival Association, the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, the Dance New Amsterdam College Exchange Program and numerous other performances throughout the area. Her choreography has been seen at DeSales University, McConnellsburg High School, countless dance on camera productions and many dance competitions. Brittany is currently on the dance faculty at Arts Academy Charter Middle School and runs the En L’Airs Dance Team after school. Brittany is thrilled to join the MJ Dance Center family and share her passion for dance!
Miss Addie
Teacher
Addie graduated from Oklahoma City University with a Bachelor of Performing Arts degree in Dance. Upon graduating, she went on to pursue her dance career in New York City. Addie performed at Radio City Music Hall as an ensemble dancer with the Rockettes in the New York Spring Spectacular. She traveled across Europe with the Broadway tour of West Side Story as Velma and worked at Disneyland Tokyo as Ariel in the aerialist show Under the Sea. Favorite regional credits include Victor Victoria (Ogunquit Playhouse), Lorraine Fleming in 42nd Street (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina), Basha in Young Frankenstein (Fulton Theatre), Kelli O’Hara’s Dream Laurey in Oklahoma and Sarah in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma). Favorite TV credits include: Super Bowl XXXVIII dancing for Aerosmith & Toby Keith, the Rose Bowl Parade with Kristin Chenoweth and Mickey’s Magical Gathering on ABC Disney. Addie was a proud member of AEA and AGVA. She now lives in the Lehigh Valley with her husband and three children. Addie loves being a full-time Mom and is beyond excited to share her dance experience with MJ dancers!
Miss Emily
Teacher
Emily Markovich, a passionate dancer from Bethlehem, PA, began her dance journey at MJ Dance Center, where she trained in various styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, musical theater, modern, acro, and hip-hop. Graduating from Temple University, Emily dedicated five years to the Diamond Gems Dance Team, serving as captain for three years. Under her leadership, the team consistently ranked among the top 10 college teams in Division 1A at UDA Nationals, making history with record-breaking placements for Temple. Emily's commitment to sharing her love for dance led her to join UDA Staff in 2022. Teaching high school and college dance teams at summer camps across different states, she aimed to inspire and empower young dancers, leaving a meaningful impact on those she mentored. Driven by dedication and a genuine passion for dance, Emily continues to make a positive impact on the dance community. She remains humble and grateful for her opportunities, striving to inspire others with her talent and unwavering love for the art form.
Miss Hayley
Teacher
Hayley Broad is an alumni from MJ Dance Center. She started at MJ when she was about two years old and graduated in 2022. She also graduated from the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts as a dance major in 2022. During her time at Charter Arts, she choreographed pieces that were showcased in their concerts and was a member of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts. Hayley has also choreographed and taught many combination classes at MJ as well as had several years of student teaching experience there. She is currently studying to get her B.F.A. in dance performance and choreography from Towson University where she has also performed in many concerts. Hayley is excited to embark on her teaching journey at the studio where she grew up.