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Photo Credit: Deborah Boardman |
Director
Lori Lahnemann, Ed. M., began her training with Scott Jovovich, Principal of Joffrey Ballet, and Nina Fedorova, Principal of New York City Ballet. She attended Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, David Howard Dance Center, Boston Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, University of the Arts, Danza Contemporanea de Cuba, Alvin Ailey, and Steps on Broadway with Willy Burmann. Master class credits include: Christopher Roman of Ballet Frankfurt, Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson of Complexions, and the National Ballet of Spain.
At age 15, She began working with professional coach Anna Maria Jones, who also trained members of American Ballet Theater, New York City Ballet, and Pennsylvania Ballet. Together they opened Dance Space in 1999. Other teaching credits include: The Studio, under the direction of Nina Fedorova of New York City Ballet, The Dance Academy under the direction of Dalia and Douglas Haye of Pennsylvania Ballet and New York City Ballet, and Rittenhouse Dance Academy.
Ms. Lahnemann also holds a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Temple University and has taught in the Philadelphia public school system.
Heidi
Cruz
Born and raised in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Heidi Cruz began her dance training at the age of four at The Dolly Haltzman Dance Academy. She went on to study at the School of American Ballet and The Pennsylvania Ballet.
Ms. Cruz has been a member of The Pennsylvania Ballet since 1994. Some of her featured roles include Val Caniparoli's Lambarena, Summer Fairy in Ben Stevenson¢s Cinderella, Vortex in Alvin Ailey's The River, Eve in Margo Sappington's Rodin, Mis En Vie, the Pas de Trois in The Sleeping Beauty, and Christopher D'Amboise's Symposium. She has also had featured roles in many George Balanchine works including Marzipan, Coffee and Dew Drop in The Nutcracker, Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Choleric from The Four Temperaments, and leading roles in Serenade, Who Cares?, Western Symphony, Scotch Symphony, and Divertimento #15. Ms. Cruz has premiered works for such renowned choreographers as Paul Taylor, Margo Sappington, Christopher D'Amboise, Jessica Lang and Pennsylvania Ballet's Meredith Rainey, and Matthew Neenan.
In addition to dancing with Pennsylvania Ballet, Ms. Cruz has performed as a guest artist throughout the United States and Europe.
As a choreographer, Ms. Cruz has been commissioned to create works for Franklin and Marshall College, Repertory Dance Theater, and Ballet D'errico. Ms. Cruz has also had her work performed annually since 2000 for Shut Up & Dance. She was a winner of Ballet Builders 2004 in NYC where she showcased The Glistening. She performed and created works with the internationally renowned spoken word/recording artist Ursula Rucker. She was awarded a New Edge Residency from the Community Education Center of Philadelphia for 2004-2005.
Jennifer
Smith
Jennifer Smith began her dance training when she was only three years
old at a local dance studio in her hometown of Manahawkin, New Jersey.
After seven years there, Ms. Smith continued her studies at Red Bank
Dance Academy with Rosemary Boross before moving to attend high school
at North Carolina School of the Arts.
Ms. Smith graduated a year early to begin her professional career as
an Apprentice with Pennsylvania Ballet in 1993 and was promoted to a
member of the Corps de Ballet in 1994. She has been featured as Bianca
in John Cranko’s The Taming of the Shrew, Dewdrop in
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Lead Butterfly in
Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the
White Cat and Song Bird in Janek Schergen’s The Sleeping Beauty.
She has also danced leading roles in Balanchine’s Steadfast
Tin Soldier and Western Symphony; Lar Lubovitch’s
Waiting for the Sunrise and Concerto Six Twenty-Two;
Paul Taylor’s Arden Court; Trey McIntyre’s Cantilena;
Jerome Robbins’ Interplay; and Margo Sappington’s
Rodin, Mis En Vie.
Ms. Smith inspired and performed several principle roles in Christopher
Wheeldon’s World Premier of Swan Lake. She also
created roles in the world premieres of Kevin O’Day’s Col
Legno, Matthew Neenan’s Vicissitudes and 11:11, Kirk
Peterson’s Dancing with Monet, and Val Caniparoli’s
Jaybird Lounge.
Krista
Bonura
Krista began dancing at the age of seven in her hometown of Old Tappan, NJ. She later decided to pursue dance with a more acute focus and trained under the direction of Lynn Phenix at Northern Valley Old Tappan Regional Highschool. At the same time Krista attended classes at the Irine Fokine School of Ballet and Bergen PAC. Summer Intensives include: The Joffrey Ballet School, Steps, and Broadway Dance Center.
Originally trained as a jazz/modern dancer Krista has now found a true love in ballet. She currently attends the University of the Arts obtaining her BFA in Ballet Performance. While at UArts, Krista has performed works by Zane Booker and Scott Jovovitch. Her continuous passion for the art form is not only seen in her, but, is seen in the environment she creates for her students.
In addition to the dance life, Krista is pursuing a career in photography and remains as a member of both SAG and AFTRA.
Tara
Keating
Tara Keating began her training at the age of seven at the Pioneer Valley Ballet in Northampton, Massachusetts. She then attended the Juilliard School, under the direction of Benjamin Harkarvy, from which she received a BFA in dance. While there, she was awarded the Jerome L. Greene Fellowship and the Most Outstanding Dance Major award from the National Dance Association. She began her professional career with the American Repertory Ballet and then joined Twyla Tharp's company, "THARP!", where she performed both internationally and at City Center in New York.
Ms. Keating joined the Pennsylvania Ballet in 1998, and was promoted to soloist in 2003. During her ten year career there, she danced leading roles in numerous classical and contemporary works such as Emilia in Jose Limon's The Moor's Pavane, Hippolyta, Hermia, and Helena in George Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream, principal roles in Jerome Robbins' Fancy Free and The Concert, Paul Taylor's Company B and Arden Court, and in several premieres by Matthew Neenan. In addition, throughout her career she has originated roles in world premieres by such renowned choreographers as Val Caniparoli, Jorma Elo, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Trey McIntyre, Helen Pickett, Septime Webre, and Christopher Wheeldon.
In 2005, she became an original member of BalletX, and has danced in virtually every performance since their inception. Ms. Keating was the Producing Director in 2006 and 2007 for Shut Up and Dance, an annual benefit for MANNA, created by the Dancers of Pennsylvania Ballet. She was also the recipient of a 2002 City Paper Choice Award. She has taught master classes at Broadway Dance Center in New York, NADAA dance conventions throughout the country, and at various schools in the region. Ms. Keating is currently on faculty at Budzynski Studio of Ballet. She recently performed with BalletX in Seoul, Korea at the Ballet Expo Seoul and in St. Louis at the Spring to Dance Festival.
Jennifer
Lameo
Hailing from Scranton Pa, Jennifer began dancing at age 5. Although primarily trained in Ballet, at age 18 she discovered her passion in Theater Dance and singing.
Jennifer had performed many lead roles in Regional Theater and National Tours. Favorite shows include: A Chorus Line, 42nd St, Grease, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Crazy for You.
She has lived in NYC for 7 years, in which time she has studied with Randy Skinner, Germaine Salsberg, David Marquez, David Howard, and Kat Wildish, at schools such as Broadway Dance Center, Steps, and New Dance Group.
Jennifer was also selected to be a Rockette Assistant for the “Radio City Rockette Experience” held at Radio City Music Hall. For four years, she assisted a Rockette in teaching original Rockette choreography, style, etiquette, and audition technique, to children and adults of all ages.