Philadelphia Dance Academy Faculty

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Photo Credit: Deborah Boardman

Lori A. Lahnemannm•mDirector

Lori A. Lahnemann received her fundamental training with Scott Jovovich, principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet; Nina Fedorova, principal dancer with New York City Ballet; and Jeffrey Lyons, dancer with Pennsylvania Ballet and faculty of The San Francisco Ballet School. Ms. Lahnemann attended the School of the Pennsylvania Ballet and studied under Gloria Govrin and Yvonne Patterson of New York City Ballet. At age 15, she began working closely with her mentor, Anna Maria Jones. Ms. Jones coached dancers of The Pennsylvania Ballet, School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theater, New York City Ballet, and Ballett Frankfurt.

Ms. Lahnemann has attended: Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Boston Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Danza Contemporanea de Cuba (Havana), David Howard Center, Steps on Broadway with Willy Burmann, and The University of the Arts.

At age 17, she began teaching at The Studio in Bucks County under the direction of Nina Fedorova. In 1999, she partnered with her mentor, Anna Maria Jones, and opened DanceSpace in Philadelphia, a program offering small group instruction in Creative Movement, Pre-Ballet, and Ballet Technique. Other teaching credits include the Dance Academy in Cherry Hill, under the direction of Douglas and Dalia Haye, and Rittenhouse Dance Academy.

She opened the Philadelphia Dance Academy in 2004 with the mission of creating a structured, disciplined, pre-professional ballet program in a positive, healthy environment. She strongly believes that the two do not need to be mutually exclusive.

In 2009, she completed a two-year intensive Pilates certification program under the direction of master teacher, Karen H. Carlson. This program, based in functional anatomy, afforded new perspectives on the biomechanics of ballet and allowed her to offer Pilates as part of the training program at The Philadelphia Dance Academy.

Ms. Lahnemann holds a Masters degree in Elementary Education and has taught in the Philadelphia public school system.

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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.

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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 principal 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.

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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.

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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.

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Magrielle Eisen

Magrielle Eisen, a Philadelphia native, received the majority of her training at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under the direction of Marcia Dale Weary. After attending summer courses on scholarship at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle, WA, Magrielle was invited to study in the PNBS Professional Division program and was afforded the opportunity to perform with the Pacific Northwest Ballet Company in several productions. The following year, she joined Oregon Ballet Theatre under the direction of Christopher Stowell. Magrielle has danced in numerous Balanchine ballets, as well as classical story ballets and original choreographic works.

In 2009, Magrielle graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Anthropology and was granted the University of Pennsylvania Association of Alumnae Continuing Education Award. Currently, Magrielle is enrolled in the Master of Social Service program in the Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research at Bryn Mawr College, where she studies social policy and advocacy.

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Sabrina Faith

Sabrina Faith began studying ballet at a young age, and from there, never looked back. She has studied with world-renowned teachers, such as Scott Jovovich of the Joffery Ballet and Broadway, Nina Federova of the New York City Ballet, and Rex Hendriques, owner of Bucks County Dance Center. She has participated in dance intensives at University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Illadelph Dance Festival with hip-hop legends of Rennie Harris’s Puremovement Dance company, and American College Dance Festival at James Madison University. Ms. Faith graduated with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Dance from Temple University in 2002. Ms. Faith has performed in a multitude of venues around the Philadelphia area with Underground Dance Works, Venus, and the A.D.D. Company. She has been a part of the Female Persuasions dance series at The Arts Bank in Philadelphia as a performer and choreographer. In 2006, she received her Master’s Degree in Dance/Movement Therapy from Drexel University. She currently works at The Center for Autism in Philadelphia, using movement as a therapeutic means to help children with autism. She has been an instructor at The Dance Academy, Cherry Hill, NJ since 2000 and loves sharing her passion for dance with others. Ms. Faith has taught a variety of dance techniques to all ages. She has choreographed for the studio’s annual performances, Nutcracker and Snow White productions, regional competitions, and was co-director/choreographer for the studio’s dance company. Ms. Faith is ecstatic to join the staff of the Philadelphia Dance Academy.

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Blythe Smith

Blythe Smith began her dance training at age 3 in South Jersey. She became a member of the Vineland Regional Dance Company at age 12 and went on to achieve the role of soloist. She also trained at Pennsylvania Ballet, Columbia City Ballet, Ballet Magnificat, Central Pennsylavania Youth Ballet, and Atlantic City Ballet.

Ms. Smith was offered scholarships to attend Joffrey Ballet, Boston Conservatory, and SUNY Purchase. She attended The University of the Arts on scholarship and graduated with a BFA in Ballet Perfromance in 2004. She was offered a trainee position with Ballet Magnificat in Jackson, MS in 2005. Her performace credits include Regional and National Dance America Festivals and soloist roles in The Vineland Regional Dance Company and Atlantic City Ballet’s "Nutcracker". She has also performed soloist roles in "Paquita," "Swan Lake" and "Les Sylphides" all performed at The Merriam Theater and several performances of new work at the Painted Bride in Philadelphia, PA.

Ms. Smith is a dance instructor at several local studios throughout NJ and Pennsylvania and is the Associate Artistic Director and founder of Magnolia Hill Studios NJ, a studio dedicated to sharing a love of the visual and performing Arts with children. She has also taught within the Philadelphia school system. In addition to teaching, she is a dancer in a touring Tina Turner Review Show entitled, "Simply the Best” and is a member of two Philadelphia based dance companies, Danse4Nia Repertory Ensemble and Alchemy Dance Company.

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Meredith Rainey

Meredith Rainey began dancing at 15 in his hometown of Fort Lauderdale.  In 1985 he joined the Milwaukee Ballet, and in 1987 he was asked to join the newly formed Pennsylvania-Milwaukee Ballet. When the joint venture ended, he remained with the Pennsylvania Ballet and was promoted to soloist in 1999 until his retirement in 2006.

In 1997 he performed briefly as a demi-soloist with the Dance Theatre of Harlem. He was also a guest artist with Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre in their gala performance in honor of Masazumi Chaya. In addition he toured throughout North and South America, Europe and Seoul, Korea as a choreographer and dancer.

Meredith performed works by choreographers George Balanchine, Alvin Ailey, Mary Anthony, Paul Taylor, Lar Lubovitch, Jose Limon, John Butler, John Cranko, and William Forsythe. He also originated roles choreographed by Jean Grand-Maître, Robert Weiss, Jorma Elo, David Parsons, Trey McIntyre, Kevin O’Day and Matthew Neenan.

Meredith has been commissioned to create works for Pennsylvania Ballet, Incoln Ballet (Ballet Clássico Nacional de Colombia), Brandywine Ballet, Ballet X, Delaware Ballet, Hubbard Street 2, Phrenic New Ballet. His work is performed throughout North and South America and Europe including Miami International Ballet Festival, the International Ballet Festival of Ecuador, the First and Second International Ballet Festival of Calí, (Colombia) and Madrid, Spain.

Upon retiring from the Pennsylvania Ballet in 2006, Meredith decided to focus his creativity on his passion for choreography. To that end Meredith spent two years as part of the Susan Hess Modern Dance Studio’s, “Choreographer’s Project”. Here, he took part in workshops mentored by Ralph Lemon and choreographic discussions with Simon Dove and alike.

In 2008, he was awarded a one-year “New Edge” residency at the Community Education Center (CEC) of Philadelphia. During this residency he started a new project, “Look Inside” that eventually evolved into his company Carbon Dance Theatre (CDT). During the collaborative process of building the work, Meredith realized his vision for creating a company. CDT empowers performers and entertains audiences by creating work that is rooted in classical ballet and infused with the collaborative processes of theatre. In a short amount of time Meredith’s vision has taken flight. CDT has been presented in Baltimore and Pittsburgh and is a resident company at Drexel University.

Meredith has won numerous awards including the 1995 & 2002 PA Council on the Arts Fellowship Grant for Choreography, 2001 Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation Artist as Catalyst Grant, 2002 Independence Foundation Fellowship in the Arts, 2003 Pew Fellowship in the Arts Finalist, and most recently a 2010 Dance Advance Grant.

Meredith resides in Philadelphia with his partner of 10 years and their “child,” an adorable, overly excitable chocolate lab named Keiko.

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Madeline Fitzpatrick

Madeline Fitzpatrick began her dance training at the age of six at Suncoast Academy of Dance in Palm Harbor, Florida where she studied ballet, tap, jazz,  and contemporary.  She danced with the performing arts company at her studio and was fortunate to travel and train all over the state.  Her passion for tap dance grew when she attended the Tap Kids summer program in 2005.  She focused her studies in tap during high school and trained with masters such as Mark Goodman, Lisa Hopkins, Barbara Duffy, Lynn Schwab, Avi Miller, and Ofer Ben.  Madeline also studied musical theater in high school under Kim Florio and choreographed a number of performances.  In 2007 she was honored to be a finalist in Walker’s Rising Stars competition where she received a college scholarship.  Madeline recently graduated with a BFA in modern dance from the University of the Arts where she performed works by Robert Burden, Zane Booker, Curt Haworth, Myriam Herve-Gil, and Brian Sanders.  Madeline has been sharing her love for dance as a teacher for many years.  She has taught and choreographed for all ages and levels at studios throughout Florida and is thrilled to now be teaching in Philadelphia.