Rock West Faculty

JODY ANDERSON - Ballet Faculty
As a principal dancer with the Kansas City Ballet for 16 years, Jody had the honor of performing some of the greatest works of the 20th Century. She was also hand picked by Alvin Ailey to perform as a guest artist with his company The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Jody also performed and was the Associate Choreographer and Community Chorus Director with Kansas City's Starlight Theatre in addition to performing with St. Louis MUNY Opera, Atlanta Theatre of the Stars and Houston's Theater Under the Stars. As a choreographer she has staged original works for Kansas City Ballet, Delaware Dance Company, West Chester Dance Theatre in addition to choreographing musicals all over.  Jody was honored to be nominated for a Philadelphia Theatre Alliance Barrymore Award for her choreography for the New Candlelight Theatre's 2007 production of CHICAGO. She has been on the faculty since 2003.

 

 

ANGELA BATES-MAJEWSKI-Jazz & Tap Faculty

Mrs. Majewski started dancing at the age of five at the Anna Marie Dance Studio in Wilmington, Delaware.  She was trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, tap, and musical theatre.  She continued her dance education with The Young Americans in CA while touring with them around the US for 2 years.  She has also worked with Ann Reinking and the Broadway Theatre Project in FL.  She received her B.A. in Elementary Education with a minor in Music and Mathematics from West Chester University.  She has been performing all over the area in many musicals, and has also done some industrial work including performances at Radio City Music Hall with the Rockettes.  Favorite roles include Lola in Damn Yankees, Babette in Beauty and the Beast, Mazepa in Gypsy, June in Chicago, Kit Kat Girl in Cabaret, DeLee in Smokey Joe's Cafe, Phyllis and Annie in 42nd Street, and many others.  She has also had the privilege to choreograph “The Full Monty”, “Footloose” and “Black Patent Leather Shoes” at the New Candlelight Theatre, “West Side Story” at Three Little Bakers, “The Wiz”, “Seussical”, and “Urinetown” at the Wilmington Drama League, and many other musicals at local high schools.  She currently teaches all over the Delaware Valley and has received awards for her choreography at many national dance competitions.  When she is not teaching, choreographing or performing, she is being a mommy to her two little boys and helping her family run the family farm business.  She LOVES her job! She is thrilled to be working at the Rock School West!!  

 

DANIELLE BOWER - Jazz and Hip Hop Faculty

Danielle began her training in West Chester, PA with the Chester County Ballet Company and with the Rock School West. She attended The University of the Arts and after graduating, she danced with Montazh Performing Arts Company and lived in Bermuda for two years where she danced and choreographed for the Bermuda Music Festival, United Dance Productions, and Tappers Off The Hoof. She has also been a member of Imprint Dance Collective and has danced professionally for Contempra Dance Theatre, The Mantis Project, and Synthesis Dance Project. Currently she teaches various styles of dance throughout PA and NJ, coaches the Rustin High School Dance Team and continues to perform for choreographers in NYC.

 

 

KRISTIN BROWN - Ballet Faculty
Kristin Brown danced professionally from 1989 – 1996 with ballet companies in Pennsylvania, Florida, New York, North Carolina, and Texas. She has had the pleasure of working with choreographers Yanis Pikeris, Russell Sultzbach, Andre Prokovsky, Christopher Fleming, Dominique Gabella, and performing “Mobile” by the late Tomm Ruud. Ms. Brown received the majority of her training with Richard Hoskinson, Donna Muzio, and Cherie Noble at the Dance Center and Brandywine Ballet in West Chester, PA. She also attended summer programs at Richmond Ballet, Washington Ballet, and the PA Governor’s School for the Arts, as a scholarship student. Ms. Brown began teaching in 1993 while still performing professionally. She has choreographed for Longwood Dance Theatre, Brandywine Ballet, and The Rock School. Ms. Brown was a principal faculty member at the Brandywine Ballet for eight years, as well as a rehearsal assistant for the company. In June of 2007, Ms. Brown joined the faculty of The Rock School for Dance Education where she is also a rehearsal mistress for the student company. In addition to dance, Ms. Brown earned a degree in Sports Medicine and was a nationally certified Athletic Trainer. In 2010, she joined the faculty at the University of the Arts teaching anatomy and kinesiology to the dance majors.

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KIMBERLY FORBES CAMACHO - Jazz/Tap Faculty

Kim Camacho graduated with a B.A. in Dance from Allentown College (presently DeSales University), after which she moved to NYC where she continued her education on scholarship at Broadway Dance Center and Steps. Her performance experience includes numerous live industrial shows for major corporations, television and print commercials, a stage performance at the famous Kit Kat Klub in NYC as well as appearing on an episode of Dawson's Creek. Along with traveling within the United States, Kim has also performed in Barcelona, Spain and Seoul, South Korea as part of a company based on the popular Broadway show Stomp. As an instructor, Kim has taught for several schools along the east coast, including The Koresh Center, The University of the Arts and The Rock School in Philadelphia. Kim has been with The Rock School West as a faculty member since 2003. Many of her students have gone on to perform professionally both on and off Broadway and have even been seen as one of the Top 18 dancers from the hit television show So You Think You Can Dance - season 2!

 

DONNA CHERRY - Ballet Coordinator

An alumna of the School of Pennsylvania Ballet, Donna Cherry was a member of the Florida Ballet, Ballet Metropolitan, a principal dancer with the Harrisburg Ballet and a member of Pennsylvania Ballet. Ms. Cherry has performed many roles, including principal roles in Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Pas de Quatre, and The Nutcracker, as well as soloist roles in Balanchine's Agon, The Four Temperaments, and Stars and Stripes. Donna Cherry has taught at The Rock Schools since 1997. Ms. Cherry was also a Ballet Mistress with West Chester Ballet Theatre, now West Chester Dance Theatre, and continues to assist in rehearsals with the student company.

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KAREN DEFRANCESCO - Early Dance Faculty 

Karen DeFrancesco has taught ballet, jazz, tap, and theatre dance for over 20 years. Her creativity and warmth have made her a cornerstone of The Rock School West. A former student of the School of Pennsylvania Ballet, she was a member of The Philadelphia Civic Ballet Company and a vocalist with the Sal Soul Orchestra Touring Band. She was the owner and director of her own studio before moving to the West Chester area. Ms. DeFrancesco has choreographed for and performed in TV commercials, theatre, music videos and a top selling How to Dance Video.

 

 

 

ROSE DOWLIN - Early Dance Faculty

Rose Dowlin is a multi-talented dancer, teacher and choreographer, and is a former faculty member of the Philadelphia Arts League. She has been teaching dance in the Chester County area for 19 years and has been a faculty member of the Rock West for the past 12 years. She has choreographed numerous musicals for Main Line and Chester County high schools as well as the Born Playhouse, Dutel County Players and the Montgomery Theater Project.

 

 

 

DONNA DUFOE-Adult Class "Little Black Dress" and Dance for PD

Donna has been teaching classes and earning certifications in the fitness industry since 2000.  She reaches out to all levels of fitness including pilates and yoga, providing students with the tools they need to succeed at their own pace.  Donna delivers a powerful workout that inspires and challenges the mind through body awareness and fluidity of movement. Donna holds multiple certifications including Stott Pilates, 500 hour Yogalife Institute teacher training, Arthritis Foundation exercise and  Dance for PD. Donna enjoys leading folks who have disabilities and teaches classes in the water and on land for folks with  arthritis, chair yoga, assisted living balance and movement and seated strength and rhythmical movement for MS.  She also leads yoga workshops at Yogalife and teaches fun full body movement at her church preschool.  Donna has a magnetic and genuine teaching style and believes in teaching movements joyfully and progressively in order to accommodate any member of a class.  

CRYSTAL FRAZIER - Jazz, Tap and Hip Hop Faculty

Crystal Frazier is a native from New Jersey where she began training in dance and gymnastics at the age of 6. She attended University of the Arts where she earned an Associates Degree in Dance and is currently on staff teaching Styles of Jazz. Crystal began her training in hip-hop and became principal dancer with "Rennie Harris Puremovement". She made appearances in Repertoire, Rome and Jules, Illadelph Legends, Dance Magazine and many more. Her choreography have been featured in Philadelphia 76ers Dance Team, Fringe Festival, Drexel University, University of the Arts, Encore Danses en Tournee in Canada, Hip Hop Extravaganza Bermuda, Taipei University of the Arts in Taiwan, Cruzan Dance in St. Croix, Dance Ability Canada, Earl Mosley's Institute of the Arts, Garden State Dance Festival, and many more. She has performed in the movie Beloved, VH1 Fashion Awards with Macy Gray, BET Comic view, BET Awards with Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, MTV Lip Service and Global Groove, swing cast for the Groovaloo's show in LA, NYC/LA Carnival, Italy Tour with Kathy Sledge and featured dancer/choreographer for Jill Scott "Big Beautiful Tour". Crystal has also appeared in the show Monk on USA and video with Mike Philips. Crystal is a judicator for local preliminaries for the Miss America Organization, Dancers Inc Competition and Convention, Dance Quest in Canada and Co-founder of Montazh Performing Arts Company.

 Special Note: We would like to wish a fond farewell to Crystal Frazier.  For those of you that have not heard, Crystal will be leaving the Philadelphia area to pursue new artistic adventures in Michigan for the next year.  Crystal plans to return “home” next year and be back teaching at Rock West!  

 

RUTHE FREEBERG - Early Dance Faculty

RuthE Freeberg has been dancing almost all of her life. Her love of dance was fostered by many great teachers, which inspired her to become a dance teacher herself. She has been teaching ballet and tap to our youngest dancers since 1994. Her love of dance and caring approach allow her to help her students discover their own love of dance. One of Ms. RuthE's greatest joys is to watch her former students grow into beautiful, mature dancers. Her degree in Human Development, with a minor in dance, from Stephens College, along with her lifelong experiences with children (including working with special needs children, teaching pre-school and raising five children of her own) make her classes a good first dance experience for young children.

 

 

GINA GRACE - Ballet Faculty

Gina (Angelucci) Grace began her training in Philadelphia with Carole Orlandi Barr, Marion Tonner and later with John White and Margarita deSaa at the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet. She has been teaching throughout the Philadelphia area since 1991 and has been on the faculty at Rock West since 2000. Mrs. Grace has studied Vaganova pedagogy with a special focus on the first three syllabus years. Gina is also a full time faculty member at The Rock Centre in Philadelphia and is an instructor for Rock Reach, The Rock School's outreach program.

Special Note: Although Gina is not teaching at RW this year, she is still an integral part of the Rock School’s and continues to teach at Rock Centre.

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JIM GREEN - Hip Hop Faculty

Jim has fourteen years of dance training in jazz, modern, ballet, hip-hop and tap.  He has primarily studied jazz, but now specializes in hip-hop including, popping, locking, waving and breaking as well as street jazz.  His background also includes acrobatics and karate.  Recently, Jim was a featured dancer in the Kick in the Door music video for up and coming artist, Santalina.  He has also performed with Jade Sterling, Pretty Poison, hip-hop artist Ashanti, off-Broadway shows with Dan Karaty and with companies such as Flo Motion and Jazum Records and his dance crew opened for America's Best Dance Crew's Kaba Modern. 

 

NICOLE HARMON - Regional Director, The Rock School West

Nicole Harmon graduated with a BFA in Dance from The University of the Arts, Philadelphia in 1999. Upon graduation Ms. Harmon received the Faculty Recognition Award for excellence in dance. Throughout her years of training, she extended her education at Koresh, The Broadway Dance Center, Steps and The Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.  Following graduation, Nicole began teaching in the Philadelphia area and performing throughout the United States in numerous industrials and productions   Nicole joined The Rock School faculty in 2000 and since has served as the Regional Director for The Rock School West.  Nicole is proud to have played an integral part in developing the Jazz and Tap program, including the schools Jazz and Tap performing companies.  Additionally, Nicole has had the opportunity to guest teach throughout the area and most recently, The University of Penn.

 

KELLI MOSHEN-Hip-Hop & Jazz Faculty

Kelli Moshen is the Founder and Director of Project Moshen dance company and is a local dance instructor and choreographer in the Philadelphia area.  Kelli Graduated from the University of the Arts with a BFA in Dance. Kelli is one of the Dance instructors at the Institute of Dance Artistry where she teaches her students all different styles of dance. Kelli has performed at various performances in the Philadelphia area: Fringe Festivals, Merriam Theatre, CEC, and Koresh Showcases.  Kelli's Love for performing and support for all those around her has not only inspired her students but also her colleagues.   Kelli not only has experience performing, but also in the behind scenes work.  Kelli worked for McDonald Selznick Associates, a prominent dance agency in New York City.  This experience taught Kelli how to deal with the business aspects of running her own company.  On the weekends when Kelli is not performing or working in the studio, she is MCing events for Events Beyond Expectation (E.B.E) an entertainment company based out of Philadelphia that specializes in Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and other special events.  

 

TARA NIXON-Jazz Faculty

Tara Nixon graduated Mana Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance Performance and a minor in Business from Southern Methodist University.  As a young dancer she was classically trained through the Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus, achieved scholarship to STEPS on Broadway NYC and studied with the River North Dance Co. Chicago.  Tara is currently a member of Tracie Stanfield's NYC Company, "Synthesis Dance Project," while also performing with Caryn Marie's "The Movement Initiative."  Some of Tara's professional credits include Rick Atwell's "Confessions of a Dance Teacher," The Elan Awards, White Wave Dance Festival, LA Invitational, International Dance Festival, Heart & Feet Benefit for the Andrea Rizzo Foundation- Drea's Dream, and the annual SDP Summer Concert.  Tara teaches and choreographs in the NY/NJ area including substitute teaching at BDC.  Tara's students and choreography continually receive high honors, overall, high score and special awards, as well as dance team selections and entertainment and choreography awards.  She is super excited to be working with the Rock School West!

 

CHRISTINA PASTRAS PATCHELL - Ballet Faculty

Christina began her training in Philadelphia and received scholarships to the Joffrey Ballet, The Govenor's School of the Arts, and The Rock School. She has had the opportunity to travel the world performing in Japan, LA, and tours throughout the US with Pembrua Productions and The Marc Scott Dancers. She has performed with several ballet companies, as well as sharing the stage with Will Smith, Mariah Carey, and Boys II Men. Christina has a B.F.A. In Ballet Education from the University of the Arts. She has been on faculty with The Rock School for Dance Education for seven years and the rehearsal coach for West Chester Dance Theater. Christina is happy to be a part of Rock Reach, which is an outreach program-bringing dance into charter and public schools in and around Philadelphia. She currently resides at 3 schools where she brings dance from grades K-8.  During her free time she loves to spend time with her husband and two children Maximus and Isabella.

 

Special Note: Although Christina is not teaching at RW this year, she is still an integral part of the Rock School’s and continues to teach at Rock Centre.

 

SARAH VOGAN - Early Dance Faculty  

 Sarah began her dance training at the age of two studying at various studios in the area.  During her years of study, she has made appearances in WPVI 6 ABC Boscov's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Sunoco Welcome America 4th of July Parades, Sunoco Welcome America 2 Cities 2 States Concert featuring the Ba Ha Men, 4th International World Dragon Boat Races - Opening Ceremonies, Republican National Convention - Opening Ceremonies, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell Inauguration Parade and in 2003, made her debut dancing at Carnegie Hall in concert with Janellen Farmer.  While acquiring her BFA in dance at Mount Holyoke College and the Five College Dance Department, she choreographed an adjudicated piece for ACDFA.  Most recently she traveled to Ireland to exhibit American tap dance and study with international step dance champions Jim Hickey and Justin Walsh.

JENNIFER WHEAT - Principal Ballet Teacher
Originally from Michigan, Jennifer Wheat trained with the Contemporary Civic Ballet of Michigan, and was a scholarship student with the schools of Pennsylvania Ballet, Boston Ballet, and The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. In 1981, after a car accident ended her ballet career dancing, she switched to Jazz, and trained at the University of the Arts and the Lou Conte Dance School, where she was an apprentice with The Hubbard Street Dance Company. Ms. Wheat also danced professionally with Astral Theatrical Dance Company and Dance Fusion, and is the founding director of Fusion2 Dance Company. Ms. Wheat has been a faculty member since 1996 and is a choreographer and ballet mistress for the company.

 

 

 

Frances Bartlett-Dance For PD Faculty

Frances Bartlett has been a Ballroom and Latin dancer for over a decade and continues to dance at many venues in the Philadelphia area from Wilmington (Blue Ballroom) to Pottstown (Sunnybrook Ballroom).  She started dancing in grade school with ballet, point and tab and moved on to basic Waltz, Fox Trot and Cha Cha in middle school.  Fran also studied piano and violin for many years and played second violin in the school Orchestra.  Fran took the Dance for PD training with David Leventhal in March 2011 and has been teaching here at the Rock School West and at 954 Dance Movement Collective in Northern Liberties, Philadelphia, since May 2011. “Music and dance are wonderful ways to stay in great shape, express emotions, forget the time and be with friends.  This is what I want to bring to the participants of Dance for PD.  We’ll all be dancers together for the hour and simply enjoy.”