Grand Jete Instructors
Photos courtesy of Tim Miller of Art of Dance Photo
www.artofdance.photo

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Miss Amanda DiPasquale
OWNER/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Miss Amanda has been dancing for over 25 years and was an instructor for 5 years prior to taking over ownership of Grand Jete in 2014. She started her dance education at the age of 3 and continued on until her graduation from high school. She then went on to study dance and general studies at NCC. While attending NCC she was apart of "ACTA NON VERBA" A club for dancers that still exists to this day. She continued learning various dance forms throughout her College education such as Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Musical Theater, Hip Hop & Gymnastics. She also performed multiple productions at Baker Hall.  Amanda has also danced professionally for Semi Pro & Professional Indoor Arena football for 6 years. And had served as a captain for 3 years on the PIFL's Lehigh Valley Steelhawks Precious Metal Dance Team. While dancing for the IFL & PIFL she had the opportunity  of being featured in a service electric commercial in 2010 and interviewed and performed on 69 news sports talk. She has also had the opportunity of attending multiple conventions such as New York's JUMP Convention & Dance Teacher Summit where her picture was featured in dance teacher magazine. Amanda still continues to take class in New York at Broadway Dance Center to continue learning and growing as a teacher. In 2013 she was featured in Leslie Feliciano's promo video for his product Combo on the Go. She currently taps along with the Tap Ties Company Members under the direction of Rochelle Haynes every week and loves it. Along with taking classes Amanda has also had the opportunity to judge competitions and talent shows all over the Lehigh Valley, as well as choreograph for elite competition teams on the east coast. Miss Amanda is excited to begin her 9th season as owner/operator of GJD and cannot wait to see what's in store!

Miss Arenda DiPasquale
OWNER/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

8Miss Arenda has been dancing for over  25 years.  She has learned and experienced many dance forms throughout her career including ballet, modern, lyrical, jazz, tap, contemporary, theater, pointe and hip-hop. After graduating high school she continued her education as a dance and business management major. She 
has been a part of various dance companies including Monarch Dance Company, NCC Dance Ensemble and Acta non verba. She's also danced professionally for the Lehigh Valley Outlawz and Lehigh Valley Storm. In 2010 she served as a captain for the Indoor Football League's Precious Metal dance team (Lehigh Valley SteelHawks). She was named Dance Coordinator in 2011 and continued season to season until the franchise was sold in 2018. While serving as a Head Coordinator she had choreographed crowd appealing routines as a well as directed 7 annual youth dance clinics at Stabler Arena & the PPL Center. Arenda currently is a member of the Tap Ties Company located here in the Lehigh Valley. This will be here third consecutive year as an advanced tap performer. Dance education is important to her for herself as an instructor so when she is not teaching she is in NYC taking classes at Broadway Dance Center. She has also attended prestigious conventions such as JUMP & Dance Teacher Summit where she has shared her passion with top notch choreographers. She loves sharing her passion for dance with all of the students of Grand Jete. Watching them grow from year to year is something she will always treasure as an instructor! Miss Arenda is excited to begin her 9th season as owner/operator of GJD and she cannot wait to see what's in store!

Miss Emily Hendershot
TAP- JAZZ- HIP HOP- ACRO-  CONTEMPORARY- COMPANY 

Miss Emily has been dancing for over 15 years under the direction of the staff at Nardi Dance Studio in Easton, PA . After graduating in 2016 she has continued her dance education at Moravian College with a focus in Dance. Along with that she has danced professionally for a season with the Precious Metal Dance Team affiliated with the IFL's Lehigh Valley Steelhawks indoor arena football team. More recently she has become an apprentice company member  of TTAP under the direction of Jill Fitzgerald and Amy Smith. She has also had the opportunity to expand her education through many master classes held at Broadway Dance Center in NYC, Locally at both Cedar Crest College & Moravian  College under the direction of many talented choreographers. She is excited to share her passion of dance with the students of Grand Jete!  ​

Miss Melissa Janssen 
BALLET- PRE-POINTE- POINTE

Melissa began dancing at the age of 6.  She quickly grew to love the art form and throughout childhood involved herself in as much dance as possible.  She was a part of a local NJ ballet company from the age of 11 until 18 years old.  In high school, Melissa was a part of her high school dance team and was captain her sophomore and senior years.  Melissa attended DeSales University and graduated in 2014 with a B.A. in Dance and a B.S. in Pharmaceutical Marketing.  During her time at DeSales she performed and choreographed for several concerts including Emerging Choreographers Concert, The DeSales University Dance Ensemble, and The DeSales University Informal Dance Concert.  Also during her time at DeSales, Melissa taught ballet at the Conservatory for Dance as well as performed as a dancer/singer at both Dorney Park and Knoebels.  After graduating, Melissa continued to teach styles including ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary, and modern. She also spent one season dancing with The Precious Metal Dance Team affiliated with the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks.  Melissa is looking forward to working with the talented students and amazing staff of Grand Jete Studio of Dance. ​

 Miss Taylor Masiado
ACRO- GYMNASTICS- JAZZ- BALLET- CONTEMPORARY- TURNS & LEAPS

Miss Taylor was born and raised in Macungie Pennsylvania along with her sisters and parents. She currently still resides in Macungie with her family and Dog Lavi. Taylor is a recent graduate of the Charter High School for the Arts with a focus in Dance.  While at the Charter High School she choreographed her own pieces with unique concepts and casts. By auditioning for the school as a freshman she has emerged as an artist in dance concepts, improv skills, choreographing and dance theory until her graduation in 2021. Currently, Taylor is continuing her education locally at NCC.  Taylor has been dancing for over 10 years and has been a wonderful assistant at Grand Jete for 7 years and has led her own classes as a Senior. While assisting she has learned proper technique and class structures to continue into her own teaching style. She loves teaching all genre's is looking forward to working with all of our students at GJD and joining our wonderful staff.

Miss Aiala Oliveira
BALLET - PRE-POINTE - POINTE

Miss Aiala is a former professional Ballet Dancer with extensive experience and currently a Classical Ballet Instructor bringing her gifts to GJD. In her experience she has taught students from diverse and multicultural environments from ages 3 to 60 years old, focusing not only on Ballet technique, but also coordination, musicality, discipline and well being. Her goal is to promote a respectful and healthy environment in the studio, where students are invited to develop their creativity, self-confidence and thrive at their own pace and excellence.

She provides a sensitive and caring attitude in the classroom along with a strong interest in understanding how individuals learn while respecting their developmental stages. Her foundation is to inspire her students and ignite a love for the art of Ballet.

Performance Experience:
Atlantic City Ballet, Atlantic City/NJ — 
Performed as soloist in the company repertoire. Featured as 'Snow Queen' and 'Leading Marzipan' in 'TheNutcracker', 'Princess Florine' and 'Jewels' in Sleeping Beauty, 'Bride' in 'Dracula', 'Harlot' in 'Romeo and Juliet',‘Spring Fairy’ in ‘Cinderella’ and in ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Pas de Deux. Artistic Director, Phyllis Papa.

Cia de Dança Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil —  
Performed a range of Classical/Contemporary Ballet works as a soloist with a focus on Classical Ballet repertoire pieces, and Grand Pas de Deux's.

Cia Jovem de Ballet do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — 
Performed with the company and toured to many cities and states in Brazil. Company repertoire included diverse dance styles such as Ballet, Contemporary and Jazz.

Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — Corps de Ballet 
Performed in full length Ballets and Opera productions of the Theater. Among them, 'Marguerite and Armand'(Ashton), 'Onegin' (Cranko), 'Swan Lake' (Yelena Pankova), 'The Nutcracker' (Dalal Achcar), 'Romeo and Juliet', 'Aida' and 'Merry Widow'.

Welcome to our GJD family Aiala! We can't wait for you to share your love of Ballet and knowledge with our students at Grand Jete!

Miss Melissa Zimmer
MODERN- LYRICAL- BROADWAY- COMPANY- 

​Melissa grew up dancing in the Lehigh Valley since the age of two.  She graduated from Cedar Crest College with a B.A. in Dance and a B.A. in Theater.  Upon graduating she began dancing professionally with Monarch Dance Company, an Afro-Contemporary based company under the direction of Tabatha Robinson.  With Monarch she has performed at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater in NYC, the Manhattan Movement and Arts Center, the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., and various venues throughout the tri-state area.  In 2014, Melissa was promoted to Assistant Director and in 2015 she helped to create Monarch's first high school apprentice company, Mariposa.  She has also served as a choreographer for the Pennsylvania Playhouse since 2010.  Her work there includes Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Drowsy Chaperone, Annie Get Your Gun, and The Music Man to name a few.  Melissa has also been the choreographer for Whitehall High School since 2016.  She has also served as a guest choreographer for In Motion Dance Company in Chester, NJ.  Her work with them was showcased at Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater and Carnegie Hall in NYC.  During the day Melissa works in Member Services at the JCC of the Lehigh Valley.  She is on the faculty at Grand Jete Studio of Dance, Nardi Dance Studios, & Cartesion Dance Academy.

Miss Kerri Sodl
GYMNASTICS

Kerri has been teaching gymnastics for over 25 years.  She takes the time to individually examine and help each student so they can 
progress safely and quickly at their own level. She has taken students to competitions where they have received high ranking medal.  Miss Kerri teaches all levels of gymnastics from 
beginner to advanced.  #cartwheelsforkerri

Miss Laura Whipple
Office Management

Summer Office Hours
Monday - Thursday 2:00-7:30
grandjeteoffice@yahoo.com

610-393-5225
Grand Jete Dance Studio