We are grateful to alumni from the School of Dance for maintaining contact with our faculty and staff. Your lives after commencement are important to us. The alumni news section will be periodically updated as new information becomes available.
Richard Lawn, Dean
College of Performing Arts

Patricia Ann Cascio
Dance, Theatre/Jazz 1982

Owner/Instructor/Director of All That Jazz Dance Studio, Patricia has recently expanded her dance studio of 23 years. She would like to begin offering piano lessons for her students and is currently looking for an instructor.

Roseann Mastrogiacomo Gatto
Dance 1982

Roseann is the owner of Chez Dance, 3 large state of the art Dance studios in Turnersville, NJ. Located on two acres of land on Fries Mill Road, Chez Dance also boasts a dance store in addition to the studios.

Karen J. Kruger
Dance/Ballet, 1983

Following graduation, Karen attended law school, relocated to Baltimore, MD and - while practicing law - trained for and completed the ballet examinations given by the Royal Academy of Dancing, earning the Advanced Certificate. She has also taught ballet at the Peabody Institute and continues her ballet training at Goucher College, along with an extensive study of Pilates. And she still practices law full time!

Michele Abreu
Dance,1988

Retired following 7 years in a career in dance, Michele returned to community college, where she received an associates in Art and Graphic Design. She is now pursuing a BA in the same field at Laguna College of Art and Design in California.

Peter G. Kalivas
Dance, Modern 1988

Six years as a member of Sean Curran Company based in New York touring nationally and internationally; visiting Artist in Residence for Florida Community College, Douglas Anderson School of Arts, Florida School of Arts, Tsoying School for the Arts (Taiwan); guest choreographer in residence for the Pinellas County Center for the Arts; guest artist with The San Diego Ballet; Dance Platforn Turkey (Ankara); dance specialist to the Department of Education and Culture to the US; Brio Award winner for choreography. Under his own company name, The PGK Project, Peter currently teaches master classes in technique, partnering and composition and commissioned to create choreography for universities, colleges, festivals and companies worldwide. Commercially, he continues to sing as a Stingray in "Bowzer and the Stingrays," traveling extensively throughout the country, Mexico and the Carribean.

Mariellen Murray
Dance 1988

Mariellen is an entertainer currently performing in lounges throughout Las Vegas. May & Murray is the name of the lounge act voted one of the top 3 lounge acts in "What's On" Magazine of Las Vegas.

Jennifer Rae Weigand-Watkinson
Dance 1990

Director of Dance with Rae Productions International. Jennifer has two children. Theresse, age 3, has been dancing for a year. Inspired by her 8 year old son's disability, she began working on dance classes and choreography that could be done from a wheelchair. Their first public performance took place during Christmas season of 2003.

Kathy (Mancuso) Ortiz
Dance, Theatre/Jazz 1991

Spent many years dancing with Walt Disney World, Princess Cruise Lines, American Gladiators and more. Worked at the Aladdin and Tropicana Hotels in Las Vegas. Currently retired, married and stay-at-home mom to her son.

Christina A. Hurley
Dance, Ballet 1992

A dancer/choreographer,Christina has been a performer on Crystal Cruise Lines - both the "Harmony" and "Symphony" for the last 3 years. She has performed in Las Vegas, Hawaii, Atlantic City, and in Europe, as well as on the "Silver Seas Line" for 2 years. She has also choreographed and taught exstensively. She married Jonna Hurtig of Helsinki, Finland in June 2004 in Cape May, NJ.

Gregory Ugrin
Dance, Theatre/Jazz 1992

(No report, but will be attending the Dance Alumni Reunion)

Michelle R. (Munno) Jacobs
Dance, 1993

Michelle is a part-time faculty member of the dance program at Cedar Crest College under the direction of fellow UArts and Temple Alum, Robin Gerchman. Her responsibilities include teaching theory courses, modern dance and technique, academic advisor and student dance concert director.

Meredith E. McFadden
Dance, Modern 1993

Meredith graduated in '96 with a Masters in Creative Arts Therapy with a specialization in dance/movement therapy from Hahneman Univeristy. She has worked for the past eight years as a dance/movement therapist in psychiatric institutions in Delaware. She has achieved advanced registry in her field and National certification in couseling. She was married in Sept. '01 to Micheal Giulliani and is currently working with children with emotional and behavioral disorders. In her spare time, she teaches yoga and pilates and has also done some local modeling.

Rebecca W. Nash
Dance, Ballet 1993

An associate professor at West Chester University, Rebecca is also a teacher at the Dance Center and Steppin' Out Academy of Performing Arts. She also judges dance competitions.

Sandra L. (Kozach) Stankiewicz
Dance, Modern 1993

Sandra is a medical claims processor working with Unicare Life & Health Insurance

Eugene W. Coates
Dance, Modern 1994

Eugene is currently working as a featured singer at Universal Studios in Osaka, Japan. He has recently established his own production company named GRUMPY MONKEY PRODUCTIONS which specializes in creating and re-mixing music for disco clubs, private parties, concerts and original music for dance companies and new ballets. He looks forward to bringing his new company back to his hometown of Philadelphia.

Kristin Lizabeth Gahwiler
Dance, Modern 1994

Currently working as an excercise physiologist in Boca Raton, FL at a hospital and retirement community, Kristin is a 2003 graduate of Temple University with a M.Ed. in Kinesiology and a concentration in exercise physiology. She is an adjunct professor at Broward Community College teaching fitness and aerobics and is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine and the Aerobics & Fitness Association of America. In addition to working in the fitness industry for over ten years Kristin taught dance in Philly for eight years and continues to incorporate her strong dance background into her exercise/pilates classes.

Renee Jaworski
Dance, 1994

A member of the Pilobolus Dance Company, recently performed at the Annenberg Center. A featured dancer in the recent TV special, she has garnered acclaim for her exciting and magnetic performance.

Christina (Richardson) Romann
Dance Education 1995

A Dance Instructor at WashingtonTownship High School, Christina received a M. Ed in Dance from Temple University in 1999. From 1999-2001, Christina taught at William Allen High School in Allentown, and later taught dance at Bayberry Elementary School in Watchung, NJ. She is currently a dance educator at Washington Township High School in Sewell, NJ.

Victoria A. (Harris) Szeplaki
Dance Education 1995

Has owned a dance school (over 100 students) in Flemington, NJ for over 5 years;
Holds position of Artistic Director of Rover Ballet Co, a pre-professional company.

Rochelle Marie Haynes
Dance, Modern 1996

Rochelle is currently teaching throughout Philadelphia and New Jersey. She is also traveling and performing with Tap Team Two and Co, Inc.

Emily Suzanne Hubler
Dance, Modern 1996

A dancer/teacher/choreographer,Emily performed in 2003 in Tokyo with Group Motton Dance Co. She has been touring and teaching with them since 1999. She's danced in France, Cyprus, Germany and throughout the US.

Jennifer M. Karacz-Alexander
Dance, Modern 1996

Currently freelancing as dancer/choreographer/model in Las Vegas and performing at various casinos in Las Vegas and on cruiseships. Also modeling, dancing, choreographing, and working as an assistant for various magicians throughout the U.S.

Tina Marie Bracciale
Dance Education, 1997

Currently serving as the educational/booking coordinator for Rennie Harris Puremovement. Also teaching at Tricia Sloan Dance Center, where she is co-director of Senior Dance Company. Tina continues to create works under her company name Winged Woman Dance Company and recently presented work w/choreographer Ron Wood aka Zen One in a show at Christ Church in Nov. 03. Recently finished a choreographic residency at the Bolles School in Florida.

Krista M. Mancarella
Dance, Ballet 1997

Received MA degree in Dance/Movement Therapy from Hahnemann University (now Drexel). Currently pursuing a doctorate of clinical psychology at Chestnut Hill College, Krista works with a variety of clients. Tries to keep up with dance classes as much as time permits!

Molly Elizabeth Christie
Dance, Modern 1998

A Senior Health Educator with Action AIDS, Molly danced recently in San Francisco with Fogo Na Roupa Brazilian Dance Company and Aramis Pazos Latin Cabaret Cuban Dance Company. She teaches dance for Stanford University and is in the process of being certified in Katherine Dunham Technique. She still works in Philadelphia and on the East Coast with Trio Dourado the Brazilian Dance Company she co-founded.

Dawn Noel Pignuola
Dance, Modern 1998

Dawn was among five female and seven male dancers chosen for Madonna's recent world tour. Having trained as well at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Dawn has appeared in several music videos, including Will Smith's So Fresh and the Whitney Houston and Enrique Iglesias duet, Could I Have This Kiss Forever? She's also shared the stage with the likes of Beyoncé, Mariah Carey and Britney Spears. Following her graduation from UArts, she landed a dance role in the New York City Opera production of Carmina Burana, followed by another dance role in the Metropolitan Opera's production of War and Peace.

Alexandra Wailes
Dance, Modern 1998

Alexandra is currently on tour with the Broadway production of "Big River." Cast in the role of Joanna Wilkes when the production began in LosAngeles, Alexandra continued in the role on Broadway in 2003. The brilliant ensemble cast of hearing and deaf actors has just returned from Japan and plans on traveling cross-country in the United States once again.

Stacina Clark
Dance Education, 1999

A consultation and education specialist with Albert Einstein Medical Center, Stacina graduated from Drexel University with a MA in Dance/Movement therapy in 2002. She currently works at a mental health facility in West Philadelphia with children who have emotional and behavioral health issues.

Lisa M. Potter
Dance Education 1999

Lisa is a Program Associate for the Arts and Business Council Inc. in New York. Since November 2000, she has been managing the Cultural Tourism Initiative Grant Program for the State of New York (a partner of the NYS Council on the Arts) and coordinating the Con Edison Multicultural Arts Management Internship Program - a paid summer experience in New York City for undergrads. She was a panelist in 2001 for the Eastern Association of Career Services Directors conference held at UArts and guest speaker in Jan 2002 for the Business of Dance course in the School of Dance.

Jennifer R. Weisenberg
Modern Dance, 1999

Jennifer currently works for the Spirit Cruise Lines in Manhattan. She is also a yoga instructor, ballroom/Latin dance instructor, and teaches tap and jazz in Brooklyn. For the past 3 years, she has performed and choreographed musical theater in Brooklyn, doing shows such as "La Cage au Folles," "Gypsy" and "The Fantasticks." She is currently dance captain on her second production of "La Cage au Folles" which opens at the end of March.

Natasha J. Goldstein
Dance Education 2000

Employed as Activities Coordinator with elderly population at Lankenau Hospital's Transitional Care Center in Wynnewood, PA; a dance movememt therapist, having attended Hahnemann University's College of Nursing and Health Professions (2000-02).

Donielle Allison (Bailey) Horst
Dance, Modern 2000

An Assistant Executive Director for the Eastern Pennsylvania Ballet Theatre, Donielle is a certified pilates mat instructor (certified through PowerHouse pilates) as well as a dance instructor at Dance Pointe studio (Hamburg, PA) and Dance Centers (Mt. Penn, PA)

Rebekah Ann Forrest
Dance, Modern 2001
A dancer/rehearsal director for Gravity Dance Theater, Rebekah is also Modern Program Director at Studio One Performing Arts Center.

Marc Christopher Spaulding
Dance, Ballet 2001

Marc is currently a company member of PhilaDanCo as well as co-running F.I.V.E. Productions, LLC, with fellow graduates Mike Courtney and Douglas Sanders

Erin Critchett Quinn
Dance Education 2002

Erin recently started her own business in Sept '03 as the owner/director of Shore Performing Arts Center. The center is located in Long Branch, NJ and offers classes in all forms of dance, acting and art. After being open for only 4 months, she already had 120 students enrolled.

Jennifer Dale
Dance/Ballet, 2003

After spending a year with Ballet Austin as an apprentice as well as on tour, Jennifer was photographed to appear in the calendar Ballet by photographer Doyle Gray for the 2006 and 2007 calendars. She is currently dancing for Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet in Boulder, CO, which was recently reviewed in Pointe magazine (December 2004/January 2005). The company presented the world premiere of Vertigo in March of 2005.

Terry Slade
Dance, Performance 2004

Teacher and choreographer currently in the process of opening Turning Pointe Dance Centre with future plans to start a dance company named Redemption - A New Voice in Dance.

Margaret Lin Ryder
BFA Dance Education, 2004

Margaret is currently on tour with the West Virginia Dance Company's 2005-06 season. Last summer, she completed her second season with Theatre West Virginia, rotating three shows in their 4-month summer season and looks forward to working again with them in the summer of 2006.