Faculty

Owners

Samantha Pasquarette

Artistic Director, Pointe & Contemporary Instructor

Courtney Jones

Studio Manager, Jazz & Musical Theatre Instructor

Samantha Pasquarette's own training began at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Harrisburg Dance Conservatory, and Pennsylvania Regional Ballet, where she was trained in classical ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap and modern. In her dance career, she has danced in numerous ballets such as Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Giselle, and the Nutcracker. She's attended Regional Dance America for several years where she received scholarships for summer intensives. Later in life Samantha traveled to Los Angeles and took classes at The Edge Performing Arts studio before returning home and beginning college. At Millersville University, she joined Expressions where she choreographed, taught, and became the President for the organization. In 2014, she became a ballet, jazz, and hip hop instructor at McCann's School of Dance and worked under the direction of Sandy McCann for three years. Samantha later became the artistic director for the studio along with the advanced ballet, pointe, and contemporary instructor. During her time at McCann's, she has choreographed her own Nutcracker production, co-created the Company, and has organized and operated numerous performances.

Samantha is grateful for the training and opportunities that were given to her as they will guide her through studio ownership. Her enthusiasm for all dance disciplines allows her to promote a strong dance educational background for all dancers who walk through the door. She is excited to welcome you to Studio 22!

Courtney Jones started her dance training at a small studio in Rutherford. Here she was trained in Tap, Jazz, and Baton. In 2007, she then came to McCann's School of Dance where she was trained in jazz, tap, hip hop, ballet, and lyrical. She attended Millersville University and had the opportunity to dance with the dance organization Expressions, as well as choreograph, teach, and be a member of the board for two of her four years. In 2015, she started her job in the summer choreographing musicals such as Beauty and the Beast, Into the Woods, Elf, Music Man, Shrek, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. In 2018 she became a teacher at her home studio, McCann's where she was the advanced Jazz instructor. In 2020 Courtney became the studio manager of McCann's where she was able to start her musical theater program. In 2022, she had the opportunity to choreograph Camp Hill's High School Musical of Anything Goes.

Courtney is very thankful for all of the opportunities she has had to keep dance in her life as an adult and is very excited for this next step of owning a studio. Her love for dance and sharing dance with others is what will drive her dreams to continue on in this new studio. Studio 22 is a place where her dreams are continuing on and she hopes that it will be a place for others to begin living their dreams.

Sydney Hover- Office Assistant, Baby Ballet & Creative Movement Instructor
Sydney was trained at McCann's School of Dance since she was five years old and has received training from many professional teachers. Over the years, she has taken ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap, and modern until she graduated in June 2019. While at McCann's, she was a student teacher for many years which sparked her love for teaching. Sydney graduated from Penn State with a teaching degree and is off to teach in Guatemala next winter. She is thrilled to be helping children find their passion for dance at studio 22.

Katelyn Fisher- Tap Instructor
Katelyn began her training at Hershey School of Dance when she was 5, specifically on tap dance. During her college career, she taught beginner and advanced tap as well as being on the board as the Treasurer of Expressions. Even though Katelyn taught tap in college, she continued her own dance training by attending classes. She graduated from Millersville University as a Mathematics major and is currently a Statistician at the PA Department of Labor and Industry. She has a passion for dancing and is very excited to share her love of tap with others at Studio 22!

Lauren Azzarelli- Hip Hop & Adult Combo
Lauren has been dancing since the early age of 3 years old. The majority of her life was spent under the Direction of Linn McDonald, of Linn McDonald School of Dance in Dunmore Pennsylvania. Areas of dance instruction included Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap and Ballet. Throughout her life, Lauren was also very involved in Cheerleading. Her experience started with Midget Football Cheerleading and continued until Senior Year of High School, participating in Varsity Cheerleading and Competition Cheer. Throughout college at East Stroudsburg University, Lauren danced and choreographed for the ESU Contemporary Dancers. Her love for Choreography has paved the path which led to McCann School of Dance where she is now the intermediate and advanced hip hop instructor and adult combo instructor. She looks forward to c ontinuing that role with all the awesome dancers at Studio 22.

Kara Negrini- Tap Instructor
Kara has been dancing since she was 3 years old. Although she is pursuing a career as a veterinarian, she has kept dance in her life by attending classes regardless of where her education has taken her. She started her training in Carver, MA at Carver Dance Center. Throughout her years at Carver, she took tap, ballet, pointe, and jazz classes. She continued to dance during undergrad by joining Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s student run dance team, The WPI Rockets. At WPI she was encouraged to try different styles of dance, and teach choreography to her peers. She went back to taking tap, pointe, and ballet classes at Turning Pointe Academy in West Lafayette, IN during veterinary school. She has been involved in Adult Tap and Adult Combo classes at McCann’s School of Dance since 2020. She is so excited to teach beginner, advanced, and Adult Tap.

Isobel Dottle- Private Ballet Lessons and Variations Instructor
Izzy began dancing at the age of 3 with Anita Kissinger and Margaret McCann. When she was 9, she started classical ballet training with Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet for the next 9 years. She attended Harrisburg Area Community College. Studied ballet, modern, character and performed with the Pennsylvania Allegheny Dance Company where she was awarded the gold medal for character and ballet. Izzy had the pleasure of taking classes with a world class faculty at the Northeast Regional Dance Festivals. She went on to teach advanced ballet and pointe at the Harrisburg Academy of Dance and Company where she was also ballet mistress. Along with that, she was the artistic director for the after school program at the Milton Hershey School for 5 years. She was the advanced ballet and pointe teacher at McCann’s School of Dance and she taught ballet and pointe at Miss Glynn’s School of Dance. Issy was also a guest teacher for ballet and pointe for Margaret McCann School of Dance, Greater Dover Dance Academy and The Harrisburg Dance Conservatory. Some performances she was in include: The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, La Sylphide, Cinderella, Carmina Burana (with the Pennsylvania Ballet), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and numerous ballets with guest artists from around the world. She has choreographed about 150 dance pieces over her career and numerous private lessons. Izzy is so happy to be working with the students and faculty at Studio 22 Dance Academy. She wants to instill a sense of pride, beauty, confidence and accomplishment in each student. Their time here will be so special and will boost their self esteem and self assurance, which will help them in other areas of their lives.

Emma Nelson- Hip Hop Instructor
Emma danced at McCann's School of Dance for 15 years under the direction of Sandy McCann. She took classes in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, and hip hop. Emma's childhood consisted of spending all of her week nights at the studio. She prided herself on leaving everything out on the dance floor. Emma is known for loving the bright lights, costumes, makeup, hair and the ability to show the audience what she's work all year for! She is a graduate of West Chester University and currently works for a biopharmaceutical company as a manager of talent acquisition. At Studio 22, she hopes to instill the same enthusiasm and love for expressing yourself through dance in her students each class.

Cole Nissley- Ballet Instructor/Rehearsal Assistant
Cole Nissley is a local dancer and 2014 graduate of Lower Dauphin High School. He currently dances with the Chambersburg Ballet Theatre under the direction of Lavinia Reed. Trained in classical Vaganova technique, Cole has performed with multiple local studios and colleges while also teaching in his free time. Some notable roles performed include The Cavalier in The Nutcracker, Pas de Six, Bluebird and Aurora’s wedding Pas. Cole is thankful to everyone at Studio 22 for welcoming him into their dance family.

Jill Hahn- Ballet and Hip Hop Instructor
Jill has been at the studio as both a dancer and a teacher since 2008 under the direction of Sandy McCann. In the past, she has taught baby ballet, creative movement, ballet 6, duo dance, and beginner hip hop. Jills favorite role is teaching the youngest dancers to thrive in and find the FUN in dance. Watching her dancers grow and get promoted to the next level brings her the most joy! She is excited to continue sharing her passion with the dancers at Studio 22 and hopes to help them learn, grow and have FUN!

Nadina Fahnestock - Ballet and Contemporary Instructor
Dina has danced for 13 years studying ballet, pointe, modern, lyrical, contemporary, jazz, jazz funk, hip hop, tap and clogging. While dancing, she was a teacher assistant at E-Dance Center and taught at a local recreational center. She loves teaching children and currently leads a 2nd grade youth group at the LCBC church in Mannheim. Along with that, Dina taught a mommy and me class and a dance sampler class which focused on jazz and ballet. She is excited to help her dancers grow their love and passion for dance!

Dana Hayes- Modern and Ballet Instructor/Rehearsal Assistant
Dana is classically trained in ballet, pointe, lyrical, modern and jazz. She danced at Dance for Joy for five years and has participated at the Joffery Ballet Summer Intensive where she took classes in ballet, pointe, and partnering techniques. She was previously the dance captain for Wall High School Musicals. Her teaching career includes teaching ballet at Fit to Dance, Manasquan Music and Dance Academy, Grace Bible Church, Marist College Dance Ensemble, and musical theatre at Wall Intermediate School. Dana graduated from Marist College and Rutgers University and is a licensed social worker. She is looking forward to bringing her knowledge of technique and performance to all her dancers!

Sophie Laudien- Hip hop, Heels, and Office Assistant
Sophie has been taking hip hop since the age of 9 and has participated in competitions with Morton's Dance Center. She is excited to bring heels class to the studio. This type of dance is an important form of expression that takes flow, technique, and creativity to help empower confidence within! Sophie has taught heels for a few years and loves to help others express their inner diva. She is currently working on her associates degree at HACC with a focus on meetings and events. Sophie has been an administrative assistant and an assistant manager in the past. She's excited to create a fun and safe place for everyone to dance!

Emma Rigling-Jazz Instructor, Office Assistant
Emma taught ballet, contemporary, hip hop and jazz at The Studio for two years. Before that she trained with Rosemary Battista at Capital Area School for the Arts in Harrisburg and has about 17 years total of dancing experience. Emma is currently working on her psychology degree with New Southern Hampshire University. She enjoys working with children and has been a child care provider and a camp counselor. She is looking forward to teaching the future dancers and wants to create a positive environment where they feel safe express themselves and have fun!