First Position Dance Arts

Faculty

First Position Dance Arts dance educators are dedicated, professional and passionate about teaching movement to children and young adults. We find the best teachers are those who are open to learning. In addition to continuing their own dance education at studios in the tri-state area, they attend numerous conferences on the myriad forms of dance and movement, the latest technology in our field and skills to increase learning and retention.

A majority of our staff at First Position continue to perform locally, nationally and internationally. This allows our students to learn from dancers who really understand the ups and downs of performing. First Position’s staff stresses performance quality dancing as we feel that children and young adults who are proficient at performing will have more confidence when public speaking, in social situations and interviewing (colleges and formal employment).

Lisa Welsh, M.S., Director, has trained since she was four in classical, jazz, modern and improvisational methodologies. She obtained her B.A. in psychology with an emphasis in child development and M.S. in human resource development. In addition to her school of dance for children, adolescents and adults, Ms. Welsh has taught in preschools, private and public schools and colleges. She continues to pursue her relationship with several instructional and performing arts centers as an independent dance professional.

Recent performances include:

• Philadelphia Fringe Festival
• Swarthmore College
• Eastern University

Choreographic credits:

• Philadelphia Fringe Festival
• Haverford High School – Lecture/Demonstration 3 years
• Harlem Globetrotters halftime performance 3 years
• Haverford Middle School – School Musical 8 years

Dr. Joy Lurie Friedlander has her doctorate in dance education from Temple University and M.F.A. in dance choreography and performance from the University of California, Irvine. First Position is remarkably proud of her most recent achievement, National Dance Educator of the Year, 2005! Currently, Joy is the director of the dance program at Philadelphia High School for Girls. Previously, Joy has taught at The Philadelphia High School for the Creative & Performing Arts (CAPA) and The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Schenley High School Program and has served on the faculty at the University of Alabama, Duquesne University, Point Park College, and Bryn Mawr College.

The State Department of Education has employed Joy as a consultant for many projects over the years including writing a Proposal for Dance Certification, creating performance assessments for the PATT Project (Pennsylvania Assessment Through Themes), and serving as a leader for Governor’s Institute for Arts Educators. Joy also serves as a dance consultant for the Educational Testing Service and NAEP. She is on the editorial board for The Journal of Dance Education and on the board of daCi USA.

As a choreographer of jazz, modern, ballet, musical theatre/Broadway, and character, Joy’s passion for each dance genre and their melding gives her work a particular universal appeal and strong dynamic. Embracing all these forms in combination with Joy’s extensive work in professional theatre and dance venues makes her well sought after in the community and beyond for choreographing new works in many different settings.
Charles Tyson is artistic director and founder of Underground Dance Works (UDW), an EclectiFunk dance company located in Philadelphia. Charles received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from Temple University in 2000. His work has been performed and viewed all over Philadelphia as well as Atlantic City, San Diego, Los Angeles, New York City and Wu Han, China. In 2004, Charles and UDW were awarded the “Incubator for Talented Youth Award” by Atlantic City Dance Theatre. His performance credits include: Persona Zenobia Dance Ensemble, Kariamu & Company, Paule Turner, Tania Isaac, Sean Curran, Michael Roberts, A.D.D. Dance Company, New LEJA Dances, The Company, Dancefusion, International Ballet Theatre, The Philadelphia Civic Ballet Company, Anne Marie Mulgrew and Dancers Company and Stephen Welsh and Dancers. Charles is currently on faculty at the Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center, the University City Arts League and First Position Movement Arts Center.

Cesa Zuniga is currently teaching hip hop at several locations on the Mainline. His love of dance is contagious and can be seen in the eyes of his students. He has appeared in and traveled internationally with well-known dancer and choreographer Raphael Xavier’s production of “Olive,” and “Twas the Night the Suga Plum Cracked” with Contempra Dance Company. In addition to his theatrical performances of hip hop, he has been very active within the competitive aspects of dance. His Philadelphia based crew, Illadelphlave, has competed in several competitions throughout the United States and is currently performing along the East Coast and giving lecture demonstrations in many Philadelphia schools. Keep your eyes open, you never know when you’ll see him next!

Kelly Snell has been performing hip hop and breakin’ professionally for 4 years. At the age of 17, she began taking class under the instruction of Raphael Xavier and Cricket at the Kumquat dance studio in Philadelphia. Kelly has danced with organizations such as Rennie Harris’s Pure Movement, Illadelphlave, Mixturez and New York Entertainment. She has performed in such major venues as the Philadelphia Aids Walk, the Special Olympics, the half-time show for the 76ers and the Harlem Globetrotters, Friends Central High School, the Autism Walk at the Philadelphia Zoo, Hershey Park and the Painted Bride. Kelly currently teaches 4 classes at First Position Dance Arts, including hip hop I, II and III. She is also director/choreographer/performer of Surge, FPDS’s dance team for high school aged dancers. She wishes to utilize her talent to uplift and inspire others while continuing to learn and grow within the dance culture and community.

Elizabeth Luff - has been a professional dancer, choreographer, teacher, and administrator. As managing director of ZeroMoving Dance Company, she produced the company’s first New York season.  Working with Carunchio & Associates, Ms. Luff researched arts education programs in the 5-county area and helped raise over a $1 million dollars for college access programs for Philadelphia Schools Collaborative.  Currently, Ms. Luff operates Moving Studios which teaches creative dance on-site at preschools, after-school programs and in the community.  She is a certified trainer for the Department of Public Welfare early childhood programs and is presently developing written materials for parents and teachers to infuse more movement into children’s studies.

Stephanie Cahill – Stephanie knew at a very young age that dancing (3!) and singing (9!!) were her heart’s desire. As a child, she studied tap, jazz and ballet at a number of area dance studios. Her adult training expanded to hip-hop, Latin, modern jazz and jazz funk at Just Jazz in Broomall, PA. While at Just Jazz, Stephanie also trained in Latin dance under the direction of Ernesto at Studio 101 Dancesport. Following her heart’s desire, she began performing with New York Entertainment Dance Company as adancer and singer.  She has also had the privilege of performing as a dancer and singer with First Position’s very own dance team, Surge.  They performed during the half-time and pre-game shows for the Philadelphia 76ers and  the half-time show for the Harlem Globetrotters. Stephanie’s singing career has included  being the lead singer of 2 local area bands and writing and recording most of her own music at a studio owned by Mark Lasseter in Secane, PA.

Amaryah Ferry has been dancing at First Position for thirteen years and has been a teacher in training. She recently danced in the 2005 Philly Fringe Festival in “Dance Off Broad” with Jeanne Ruddy Dance and in Gwendolyn Bye’s production of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” She has also danced in lecture/demonstrations at Haverford High School for three years, the Swarthmore Faculty Dance Concert, Haverford Township Day, and the half-time show for the Harlem Globe Trotters. Amaryah recently graduated a semester early from Haverford High School and is currently broadening her dance training to prepare for upcoming auditions at Temple University and University of the Arts.

Nicole LaBonde-  Ms. LaBonde holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance, as well as a degree in Music, from Eastern  University.   She has created dances for the Philadelphia Fringe Festival and the Denver Independent Choreographers Project.  Nicole is a certified Pilates Instructor through the prestigious Romana’s Pilates program.  She teaches ballet and jazz at First Position.

Joanna S. Quigley - received her BFA from the Tyler School of Art and studied modern dance at Slippery Rock University and the University of the Arts. She has exhibited work and performed at Rooms Gallery (Chicago), ! Gallery (Philadelphia) and in the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Quigley focuses on using video, sound, drawing and performance to create environments. Using installation, she influences the viewer to use their past experiences as a storyline for her creation. Quigley has lended her artistic vision to the mural arts program at P.H. Sheridan Elementary School in Philadelphia and to Indigenous Pitch’s summer camp in New Orleans. Currently residing in Philadelphia, she is the choreographer for Out-Going Dance Theater, a member of Club Lyfestile dance troupe and the creator of the Mail Art Collective.

Christine J. Herrman - has trained in the styles of ballet, jazz, tap and modern since the age of eleven. She obtained her B.A. in Dance from Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania in 2007. Christine currently teaches creative dance, ballet and tap at First Position Dance Arts as well as modern and ballet at The Agnes Irwin School. She has performed in the Philadelphia Fringe Festival with BINC Dance Company and Underground Dance Works. Christine is also the Program Director for Indigenous Pitch Dance Collective, Inc., a non-profit organization that performs in the Philadelphia area and works with children affected by natural, environmental, and/or economic disasters.

Guest instructors and choreographers are invited periodically to share their expertise.