Mary Sacchieri-Spera - Artistic Director

Earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in dance from De Sales University, in Allentown, Pa. in 1989.  She studied classical ballet, Limon, Graham, Humphrey/Weidman modern techniques, tap, jazz, dance education, choreography, performance, dance Labanotation, dance composition, kinesiology and dance therapy.  She was involved with the On Your Mark Program in S.I.N.Y. where she has taught children with special needs.  She is affiliated with United Activities Unlimited and Theatre Rehabilitation for Youth.  Her work in Project Dance, sponsored and funded by the NYC board of education, received public acclaim. Bonded by the NYC board of education, she was P.D.T.R. licensed to teach grades K-12.  She is a registered member of The International Dance Teachers Association, The Staten Island Bucks Business Network and UDMA.  She founded Moving in Time Dance Studio in 1990 and established Moving in Time Dance and Talent Competition in 1996 where she continues to teach, choreograph, and produce recitals and talent competitions.  She continues to teach at Moving In Time dance Studio and is currently co-owner, artistic director of Omega Dance Challenge.  Mary has produced more than 40 dance concerts and musicals in the New York metropolitan area. Her students have gone on to dance with Alvin Ailey II, Staten Island Ballet, and have been featured dancers on Broadway in Grease, 42nd Street, and School House Rock, Hairspray, and Chicago.  She is an accomplished choreographer.  Her choreography was featured on HBO'S "911 5TH YEAR MEMORIAL" as well as the original works of James Genaro, "Pieces of our Life".  Her modern dance company, Movers and Shakers has been touring since their inception in 1996.  Also an artist/muralist and a devoted wife and mother, Mary is an active fundraiser for several charity organizations in New York,  New Jersey, and Pennsylvania including The American Cancer Society, Deborah Hospital Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, The Lustgarten Foundation .  She is Vice President of the board of directors of Living Through Movement Foundation.

Sarah Machalani - Adjudicator 

Sarah Machalani hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and earned her BFA in dance from The Ohio State University, graduating summa cum laude in 2009.  While at OSU, Sarah was a two-time recipient of the Helen P. Alkire Dance Scholarship and performed in several works by faculty and international artists such as Melanie Bales, Maria Glimcher, and Olga Zitluhina.  Sarah has been distinguished as a New York City Dance Alliance Regional Ballet scholarship recipient, as well as appeared in nationally-aired commercials on television.  She has worked with Emmy Award-winning choreographer Bonnie Story and has been a featured dancer in performances across the Eastern US, Midwest, and Canada.  Sarah enjoys investing her time in teaching and movement research opportunities.  Sarah is currently based in New York City.  

Alex Isenburg - Adjudicator

Alex Isenberg hails from the Steel City: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  He began his dance training at Lisa Marie’s School of Dance.  Following High School, he attended Georgetown University leaving dance behind. After a year, the stage demanded his focus.  Since moving to New York City, Alex has trained under many prestigious teachers at Broadway Dance Center and Peridance Capezio Center.  Some of Alex’s performance credits include Madonna (Addicted to Sweat), Channing Tatum (Magic Mike Promotion), Liza Minelli (Richard Hinds, choreo.) and DJ Cupid (Dr. OZ).  He is an original cast member of Coco and the Vanity Vixens, was in Vogue Magazine (Nick Kenkel, choreo), danced on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and is a company member of Dante Brown Warehouse Dance.  Alex’s big screen debut came when he danced in the feature film, “My Dead Boyfriend” (Dir. Anthony Green) and can be seen in “Gangs of Las Vegas” (Geo Hubela, choreo).  His choreographic debut on the big screen will be seen in the film, “Key Frame.” (Dir. Victoria Korty). He was an assistant choreographer for Kellen Stancil (Broadway Bares) and Brian Thomas (Lucid Dreams).  Alex has taught at many studios around the country including: Millennium Dance Complex Pittsburgh and Broadway Dance Center.  He enjoys working with the gamut of talent from children to professionals.  Alex has a zest for life that is tangible and he brings an electric enthusiasm that is contagious.  He is thankful for the opportunities he has been given and is excited for what the future holds. 

Kate Hale - Adjudicator

Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Kate Hale earned her BFA in dance in 2009 from The Ohio State University.  Kate began her pre-professional training at Ballet Met in Columbus Ohio under the Artistic Direction of David Nixon.  While there, she studied under distinguished ballet professional Yoko Ichino, Catherine Yoshimura, and Susan Dromisky.  Continuing her training at OSU, Kate was a two-time recipient of the Stella J. Becker Scholarship.  She also worked closely with national and international choreographers and artists such as Susan Hadley, Ming-Lung Yang and Vera J Blaine.  Upon graduation, she became the graduate and undergraduate program coordinator for the Department of Dance at OSU, where one of her primary duties was coordinating and overseeing the entire audition process for all incoming students.  She also sat on the selection panel for all auditions.  Currently, Kate is living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband and their two daughters.

Alexis J Faust-Pubturiero - Adjudicator

Alexis J Faust-Pubturiero                                                                                                                Graduated from Point Park College after  entering on a full scholarship with a BA in Dance(concentration in ballet, modern and jazz) and a BA in child and adolescent     psychology. Owns and operates  her own performing art studio for 22 years. She has performed and choreographed for many shows. Including the “Jazz Nutcracker”, “Amazing Variations in  Masters of Dance”, “Swan Lake”,  to name a few. MS. Punturiero has also has been in national commercials as well as voice over parts for radio shows. Alexis has trained dancers to go on for careers in dance, musical theater and perform with ballet & modern companies. Her students have won multiple awards and titles over the years including   scholarships to prestigious dance programs. She has also trained under Gus Giordano, Luigi and Frank Hatchett to name some Industry greats. Alexis was also featured in Gladys Magazine’s 2020 Women  of the Year  feature as  a “Woman of the Year”

Ingrid Ullrich - Adjudicator

Graduating from Point Park University with a BFA in dance, Ingrid Ullrich started her professional career as a dancer performing in award winning productions showcased in theaters, casinos, and cruise ships all over the world both international and national.  Dynamic and eye catching are the most common words used when seeing her in acting.  Through her dancing career she discovered her skill for singing and acting, shaping her into a very versatile performer.  Recent shows include “Le Grand Cirque”- a show of death defying, acrobatic, and jaw dropping Vegas acts, featuring Ingrid as a dancer and assistant for America’s foremost master of crossbow as seen on America’s Got Talent, Ben Blaque. Other recent shows include “Christmas Wonderland” performing for over 50,000 audience members in a span of two months.  Ingrid also writes, directs and produces her own productions that she travels with as a guest entertainer including her most current, “A Stroll Through the Ages” a rollicking revue featuring classic hits ranging from 1950's-Present Day., 

Dawn Bobak - Adjudicator

Dawn Bobak is a native from New Castle, PA where she began dancing.  Dawn graduated with a BA in Dance and a BS in Communications from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.  Her work was chosen to perform in the American College Dance Festival    Association at Ohio State University.   She was chosen as Choreographer of the Year by the SRU Dance Department in 2006. Her work was also chosen for presentation in LABCO’S Black Box Series VI and was positively reviewed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  Dawn’s passion for dance brought her to New York City where she had recent choreography presented for the 10th             Anniversary of the DUMBO Dance Festival 2010.  She also had work performed at Dance New Amsterdam for their Works in Progress series.  She is currently the Studio Manager for All That! Dance Company and Turn It Up! Dance Showcase located in Eugene, Oregon.

Amy Browne Smith received her B.F.A. in modern dance from the University of the Arts,  Philadelphia. After graduating, she joined Tap Team Two and Company Inc, a Philadelphia based tap dance company, under the direction of Robert F. Burden Jr. She was the Director of Dance at Pennsylvania Youth Theatre where she also served as an instructor and choreographer for 12 years. Currently, she teaches at Art of Dance studio and has been    teaching there for more than 20 years. She is also a choreographer for the Moravian College Dance Company. Smith was  invited to adjudicate the Badlands Crowning Stars Dance Competition in Glendive,  Montana.  She was a judge and taught master classes at BCSD for several years. Amy is proud to be a founding member and Co Director of Tap Ties, a Lehigh Valley based professional tap   company where she is a performer and choreographer. As a part of Tap Ties, Amy teaches community tap classes at Moravian College and Lehigh University and produces National Tap Dance Day         Celebrations and Tap Dance Festivals each year.

Savannah Lach -Adjudicator

Savannah Lach started dancing at the age of six with training in all genres from Rostraver Dance Academy in Belle Vernon, PA.  She competed in competitions all over the east coast until the age of 18. She was so passionate about performing that she obtained a bachelor's degree in dance    management from Youngstown State in 2017. During her time at Youngstown State, she has choreographed and performed at numerous festivals, concerts, and even the American College Dance Association. She was recognized for outstanding leadership, choreography, dancing ability, and educator within the field. Savannah has been a dance educator for Ballet Western Reserve in Youngstown OH since 2018. She specializes in contemporary, jazz, modern, flexibility, and conditioning. As of fall 2022, she will be a licensed physical therapist assistant and plans to assist     dancers in injury prevention and rehabilitation. 

Katie Stehura - Adjudicator

Katie Stehura earned her BFA from the Ohio State University in 2010, graduating magna cum laude with honors and distinction in dance. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, she began her pre-professional training as a member of The Collaborative Dance Project under the artistic direction of Tony Calucci, studying with both national and international choreographers from a very young age. Her training continued at OSU, where she worked closely with distinguished artists Bebe Miller, Ming-Lung Yang, Victoria Uris, Tania Isaac, and Nik Haffner.  Katie was a founding member of the Performance Improvisation Ensemble, a student run improvisation group that performed across the east coast. As a student she also performed with local companies including Natalie Marrone’s The Dance Cure and Columbus Movement Movement.  Awarded a grant to train in Vienna, Austria, Katie joined forces with fellow artist Victoria DeRenzo on a two-year long collaborative research project.  Their choreography was selected for the American College Dance Festival Association's east- central regional conference in Akron, Ohio and was subsequently presented in Columbus, Tampa, Brooklyn, Queens, and Jersey City. Currently, Katie is working out of New York City, choreographing and dancing professionally with artist Emily Faulkner.

Jennifer Sagan Michel - Adjudicator

Upon graduating magna cum laude from The Boston conservatory with a BFA in Dance, I sang and danced my way through the field of musical theatre.  I played such roles as a New Ziegfeld girl in WILL ROGERS FOLLIES, a Zangler Girl in CRAZY FOR YOU, and a Radio City Rockette in the RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR and the RADIO CITY SPECTACULAR.  I also had the privilege of performing as a featured dancer at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.  Working with such greats as Tommy Tune, Sandy Duncan, Maurice Hines, Susan Anton and Paige O'Hara and Pat Boone, I enjoyed a career full of blessings.

Currently, I teach seminars where we develop the presence dimension and the physical dimension of charismatic leadership in women.  We teach people how to own a room through compelling presence, correct posture and alignment and fluid movement whether in flat shoes or four inch heels!  We strive to help people thrive in work and in life by building a solid foundation for self-image, self-confidence and self-esteem.

Continuing in the vein of “Making People Better,” I am also a Senior Brand Partner for Nerium International, a company that is changing people’s lives every day.

Kathy Furr is a dance Instructor with 30 years experience, teaching primarily Tap and Jazz technique, to dancers from 3rd Grade through 12th Grade.  Professional performance experience includes musical theater, ballet and dramatic productions in several states including Nevada, Florida, New Jersey, Ohio and     Pennsylvania, including being an extra in the Oscar Award Winning Movie, “Girl Interrupted” with Angelina Jolie. I gave Angela Bettis some assistance with her ballet stretch positioning during one scene. I have also choreographed numerous dances for college, professional and community theater productions. A 1988 Graduate of De Sales University with Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance, Magna Cum Laude with a strong focus on Modern and Ballet Techniques and Choreography. College studies included Dance    History, Choreography and Kinesiology, as well as Tap and Musical Theater performance opportunities. She is also trained in Tumbling, Baton Twirling, Flag Baton, Hula and Zumba. She is musician and singer and has played in several bands, with styles ranging from Alternative, Rock and Roll and Classic music.