Faculty

Dance

Sarah Carlson-Summer – Assistant Professor of Dance

Sarah Carlson is the Founder & Artistic Director of DanceLink, a project-based company which seeks to bridge people, ideas & understanding through the power of movement. Sarah danced professionally for 10 years in NYC with numerous companies including Alexandra Beller/Dances, Brian Brooks Moving Company, Clare Byrne Dance, Paul Mosley Dance and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet.   As an independent choreographer, her own work has been presented throughout the US at venues such as the Joyce Soho in NYC, On the Boards in Seattle, and The Yard on Martha’s Vineyard as well as in Benin, Africa. Sarah is a co-director of the Lehigh Valley Dance Exchange & the founder/editor of the Lehigh Valley Dance in Review. Sarah currently an Assistant Professor of Dance at Cedar Crest College and has been on the dance faculty at Lehigh University, Muhlenberg College, DeSales University, and the University of Southern Mississippi. In 2007, she completed a Fulbright Grant studying Vodou ritual dance in Benin, Africa furthering an on-going inquiry into sacred dance forms. In 2008, Sarah founded DanceLink to promote community and to use the wisdom of the body to unpack the big questions, often spiritual in nature.  DanceLink’s projects have received funding from the Pennsylvania Partners for the Arts, the Cultural Coalition of Allentown and the King County Arts Commission. Sarah received a BA in French and European Studies from Connecticut College and an MFA in Dance from the University of Washington.

Corrie Cowart- Dance Instructor

Corrie Franz Cowart is an active performer, choreographer, independent filmmaker, and dance educator. She holds an MFA in Dance from the University of Oregon, a BFA in Dance from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle and she is a CMA, certified Laban Movement Analyst from the Laban Institute in NYC. In addition, she has studied improvisation under Alito Alessi and holds a teaching certification in DanceAbility work. She has completed training in the beginning through Advanced Dance for Parkinsons method. As a performing artist, she has worked with the Pat Graney Dance Company, the Mary Miller Dance Company, LABCO Dance Company, Minh Tran and Dancers, Dance Theatre of Oregon, the Pittsburgh Opera, and both nationally and internationally with Impact Production’s Dayuma and the Masterpiece. Cowart continues to perform and choreograph for her own company Co-Art Dance, a contemporary dance company she co-founded in 1997 with her husband Tim Cowart. Her dance films have been presented at the San Souci Festival in Boulder Colorado, The Moving Image in Philadelphia PA, and DeSales University among others. She has taught on the faculties of the University of Oregon, Lane Community College and Western Oregon University. She currently teaches at Muhlenberg College and Cedar Crest College, teaching Modern, Ballet, Dance and Accessibility, Screen Dance, The History of Movie Musicals, Dance History and Introduction to Dance.

Jill Fitzgerald- Dance Instructor

Jill Fitzgerald earned her B.A. in Dance from De Sales University and continues to broaden her training by studying with a wide variety of dance masters. Jill spent 8 years in Richmond, VA as a vital member of the arts community as adjunct faculty for Virginia Commonwealth University's Dance Department, Business Manager and faculty member at Richmond Dance Center and choreographer/instructor for SPARC (School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community). One of Ms. Fitzgerald's career highlights was serving as Assistant Entertainment Manager for Busch Entertainment Corporation, at Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA where she helped to develop the entertainment program there, and in Osaka, Japan. Jill is most proud of her work with the Great Valley Girl Scout Council and SPARC as a volunteer dance instructor and choreographer for inner city youth. Her teaching and choreographic abilities have been put to use by many established programs including PYT (Pennsylvania Youth Theatre), the University of the Arts, Third Coast Rhythm Project in San Antonio, TX, Badlands Crowning Star in Glendive, Montana, and for Lehigh University and Moravian College Dance Companies. Ms. Fitzgerald is currently adjunct faculty at both Cedar Crest College and De Sales University, where she will take on the position of Director of the Conservatory of Dance in Fall 2018.

Jill is a Founding Member, Co-Director, and performer with Tap Ties, a community based professional tap company in the Lehigh Valley which provides instruction and information to tap dancers by conducting year-round Community Tap Classes and hosting several local Tap Dance Festivals. Jill is very happy to be able to share her diverse dance experience with the Lehigh Valley Dance Community.

Sarah Parker - Dance Instructor

Sarah Parker is the Founding Artistic Director of professional dance company Continuum Dance Theater and Executive Director of national, arts production company EVOLVE Productions. Parker holds her dual BA, BS in Dance Performance and Education and Business Management/Entrepreneurship from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA.  Parker is a performer, choreographer, director and entrepreneur who returned to her roots in the Lehigh Valley in 2015.  Her work as a choreographer has been performed in venues nationwide including the City Center in New York City, Little Haiti Cultural Center (Miami, FL), the August Wilson Center, Grey Box Theatre, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, Mattress Factory Museum, New Hazlett Theater, Off The Wall (Pittsburgh, PA), Sherman Theater (Stroudsburg, PA), Lipkin Theatre, Samuels Theater, Touchstone Theater, and various ArtsQuest venues (Lehigh Valley) to name a few.  Parker has produced 100+ dance and multimedia performing arts events with her company EVOLVE Productions and has served as guest choreographer, master class instructor or faculty for renowned organizations and festivals including; Civic Theatre, DANCE ALLOY, Mahoning Valley Ballet Company, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Pittsburgh’s Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) High School, Point Park University, Slippery Rock University, Western Pennsylvania Performing Arts Company, Lehigh Valley Dance Exchange’s Spring Up Festival, Three Rivers Arts Festival and competitive dance facilities throughout the United States. Her work has been featured in several dance films, most recently 349, which is currently screening and as has been presented in 27 film festivals in 14 states including Dance Films Association’s Dance on Camera at the Lincoln Center and DCTV (NY, NY) and internationally in Vancouver, British Columbia, Paris, France, and Hobart, Tasmania.  In addition to her company's endeavors and professional performance work with both Continuum Dance Theater and DanceLink, Parker is currently on faculty at MJ Dance Center, adjunct professor of dance at Cedar Crest College, and serves as movement faculty for the Civic Theatre School. In her 2018-2019 season in the Lehigh Valley she is thrilled to be setting work for Billy Elliot The Musical at Civic Theatre, Spring Dances at Cedar Crest College and the 10th Anniversary of Ten Tiny Dances at the SteelStacks Bethlehem.

Samuel Reyes- Choreographer

Samuel Reyes is a Hip-Hop artist from Philadelphia who has trained under Rennie Harris | Puremovement, Roni Koresh | Koresh Dance Co, and Charles Anderson | Dance Theater X. Sammy received his BFA form UArts in 2001, earning the Cushman acting award and UArts Ensemble Award. He has choreographed for Disney radio and TV star Raven-Symone, Walnut Street Theater 11th hour Theater Company (2006 and 2014, Barrymore nominated for best choreography) Philadelphia Film and Video, Gamble and Huff, Alex's Lemonade, and the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Sammy is a Hip-Hop professor of Dance at Muhlenberg College, Cedar Crest College and Moravian University.

Joanellyn "Joey" Schubert- Choreographer

A CCC alumna, Joey, by day, is an Assistant Principal at Louis E. Dieruff High School in the Allentown School District. Formerly, Joey was seen as the Director of the Studio Dance Academy at William Allen High School and advisor for the Allegro Dance Team and En Avant Boyz. Joey graduated from Cedar Crest with a B.S. in Business Management and a B.A. in Dance. She also holds a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction for Urban Educational Systems and a PA State Teaching Certification in Dance from Temple University, a second M.Ed. in Educational Leadership with a Principal's Certificate from Lehigh University, and, in December, will be graduating from Spring Arbor University with a third M.Ed. in Trauma-Informed and Resilience-Based Educational Practices. Her dance training includes second generation Fosse technique. Joey was awarded the 2011 ABE Award for Outstanding Choreography for 'White Christmas', the 2017 ABE Award for 'Sister Act', and the 2018 ABE Award for 'Crazy for You' (all with the PA Playhouse). She has received multiple nominations for choreography through the State Theatre Freddy Awards through her work with Saucon Valley High School, Dieruff High School, and Freedom High School.

Performance and choreography credits include: Hello, Dolly!, The Wizard of Oz, Mame, Anything Goes, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, High School Musical, Side Show, Curtains, Aida, Bye, Bye, Birdie, Fame, Cabaret, Pippin, White Christmas, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Legally Blonde, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Sister Act, Jesus Christ Superstar, Once on This Island, Music Man, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Crazy for You, and many others.

When Joey is not dancing, she can be found supporting the two greatest loves of her life, Mackenzie (CCC Alumna - 2022) and Jordyne.

Lynn Wiener – Dance Instructor

Lynn Wiener earned her B.F.A., M.A. and M.B.A. at the University of Cincinnati. She has performed with The Cincinnati Ballet, New Orleans Ballet, Tulsa Ballet Theatre, and Repertory Dance Theatre. She has been an Adjunct Professor at CCM - UC, for both the college and preparatory departments, where she performed and choreographed extensively for the University Dance Ensemble as well as taught ballet and Horton to university students. She has taught at Xavier University, the School for Tulsa Ballet Theatre, and DeSales University.  Currently, Lynn is an Adjunct faculty member at both Muhlenberg College and Cedar Crest.  Lynn has been directed by Jimmy Truitte, David McLain, Roman Jasinski, Frederick Franklin, Oleg Sabline, and Alexander Bennett. Her choreography has been seen on the mainstages of Lehigh University, DeSales University and Muhlenberg College; as well as musical theatre productions for Parkland High School and ballets for Repertory Dance Theatre. Lynn is also a 200-RYT and RCYT and is a Balanced Body Comprehensive Pilates Instructor. 

When not teaching dance, yoga or Pilates, Lynn enjoys cheering on her family at activities, reading, and relaxing outside. Lynn has four children and a very curious goldendoodle named Henry.

Patti Bostick Winn- Dance Instructor

Pattie Bostick-Winn has extensive experience in both the dance and fitness industries. She danced professionally for 13 years in live performances all over the world. Her travels have taken her across the United States, Europe, China, Japan and the Caribbean. While on the road, Pattie got certified with the American Council on Exercise in both Group Fitness and Personal Training, in addition to many specialty certifications. For 16 years she directed her family-owned dance and wellness studio in Allentown, PA. Pattie teaches all levels of ballet and jazz in the dance programs at both Muhlenberg and Cedar Crest Colleges. She is a Program Specialist for Tabata Bootcamp™, Barre Above® and Balletone®. Recently, Pattie was awarded SCW Fitness Philadelphia Mania Best Female Presenter, Savvier Fitness Master Trainer of the Year, and LVAIC Dance Consortium Distinguished Service Award.

 

Music

Brian M. Foley – Music Director

B.A. East Stroudsburg University

Brian graduated with honors (summa cum laude) from East Stroudsburg University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, a minor in Music, and a concentration in Vocal Performance after completing courses such as Foundations of Education, Child Growth and Development, and Educational Psychology as an Education major.

Prior to relocating to the Lehigh Valley, Brian lived in the Pocono's where he developed and directed a musical theater program for students ages four to eighteen at a local dance studio. He was also employed for several years at Knoebel's Amusement Resort as a performer, production manager, music director, and dance captain. For well over a decade, Brian has directed, music directed, and choreographed numerous college, high school, middle school, and community theater productions in addition to teaching and performing locally, regionally, and abroad.

At Cedar Crest College, Brian is the Music Director and Box Office Coordinator for the Performing Arts Department. In addition to working on productions, Brian acts as a senior advisor, directs the campus choral ensemble (MUS 199: Voices of Inclusion Choral Ensemble), instructs private voice lessons (MUS 191 & MUS 192: Applied Music - Voice), and teaches several other music and performing arts courses (PER 101: Collaborative Arts, PER 252: Sophomore Seminar, MUS 101: Music & Culture).

Caitlin Heckman- Trombone Instructor

Dorothea Hemerly- Piano Instructor

Wayne Kurtz – Percussion Instructor

Elaine Martin- Flute Instructor

MaryAnn Saylor- Violin Instructor

 

Theatre

Roxanne T. Amico - Chair/Professor

B.A., Heidelberg University
M.F.A., Northwestern University
Tompkins College Center 332
rtamico@cedarcrest.edu

Roxanne Amico is the chair of performing arts. Roxanne has been the stage designer for over 150 productions with hundreds of original designs in the areas of scenery, costumes and lighting. Serving as the chair of performing arts for many years, Roxanne has also served as the dean of faculty, dean of academic services and acting provost. She also co-chaired the development of the Freshman Year Experience, a program to help first-year students get involved on campus.

Roxanne teaches theatre history, costume design, lighting design, set design, history of fashion, and in the college Honors Program.

Roxanne is a member of the United Scenic Artist Local 829 and United States Institute of Theater Technology.

Joann Basist – Theatre Instructor

JoAnn Wilchek Basist
Adjunct instructor: Theatre Dept
Education:
BA Acting/Elementary Ed, Cedar Crest College 1977
M Ed   Counseling, Kutztown University
Additional Graduate Credits, Oxford University/St. Edmund’s College

Longtime academic and arts educator
Current 1st Vice President of Civic Theatre of Allentown
Principal and Administrator of Civic Theatre School
Experienced Actor and Director
Currently mentors theatre teachers at 3 local performing arts charter schools
Directs productions at CCC, Civic Theatre and Northampton Community College
Allentown Arts Ovation winner 2003 for excellence in performing.
Recent recipient of Civic Theatre’s Harrry Award for outstanding service to Civic Theatre.
Actively involved with CCC Alumnae Groups
Married to Marc Basist
Daughters: Courtney and Lauren
Avid Film and Theatre goer
Avid reader and great fan of Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes books as well as true crime

Clair Freeman- Instructor of Theatre

Kevin Gallagher - Associate Professor/Technical Director

B.A., DeSales University
M.F.A., University of Connecticut
Tompkins College Center 334
kevin.gallagher@cedarcrest.edu

Kevin Gallagher is an associate professor and the technical director at Cedar Crest. In addition to Cedar Crest, Kevin has taught technical direction, production and stage management at Emerson College and Ramapo College

Kevin worked as a technical director and production manager for theatres across the country including Stage Repertoire Theatre in Houston, Texas, American Stage Festival in Nashua, N.H., Connecticut Repertoire Theatre in Storres, Conn. and The Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Va.

Kevin is a member of the United States Institute of Theater Technology

Polly Kendrick- Costume Design

Richard Kendrick- Scene and Lighting Designer

Bill Mutimer- Stage Director

Vicki Neal- Scene and Lighting Designer

Vicki Neal is an Easton, PA based scene and lighting designer whose work has been seen in professional theatres and colleges from Wilmington to New York City. Her professional credits include work for the New York Musical Festival, The Pearl Theatre Company (NYC), Primary Stages (NYC), St. Bart’s Players (NYC), Snug Harbor/Actors’ Harbor (Staten Island), City Theatre Company (Wilmington DE), Venture Theatre (Philadelphia) and in Bethlehem, PA for Lehigh Valley Charter Arts, Touchstone Theatre, and Pennsylvania Youth Theatre. In addition to Cedar Crest, she has been a guest designer at Wagner College, Lehigh University, Lafayette College, The College of New Jersey, Beloit College, and Nazareth College. Member, United Scenic Artists Local 829.

 

SPRING DANCES: We Rise and Fall Together

April 17, 2021
Cedar Crest College Dance Company presents new screen dance works by faculty and guest artists. Artistic direction by Sarah Carlson.

FACTOR

April 24, 2021
Told by and through the voices of current CCC students, alumnae, and community members, this original production will feature local and national news clips, historic documents, and original spoken word and personal reflections revealing our triumphs, our missteps, and the ongoing transformation of inclusion and equity at Cedar Crest College.

Dance | Interrupted

In lieu of Cedar Crest College's live performances of Spring Dances, "Dance | Interrupted" is a dance film about the creative process behind Spring Dances 2020.