-- Staff--

Welcome to the Laura Lynn School of Dance. We hope that your child's dance experience is both educational and very enjoyable. We at the Laura Lynn School of Dance take great pride in giving our students the most professional dance instruction in the area, at prices you can afford. The work, energy, goals and success that you find in dance will last your child a lifetime.

Laura Lynn (Read post-Gazette article)

Teachers:
Heather Jacobs - Teaches: Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Modern, Tap, Pre-Ballet/Tumbling, & Zumba®
After 14 years training at LLSOD, Heather continued her study at Kent State University, Ohio. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance Performance in May 2009.
She has studied/performed in Tuscany, Italy and also at four American College Dance Festivals. She has been privileged to work with many renowned choreographers, including being chosen to perform a jazz piece by the artistic director of Jump Rhythm Jazz Project (Chicago), Billy Siegenfeld. Additionally, she is currently a member of two professional modern dance companies: Travesty Dance Group and Verlezza Dance of Cleveland.
Heather’s modern choreography has won her several awards including Outstanding Choreographer in 2008 and 2009. Her piece entitled sensitive dependence (‘09) was chosen to represent KSU at the 2009 American College Dance Festival and was invited to be in the Verlezza Dance Concert: Voices in June 2009. As for studio dance, her Hip-Hop choreography won her soloist overall high scores at regional and national competitions in Ohio.
She is extremely honored to have been invited back to work with the LLSOD family again and is fortunate to be able to share her artistry in the dance world. Heather anticipates sharing her passion with her students and excited to help each dancer reach their fullest potential.
Rachel LeDuc - Teaches Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop
has over 12 years of teaching experience in tap, jazz, and hip-hop dance at studios in a variety of locations beginning in Vermont and continuing at several studios in Boston and most recently Pittsburgh. She began her studies in Western Massachusetts at the age of 3, and continued her training at Jeannette Neill Dance Studio in Boston, Massachusetts, as well as Point Park College, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, and Attack Theater since moving to Pittsburgh. She graduated from The University of Vermont, and performed and assisted in choreography of several theater productions while there, including the musical Babes in Arms. She also performed in numerous one act plays at UVM, and was a member of the Orchestra where she played oboe and piano. She is delighted to join the Laura Lynn School of Dance faculty and is excited to bring her experience in teaching dance to students of all ages.

Kristin Placek - Kristin Placek graduated from Slippery Rock University with a BA in Dance in 2010. She has had the pleasure of teaching for the past five years. Kristin is an Associate Member of the Cecchetti Council of America and has completed two years at Dance Masters of Americas Teacher Training School in Buffalo, NY. She has had the pleasure of teaching at the studio level and was asked to teach a level 1 Ballet class as a substitute teacher at Slippery Rock University. She has experience in choreographing at both studio and university levels. She is thrilled to be invited to teach with the Laura Lynn School of Dance. Kristin is excited to help the students reach their fullest potential and is eager to share her passion and knowledge with the students.
 Raymond Ejiofor - A recent graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with B.S. in Decision Science with a double minor in Engineering Studies and Technology and Policy. Ejiofor is a recipient of the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship. Raymond began his training under Judith Rhodes Calgaro in Arlington, Va. From there Raymond has worked with various choreographers including Kyle Abraham, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Michele de la Reza, Peter Kope, Princess Mhoon, Jamie Nichols, Deborah Brockus, Pearlann Porter, Christopher Huggins, and Robert Battle. He has also had the opportunity to trained with the Los Angeles based Brockus Project Dance Company as well as the Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company. Ejiofor is the founding, Artistic Director of the student-run Dancers Symposium Dance Company at Carnegie Mellon University. As an instructor, Raymond teaches introduction to advanced jazz and hip hop at a number of studios and universities around the Pittsburgh area such as Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pittsburgh, the Jewish Community Center, Hill Dance Academy Theater, and the Boyd Community Center. Raymond currently is a company member of the August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble.
Catherine Groetzinger - Catherine Groetzinger began her professional ballet training on full scholarship with Nicholas Petrov at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. At age 12, she performed in the Ballet School Scene with the Bolshoi Ballet. She was one of the original members of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and served as principal dancer with the American Dance Ensemble and Ballet Petrov for many seasons. Ms. Groetzinger is well known to Pittsburgh audiences, having performed in over 20 operas with the Pittsburgh Opera Company and as a member of Civic Light Opera.
Ms. Groetzinger has a diverse background in ballet, jazz, and tap. She became a Rockette at age 16, making her the youngest in Radio City Music Hall history. She studied jazz on full scholarship with Jo Jo Smith in New York City and continued her ballet training with Enrico Celli, George Chaffee, and Finis Jhung.
Ms. Groetzinger traveled to Puerto Rico and performed at the Americana Hotel and on the Tito Rodriguez TV Show. When she returned to New York, she was hand-picked by Gene Kelly to perform a principal role in his North American Tour of Gene Kelly’s Clownaround.
In 1980, Ms. Groetzinger began to study and teach at Point Park University receiving her BA in Dance and Psychology. In 1991, she served as coordinator of the Vaganova Festival that was hosted at Point Park College and highlighted such ballet greats as Asaf Messerer and Gabriella Komleva. During the four week festival, dancers gathered from all over the world to train and perform.
During the past 30 years, Ms. Groetzinger has taught all levels of ballet and pointe at Point Park University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Jo Jo’s Dance Factory in New York City.
Shayne Cameron - Shayne studied with LLSOD since its beginning years and is very eager to come back and teach with us. She has studied and danced competitively in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, and Modern. After training at LLSOD, she went on to study and perform for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. She has a BA in Psychology from LaRoche College, and while obtaining her MS in Exercise Physiology at the University of Pittsburgh, she taught and choreographed for a local dance studio. She has over 15 years of dance and teaching experience and is excited to be back where she started it all.
Denise Guido - Denise Guido: Teaches Tap, Jazz, Ballet Acrobatics Denise has 26 years of dance experience, beginning from when she was just 3 years old. As a competitive dancer throughout her childhood, she won numerous awards for her acrobatic solos and various group numbers in regional and national competitions. In 2004, she received a Bachelor of Arts from Thiel College in Business Administration and Business Communication. While at college she taught at a local dance studio and also was co-captian of the Thiel Tomcat Dance Team. Denise recently received her Masters of Business Administration from Point Park University, while teaching at a local dance studio and working full-time. Denise looks forward to maintaining a funfilled, learning atmosphere while teaching your child.

Desk-Assistants:
Claire
Nora
Lynn