Faculty

Matthew Metro

Matthew Metro, the former ballet master and rehearsal director for the Ballet Theater of Lancaster, hails from Chicago where he was a principle dancer and soloist for the Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Jump Rhythm Jazz Project, the Joel Hall Dancers and the Cerqua Rivera Dance Theater. His theater credits include the Lion King, West Side Story, 42nd Street, and A Chorus Line. Matt most recently performed as Benny at Ephrata Performing Arts Center’s production of Rent.

Stephanie Morales

Stephanie has been trained in classical ballet for eight years under the direction of Dance For Joy Ministries, Lancaster School of Ballet, and Premiere Danse Academy. She has participated in Ballet Theater of Lancaster’s productions of Chippolino, Snow White, The Seasons, and The Nutcracker. Stephanie has attended Ballet Magnificat’s summer dance intensive in 2009 and 2010 and in 2009 competed in the Assemblies of God Fine Arts competition locally and nationally in the category of Worship Dance. She has been an apprentice ballet teacher under the supervision of Molly Carey from Lancaster School of Ballet. Additionally, she has been trained to work with children as a kid’s ministry leader under the supervision of various children’s pastors.

Along with dancing, she has participated in dramas and musicals such as Jane Eyre, Joseph and the Multi-Technicolor Dream Coat, Sight and Sound’s production of In the Beginning, and several church productions. She loves choreography and has choreographed several pieces which she hopes to share one day. Stephanie’s passion lies in sharing God’s love, through dance, all around the world.

Kim Jureckson

Kim Jureckson has been working as a dance educator and choreographer in Lancaster since 1991. Prior to moving to this area, Kim lived in NYC where she studied at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance and The Laban Institute of Movement Studies. She holds a degree in dance from Mary Washington University and attended New York University for graduate studies in dance education. After completing her studies, Kim founded Kimetics, a movement and fitness sudio in Manhattan. During this time she also worked one on one as a movement consultant with clients in the entertainment and modeling industries. In addition to her position as director of the New Movement Center of Lancaster, Kim is on the faculty of the dance department of Lancaster Country Day School and also serves as artistic director of the Grant Street Dance Company. Her choreography has been presented at the Fulton Theater and Roschel Performing Arts Center in Lancaser, Whitaker Center and Rose Lehman Arts Center in Harrisburg
and the Majestic Theater in Gettysburg, among others.

Andrea Calderon

Andrea is originally from Lexington, Kentucky, and holds a BFA in Performing Arts/Dance from Western Kentucky University. She has been performing professionally for the past 11 years. She was a featured dancer for five years with the award winning show Country Tonite in Branson, MO and Pigeon Forge, TN. Andrea spent the past two years, working with her husband at The Miracle Theater where she performed in The Miracle, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and most recently Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry. Andrea feels very blessed and grateful to God that she has been living out her dream of dancing. She has taught different styles of dance to all ages and loves sharing the joy of dance with others!

Ellen Rippon

Ellen Rippon, a native of Lancaster, PA, was first introduced to Vinyasa Yoga through Try Yoga Studio in Bethesda, MD while she was dancing in Washington DC. She had been practicing yoga for several years, which fit into her life of dancing professionally for 10 years. She started yoga because of the asana practice, but began to connect to the spiritual side as well. She fell in love with the whole package; mind, body, and soul!

Ellen completed her 200-hour certification through Laughing Lotus Yoga Center in New York City. While living in there she also got her Pre-Natal certification through Om Yoga and her Relax & Renew Restorative certification through Judith Lasater. She is also a registered Yoga teacher through the Yoga Alliance. Ellen’s teaching style, Vinyasa, embodies the creative and dynamic expression of the practice, linking the breath with each movement.

Samantha Hewes

Samantha is very excited to be opening yet another door here at VYI BA. A native of Lancaster, she began dancing at the age of 3 at Carol’s Academy of Dance. You may recognize Samantha from our local stages such as Dutch Apple Dinner Theater, The Fulton, and American Music Theater. When she wasn’t performing locally Samantha has traveled the world on Holland America Cruise Lines and NCL Cruise Lines as a dancer/singer. Regional Theater credits include: CATS, the world premiere of, High School Musical 2, on stage, High School Musical, 42nd Street, Crazy for You, West Side Story, Footloose, Gypsy, and many more.

Samantha started choreographing for The Fulton Theater’s educational outreach program three years ago, along with musicals at Warwick High School, and she has choreographed for Dutch Apple’s Children’s Theater as well. She has also taught Tap, Jazz and Ballet at KMC dance in Kennett Square, PA, and currently teaches Tap, Jazz, Ballet, and Musical Theater at Rage Box Contemporary Dance studio in Forest Hills, Maryland. Throughout her travels and life experiences Samantha has had the privilege of studying with great directors, choreographers and teachers. Among these gifted teachers are Joshua Bergasse, Lisa Stevens, Marc Robin, Tyce Diorio. Samantha was recently certified as Zumba instructor and enjoys motivating her students through fitness as well.

When Samantha is not dancing, performing, teaching, or creating she works full time at Oscar’s Pet Resort in Greenfield. She cares for dogs, cats and any other animals that need it while their family is vacationing or simply working long hours. Having 3 dogs of her own, it is her outlet to exercise her pets as well. She is very grateful and feels blessed to be able to share her passion of dance with all those willing to learn! She is energetic, fun, and CRAZY!!! She lives by this quote, “Work like you don’t need money, love like you have never been hurt, and dance like no one’s watching!!!”