Miss Sharon Plessl Pongracz - Director/Instructor
Sharon started her dancing career at the age of four. As a child, she performed at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City with such celebrities as the Supremes, Glayds Knight and the Pips, Tiny Tim, Steve Lawrence, and more! She appeared on "The Chief Halftown Show" and was a winner on "The Ted Mack Amateur Hour". Sharon also performed in the Poconos, at the Miss Lehigh Valley Pagent, and Fort Dix, New Jersey. She is a lifetime member of the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Artists, Inc. Sharon is the former president of NADAA in New York City and is now the National Vice-President. Miss Sharon is a judge for the Governor School of the Arts. She has taught master classes in New York City; Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Morristown, New Jersey and Baltimore, Maryland. She received her teaching diploma and Extra Curricular Diplomas form the Jay Dash Dance Convention.
Miss Trisha Pongracz Zehner - Assistant Director/Instructor
Trisha is a graduate from Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance. She is also a graduate of John Casablanca’s Modeling School and Weiss Baron Acting School. Trisha has studied dance with Choreoraphers & Dancers such as Dave Scott, the choreographer of "U Got Served" & "Stomp the Yard", Marty Kudelka, choreographer of Justin Timberlake's "My Love" video, Savion Glover, and Gregory Hines to name a few. She can be seen in the original movie "Hairspray" with Sonny Bono and Debbie Harry and was one of the reoccuring children on the Game Show " Child's Play". Through her career, she has received numerous awards and titles in dance and modeling .Trisha represented her school at the American College Dance Festival Association with her dance “Tangled Mind” which was also performed at the Allentown College Young Choreographer’s Series as well as the Allentown College Dance Ensemble. She received a Certificate of Merit for outstanding artistic achievement for her choreography of “Tangled Mind.” Trisha received the Jeanne Meixell Award for Dance from Allentown College. Trisha has choreographed for the PYT productions of “Pied Piper”, “Wizard of Oz”, 1999, 2004, “Peter Pan” and “The Velveteen Rabbit”. Trisha has taught at Lehigh University, Pennsylvania Youth Theatre, Raub, South Mountain & Broughal Middle Schools, Sheridan Elementary School, City Space Learning Facility, Jefferson and Central Family Centers and has served as the Dance Team Coach for the Muhlenberg College Perkulators. Trisha is a judge for the Governor School of the Arts and the choreographer of the EXCEL Dance Company which has won numerous awards and has performed at Disney World, Great Adventure, Universal Studios, on The Big Red Boat, in the Bahamas, at Hershey Park, Carnegie Hall, 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, and other local schools and shows.
Miss Jessica Kroope - Ballet / Ballroom Instructor
Jessica received her B.F.A in ballet dance performance and a minor in dance education from the University of the Arts. Jessica has been seen on MTV Hits, TRL, MTV Beach House, and commercials. She has done various modeling appearances including, Versace. She has performed for Congress in The Kimmel Center and also with the PA Youth Theatre, PA Youth Ballet, Reparatory Dance Theatre, Monarch Dance Company, and the Excel Dance Company.
Miss Amanda Westcott Swenson- Ballet Instuctor
Amanda, 21, is a dance major at DeSales University where she will begin her senior year this fall. She has danced for the past 17 years, and has studied dance with the Sharon Plessl School of Dance, Repertory Dance Theater and EXCEL Dance Company. Amanda graduated from the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Performing Arts in 2005, where she now teaches ballet for the figure skating department.
Miss Sara McFall - Instructor
Bio Coming Soon!
Has studied, instructed & performed throughout the United States and Europe.
Mr. Jason Pena- Hip Hop Instructor
Jason has been dancing since as long as he can remember. He began creating hip hop choreography at the age of 10. Jason started attending freestyle competitions at the age of 15, where he received numerous awards. By the age of 16, he performed at over 20 shows and landed a job choreographing for a television show “NZTV”. Jason aspires to one day perform and choreograph for major recording artists.
Miss Tanya O'Boyle - Lyrical/ Modern Instructor
Bio Coming Soon!
BA in Dance (DeSales University)
Miss Pam Trone - Instuctor Pam has been dancing since the age of 4. She owned and operated Pam's Dance Academy in Emmaus for almost 20 years. During that time, her students performed on Broadway in "Tommy," "Les Miserables", "Beauty & The Beast","Annie" and many other Off-Broadway productions. They have also performed on the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon as well as numerous appearances in DisneyWorld, Universal Studios and aboard Carnival and Disney Cruise Ships, as well as Wildwood, NJ, HersheyPark and Great Adventure. Locally, she has had many students performing with area Nutcracker performances, theater groups and events.Pam has also been a gymnastic coach and a cheerleading coach at every level. Choreography credits include NY Youth Theater, Off-Broadway productions of "Annie Get Your Gun", "Bye Bye Birdie" and numerous bridal shows in the Lehigh Valley and NJ including Stabler arena and Blue Mountain. Pam currently runs her own business as a financial coach, but loves teaching at Miss Sharon's!
Miss Jeana Getz- Instructor
Jeana graduate of Lehigh Valley College in March 2005 with an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice. She has been dancing for 20 years and was a member of the EXCEL Dance Company for eight years. Throughout her dancing career she has traveled to places such as the Bahamas, the 2000 Summer Olympics in Australia, Florida and many other locations.
Miss Donna Pfneisel - Preschool Teacher
Donna started dance lessons at the age of three. For the past 22 years she has assisted Miss Sharon with preschool dance classes. She coached cheerleading at Southern Lehigh for 13 years and at Lehigh Christian Academy. Donna also works as a secretary for her husband’s business, Valley Arborists and Chico’s. She is married to Frank Pfneisel, has three daughters and four grandchildren.
Miss Sara Page – Pre-School Instructor
Picture Coming Soon!Sara graduated from DeSales University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She is currently working at the Lehigh Valley Hospital in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit as a critical care nurse. She has been dancing at the Sharon Plessl School of Dance for the past 19 years. She was an original member of the Excel Dance Company. She traveled with the dance company to Disney World, Bahamas, Carnegie Hall in New York, and the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She also performed at many local area venues.
