Faculty

Aleah Bednarz has been dancing since she was seven years old. As a student, she is trained in tap, ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, hip hop, and acrobatics. She also has successfully passed grades I-V in Cecchetti ballet. She is an award-winning dance competitor, receiving many special awards from judges, scholarships, as well as regional titles. Her passion has turned to teaching and training students in the same disciplines. She will continue to develop and cultivate her technique, methods and training by attending educational workshops, obtaining multiple certifications and joining professional organizations.

“Miss Becky” Sanzotti has been involved in dance since the early age of 5, where she attended Lee’s School of Dance.

Becky attended Point Park College on scholarship and was a member of the college company, American Dance Ensemble.  While attending Point Park she performed at the Craft Avenue Playhouse and various venues throughout the Pittsburgh area. She graduated in 1980, summa cum laude with her BA in Dance, concentration in jazz and a minor in accounting.

She has been actively involved in the Butler community educating children, teens and adults for over 35 years.  She believes that you give back to your community and share your talents. She has choreographed numerous musical productions with the Musical Theatre Guild of Butler.

She belongs to and is involved in several professional organizations, including: Dance Masters of America (DMA), Dance Masters of PA, Ch. 10 (DMP) and the Cecchetti Council of America.  She attended Teachers’ Training School on scholarship at Kent State University and post-grad studies at Buffalo State University. Miss Becky is certified to teach in tap/ballet, jazz, and acrobatics. She has served on the DMP Board of Directors from 2000-2012, 2008-2010 as president.  She holds a teachers’ Grade IV certification through the Cecchetti Council of America.

She has been happily married to Vince Sanzotti for 40 years.  Her pride and joy are her children, Jessica and Damien, their spouses and her 3 grandchildren, Aria, Sienna and Lucca who reside in Berlin, MD.

When Miss Becky is not at the studio, she is either skiing or at the beach with her grandchildren in OC, MD.

Elektra Davis is a Pittsburgh native, and graduate of La Roche University with a B.A. in Performing Arts — Dance major with a minor in Management. During her time at LRU, she performed works by esteemed guest artists Jackie O’Toole, Callum Newman, Meg Schriffen, Christina DiMarco, and Judy Adelson. She also performed with the La Roche Dance Department in works choreographed by faculty and staff members: Maria Caruso, Kelly Basil, Nicole Jamison, Melissa Tyler, Kirstie Corso, and Gia Cacalano. She was given the opportunity to perform in student works choreographed by Derrick Izumi, Halle Mathieson, Mariah Brandon, and Kyra Bracey, as well as premiere her heels piece, Hypnotic, at the La Roche Spring Gala in 2019. Elektra was a BCB2 company artist during the 2019/2020 season, and was also an Apprentice with Maria Caruso’s Bodiography, performing in work by Virginie Mécène. After performing Mécéne’s work, Elektra was granted a scholarship to attend the Martha Graham School 2020 Summer Intensive. She was promoted to Company Artist in the summer of 2020. Her dance studies are focused in the genres of ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, and commercial dance. Additionally, she is certified in both the Bodiography Fitness and Strength Training System and Bodiography Dance Movement Therapy System. Elektra is also a local dance and fitness instructor and teaches at Butler School of Dance, Joy School of Dance, Dance Expressions by Erica, Bodiography Center for Movement, Ballet Western Reserve, and Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance.

Katrina “Kat” Rowe is a native of Cleveland, OH. She is currently pursuing a BFA in Dance at Slippery Rock University (SRU). She has been dancing since she was 3 and competitively since she was 8. Katrina has competed with her home studio Jordan Center dance (JCD) till she graduated. Through JCD, she has won multiple awards, scholarships, and regional titles. Katrina has worked with choreographers such as Chris Babcock, Seth Stuart, and Mary Spaniola Gold. She has also worked with Verb Ballet in their production of Peter Pan. At SRU she has performed in multiple shows for the dance department. She is also a member of JamRock hip hop. Katrina is very excited to continue her dance training as well as share her passion and love for the art with her fellow classmates and students.

Brooke Lane McCarthy is a native of Pittsburgh PA. She grew up dancing at Pittsburgh Youth ballet Company and continued training at Pennsylvania Ballet Conservatory during her 4 years of high school. Brooke has participated in many ballet competitions, such as Youth American Grand Prix, ADC IBC, Universal Ballet Competition. As a performer she has performed lead roles in many ballets such as Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, and Coppelia. She also performed in Balanchine’s Circus Polka, Balanchine’s Who Cares?, and Balanchine’s Walpurgisnacht ballet. She attended several summer intensives at Chautauqua School of Dance Intensive, Saratoga City Ballet Intensive, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theater Intensive. Brooke is currently a sophomore with a BFA in dance at Slippery Rock University (SRU).

Alison Carey has been teaching the Adult Tap Class at Butler School of Dance for the last 3 years.  She studied dance for 10 years as a child and teenager and then started dancing again when she became involved in productions at the Butler Musical Theater Guild. Alison participates in theater productions all over the Butler Area performing the roles of music director, orchestra pianist, stage manager, actor, singer and dancer.  Alison received her degree in Music Education from Westminster College in 1993.  She has been teaching music in the Karns City Area School District for over 30 years.  She lives in Butler with her husband, Jeff, and her two dogs, Finley and Millie.