MEET OUR FACULTY

Click the name buttons for biographies
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Kim Meyers Merge, Co-Owner
Co-owner of Premier Performing Arts, Kim is a summa cum laude graduate of Point Park University and has been teaching dance for over 30 years.  She danced on Broadway in "The Tap Dance Kid" and with many touring companies, dinner theaters and summer stock shows across the United States.  Rob Marshall, Christian Slater, Ben Vereen, Alfonso Ribeiro and Lynn Swann are some of the celebrities with whom she has performed.  Locally, Kim has danced with the Pittsburgh CLO, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and the Pittsburgh Opera.  Her energies are now directed toward teaching and choreographing.
 
In addition to teaching with Jenn Probola, Kim was partner in the Larry Cervi School of Performing Arts in Monroeville for 27 years, taught at the CLO Academy for 10 years, the Ellis School and Centerstage in New Jersey.  She choreographed musicals at Gateway High School, West Allegheny High School, Riverview High School and Franklin Regional High School and Middle School.  Her choreography for Gateway's "The Boyfriend" won a Gene Kelly Award which honors excellence in high school musical theatre. 
 
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Jenn Probola, Co-Owner
Co-Owner of Premier Performing Arts, Jenn began her education under the direction of Judy Brondon and Pamela Schickler . After graduating with a BA in dance from Point Park University, she became the assistant director of the dance department at Nazareth Academy in Rochester, New York.  She trained dancers at the Larry Cervi School of Performing Arts for fifteen years and co-owned the school for eight years.

Jenn choreographed musicals for Valley High School, Central Catholic High School, and East End Productions. Her choreography for Godspell at Nazareth Academy earned her Rochester's "Stars of Tomorrow" award. Her other teaching credits include The Dance Company, Wilkins School of Dance, Gateway High School 's marching band and color guard, and the East End Kids . She worked with Kiski Area High School’s show choirs for ten years and has been choreographer of Franklin Regional High School’s dance team for twelve years.  Her choreography has been featured in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and twice in the Tournament of Roses Parade.  Jenn is excited to bring her passion and experience to this new chapter.
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Adrianna Amodei
Adrianna Amodei, a Bethlehem, PA native, is a recent Magna Cum Laude graduate from Point Park University, where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance with a concentration in modern. Before attending Point Park, Adrianna attended the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Performing Arts. During her time there, Adrianna had works she choreographed gain recognition to be chosen to be performed at both the National and the Regional High School Dance Festivals. As a dancer at Point Park, Adrianna had the opportunity to perform in Martha Graham's "Steps in the Street" as well as Doug Bentz's "Transmigration of Souls." She also spent time choreographing and performing in numerous student works during her college dance career. Following college, Adrianna taught contemporary for various workshops throughout the Lehigh Valley as well as taught jazz and tap for Lehigh University's Dancin' Club this past year. Currently, Adrianna has been performing with fireWALL Dance Theater in their most recent production, "Stroking Its Ego." Adrianna is eager to share what she has learned throughout her expansion dance experiences with new young dancers.
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Kristen Bailey
Kristen Bailey is currently pursuing her Masters of Education in Health and Physical Education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. While obtaining her degree in Indiana, she is also involved in the community as a dance teacher at a local dance studio and a choreographer for the Indiana Area High School marching band. Kristen completed her undergraduate degree at Slippery Rock University with a major in dance and minor in business administration. During her undergraduate studies, she received the Student Research and Scholarly and Creative Achievement Grant, Slippery Rock University Merit Scholarship, Lucy Isacco Sack Winter Scholarship, Delmar Scholarship, and several other academic scholarships. Kristen also served as the Philanthropy chair of the Sigma Rho Delta dance honorary, student assistant of the Slippery Rock University Dance Theater, mentor for the Department of Dance incoming freshmen, and member of the SRU First Year Leaders Scholars Program. After graduation, Kristen taught at a number of dance studios around the Pittsburgh area and in Raleigh, NC, before returning back to Pittsburgh to complete her Master’s degree. Upon graduation from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Kristen plans to obtain a career as a health, physical, and dance educator at a public school district in her hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Kristen is excited to be back at her home studio, Premier Performing Arts, to share her love of dance with her favorite community!
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Elizabeth Calvert
Elizabeth Calvert, originally from Northern New Jersey, began ballet at the age of 8 under Nancy Volpe.  She spent her summers studying at the Rock School, Nutmeg Conservatory, Orlando Ballet, and Boston Ballet.  
She went on to attend Point Park University, graduating with a degree in dance performance with a ballet concentration.  While at Point Park, Elizabeth studied with great teachers such as Nicolas Petrov, Peter Merz, Dana Arey, Tamar Rochelle, and Ron Tassone.  She also had the opportunity to perform in many works such as Nicolas Petrov’s Romeo and Juliet and Ron Tassone’s A Fosse Retrospective and be featured in George Balanchine’s Serenade.  
After graduating, Elizabeth danced with Ballet Theatre of Maryland for three seasons becoming a demi-soloist for the 2018/19 season.  She was featured in many ballets such as The Nutcracker, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Romeo and Juliet.   While there, she taught ballet and jazz for Ballet Theatre of Maryland’s school.  She had the opportunity to teach many levels of ballet, but was able to focus on beginning and intermediate levels.  She also became certified in beginner and intermediate pilates mat through Power Pilates.  
Elizabeth is happy to be back in Pittsburgh and pursue her love of teaching ballet and pilates.
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Britne Conklin
Bio to come. 
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Lindsay Fitzpatrick
Lindsay began training as a gymnast at age three and was part of a competitive gymnastics program throughout middle school, taking her to State and National levels. Lindsay continued tumbling training through her college years while coaching young gymnasts from Mommy and Me classes to 18 year-old competitors. Attending Clarion University, Lindsay graduated with a degree in Elementary Education with a focus on the arts and humanities. She continued to teach tumbling at a local dance studio while working as a professional live musical entertainer. Lindsay spent her post-college years traveling the world, performing in various venues including musical stages, theme parks, casinos, and cruise ships.  Currently, Lindsay owns Lovely Day Events, which is a local company in Murrysville that specializes in princess entertainment for parties and events as well as family and newborn photography while also singing in various bands and performing in local musicals.
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Jessica Larson
​Jessica Larson started her dance training in classical ballet in Killeen, TX at age 8, and has since danced everything from Ballet, to Jazz, to Flamenco, and even East Indian.  In high school Jessica became Captain of her high school dance and drill team in Killeen, Texas and won numerous dance awards to include “Outstanding Girl” from the American Drill Team School, and “Best High Kicker”.  Jessica went on to get her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance with a minor in Childhood Education from Stephens College in Columbia, MO, graduating with Magna Cum Laude honors.  Jessica has performed across the country from Musical Theater and Concert Dance, to various hip-hop basketball half-time routines with the Las Vegas Bandettes.  In Pittsburgh, Jessica performed in Tony and Tina’s Wedding when it was being held at Station Square and even acted in a local Comcast commercial. Jessica has taught dance in cities across the country to include Las Vegas, San Antonio,  and Twin Lakes Michigan. Recently Jessica started a dance team at Penn Trafford High School and is the coach for the Warriorettes.  Jessica loves teaching at Premier Performing Arts and watching the students develop their technique and love of dance.
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Alexander McDaniel
​Alexander McDaniel, Master's of Music: Vocal Performance/Music Theatre (NYU), Advanced Certificate of Pedagogy (NYU), Bachelor of Arts: Liberal Studies/Music Theater (PPU), is currently an Adjunct Voice Instructor at the New York University - Steinhardt.  Students include professional recording artists, professional theater performers, and students at the Tisch School of the Arts.  Currently, he is continuing his education in Vocology - specializing in compromised voices and Vocal Rehabilitation, studying under the Voice Center team of physicians and speech pathologists at the NYU Langone Medical Center.  His performance credits include Off-Broadway, Broadway Concerts, New Musical Recording, Regional Theater, and Television.  Alexander is a proud member of the Screen Actor’s Guild.  ​
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Amy McDaniel
Amy is a private vocal instructor for Premier Performing Arts. She is also a vocal instructor and Artist in Residence at the Community College of Allegheny County, Boyce Campus, and she serves as the music director for Larry Cervi's East End Kids and various music ministries. A mezzo-soprano, Amy received most of her training at Duquesne University, where she studied vocal training with the late, world-renowned opera singer, Mija Novich, former head of the Vocal Department and Opera Workshop at Duquesne University
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Mallory Merge-Chaffo
Mallory began her dance training at the Larry Cervi School of Performing Arts and continued it throughout college where she earned a degree in Sports, Arts and Entertainment Management and a minor in Dance from Point Park University. Mallory has performed in several dance and musical theatre productions throughout Pittsburgh. After college, Mallory moved to New York City to work for a Broadway, television and film talent agency and then a magazine where she had the opportunity to interview Misty Copeland, principal  dancer at American Ballet Theatre. She also studied ballet while living in New York. Mallory is thrilled to be back at Premier Performing Arts. ​
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Elyssa Turcan
Elyssa Turcan received her BFA in Musical Theater from Point Park University. After she graduated, she moved to New York City where she ended up performing on cruise ships sailing around the world and also working for RWS and Associates. Elyssa recently moved back to Pittsburgh and now teaches Pilates at Club Pilates in the North Hills and Hampton, as well as performing and teaching acting on the side which will always be her true love.  .
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Jon Zellhart
Jon is a graduate of Duquesne University and Carnegie Mellon University in trumpet and vocal performance. Having studied with top teachers in both disciplines, Jon brings a unique approach to his performances and teaching. Currently the Music Director at St. John Fisher Parish in Churchill, Jon is an in demand performer of vocal and orchestral repertoire. Past performances include recitals at California University of PA, Carnegie Mellon and Duquesne Universities, tours of Europe, and performances with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.