Alyson Veit | Owner/ Director
Alyson graduated from Wittenberg University with a B.A. in Psychology and a Dance minor. During her years as a Wittenberg Dance Company member, Alyson choreographed numerous works including Number 4, El Jardin de Aquarila, Bane, and Weather, which was adjudicated at the American College Dance Festival in 2001. After graduating, Alyson attended The Ohio State University as a graduate student in Clinical Counseling. In 2006, Alyson opened Powell Dance Academy with the support of many, many friends, family, and dancers. Her goal is to provide an ever-improving, healthy, environment for children and adults to learn the many joys of dance. Her passion is Modern dance and she has trained in various forms including Graham, Cunningham, Taylor, and Horton. Over the years, she studied with professionals such as Shih-Ming Li Chang, Ligia Pinhiero, Karen Eliot, Susan Van Pelt Petry, and most notably, Carmen De Lavallade, former principal dancer with Lester Horton Dance Theatre and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. As a teacher, Alyson presents her students with the basics of Modern using contraction, fall and release, momentum, and internal connection. As the students gain confidence in class, improvisation is incorporated and eventually becomes a staple in class and advanced student choreography. Through improvisation, students develop their own unique way of moving through space; students develop a sense of their own body's true, genuine dance. Her choreography has been recognized and awarded at regional and national level competitions. As a small business owner, Alyson prides herself in running a successful program that helps produce well-rounded and strong-minded young people, fosters a sense of familial well-being, and, quite frankly, sustained a steady growth throughout the economic pitfalls of the past two decades, all while raising four children. Alyson and her husband Corey live in Powell and enjoy spending time with their 3 sons, Beau, Cullen & Tanner and daughter, Baya.
Angela Higgins | Office Manager
Kathy Ramsey | Office Staff
Valerie Anthony | Office Staff
Jennifer Constancio | Office Staff
Natalie Lopez | Dance Team Coordinator, Instructor
Natalie has been dancing for over 30 years and has been teaching for over 20. She received her training with the River Cities Dance Company and River Cities Performance Academy (Formerly TJS) in Greenup, KY. There she trained in jazz, lyrical, contemporary, tap, modern, and ballet. She competed at regional and national competitions winning nationals titles with her studio nearly every year. She was also involved with the company's production of "The Nutcracker" each year holding many prominent roles. Natalie also toured the US as a "Caravan Kid" and studied at Ballet Met's summer intensive. After high school, Natalie went on to study dance at The Ohio State University. She was also a member of The Ohio State University Dance Team, was an NDA Collegiate All American, and served as captain of the OSU Dance Team for two years. Natalie also worked as a Head Dance Instructor for the National Dance Alliance, traveling the country teaching students from elementary age through the collegiate level. This is Natalie's 8th season with PDA and 4th year serving as the Dance Team Coordinator. She has loved being able to share her competitive experience and drive for excellence with the incredible Team kids here at PDA!
Jenna Moomaw | Instructor
Jenna has been dancing since the age of three. She began her career at Dance Reach where she trained in Modern, Jazz, Tap, Ballet, and Lyrical. She competed in Regional and National Dance competitions through High School. Jenna attended The Ohio State University where she recieved her BSD in Industrial Design and a Minor in Dance. In 2018 she recieved her MFA in Dance from Sarah Lawrence College in New York City. While in NYC Jenna had the opportunity to study Post Modern and Modern dance with John Jasperse, Trisha Brown Dance Company, The Merce Cunningham Company, and many others. This year will mark Jenna's 10th season with PDA, and she is so excited to see dancers that she taught in PreDance now dancing on Jr and Sr team!
Amber Geiser | Instructor
Amber has been dancing for 28 years. Amber studied dance at Bowling Green State University and Kent State University. She also trained at the Broadway Dance Centre in New York and from various master teachers, including Savion Glover. Amber has recently studied under Ayodele Casel, Jimmy Tate, Sarah Savelli, Jason Janas, and Jumanee Taylor. One of Amber's proudest moments is when she danced side by side Gregory Hines at a literacy banquet in Columbus, Ohio. Amber has been a member of Columbus Taps and Hoofin' Rhythms, performing Tap Companies in Columbus, Ohio. Amber was also a featured dancer for John Kunkle's Miss America Road-Show and LeVeck productions, dancing state-wide for national causes. Amber has also been a choreographer for various Miss America preliminaries as well as being the Assistant Choreographer for several Miss USA State pageants. As a student, Amber holds many National Dance Competition titles, including Top Soloist at Starstoppers in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Kathy Miller | Instructor
Kathy Miller started taking gymnastic lessons at age 4, and tap and ballet at age 9. She began student demonstrating for her teacher at age 12 and student teaching at age fifteen. Kathy taught for her instructor for many years before opening her own dance and gymnastic studio in her hometown of Sandusky, Ohio. Kathy was trained in the Cecchetti method of ballet and was tested in both the student and teacher syllabus. She was also tested and certified in Dance Masters of America and Dance Masters of Ohio. Through the years, Kathy has continued to teach, choreograph, direct many recitals, and attend many Regional and National dance and gymnastic conventions and seminars to stay current. Since moving to the Columbus area 20 years ago, her specialty has been teaching the young dancer and gymnast. After more than 40 years’ experience she still loves working with very young children and hopes to continue to teach them the joy of movement and dance. She lives with her husband of 43 years, and has raised 3 children and has 3 grandchildren.
Giovanna Scopetti | Instructor
Miss Gia started dancing at the age of three right here in Columbus, Ohio. She trained and danced competitively through high school before receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from Wright State University. After college, she moved to New York City where she continued her studies at Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway and Peridance Center. She performed professionally in NYC in a range of styles, venues and on tours. Her favorite dance performance there was with The Tap Factor Company at Carnegie Hall and her favorite musical theatre role was as the Dance Captain in Aladdin at West Virginia Public Theatre! She has taught and choreographed for many studios throughout Ohio and New York for over ten years but she has finally found her home right here at PDA! While dance was her first true love, she also enjoys bowling, beach volleyball, her job as a Graphic Web Designer and her two kittens Sushi and Cinnamon.
Hannah Cousins | Instructor
Hannah Cousins grew up dancing competitively at Powell Dance Academy. While in high school, she began her teaching career at PDA. Hannah went on to get her bachelor's degree in accounting from Ohio University, where she spent 4 years on the OU Dance Team. As a part of the OU Dance Team, she had the opportunity to perform at school events, fundraisers, and national competitions. Hannah took a break from teaching to focus on her career at JP Morgan Chase and marry her high school sweetheart, Tyler. She is excited for the opportunity to come back and connect again with the dancers and families at PDA!!
Jessica West Regan | Instructor
Jessica West Regan (RAD, RTS) began her dance education at age 3 in Toronto. She earned her Honors B.F.A in Musical Theater from The New School University in NYC, diploma in Dance and Musical Theater from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC, and Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies from the Royal Academy of Dance in London, with additional training at the National Ballet School of Canada. She has been trained in multidisciplinary ballet teaching curriculum including RAD, CPYB and ABT, and continues her professional development annually. Jessica has proudly been the Director of Ballet at Studio L Hoboken for almost 10 years in New Jersey. Before relocating to Columbus, she trained the company dancers full time in all of their ballet and pointe work, along with choreographing multiple dances for local and national competitions. Her original ballet program “The Ballet Element” is currently in its third successful year for Studio L at three of their locations in New Jersey. With almost 200 students, the curated assessment program specializes in technical training for the competitive dancer. Jessica is a proud adjudicator for the Stardance Alliance, and loves traveling during competition season to judge and inspire dancers across the US. In addition to her 15 years of competitive dance and ballet examinations, her NYC performance career included 10 years of starring in and dance captaining the off Broadway show, The Awesome 80s Prom, being featured in DANCE SPIRIT magazine, and numerous dance, choreography, acting and singing jobs in theater, TV and film in NYC and across North America.
Madison Ramsey | Instructor
Madison has been dancing for 18 years, starting with Powell Dance Academy’s inaugural season in 2006. She also danced competitively with the Powell Dance Academy Dance Team for 11 years in styles including tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, modern, hip hop, and musical theater. She began assisting dance classes at the age of 12 and was a student instructor at PDA her senior year of high school. After graduating, Madison went to the Ohio State University and received her diploma and licensure in Middle Childhood Education with a Minor in dance. While at OSU she participated in a performance based student organization, Studio Dance, in which she did recitals each semester. With this organization, Madison was given the opportunity to teach and choreograph their intermediate and advanced tap class for three semesters. Throughout her college experience, Madison continued to come back to Powell Dance Academy to teach camps, summer classes, and substitute teach throughout the season. She is so excited to return to her second home as an official full time member of the PDA staff!
Reagan Crandall | Instructor
Originally from Houston, Texas, Reagan Crandall is a dancer, performer, teacher, and choreographer. In May of 2022, she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Sam Houston State University with a minor in Mass Communication. Prior to college, Reagan was a member of the METtoo Youth Company where she studied under Marlana Doyle and Genene Wallis-McGrath. She has also been blessed to train at Perry Mansfield Summer Intensive and DanceWorks Chicago Summer Intensive. Reagan is a founding member of WhirlWind Dance Company and has had the opportunity to be a guest artist with Houston Contemporary and NobleMotion Dance. She has performed in Palm Desert Choreography Festival, Dance Gallery Festival in New York City and Houston, Barnstorm Dance Festival, and the American College Dance Association Conference. Reagan is a commissioned choreographer for her work, Live in Concert, presented with WhirlWind Dance Company, West Texas A&M University, and the WyND Youth Program, as well as choreographing for NobleMotion Dance’s Youth Company and many other studios! Reagan has been fortunate enough to work with choreographers such as Sidra Bell, Brandon Coleman, Gregory Dolbashian, Joshua Manculich, Lindsey Matheis, Andy Noble, Evelyn Toh, Shen Wei and many more!
Abby Jones | Instructor
Abby Jones is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher originally from Greenwood, Indiana. She began her training at The Dance Company of Indianapolis where she continues to teach and choreograph. She graduated from Indiana University with a B.F.A in Contemporary Dance, a B.A. in Psychology, and is certified in mat pilates. Abby has had additional training experience and opportunities in a vast number of cities including Lucca, Italy, Chicago, Indianapolis, New York City, and Salt Lake City. During her time at IU, Abby was cast in several main stage production performances and has worked with several choreographers such as Beatrice Capote, Elizabeth Shea, Evelyn Wang, Cameron McKinney, Lalah Hazelwood, Braeden Barnes, Erik Abbott Main, and Stafford C. Berry Jr. Abby has also had opportunities to choreograph a diverse range of pieces and teach at Indiana University through student led organizations. Other training and performance opportunities have allowed her to work closely under the guidance of Hannah Brixton, Maya Orchin, Andy Noble, Andrea Ward, Omari Wiles, Julian Barnett, and Stefanie Nelson (Dance Italia), Brandon Welch, Lindsey Matheis, John Litzler, Cody Szarko, Adele Nickel, and Azuki Umeda. Abby is currently a company member for Whirlwind Contemporary Dance Company under the direction of Joshua Manculich.. Abby plans to continue sharing her passion for teaching, choreography, and dance all over the United States.
Audrey Leonard | Instructor
Audrey Leonard is a professional dancer and choreographer from Colorado Springs, Colorado. As a recent graduate of the George Mason School of Dance, she has a strong foundation in modern, contemporary, ballet, choreography, partnering, and improvisation techniques. Most recently, she has performed work by Kyle Abraham, FlockWorks, Joshua Manculich, Christina Robson, Lawrence Jackson, Jessica Starr, Cameron Wille, and Matthew Fata. Her background in commercial dance as a competitive dancer, along with her concert dance experience, has resulted in a unique movement quality and a broad perspective on the dance world. Audrey is currently a student and mentee of MusEffect dance company, where she has learned to understand the importance of balancing the rigor of dance with a healthy learning environment. She is a member of the Whirlwind Dance Company where she continues to train, choreograph, and explore her identity as an artist. She is also Mat pilates certified and currently working towards her comprehensive certification through Power Pilates’ internationally accredited teacher training program. Audrey is dedicated to bringing humanity to the arts, emphasizing balance, holistic values, physical and mental health, and the joy of the creative process to dancers of all ages. She is so excited about the opportunity to work with Powell Dance Academy, helping young dancers reach their full potential and develop a lifelong love for dance and themselves!
Sarah Chavez | Instructor
Sarah Chavez is originally from St. Louis, Missouri, and has been dancing since five years old. She began training in many dance styles, but emphasized strongly in ballet, and became certified through Cecchetti Ballet Exam Grade Six. She received her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Sarah has had opportunities to train nationwide with prestigious companies and choreographers including Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company, Ballet West, SALT Contemporary Dance Company, and many more. She is proud of her diverse and well rounded training and has dance opportunities in ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, musical theatre, and acro/contortion styles. Sarah has danced professionally with Quixotic Cirque Nouveau, Worlds of Fun Theme Park Entertainment, Houston Contemporary Dance Company, and is continuing her dance career in Columbus as she begins her first season with Whirlwind Contemporary Dance Company. Sarah has been teaching and choreographing for the past seven years, and is passionate about sharing her knowledge with the next generation of dancers!
Danielle Torson | Student Instructor
Natalie Vittorini | Student Instructor
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