JOE NICKEL

Joe Nickel has professionally worked in the entertainment & dance industry since 2005 as a dancer, educator, and choreographer. He has worked with Paramount’s Kings Island, Nickelodeon, Busch Gardens, Norwegian Cruise Lines, CD Entertainment in Shanghai, Disney, ABC Family, American Eagle Outfitters, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, and Value City Furniture and Netflix on the TV series“Archive 81”. As a dance educator, Joe is fortunate every year to work with dancers of all ages at various community dance studios and dance programs throughout the country. He has been an Adjunct Professor at Seton Hill University and is a co-founder and co-director of their summer intensive: The Commercial Dance Experience. Additionally, he co-hosts “Joe and Michelle’s Dance Podcast” with former Radio City Rockette and AMDA Faculty, Michelle Tolson and is the Founder & Creative Director of Thrive Dance Experience.Joe enjoys mentoring dancers and encourages them to use their art form as a vehicle of expression and purpose.

JENNIFER TURNER LONG

Jennifer Turner Long has spent her life dancing. She trained in Virginia under the tutelage of Linda DeHart, and Ray and Cindy Hollingsworth. She has a BA from UVA and an MA in Education from Miami University. She is a current member of DEA (Dance Educators of America), NDEO (National Dance Education Organization) and PaDEO. Jennifer founded The Studio in 2004. The Studio has hosted an NHSDA chapter for 10 years. Jennifer has spent 21 years building a strong, successful community of love and support for all who want an opportunity to dance.

CIERRA WOODS

Cierra Woods is a Philadelphia-based dancer, choreographer, and arts administrator from Harrisburg, PA. She began her training at the Capital Area School for the Arts Charter School under the direction of Rosemary Battista. She further honed her craft at Temple University, where she was honored with the Rose Vernick Choreography Award in 2020. Her artistic journey has led her to stages, including Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Brooklyn Museum, and Judson Memorial Church. Cierra acknowledges the immense privilege to live life as an artist and is driven to fortify sustainable systems that create nurturing environments, allowing both artistic and diasporic communities to thrive.

JODY REYNARD

Jody Reynard has been performing almost non-stop for almost 35 years!! He has taught musical theatre dance classes at dance studios and educational institutions around the country. He caught the eye of the late Ann Reinking at an open audition and made his Broadway debut in Fosse, dancing featured specialties such as “From the Edge,” “Rich Man’s Frug,” and the “Take Off with Us” adage. Other credits include the Broadway companies of Thoughts of a Colored Man, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, Legally Blonde, Taboo, Saturday Night Fever and the national touring companies of Camelot, Kiss Me Kate, My Fair Lady, Memphis and Chicago. Jody has also worked as dance captain and/or assistant for Broadway choreographers Denis Jones, Josh Prince, & Alex Sanchez and international theatre choreographer, Darren Lee. He can also be seen dancing behind six-time Tony Award winner, Audra McDonald, in the movie musical, Hello Again! Some of his favorite roles include Darren in Take Me Out, Paul in Kiss Me Kate, Happiness in Thoughts of a Colored Man, Ken in Smokey Joe’s Café. Jody is also a proud Core Company Member of Quick Silver Theatre Company and instructor of dance at the Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.