Teaching Faculty and Guest Artists

Learn more about our highly qualified dance educators and our incredible roster of guest artists

Regina Pietraroia, Founder and Director

Regina Pietraroia brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as both a professional dancer and educator to her role as the director of Dance Arts.  She grew up in Northeast Ohio, where she studied all forms of dance, was exposed to a variety of guest and master teachers, and received mentorship in teaching practices from the time she was twelve.  Regina went on to train at Butler University in Indianapolis, and after college spent several years dancing and teaching in the San Francisco Bay Area. After returning to Cleveland, Regina joined Ohio Dance Theatre, where she performed a variety of classical and contemporary ballets and repertoire, including The Nutcracker, Dracula, Cinderella, The Firebird, and many more.  Since her time with ODT, Regina has performed as a guest artist with Neos Dance Theatre in several of director Robert Wesner's full-length ballets, and has also worked with the City Ballet of Cleveland, North Pointe Ballet, and Cleveland Dance Exchange. She continues to participate in the area's artistic community through freelance performance - she was a featured performer during the Dance/USA national conference held in Cleveland in June, 2019 and has also been selected to dance at the Ohio Dance Festival. She has collaborated with other artists and organizations such as the Parma Symphony Orchestra, the Summit Choral Society, guitarist Neil Zaza, and more.

Regina holds a Bachelor’s in Middle & Secondary Education from Butler University, as well as a Master’s in Arts Administration from The University of Akron. She also had the opportunity to attend the National Dance Institute’s Teaching Artist Training with Jacques d’Amboise in New York City to study his renowned methodology. Her extensive teaching experience includes the Berkeley Ballet Theatre, The University of Akron, the American College Dance Festival conference, and many private studios in Ohio and California.  She was the Education Director for Ohio Dance Theatre, including leading their outreach program in several schools, and has also taught for GroundWorks Dance Theatre's educational programs and in the Akron After School Program. Most recently she has developed her own program, "Reach, Leap, & Learn" and continues a long term residency at Cleveland's Urban Community School. Regina is a sought after guest teacher and enjoys teaching master classes to dance students both locally and regionally.

From teaching ballet in after-school programs in inner-city schools, to teaching college-level ballet technique, Regina believes in challenging all students to be their physical and intellectual best in each class.  She enjoys teaching and choreographing for every age and level – from nurturing a love of dance in preschoolers to refining the technique and artistry of advanced dancers. 

Regina is grateful every day that she gets to live out her dreams, and hopes to inspire all of her students to do the same.

Hannah Jackson, Ballet and Contemporary Instructor

Hannah Jackson grew up all over the US and trained in as many different methods of ballet as she could get her hands on. She eventually settled down in Colorado Springs, where she trained with Patty Hoffman and Holly Marble at Colorado Ballet Society, performing all sorts of classical roles with CBS’s preprofessional company. Hannah graduated from Belhaven University with her BFA and danced for two seasons with Intersect Dance Theatre, a modern company in Jackson, Mississippi. She then spent five years in western New York teaching and choreographing for local studios, as well as performing with Genesee Dance Theatre and Sharing Space Dance Collective. Following the completion of her MA Professional Practice in Dance Technique Pedagogy from Middlesex University, she moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where she teaches throughout the area. Currently she performs as a dancer with Abrepaso Flamenco and a guest artist with Ballet Legato.

Kassandra Lee, Company Assistant

Kassandra began her training in her hometown of Vermilion, Ohio. In order to expand her training, Kassandra began taking classes at the School of Ohio Dance Theatre. Here, she was able to gain performance opportunities alongside the professional company. Upon graduation Kassandra was offered a position as a full time company member with Ohio Dance Theatre. After about five years of performing numerous classical and contemporary works with ODT, Kassandra began the next phase of her career with Neos Dance Theatre under the direction of Bobby Wesner. Highlights include In Grace of Wit by Stephanie Martinez, Leviathan by Alice Klock, along with works by Holly Handman-Lopez and Joseph Morrissey. Additionally, A 1940’s Nutcracker, Karelia, and Romanian Rhapsody by Bobby Wesner. During her time with Neos, Kassandra also performed in guest roles with North Pointe Ballet and Ballet Legato. Her most recent roles include the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker and the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz. She is very excited to be working with the dancers at Dance Arts by Regina.


Christine Crabiel, Hip Hop Instructor

My name is Christine and I’m 21 years old. I’ve been dancing since I was two years old for various studios and gyms. I competed in The Dance Worlds my junior and senior year of high school in Orlando, Florida with 5 different teams. I am currently entering my senior year at Kent State University studying communications with a minor in dance. I’m looking forward to sharing my love and energy for dance with others.










Guest Instructors

These guest instructors have visited the studio during our “Healthy Dancers, Healthy Dancing!” workshops, our annual Summer Intensives, or have been invited in during regular season classes. Learning from a variety of professional instructors helps inspire our students, broaden their perspectives, and allows them to make connections in the dance community! Check out the fantastic guests we’ve brought to the studio over the last four years - there are more to come!

  • Liz Baumgartner: musical theater, national and international touring shows

  • Gemma Freitas Bender: Princess Grace Award Recipient, Former Groundworks Dancer

  • Alexis Britford: Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Groundworks DanceTheater

  • Rebecca Burcher: Education Director, Groundworks DanceTheater

  • Talise Campbell: Executive Artistic Director at Djapo Cultural Arts Institute

  • Anna Cerveny, PT, DPT: Physical Therapist and Director of the Cleveland Dance Project

  • Janet Dziak: Director, North Pointe Ballet

  • Melissa Thomas Edington: Former Rockette and owner of Jeanita’s Dancewear

  • Mary-Elizabeth Fenn: Neos Dance Theater, Case Western Reserve University

  • Theresa Holland: Ohio Dance Theatre, Neos Dance Theater, Cleveland Ballet, North Pointe Ballet

  • Ali LeBay: Neos Dance Theater

  • Kassandra Lee: Ohio Dance Theatre, currently dancing with Neos Dance Theater

  • Samuel McIntosh: Founder of 10K Movement in Cleveland, Ohio

  • Brian Murphy: Ohio Ballet, Verb Ballets, among many others, founder of Pilates by Murphys

  • Elizabeth Pollert: professional dancer with Inlet Dance Theater

  • Matthew Roberts: Neos Dance Theater, currently dancing with Bruce Wood Dance

  • Lauren Stenroos: Dayton Ballet, currently dancing with Cleveland Ballet

  • Shannon Sterne: certified GYROTONIC instructor, nutritionist, dance educator

  • Heather Young: Dance professional and Yoga Instructor