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. She has continued to develop outreach education at community schools and libraries. Regina is a sought after guest teacher and enjoys teaching master classes to dance students both locally and regionally. She has recently been a featured instructor at DanceCleveland’s Community Dance Day.

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.

Vivian Corey, Company Assistant, Preschool, Tap, Jazz, Pilates

Vivian is an apprentice with Inlet Dance Theatre who holds her BFA in dance and BSEd in exercise science from The Ohio State University. Her training is primarily in contemporary, jazz, tap, African, and ballet, as well as mat and reformer Pilates. She teaches Pilates, dance, and group fitness classes to children and adults and engages in dance science research in addition to her artistic practice. Using her dance and personal training background, Vivian weaves dance and science as the foundation of her work to guide others to find their love of movement through community-based practice.

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.


Zachary Biggs, Hip Hop Instructor

Zach Biggs, was born and raised in Fredericksburg, Virginia and graduated from Radford University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. Zach is also a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. During his time as an undergraduate student, he has been in a variety of dance concerts choreographed by faculty and guest artists, as well as performed in and choreographed for student showcases. He also performed the featured role of George in the musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, with the Radford University Department of Theater. In June of 2022, he had his professional debut as a featured dancer in the People’s Bank Theatre production of Kiss me, Kate in Marietta, Ohio. He joined the Dancing Wheels company as an apprentice in 2023 and was promoted to a company member and assistant rehearsal director in 2024. In 2024 Zach started dancing for the Cleveland Cavaliers Scream Team.



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

  • Karen Colabianchi: professional jazz dancer, instructor, and choreographer

  • 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

  • Morgan Grube: Freelance dancer and choreography, formerly with Dancing Wheels

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

  • Ali LeBay: Neos Dance Theater

  • Christina Lindhout: award-winning choreographer, instructor, and freelance performer

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

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

  • Bruno Palheta: Dancer with Cleveland Ballet

  • Elizabeth Pollert: professional dancer with Inlet Dance Theater

  • Teagan Reed: dancer with Groundworks Dance, freelance dancer and choreographer

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

  • Lauren Stenroos: dancer with Cleveland Ballet

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

  • Robert Wesner: Founder and Director of NEOS Dance Theatre, Choreographer

  • Heather Young: Dance professional and Yoga Instructor