OUR INSTRUCTORS

"In July, 2008, Melody and Melanie completed a tap residency and performance at the New York City Tap Festival where they studied under famous tap dancer and choreographer Billie Mahoney."

MELANIE BAKER NIBLICK
Melanie is the owner of Tap-N-Burn Fitness currently residing in Philadelphia, PA. She has more than 30 years experience in all areas of dance and is the former of owner/director of KidMoves Dance Company (of Knoxville, TN), which she successfully operated for 10 years. In 2006, Melanie added Tap-N-Burn Fitness to her program of classes in Knoxville, and they quickly became popular and new instructors were licensed and trained to help her grow the program even more.

After a family move to the Philadelphia area, Melanie started classes right away at several Montgomery County locations and the concept has exploded. After only two years in the northeast, Tap-N-Burn has been given such accolades as Philadelphia’s “Most Unique Workout” and Philadelphia’s “Most Memorable Workout” in the PhillyFIT 2012 Fitness event, as judged by well recognized fitness celebrities and by popular vote of its hundreds of attendees. Tap-N-Burn was also featured on the nationally televised/syndicated “Steve Harvey Show” in Chicago where she taught Steve basic tap moves and introduced Tap-N-Burn to America as the most comprehensive cardio-tap workout in the country.

Melanie attends workshops every year, most notably, New York’s “Tap City” event where she has trained with tap greats such as Billie Mahoney, STOMP’s Ryan Johnson, Ofer Ben, Avi Miller, Germaine Salsberg and Dianne Walker. Melanie is married to Jay Niblick and they have three children, Zach, Baker and Joe.



MELODY GLARDON PELFREY
Although she was probably dancing before her mother ever gave birth, Melody officially began at the age of three - and hasn't taken her dance shoes off since!  She has studied under some of the world's top choreographers of music, video, Broadway and TV.

Melody's dance education includes classes with Barry Youngblood (who also taught Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake).  Melody also had summer study with Thommie Walsh, in addition to courses with Dance Caravan and Dance Olympus.  Melody has choreographed local high school musicals and show choirs.  Melody loves teaching the younger dancers tap and ballet and teaches the "In Motion With Melody" dance program at First United Methodist Church in Maryville with her mother, Carolyn (also of KidMoves Dance Company).

We are very pleased to announce that Melody joined our team in December, 2006 and is now a licensed tap instructor for Tap~N~Burn of Knoxville.  Melody shares her love of dance not only with her mother Carolyn, but with her husband Bryan and their four children.

COURTNEY PITNER
At the age of three, Courtney's mom enrolled her in dance classes to channel some of her boundless energy. She instantly caught the dancing bug and trained in ballet, tap, and jazz under Lisa Wildman for the next 11 years. As a child, it was Courtney's dream to become a dance instructor.

Throughout her high school and college years, Courtney was involved in various dance and performance ensembles, but also felt she was being led to pursue a career in health care. In 2009, she obtained her doctorate degree in Audiology from the University of Tennessee. While preparing to enter the "real world," Courtney enrolled in Melanie's Tap-N-Burn class and fell in love with dance all over again. After two years as a TNB student and many hours of intensive instructor training, she is now able to fulfill her childhood dream to be a dance instructor through teaching the Tap-N-Burn class at Broadway Academy of Performing Arts!

Courtney also enjoys performing with the Non-Stop Hip Hop performance team and being involved in her community group at Fellowship Church.

MICHELE SCHARTEL
Director & owner of the Dance Centers starting her 31st year. She has been an instructor in all forms of dance and specialty classes, plus musical theater choreographer in Berks and surrounding counties for 42 years. She is also a Dance Competition judge for the past 10 years for David Blight’s “Talent Olympics” competitions in the Pocono’s twice a year. She also judges at 2 different locations for Cathy Tubolino’s competition “Dance Expressions” in PA. & DE. and MaryAnn Christopher’s “Rhythms & Dance Competition” in Voohrhees & Eatontown, NJ. along with Gloria Dillon’s “Performing Arts Alliance Competition” in King of Prussia, PA .

Michele attends numerous dance workshops and conventions each year, for she is a believer of keeping the Dance Centers’ curriculum fresh & up to date. For those of you that are new to Dance Centers she is the lady behind the desk. Some of her students have gone onto Broadway shows, Touring Companies, Danced in Disney and on Royal Caribbean Cruise lines. Ms. Michele as we call her still choreographs and teaches classes here and on the workshop/seminar circuit. http://dancecenters.webs.com/

PAM STERNER BOYER
Pam put on her first pair of tap shoes at the age of 3. Over the next 20 years, she studied with tap masters Mary Ford and Jimmy Hamilton in Philadelphia, as well as taking ballet, jazz and contemporary classes with instructors such as Ellen Vee, George Warren and Mickey DeFranco. She spent countless hours a week in a dance studio, not only taking her own classes, but assisting in classes taught by her mother, Linda Sterner. She participated in many dance performances, competitions, and dance conventions where she took classes with instructors such as Frank Hatchett, Marci Renee, Debra Sparks and Michael Lanning. She has had the honor of performing at both The Academy of Music in Philadelphia and The State Theater of NJ as well as several TV appearances on the Al Alberts Showcase. She also enjoyed performing in summer musicals with the Act One Players in central New Jersey. Once in college Pam continued taking classes while earning a degree in Psychology and Sociology from Rutgers University. After graduation, Pam took adult classes in tap, jazz and hip hop, including classes at the Broadway Dance Center in Manhattan. After taking a break from dance to get married and become a mom to two dancing daughters, Pam found Tap-N-Burn and knew it was time to get the tap shoes out and get reacquainted with her passion for dance.

KAREN THORP
Karen began studying ballet at the age of seven at the Merrimack School of Dance and later pursued ballet, tap, and jazz at the Melissa Hoffman Dance Center in Hudson, NH. She continued dancing through high school and periodically as an adult, taking a couple breaks to complete her undergraduate and graduate studies in the area of speech-language pathology. When she is not dancing, Karen is a speech-language pathologist who primarily works with preschoolers with autism and other developmental disabilities. Karen became involved with Tap N Burn when she moved to the Philadelphia area and was searching for adult dance classes. After taking a couple sessions of classes, Karen began teaching TNB in the summer of 2011 as a sub and officially joined staff for the fall of 2011. She is excited to be teaching and sharing her love of dance (and more specifically tap) with others!

REENA KOLAR
Reena began tap and ballet lessons at the age of 3 at a small studio in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A few years later she became a founding student at Accent on Dance, under the direction of Mary Cummings. Reena continued dancing until she graduated from high school and went to college to pursue a degree in Psychology. For the next several years Reena concentrated on academics, earning an M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Northern Illinois University. She works part-time as a therapist, primarily focusing on helping children and families overcome trauma. Reena discovered Tap-N-Burn at The Dance Depot and was excited to incorporate her love of tap with her interest in getting fit. Reena credits Tap-N-Burn with helping her stay motivated to exercise and she is very happy to be sharing that enthusiasm with others looking for a unique and effective workout. Reena and her husband are proud parents of 3 very active children.

KARIN (LOGAN) FLANAGAN
Karin is an award-winning choreographer with a wide variety of training in tap, jazz, ballet and hip hop. Her dance education continues through participation at national dance conventions and teacher training seminars. She received her CECDI (Certified Early Childhood Dance Instructor) certification, attended Al Gilbert's annual summer seminar and Kiddance,"Teaching Dance Creatively." Her thirst for knowledge has taken her to several master classes with prestigious teachers Al Gilbert, Bob Rizzo, Sheila Barker, Greg Russell, Barry Youngblood and Karen Cleighton, to name a few, and on weekends enjoys taking class in Philadelphia

Since 1996, Miss Karin has shared many magical moments with her students. She has danced down Main Street USA in Walt Disney World, danced in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art with performance group‚ “FanTAPulous” on Thanksgiving Day! Miss Karin can be found teaching other classes at LeRoux School of dance such as: Petite Feet, Children's Dance, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Cheer and Hip Hop techniques for beginner through advanced levels in group or private settings – and most recently, received her TNB Instructor’s License. Karin resides in Perkiomenville with her husband, Todd, their sons, Logan and Joseph and their dog, Lucky. Visit Karin's website.

KAREN VOSSEN
Karen put on her first pair of tap shoes at the age of 10. Like so many other little girls, Karen attended a local dance studio, the Lionville School of Dance, and studied under their instructors, which included two former Rockettes, for the next 8 years. While attending ballet, tap and jazz classes at LSOD, Karen also performed in numerous high school and community theatre shows. Her love of dance and theatre led her to pursue a BA in Theatre from the Pennsylvania State University. After graduation, Karen continued to take tap classes and perform in local community theatres such as the Barley Sheaf Players and Forge Theater. One of the highlights of her dance career was tapping in “Tap Yourself Silly” at the Boscov's Thanksgiving Day parade! After taking some time out to have two children of her own, Karen discovered Tap-N-Burn at LeRoux School of Dance just over a year ago. Karen has enjoyed connecting with others who not only enjoy dancing, but are also looking to squeeze in a workout and is looking forward to sharing her renewed passion for tap with others!