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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!
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