Meet our Teachers
Judi Rodrigues
Judi Rodrigues is the Artistic Director of the Studio of Dance and Performing Arts, Inc. of Newtown. Judi has studied
dance with Lillian Donnenworth, the Metropolitan Opera Ballet Company, the Garden State Ballet Company, the Irene Fokine Ballet Company, and the
Modern Dance Company of New Jersey
As a choreographer, Judi has choreographed Three Penny Opera, South Pacific, Salute to Broadway,
Brigadoon, Gypsy, Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, The Boyfriend, Oklahoma, Bye Bye Birdie, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the
Forum, and The Music Man. As a writer, Judi has produced Pointe Counter Pointe, Kids Today, Conversations, You Know What They
Say About Dancers, and Full Circle.
Judi has choreographed Die Fledermaus for the Boehme Opera Company of Trenton, NJ. Judi has studied
acting in college and with Gordan Phillips of the Wilma Theatre. She has appeared in Wingless Victory as Oparre, as Ms. Roderick in Kids Today, as Evy in the Gingerbread Lady.
Judi has taught theatre movement, improvisation, and choreography for the Bucks County Community College.
Judi has been a teacher for 40 years and has "no intention of retiring." Along with her daughter, Darby, the Studio of Dance and Performing Arts,
Inc. welcomes all children and adults with a love of the performing Arts.
Katie Kasari
Katie Kasari received a B.A. in dance from DeSales University in Allentown, PA and has been working as a dancer, teacher and choreographer in the Philadelphia area since 2001. Katie's early training was in ballet, jazz, hip-hop and musical theater and later she discovered a love for modern dance. She has studied at many institutions throughout Pennsylvania and New York as well as attending American College Dance Festivals throughout the country and Dance Educators of America conventions in New York City. With 15 years of teaching experience at all ages and levels, Katie often teaches master classes at dance studios and universities, and has acted as Ballet Mistress and Principal Dancer for the Linn McDonald School of Dance (Cinderella and Don Quixote), Rehearsal Assistant for Marywood University Players (A Chorus Line), Guest Choreographer for Marywood University Dance Department Fall Concert (From The Ground Up), and Movement Consultant for DeSales University ActOne Theater (Tartuffe), among others. In 2005, Katie co-founded Vada Dance Collective, a modern dance company based out of Philadelphia. The company strives to enrich the dance community through performance and education, and Katie's choreography has been showcased at the Painted Bride Theater, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Etc. Performance Series, Philly Dance Fest, and International House Theater at Penn. Katie is thrilled to be on the staff of The Studio of Dance and Performing Arts for another great season!
Lisa Rook
Lisa recently graduated from Goucher College in Baltimore, MD with B.A. in Communications/Mass Media and a B.A. in Dance with a concentration in Theatre. She began dancing at the age of 6 and quickly discovered her passion for performance. She continued to train in ballet, pointe, modern, pilates, partnering and variations at Princeton Ballet School where she was later accepted into their pre-professional program. Lisa trained with Kyra Nichols, Maria Youskevitch, Douglas Martin, Mary Barton and Lisa DeRavel. She was also accepted into the Kirov Academy of Ballet, Studio Maestro and Princeton Ballet School summer programs where she studied with numerous professional dancers.
During Lisa's time at Goucher College, she was chosen to perform works choreographed and/or staged by Nilas Martins, Charla Genn, Ann Marie DeAngelo, Robert Weiss and Michael Vernon. To broaden her dance education experience, Lisa studied dance history, dance criticism, lighting and music for dance, dance education, anatomy, Labanotation and choreography. In addition, she was involved in The Moving Classroom Project, which allowed a group of dancers bring performance and education to inner city elementary schools. She has taught at Howard County Ballet School, Dance Arts of Yardley and is currently teaching ballet, tap and jazz at the PA Leadership Charter School Center for Performing and Fine Arts. Lisa truly enjoys working with students and passing along her excitement for dance!
Kathleen Manning
Kathleen is a 2nd grade teacher in Council Rock School District. She has been an aerobics instructor for several years teaching spinning, kickboxing, and toning classes. Kathleen danced as a child for many years taking jazz, tap, ballet, and pointe. Kathleen has a Masters Degree in Education, Special Education, and she is a Reading Specialist. "After taking Zumba for the first time, I couldn't wait to take another! I realized that this was a new and FUN way to dance my way fit! After sharing Zumba with my family and friends I couldn't wait to share it with the community. Zumba combines the love that I have for dancing, exercising, and education all in one!"
Guest Instructors
The Studio of Dance and Performing Arts is pleased to occassionally have new or guest teachers for certain classes.
You will be informed of your student's teacher when you register for classes. The Studio takes great pride in only hiring teachers whose
reputations and credentials are above board. As a result, almost all of our teachers are former students of the Studio. We love to see our kids
grow and develop as dancers, and then return to the Studio as teachers to show us "their stuff!"