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 Skettino
Katie began her training in Scranton , PA where she studied ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, modern, hip-hop and musical theatre. Katie has studied with such masters as Frank Hatchett, Zena Rommett, Savion Glover, Debbie Dee, Rennie Harris, and David Howard, among others. Katie began teaching at the Linn McDonald School of Dance at the age of 14 and served as Ballet Mistress and Rehearsal Director along with dancing principal roles in such ballets as Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, and Coppelia. She went on to attend DeSales University in Allentown , PA on a dance scholarship. There Katie performed with ACTion Dance Touring Company, and as a guest with the DanceGing Company in Allentown , and had the opportunity to showcase her choreography at American College Dance Festivals throughout the country. She has taught Master classes and workshops in ballet, jazz, modern, and hip-hop throughout the region. In 2005, Katie co-founded Vada Dance Collective, a modern dance company based out of Philadelphia . She has choreographs and performs with the troupe of 12 dances and aims to make modern dance accessible and exciting to audiences. This past year, Katie joined the faculty of The Studio of Dance & Performing Arts teaching Tap Tap Tap! and is thrilled to be a part of their upcoming season.
Stephanie Marie Allen
Stephanie is entering her sophomore year at George School. During her freshman year, she was on the Varsity Cheerleading team, (fall); Varsity Cheerleading (winter); JV Softball (spring) and plans to continue all 3 sports over the next 3 years at George School . Stephanie was a straight “A” student at Neshaminy’s Pearl Buck Elementary School , and Maple Pointe Middle School . She continues to receive high marks at George School . Stephanie is enrolled in college prep courses. She began dance lessons in Ballet, Jazz & Tap at Sande Mule Dance Academy at age 3 and continued for 4 years. Stephanie began studying with The Studio of Dance & Performing Arts in 2000 taking jazz and hip-hop classes. She has just completed her 11th year dancing – seven of those at the Studio of Dance. During the 2006-2007 season, Stephanie taught the Tuesday 6:15 Hip-Hop class – under the direction of Darby Mintel. Stephanie loves children and relates well to children of all ages. She is a born leader, has a great sense of humor and a positive, take-charge attitude. Her future includes becoming an elementary school teacher, and teaching Jr. Hip-Hop and Jazz with The Studio of Dance.
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!"