She performed professionally with Group Motion Dance Company while still attending college.   After graduating Magna cum Laude, she continued her studies in the Vaganova Method (Russian Ballet Method) at the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet under John White, former Ballet Master of the Pennsylvania Ballet Company, and has been specially trained to teach the method.

Michelle then joined the faculty and professional repertory company at the New Freedom Theatre in Philadelphia cited by the Kennedy Center for Excellence in the Arts; and also performed with Philadelphia based Footfalls Modern Dance Company and the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange based out of Washington D.C.   Later, Ms. Wurtz joined ContempraDance Theatre and eventually became the Assistant Director.   When she was not performing, she was teaching throughout the Tri-State area and has given Master Classes at Swarthmore College, the University of the Arts, and at Temple University.

Currently Michelle is the Owner and Director of the Pottstown Dance Theatre, located in Pottstown and Downingtown.  She is also the Artistic Director of the Schuylkill Valley Regional Dance Company. Under her direction, the Company performs three full length concerts per year. She was the first American instructor invited to teach at the International Dance Festival in Ladek Zdroj, Poland and received an Honorary Degree in International Dance Studies.   Last summer she toured the country of Poland with ContempraDance Theatre, and has been asked to work at numerous other international festivals throughout Europe.   She has been featured in Dance Spirit Magazine, Dancer, Dance Teacher, and Philadelphia Magazine.   Ms. Wurtz is a member of the National Dance Critics' Association, is a certified Pilates instructor, and was a panelist for the Program Stream category for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

Mr. Ustinov performed as a principal guest artist with the Dallas Ballet, Fort Worth Ballet, Chicago Festival Ballet, and the Ballet Theatre of Boston among others; and also worked as an international guest artist with Ballet La Scala di Milano and London City Ballet.  His principal repertoire includes most classical and neo-classical ballet productions, Balanchine works, and contemporary productions.   

With his wife Elena Martinson, former Ballerina with the Kirov Ballet, Andrei co-founded and co-directed Dance International; an organization that produces student exchange programs, master classes, summer workshops, and choreographed performances.  Students from this program have traveled to the Scottish International Festival in Edinburgh and for parts of the Kyoto International Workshop in Japan.  Other events included performing at the Estonia National Dance Academy Gala in Tallinn, Estonia; participation at the Bartholin International Ballet Seminar in Denmark, and visits to St. Petersburgh, Russia.  Their students have been accepted into well-known conservatory type dance schools such as SAB (School of American Ballet founded by George Balanchine), The Alvin Ailey School, North Carolina School of the Arts, the Harid Conservatory, Washington Ballet School, and the Martha Graham School.  Others have performed with Houston Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Boston Ballet, and others.

Mr. Ustinov also served as an adjunct professor of dance at Temple University and has coached ice skaters for the University of Delaware Ice Rink.  Currently, he is the Ballet Master at the Pottstown Dance Theatre and choreographs for the Schuylkill Valley Regional Dance Company for “The Nutcracker” and other productions.

Diane Alex-Brody received her early training at the Pottstown Dance Theatre.  She studied the Vaganova (Russian) Teaching Syllabus with Ms. Phyllis Dersh and with John White at the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet.  She is outstanding at teaching both the early and very important fundamental grades of our ballet program, as well as the higher level dancers.  Diane is frequently requested for private instruction and her classes at Pottstown are in high-demand.  Diane is an active member of the Schuylkill Valley Regional Dance Company.

Lynn Amalfitano has been dancing since the age of five.  She received her dance training at North Carolina School of the Arts and The School of the Pennsylvania Ballet.  Her love of dance and strong technical training are passed on to her students and make her a very talented and a highly preferred teacher.  She teaches dance at both Pottstown Dance Theatre studios.

Bridget Bennett-Schall dabbled in gymnastics until, at the age of ten, began dancing at the Greater Dover Area Dance Company (formerly the Lynda Kay’s School of Dance) and became a company member at age 11. Her eight-year intensive training included ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, modern, and acrobatics. Bridget was also an assistant tap instructor at West Chester University in the early 90’s. For the past three years, she has been an active member of the Wardrobe Committee for the Schuylkill Valley Regional Dance Company. Her joy of dance has been passed along to her two daughters, Katie Beth and Emily, who have been dancing at the Pottstown Dance Theatre since age three. Her son, Nicholas, cannot wait until next year when he can “go to dance class” as well.  Bridget is a highly-preferred Creative Movement and Pre-Ballet teacher in both Downingtown and Pottstown studios.

Carol Hebert graduated from the Hartford Conservatory of Music and Dance and received a BFA in Dance from the University of Massachusetts.  She has taught at Hartford Conservatory, the School of the Hartford Ballet, and the New England Conservatory.  As a member of the Deborah Carr Theatre Dance Ensemble, Ms. Hebert performed at the highly prestigious American Dance Festival in NC.  She has studied with some of the most respected names in American tap dance including Brenda Buffalino and LaVaughn Robinson.  Her students at the Pottstown studio enjoy her classes tremendously.

Matt Torchia has studied all forms of Break Dance including Poppin’, Lockin’, Uprocking, and Caperoia.  He has been a guest artist for ContempraDance Theatre, Schuylkill Valley Regional Dance Company, and has performed for numerous benefit concerts.