Staff

“Miss Michelle” was the director of the Upper Merion Park & Recreation dance program from Winter 2001 to Spring 2004. She started dance at the age of four at the Lehman School of dance in Glencoe, Illinois. She continued ballet, tap and jazz dance training through high school as well as college performing in numerous recitals, dance concerts and musicals. She has also assistant taught with her teacher Laverne Lehman. She has taken several master classes at both Broadway Dance Center in NYC as well as Koresh in Philly. Miss Michelle is a graduate of Emerson College in Boston MA, having earned a bachelors degree in public relations. She also assists in coaching UMDGC’s competitive gymnastics team. Michelle is an active member of The King of Prussia Players. She has also choreographed musicals for them as well as Methacton Community Theatre and Theatre Horizon.

"Mr. Dave" was a competitive gymnast for 8 years with Pancott Gymnastics Center in Malvern. His gymnastics coaching experience includes: class coach with Upper Merion Park & Recreation (1991-93), program director for UMPR (1993-2004), boys’ compulsory team coach at Pancotts (1996-2001), and tumbling instructor for PW Spartans, Kennedy-Kenrick CHS, Carroll CHS, Plymouth-Whitemarsh HS, and Conshohocken Golden Bears. Mr. Dave graduated from Temple University with a bachelors degree in psychology.

Jeremy is a graduate of Temple University. where he earned a B.A. in Criminal Justice and minored in philosophy. He began working with UMDGC in June 2004 after working with the boys' team at Pancott Gymnastics Center for six years and having been a gymnast there for 10 years. Jeremy's coaching experience covers from the youngest levels up to high-level optional competitors. Jeremy competed in the 1998 J.O. National Championships.

Joelle joined UMDGC in 2007 while attending Eastern University for Physical Education.. She specializes in coaching tumblers; she also helps out with all of the classes and girls preteam. Joelle competed up to level 8 at Macey's Gymnastics and Airborne Gymnastics. She has performed in 2 halftime shows for the 76ers. Ms. DeCarlo coached with Newtown Athletic Club for 5 years. Her interests include playing basketball on the Eastern University team, tanning, and making people laugh.

Kelly joined UMDGC in November 2006 after 2 years as the assistant coach at the University of Rhode Island. She is returning home after completing her master's degree in August 2005 for Human Development and Family Studies, with a focus on work and family balance. After a very successful career at Metzler's Gymnastics as a level 10, Kelly was a four-year scholarship athlete on the URI gymnastics team from 1998 to 2002. The Bala Cynwyd native's recognitions include: NCAA Regional competition (3 times); All-Atlantic Ten gymnast (twice); All-Atlantic Ten team member (3 years); URI all-time top-ten in all-around, vault, bars, and floor; team captain in 2002; Academic All-American (2 years); and All-Atlantic 10 honors on the vault and floor. She also has 6 years of experience as director, instructor, and coach of Lower Merion Township's summer recreational gymnastics program. 

Kristen graduated in 2006 from Kennedy-Kenrick CHS. She is currently attending the University of Delaware where she studies Fashion Merchandising. Kristen did gymnastics for four years when she was younger, cheerleading for eleven years (until her junior year of high school), and is currently a member of UMDGC's adult gymnastics team. Kristen began coaching with Upper Merion Park & Recreation in 2004.

Lindsey began her gymnastics career at Upper Merion Parks & Recreation in 1994. She competed level 4 for one year and started working as a coach at the gym the summer of 2003. Lindsey graduated from Upper Merion High School where she was a cheerleader. She currently attends Millerville University as a psychology major.

Mandy graduated from Upper Merion Area High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society, cheerleader, and active member of the student government. Mandy is attending West Chester University, majoring in Athletic Training and possibly minoring in Athletic Coaching. She started working at UMPR in 2001 and followed the program to UMDGC. She has been teaching the girls level 4 team since the Spring 2002. In Summer 2006, Mandy was promoted to director of summer camp, and will supervise weekend team workouts during the school year.

Ms. Nicole has been a teacher with Ms. Michelle since 2000 and with UMDGC since they opened in 2004.  Even teaching in a classroom on tile floors of Belmont school from the days of UMPR dance could not keep her away from being a dance teacher. Ms. Nicole is the choreographer/director for the competitive hip-hop team at UMDGC and is looking forward to another exciting season with her amazing dance team. Ms. Nicole also is the stage manager for the recitals each year, and each year she loves to see how much the company has grown. Ms. Nicole’s experiences before she met Ms. Michelle were mainly in tap, jazz, and hip-hop, but Ms. Nicole truly enjoys teaching any class! You may even find her on stage one year who knows! 

Walt Kenney joined the UMDGC staff in June 2006 after 7 years as the boys team director at John Pancott Gymnastics Center, Malvern. He has a bachelors science degree in health and physical education and attended Temple University on a scholarship. He was a member of the Temple University team and captain of the team in his senior year. He was a member of the EIGL championship team of 1980 and was 2nd in the all around. He was assistant coach at Temple and coached the University of Pennsylvania men’s gymnastics club. He has been coaching for 30 years and is a former national and Junior Olympic judge. He had a gymnast qualified for the USAG Junior Olympics Nationals every year since 1999.

Assistant Camp Director

Miss Vicky attends Penn State-Berks Campus, is majoring in Life Sciences with a minor in Business, and hopes to graduate in Dec 2009. She began coaching gymnastics with Upper Merion Park & Recreation in 2001 and followed the program to UMDGC. Vicky is very popular with those wanting private lessons in tumbling, and also teaches preschool and recreational gymnastics level 0-2.

“Miss Christine” is a former professional dancer, choreographer and teacher with over 30 years of experience. Very early in her career she received a long-term scholarship from the city of Munich, Germany for a supporting education for highly gifted students of classical ballet, later known as the famous Heinz BoslStiftung. Additional to her classical ballet education she studied Modern and Jazz. “Miss Christine” performed and worked with various Dance Companies in Europe and was a member of the German TV Ballet. Furthermore she performed with famous artists like Michael Jackson (Dangerous World Tour), Will Smith, Backstreet Boys, Harald Faltermeier, Tom Jones, Culture Beat (World Tour), just to highlight some.  Additionally, she choreographed modern, jazz, and ballet performances, dance and fashion shows for Nike, Adidas, L.A. Gear, Gatorade, Willy Bogner etc. and successfully performed in commercials for Biodroga Cosmetics, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Konica ... “Miss Christine” also had some valuable experience in the film business and acted in the well-known movie “Neverending Story II”.

Danielle currently attends Eastern University where she is pursuing a Master of Arts in International Development.  She recently graduated from West Chester University with a Bachelor's in Political Science International Relations.  Danielle has danced since the age of 5. She is trained in ballet and jazz specifically and has also pursued modern, hip-hop, and Irish step.  She has trained with Green Street Dance Company of Souderton, PA for 14 years and then moved under the direction of Lisa Wasserman at Delaware Valley Dance Academy in Hatfield, PA.  She has studied with Vincent Brosseau at DeSales University for two summers and enjoys taking classes at Koresh Dance Studio in the city.  She was a member of West Chester University's Dance Company her senior year of college as well.  Danielle has been teaching ballet and jazz to children and adults alike at Delaware Valley Dance Academy for two years and here at UMDGC for a continuing fourth year. 

Emily is a freshmen at Upper Merion High School. She has been involved with UMDGC for 5 years. She was assistant teacher for two years, but began teaching Fall 2008. Before her 5 years with UMDGC, Emily took ballet, but eventually moved onto hip hop. Besides dancing, she enjoys cheerleading for her school, going to the beach and hanging out at the mall.

Genevieve is a graduate of Eastern University, where she earned a BA in Dance. She has been studying ballet and modern for 20 years. She started training at the Johnstown Concert Ballet Company under artistic director Carla Pruncel who danced with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. There she had many solos in ballets such as The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, Les Sylphides, and Don Quixote. After that she started studying under Dr. Karen Clemente and Dr. Joselli Deans at EU, and Cherie Noble of the Pennsylvania Ballet Company. She performed with  Swerve Dance Company in Philadelphia and Eastern Christain Ministries. In her free time, Genevieve competes in Balboa Swing Dancing throughtout the United States with her dance partner Faryl Cotispoti. Together they teach all forms of Swing dancing. Genevieve has taught dance for ages 3-18 years for 6 years in many studios throughout Pennsylvania and currently is a dance director at Agnes Irwin School.

Gigi has been involved with UMDGC and Upper Merion Park & Recreation in a number of ways for 10 years!  She is currently a junior at Upper Merion High School and in her spare time she enjoys acting, singing, dancing, playing soccer for her school, horseback riding, taking naps with her two cats, and going to the beach :)

Krissy Hines attends Cedar Crest College where she is studying early childhood education.  She has trained at the prestigious Rock West dance school. Krissy has taken many years of ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop as well as master classes with Tap Dogs Gil Stroming, Mike Minery, Dan Kartay, Mia Michaels, and Cassidy. Krissy also performed in both the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving Day Parades. She started teaching when she was thirteen with Upper Merion Parks and Recreation in 2001 at the gymnastics camp. In 2003, Krissy began working with the UMPR dance program, and then UMDGC in 2004. Krissy also coaches gymnastics to younger students and took gymnastics at UMPR when she was younger. Her favorite color is pink and her favorite ice cream is mint chocolate chip. She loves teaching kids to be great gymnasts and dancers!

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Svetlana Roosiparg, professional Ballroom and Latin dancer, choreographer, instructor and coach, has achieved and sustained a high level of distinction in the International and American Ballroom Dance community. Svetlana was born in Tallinn , Estonia where she began dancing at the age of eight. Svetlana has represented her country four times in the World International Latin Championship. She has also performed in numerous productions in Estonia such as “Theatre Estonia ” and City Hall Concert Productions in addition to performing with the Estonian Dance Company. After dancing and teaching in Italy for two years, Svetlana moved to the United States where she has continued to compete and coach in the Philadelphia area and New York City.

Sara has loved to dance for as long as she can remember. When she was younger, she took jazz, tap, and ballet classes but discovered that she loved hip-hop most of all. She was a hip-hop and broadway dance instructor at a summer camp for two years and had the chance to choreograph large groups of students for multiple showcases. Now she is a hip-hop and jazz instructor at UMDGC. Her favorite part about teaching dance is that she gets to instruct and work with all different types of students and do her favorite thing, dance, at the same time!

"Cool" AJ joined UMDGC in Nov 2008 after 13 years of coaching Junior Olympic and elite gymnasts. He has served as head coach at John Pancotts, Lehigh Valley Sports Academy, and Delaware Valley, and assistant head coach at AJS Pancott, Bensalem, and American Gymnastics. Competitively, he was the 1995 floor champion at Strawberry Mansion High School (9.95) and traveled to Beijing when he was 14.

Becky is currently on the gymnastics team at Temple University where she is pursuing a degree in Jewish Studies with a minor in entrepreneurship.  Prior to her college career Becky competed as a level 10 for AJS Pancott gymnastics in West Chester.  Becky began coaching gymnastics in 2002 and joined the UMDGC staff in 2008. 

Celia began taking classes with Upper Merion Park & Recreation.  Celia has competed at levels 4, 5, and USAIGC Bronze. Her coaching career began in the summer of 2007. She currently attends Upper Merion Area High School where she plays tennis. In Fall2008, Ms. Celia started helping out as an office staff member.

After being a level 5 gymnast with UMDGC and Turner Gymnastics, Christina began coaching at UMDGC in June 2008. She currently attends Kennedy-Kenrick Chatholic High School where she is on the cheerleading squad.

Jenna attends Montgomery County Community College. She began coaching with UMPR gymnastics in 1998 and helped establish the girls gymnastics team in 2001. She has been involved in gymnastics since 1992, attaining level 7 at Pancott Gymnastics Center. Jenna received the Director's Award in summer 2003, and the "Gold Coach Award" in summer 2004.

Jess started doing gymnastics at Turner Gymnastics in 1998, was on Spirit Gymnastics's team for three years, and joined UMDGC in 2006 where she competed as a level 7. She is currently a member of the teen team and a cheerleader at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School. Ms. Jess started coaching at UMDGC in 2006.

Matt started as a tumbler at UMDGC in May 2007 after attending Kendrick Rec Center and the University of Penn Gymnastics Summer Camp. Besides tumbling, Matt has been a varsity wrestler, varsity cheerleader, and played soccer and baseball. In 2007-8, Matt was voted MVP of Lower Merion High School's varsity cheerleading squad. Matt start his coaching career in Summer 2008.

Salina started taking gymnastics classes with Upper Merion Dance & Gymnastics in 2004, including competing levels 4, 5, and USAIGC level bronze. Salina was the Gymnast of the Year for 2006. Her other interests include cheerleading and softball.

Tara joins UMDGC after a long history of participating in and coaching gymnastics. Her gymnastics history starts with 10 years of competitive gymnasts in Northern Virginia at Karons at Burke, Capital Gymnastics, Gymini Gymnastics, and Oakton High School Gymnastics team. While on those teams, she received a number of awards: Region 7 Level 8 All-Around Champ (2001), Washington Post All-Met Honoree (2001 & 2002), and Virginia High SChool League Regionla Beam Champ (2002) and 13th place all-around.

Tara's coaching career started in August 2001 at Gymini Gymnastics. In August 2003, Tara began coaching at Aerials Fit 'n; Fun Gymnastics in Phoenixville, where she coached preschool and recreational classes, as well as the recreational teen and level 3-6 teams.

While a student at Ursinus College, she was a member of: Japenese Club, Best Buddies, the Scuba Team, Pi Sigma Alpha (National Political Science Society), Phi Sigma Iota (the International Foreign Language Honor Society), and Dean List (2003-2006). After attending the college for 4 years on an academic scholarship, Tara graduated with a degree in International Relations/East Asian Studies.