OUR FACULTY
OFFERING THE SUPPORT STUDENTS NEED
We have a fantastic team of caring and supportive instructors. All Crimson Academy for the Performing Arts staff are passionate about making a difference in students lives, through their tireless dedication and drive to empower today's youth. Get to know our committed team and their role in continuing our tradition of academic excellence.
All staff members at Crimson Academy are required to be CPR certified and hold Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearances.
LEANDRA MALEY
OWNER/INSTRUCTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER
Leandra has always had a passion for dance and has an extensive background in the performing arts. She began studying at the age of 4, learning various styles of dance including ballet, jazz, tap, modern, contemporary and hip hop. She performed in many local shows and competed in statewide competitions earning awards in Ballet and Pointe. She continued studying dance during her four years at Penn State University, learning from Broadway trained professors and earning a BA in Telecommunications.
During her four years at Penn State she was a member of the Penn State Dance Company, Orchesis. As a member of the company she studied choreography and various styles of dance, performed throughout campus, and traveled yearly to perform and take classes with the American College Dance Festival. She also worked for the State College Center for the Performing Arts as an assistant, aiding the directors and choreographers of travelling ballet and national touring companies. All of her summers were spent dancing professionally for theme parks such as Hersheypark and Dorney Park as a dancer, dance captain and Entertainment Manager.
After graduating from Penn State she lived and worked in New York City as an Entertainment Publicist for NBC Publicity in Rockefeller Center, covering all shows taped in NYC, and mPRm, a movie public relations firm, before returning to Pennsylvania to begin her career as a dance instructor. She has choreographed for countless recitals, Nutcracker ballets, holiday shows, events and competitive dance teams. Since directing and choreographing for dance teams she has won numerous awards along with her students for choreography and dance. Her most recent choreography won each of her dancers and herself scholarships to study in New York City. This year she was honored to be asked to choreograph a dance routine for the Pottsville Majorettes and Band Front. Leandra is also a certified Pilates instructor with the National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association and has trained in all ballroom styles with Fred Astaire Dance Studios.
When she's not dedicating all of her free time to her husband, two children and her cheesecake company, she finds her true passion in teaching and watching her students learn and grow. She is overjoyed to be opening up a studio with her partner in crime, Melissa, where each of her students are respected, valued and challenged. Her classroom will always be a place for learning, fun and laughs!
MELISSA STERNICK
OWNER/INSTRUCTOR/BUSINESS MANAGER
Melissa was employed in the performing arts world as well as the business sector simultaneously for ten years. She has engaged in the arts industry for 32 thus far. She worked as a furniture designer and sales consultant for Reliable Home Supply Inc., Minersville, PA, for ten years. Melissa also learned a great deal of business skills while managing a marketing business with American Communications Network, INC. for several years. Beginning at the age of three, Melissa studied under multiple dance teachers, both local and professional. She studied multiple forms of dance including tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, modern, baton twirling and Ukrainian dance, until which time she became an assistant teacher at the age of fifteen. She also later studied Stott Pilates, Zumba, Creative Movement, Yoga and meditation. Continuing to both teach independently and perform in many local events such as community events and local productions, she also participated in competitions throughout the state of Pennsylvania. She studied vocal and piano for 10 years with the late Anna Ball Riley of Pottsville as well as her daughter, the late Catharine Kiefer, Wyomissing Institute of the Arts, Reading.
KATRINA CALVIN
INSTRUCTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER
Katrina is a 2014 graduate of Penn State University with a Bachelors degree in Science. She studied ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical dance for 15 years in Schuylkill County. Katrina has an extensive professional background in choreography and theatre, working for many organizations such as the Majestic Players, Pottsville Gymnastics and Theatrical Center, Inc (PCTC), Nativity BVM High School, and is the choreographer for Mount Carmel High School Theatre productions. Most recently she was asked to choreograph for the Majestic Players production of Spring Awakening and PGTC's production of Shrek, Jr. Katrina has also choreographed for many productions of PGTC's "Spotlight Kidz". Since the start of her dance career her passion has grown tremendously through her choreographic opportunities. Katrina is excited to be part of a new team and is thankful for the opportunity to share her love of music and dance with the youth in our community.
LEEANA GRETSKY
INSTRUCTOR/CHOREOGRAHER
Loved by students and faculty alike, Leeana is the newest addition to the Crimson family. She is currently attending Kutztown University, majoring in Elementary Education with a specialization in Pre-K through 4th grade. Leeana has been dancing since the age of 4 studying tap, ballet, jazz, modern and hip hop. During her high school years she was a cheerleader on the Varsity squad and performed major roles in her high school musicals. Some of her favorites include Johanna Baker in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, the Witch from Into the Woods, and Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof. She is also a member of Schuylkill Free Shakespeare and will be performing with them in the summer of 2018. Leeana is a bright light in the classroom and we are so happy to have her share her passion with our students.