Company Bios
Gail Vartanian
Artistic Director
Gail Vartanian is originally from Philadelphia, Pa., where she began her training in modern dance and ballet under the direction of Brigitta Trombler and Meli Davis. She continued in the path of Modern Dance at York University in Toronto, Canada where she studied Cunningham, Graham, Horton and Limon techniques.
Over the years, Ms. Vartanian has had extensive Jazz Dance training with Eva vonGercsy, Robert Archard, Jo Jo Smith, Frank Hatchett, Luigi, and others. Ms. Vartanian has performed in various modern and jazz dance companies such as City Center Dance Theater of Atlanta, Company Kaye, L’Image Dance Company of Miami and the Palm Beach Ballet. She was the lead dancer and assistant choreographer with Miami’s Les Folles Theater Dance Review, and also with Resorts International’s “Le Cabaret” Dance in Paradise Island, Bahamas and in Atlantic City, N.J.
Ms. Vartanian was invited to compose the only modern/jazz solo for The International Gala Dance Festival in Finland, under the direction of Margarita Von Bahr, National Ballet of Finland. She has also choreographed and performed in Andrea Lauren’s opening act for Salt ‘N’ Pepa. Her choreography has been presented throughout Florida and the Philadelphia and Delaware area.
Ms. Vartanian has choreographed over twenty eclectic dance works ranging from modern, ballet, jazz, hip hop and elements of comedy such as the “Philly-Nutt-Crak-Up” and “Twas the Nite the SugaPlum Crak-ed”. Her choreography has been presented at the Florida Dance Festival in Tampa, Delaware Dance Festival, Philadelphia 2000 Feet World Dance Festival, Ladek Zdroj International Dance Festival in Poland and various venues such as the Mandell Theater, Painted Bride Art Center, Drake Theater, University of Tampa, Centennial Hall and Pearson Hall. Ms. Vartanian’s choreography for ContempraDance Theatre has been successfully reviewed in Florida and Philadelphia and quoted as being, “Breathtakingly Flawless,” “Powerful and Bold,” “Vartanian’s brilliant choreography shines,” ”A vibrant addition to the area’s dance scene.”
Ms. Vartanian enjoys collaborating with other artists and musicians. She has received various grants for conceptual visual art projects and multimedia dance works.
In addition to her dance training, Ms. Vartanian attended fashion and costume design school in Atlanta, GA. She designs the costumes for most of the characters in the productions for ContempraDance Theatre. She has also designed for other dance companies.
For the past twenty-five years, Ms. Vartanian has been a dance educator teaching her own style of modern, jazz, lyrical and blues. Her classes are technically based, emphasizing physicality and musicality. She is the owner of her own dance studio, ContempraDance Center in Wayne, offering classes in various genres of dance as well as director of the ContempraYouth Dancers, the studio’s pre-professional youth performance group. Her students have performed for the President of the United States, numerous Broadway musicals, Ballet Companies worldwide, and Madonna’s touring company. Ms. Vartanian has taught in various cities such as Montreal, Atlanta, West Palm Beach, Miami and Philadelphia.
Ms. Vartanian is the director/coordinator for the Youth Regional Dance Festival she founded in 2005. This festival is an exciting opportunity for youth dance groups throughout Pennsylvania to perform in a non-competitive atmosphere.
Most recently, Ms. Vartanian and her dancers were selected to be involved in a film documentary with singer/composer Michael Sembello dancing to his infamous Flashdance hit, “Maniac” The film will be released in Spring 2013 !
In 2015, Gail served as panelist on the 2015 Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts Advisory Panel for PPA’s Program Stream awards.
Michelle Jones Wurtz
Assistant Director
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 Director of the Pottstown Dance Theatre as well as the Artistic Director of the Schuylkill Valley Regional Dance Company. Under her direction the Company has performed 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 Comapny, 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.
ContempraDANCE Theatre Company Board Members
Thomas Blair, President, Treasurer
Richard Shaps
Patricia Shaps
Gail Vartanian
Kate Holloway
Beth Ann Rejonis
Jessica Melck
Dancer Bios
Sophia Pinkham
Sophia began dance classes at age 3 and fell in love with movement. She began assistant teaching at age 12, where she learned of love teaching dance. She has performed many leading roles in her pre-professional dance career and placed top 12 at YAGP her senior year for classical variations. After high school she spent two years dancing with Nashville Ballet Company in the trainee program and taught her second year there. Afterwards she went to Eastern University where she earned a degree in kinesiology. She is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine. She currently performs with the Roger Lee Dance Company and KCBC. She teaches ballet/pre-pointe/pointe, contemporary, lyrical, and conditioning classes. She has choreographed for competitions such as YAGP, Elite, Elevate, and Access Broadway. She has also choreographed for independent shows and Eastern University’s Dance Department Showcases. Sophia is currently assistant director and choreographer for the ContempraYouth Dancers and a member of our professional company, ContempraDANCE Theatre Company. We are so excited to have Sophia as part of our Contempra faculty!
Stephanie Vasta
Stephanie earned a B.A in Psychological and Social Sciences from Penn State Abington. During her years at Penn State she participated in the University’s Dance Company as a dancer and student choreographer, and after graduating she became one of the Company’s Associate Directors. She currently teaches at Carol Ann School of Dance, Jenkintown Dance Arts, and the Academy of Dance Artistry. Stephanie performed professionally around the country with New Vision Cirque and Dance Company, and locally with companies including Vada Dance Collective, Underground Dance Works, and Jenkintown Dance Company. She has been with ContempraDANCE Theatre since 2004. She toured Poland with the Company performing at Ladek Zdroj International Dance Festival with performances in Wroslow and Klodzko.
Mackenzie Holmes
Mackenzie began her dance training at Lionville School of Dance. She danced soloist roles in Swan Lake and the Nutcracker. Mackenzie has a B.A. in Philosophy and a minor in dance performance from West Chester University. She attended the American College Dance Festival and served as the organization’s treasurer and as a student choreographer. Mackenzie was selected by the company to travel and perform in Costa Rica as a part of the Knowledge Crossing Borders Conference
Matthew Grasse
Matthew started dancing as soon as he could walk. He started with Salsa but pursued Modern and Jazz. He went to Creative and Performing Arts High School as a dance major and became dance captain his senior year. He currently works at Sesame Place as assistant supervisor for the entertainment department and performs as a dancer for their various shows and parades. He has performed in the Thanksgiving Day Parade and various Atlantic City gigs. He has performed with Grace Dance Theater and Danse4Nia, where he was dance captain. He was a recipient of the Marion B. Anderson award in 2018. He volunteers as a guest teacher for the Philadelphia school district and has choreographed for dancers throughout the city. He currently is a senior at Eastern University on a dance scholarship and pursuing an exercise science degree as a double major.
Margaret Moran
Margaret is originally from Hershey, Pennsylvania and studied dance primarily at Hershey School of Dance under the direction of Kelly Strange. Margaret attended the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts as a ballet major her junior year in high school. In college, Margaret attended Slippery Rock University for one year as a dance major and was a member of the Dance Express Dance Team. Margaret later transferred to Pennsylvania State University and received a minor in Dance. While attending Penn State, Margaret was heavily involved in Orchesis Dance Company where she performed, choreographed, taught company classes, and acted as the elected treasurer. While living in Manhattan, Margaret continued her dance education at various dance schools including Steps on Broadway, Alvin Ailey Extension, and PMT Dance Studio as well as performed in the PMT Dance Studio Showcases. Margaret is a company member of the Andrea Mychaels Dance Project and has performed in the Koresh Artist Showcase as well as the Nickerson Rossi Dance Choreographic Residencies Showcase. Margaret currently resides in West Chester, PA with her husband and two young children.
Daria Johnston
Daria trained at ContempraDance School since the age of 4. She attended the Creative and Performing Arts High School in Philadelphia her freshman and sophomore years. Performances include Disney World, Ladek Zdroj International Dance Festival in Poland, Schuylkill Valley Dance Company’s Nutcracker, Melange Dance Company and ContempraDANCE Theatre. She received her BFA from Temple University receiving the College of Liberal Arts’ Annie Hyman Award for Outstanding Service & Honors Society. Daria choreographed for the ContempraYouth Dancers performing in todays production. Daria received her yoga teacher certification for Jivamukti Yoga and now is owner of her own successful yoga studio, the yoga spot in Gladwyne PA. and Philadelphia.
Rachel Noonan
Rachel has a BFA in English (Writing) and Dance from Eastern University. She is from Salisbury, Maryland, and has 18 years of dance experience mostly from Salisbury Dance Academy where she grew proficiency in numerous styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, modern, musical theater, contemporary, lyrical, and hip hop. She participated in multiple nonprofit organizations like First Position Performance Troupe where she danced for numerous charity events, such as Relay For Life and Horizon, and at Disney World twice on their stage in Disney Springs and in the World Dance parade. With the Eastern Shore Ballet Theater, another nonprofit which she spent 15 years with, she participated in numerous ballets such as Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, Cinderella, Peter Pan, and The Nutcracker. She has choreographed for her school drama, The Addams Family and a solo entitled In The Rain. At Eastern University, she choreographed Hanging On, Differences Aside, and her senior thesis Found Wandering. Rachel is currently a member of the Glorify Performing Arts Company in West Chester Pa. Rachel is also choreographer for the ContempraYouth Dance Team. She is excited to be part of ContempraDance faculty.
D’Andre Smith (Moji)
D’Andre Smith also known as “Moji”, a multitalented artist making waves in the world of dance, music, acting, modeling, and photography industry. World of Dance champion & rising star on the big screen with appearances in an Apple TV series and in short films. Looking to make his mark and make a positive impact to the world and especially the youth.
Matthew Thomas
Matthew trained at L&L Dance Productions Studio in West Philadelphia. Originally a tapper, he began studying ballet, jazz, hip-hop & modern. He continued his training with PHILADANCO, the Youth Performing Arts Theater Camp, The Rock School & Dallas Black Dance Theatre. His performances include; Duke Ellington’s Harlem Nutcracker & Sixers Jr. Dance Team. At 16, he became a member of Eleone Connection; Jr. Company of the nationally renown Eleone Dance Theatre. In 2007, he joined the 1st company as principal dancer, traveling nationwide performing works by Christopher Huggins, Diane MacIntyre, Katherine Dunham & Wayne St. David. He also was a soloist with the Rebeca Davis Dance Company for 2 years. Matthew is the Co-Director of Sterling Dance Company and Member of BSwan Dance Company. This is Matthew’s 3rd season with ContempraDANCE Theatre.
Tia Di Pietro
From Northern New Jersey Tia is a 2012 graduate of DeSales University with a B.A. in Dance. Technically trained in ballet, modern, and jazz; She has created two original pieces that have been showcased in New York (Dance New Amsterdam), Pennsylvania (Emerging Choreographers Concert) and Wisconsin (ACDFA). Most recently, Tia was selected from a national group of candidates’ to participate with Regional Dance America’s Choreographer’s conference. Her choreography was presented and performed under the direction of “ Nelly van Bommel”. She has worked administratively and artistically with Freespace Dance Company as an Intern, as well as performing and choreographing along side Weird Al Yankovic in his concert Apocalypse. Tia was also a member of the DeSales University dance team for four years. While training at the King Centre she danced for the New Jersey Foundation of Dance and Theater Arts. Also performing pieces under various residences from all over the United States.
Jemane Johnson
Jemane has been dancing for 15 years. He is a self-taught artist and has worked his way into several dance groups. He currently dances with Special EFX, traveling to Chicago, Michigan, Pittsburgh, and Washington DC among others places.
Lisa Urbanowicz
Lisa is from NJ where she began dancing with The New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble. She went on to train with members of Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, New Jersey Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, Paul Taylor, Geo Hubela, and Cecily Bradly. She was captain and choreographer of her varsity high school dance team and coach of her college dance team at Monmouth University. She performed at events such as KTU’s Beatstock, World of Dance, charity events, and local artists in the Philadelphia area. Lisa is currently a member of female hip-hop company, FloMotion, is a choreographer for Beat Addikts United, and teaches at Dance Artistry in Swedesboro, NJ. When not dancing, Lisa is a full-time special needs elementary teacher in Freehold, NJ.