Anna Cannavo is a dedicated and accomplished dance artist and educator with a strong foundation in both performance and choreography. A graduate of Point Park University, Anna holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Dance and Elementary Education.

Throughout her academic career, she performed in numerous works by the conservatory’s esteemed faculty and guest choreographers. Anna’s professional journey has been marked by a commitment to continuous growth, as a performer, teacher, judge and adjudicator. Her choreography spans a range of styles and continues to inspire students and performers alike, across Pennsylvania.

She is currently a judge/adjudicator for All Out Dance Competition and PAC Collective Dance Competitions. In addition to her performance and choreography pursuits, Anna is a certified ACE Group Fitness Instructor and holds a certification in Youth Mental Health First Aid.

She is currently an elementary school teacher in the Mount Lebanon School District and continues to expand her own training and auditioning for future performance opportunities. Anna is a member of Nolan Dance Collective and most recently performed at KoDaFe Festival, hosted by Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre in New York City.

Dmitry Demidov has been dancing since the age of 6. Originally from Russia, he competed in ballroom & Latin for many years worldwide. In 2001, the International Dancesport Federation ranked him as the #10 couple in the world. Dmitry has shared the competitive floor & stage with many celebrity dancers, including Karina Smirnoff, Peta Murgatroyd, Chelsie Hightower, & others from Dancing with the Stars, SYTYCD, & World of Dance. Dmitry holds a Master's Degree in Dance & Physical Education. He is a registered dancesport professional with the National Dance Council of America & USADance. He owns Demidov Dance Studio in Fox Chapel, PA, where he trains amateur competitive & social dancers of all ages. Dmitry is also the Latin & Rhythm coach for the Carnegie Mellon University Ballroom Club. Nationally, he is known as a "Top Teacher" of American & International style ballroom & Latin dance.

Heather Goelz is a native of Pittsburgh, where she resides in the South Hills with her two children.  Heather is a 97’ alum of the dance program at Point Park and MBA SAEM at Point Park. As her performance career ended, she came back to teach adjunct jazz for Point Park where she taught jazz and all levels of tap dance courses at the university. Performance credits include Civic Light Opera, American Music Theater, Celebrity Cruises, and performances as a Radio City Rockette in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular in NYC and on tour.

She co-owned a long time family business, Carpelz Center for the Arts, LLC,  where she taught and mentored young dancers alongside her mother. Heather teaches master classes all over the country. Notable past credits include Dance Masters of America, Dance Educators of America, American Dance Awards, StarQuest International, North American Dance Championships, Point Park International Summer Dance, and assistant to Andy Blankenbuehler at Broadway Dance Center. Heather was also among the first to teach The Rockette Experience at Radio City Music Hall and on tour with The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. She is certified to to teach ballet, tap, jazz, and acrobatics by Dance Masters of America and Dance Educators of America. Heather served on the board of directors for Dance Masters of PA, chapter 10. Heather also served on the faculty of the National High School Dance Festival hosted by Point Park University. She also taught tap at Carnegie Mellon University for their Pre-College Summer Program for two summers.

Heather is active on the dance competition and convention circuit and is qualified to adjudicate through the United States Sports Federation. She adjudicates for Dance Masters of America, Dance Educators of America, American Dance Awards (USA and Canada), and North American Dance Championships. Heather also served as tap and jazz adjudicator for International Dance Organization, USA qualifying rounds.

Heather attended a seminar for the International Dance Organization (IDO). There successfully tested in ballet, tap, jazz, and modern to be licensed to adjudicate internationally for IDO.

Heather choreographs all over the tri-state area. She created numerous works on her former youth company “Visionz In Motion”, which performed at Art All Night and Beauty & Bravery a charity fashion show event. Past credits include Coleman/Fleetwood Dealer conference, Fiddlesticks with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Celebrate the Seasons parade in Pittsburgh, Kennywood’s Holiday Lights Event, and assistant to Andy Blankenbuehler Bells Are Ringing at Civic Light Opera. Heather received many awards from major dance organizations including “The Diamond Award” for outstanding choreography for her jazz work Black Coffee. Her tap work, “Sing & Swing” was featured in Point Park University’s Pittsburgh Connections show.

Most recently, Heather was on faculty for Dance Educators of America national summer events where she taught jazz, tap, contemporary, & ballet classes. She also serves on the committee for the college scholarship program. She recently was elected to be the Title Director for the Dance Educators of America title program.

Blake Krapels, a 2011 United States Presidential Scholar in the Arts, trained in New Jersey under the tutelage of Billy Larson and Jamie Salmon. In 2015 Blake graduated with a BFA from The Juilliard School, where he performed repertoire by William Forsythe, Merce Cunningham, Elliot Feld, Jose Limon, and Peter Chu. In addition to his core training, Blake participated in Summer Intensives at Nederlands Dans Theatre and Springboard Danse Montreal. After graduation, Blake spent 4 years with Philadelphia’s BalletX where he performed at The Vail Dance Festival, Joyce Theater, Cleveland Danceworks, Kennedy Center and The Belgrade Dance Festival. He has performed with The Metropolitan Opera, Keigwin & Company, GroundWorks Dance Theatre, Konverjdans, DanceAspen and South Dakota Ballet, where he is the acting Associate Director. Throughout his performance career he has worked with choreographers Matthew Neenan, Penny Saunders, Cayetano Soto and Yue Yin.

He is currently a freelance choreographer, performer and teacher based in Philadelphia. He is on faculty at The Joffrey Ballet School in NYC and travels the country scouting for talent for Joffrey's various training programs. Blake’s choreography has been presented at The Kennedy Center, First State Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Jazz & Contemporary Program, South Dakota Ballet, Flight Path Dance Project, DanceAspen and DeSales University. In the spring of 2024 he launched Sonder Space, a collaborative dance project alongside Andie Yorita and Zach Kapeluck.

Elijah Morton is a renowned figure in the world of dance and entertainment, known for his innovative choreography and dynamic studio leadership. As the owner of his celebrated studio, Elijah has not only honed the skills of countless dancers but has also proudly cultivated national and international champions. His passion for dance extends beyond the studio, capturing the hearts of audiences on both TV and in the commercial sector.

Elijah’s artistic genius has led him to collaborate with some of the music industry's most celebrated artists. His signature moves and creative vision have been integral in performances for stars like Jeremih, Macy Gray, Aloe Blacc, and Flo Rida. These collaborations not only highlight his versatility but also his ability to adapt and innovate in various musical genres.

In the realm of television, Elijah’s talent has shone brightly on major platforms. His impactful contributions to "So You Think You Can Dance" Season 7 and "America’s Got Talent" Season 10 have garnered him recognition and admiration from both peers and viewers alike. These appearances have emphasized his ability to bring a fresh perspective and elevate performances to extraordinary levels.

Elijah is also a prominent figure at dance conventions across the nation. His workshops at TurnItUp, Elite Performance Challenge, Beyond The Stars, Wild, and The Experience are eagerly anticipated, with participants flocking to learn from his rich expertise and infectious enthusiasm. His influence at these events is marked by a commitment to nurturing young talent and inspiring the next generation of dancers to break boundaries and exceed expectations.

Through his unwavering dedication and creative prowess, Elijah Morton continues to leave an indelible mark on the dance industry. His achievements as a studio owner, choreographer, and artist collaborator stand as a testament to his passion and commitment to the art of dance. As he continues to share his gifts with the world, Elijah remains a beacon of inspiration, a testament to the power of passion and perseverance in transforming dreams into reality.

Matt Saffron is a native of Morgantown, WV and has been dancing since the age of six. He has had extensive training in tap, jazz, and ballet. He won world honors performing in Germany as a member of the 2000 USA Tap Dance Team. Notable productions are Guys and Dolls, Sweet Charity, 42nd Street, Beauty and the Beast, Thoroughly Modern Millie and A Chorus Line. Matt joined the cast of Tap Dogs for their 10th anniversary tour and has since traveled North America, Mexico and South Africa as part of the cast for eight years. Most recently, he was a guest instructor at the inaugural Marietta College Summer Dance Intensive. Matt teaches and choreographs full time in WV and PA. He is currently an adjunct professor at WVU where he was awarded the 2018 Adjunct of the Year in the College of Creative Arts.

Lily Staib is a Pittsburgh native who is currently based in Columbus, Ohio. She grew up dancing competitively with the Thomas Dance Studio in Bridgeville, PA where she competed for 13 years in all styles of dance. She graduated from Slippery Rock University (SRU), Summa Cum Laude, with a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography in 2025, and was awarded the 2025 Outstanding BFA Award. While at SRU, she danced in guest artist work by Teena Marie Custer, Hélène Simoneau, Nathan Trice, and Cammeron McKinney. Her intensive credits include, Orsolina28 with FLOCK, Dance Italia, Springboard Danse, Point Park University, and WhirlWind Dance. Lily currently works as a company artist with WhirlWind Dance, a judge for Rising Star Talent Productions, and teaches ballet, leaps and turns, strength and conditioning, and contemporary to competitive dancers in Columbus. She cannot wait to dance and share her passion with the Studio G community!

Sierra Stipetich joined the Virginia National Ballet in 2022 as the principal dancer. She’s danced in Cinderella, the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker at, Jasmine in Aladdin,  solo roles in the world premiere of Rafik Hegab’s “The Four Seasons,” Evil Queen in Snow White, Tango Nights, Moonlight,  Bolero, and Pictures at an Exhibition. 

Sierra comes from Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, and attended Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School’s Graduate Program where she trained from 2019-2022. She has performed in PBT productions of The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, George Balanchine’s Serenade, Raymonda, La Bayadère, and Coppélia. Sierra has taught at numerous studios across the nation and judged on the guest panel at national competitions.

James (Washington) Manning, a native of Rochester, NY, graduated from the Conservatory at Point Park University under the direction of Susan Stowe. James was a founding member of the August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble (Top 25 to Watch, Dance Magazine) and also performed with Owen/Cox Dance Group, Houston Met Dance and Ballet Inc. in New York City. James has been seen on the stages of Broadway Dance Lab, Jacob’s Pillow, New York City Center, TONY Award Winning – Paper Mill Playhouse, Pittsburgh CLO, and is a proud member of Actors' Equity. James was the first male BRAZZY Award Winner for his accomplishments in the field of dance. Featured choreography credits include: Lifetime Television, Netflix, and Apple TV. James was the Dance Department Chair at Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts 6-12 (CAPA) and awarded the summer Artistic Fellowship at Pittsburgh CLO, working alongside Baayork Lee (West Side Story), Christopher Betts, Tislarm Bouie (The Color Purple), and Sara Edwards, Mara Greer (The Music Man). James was a 2024 recipient of The Advancing Black Arts Grant through the Pittsburgh Foundation and Heinz Endowments. Most recently, James was named "40 under 40" by Pittsburgh Magazine. James will graduate with his master's degree in Arts Administration from Goucher College in May and is on the Artistic Team as the Artistic Administrator at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. @jawashi1