|
Debbie Scarpetti
Owner/Artistic & Executive Director
Debbie Scarpetti, owner of Stage Door Dance Academy has been a dance educator for over 35 years - teaching and inspiring young lives. Debbie has had extensive training with Stone & Camryn Ballet, Jimmy Payne, Tommy Sutton & the legendary Mr. Al Gilbert. She has had the honor of receiving numerous prestigious awards for her commitment to the art of dance. Debbie was the recipient of the 2005 Dance Educator Award. Debbie and Stage Door Dance Academy were also recognized by Dance Spirit & Dance Teacher Magazine as one of the "Top 50 Studios on the Move" in the United States in 2007. Debbie's goal is to continue to nuture young lives in the safe haven of professional education.
|
|
Kate Scarpetti
Performance Company Director
Kate Scarpetti, from Chicago, Illinois, has been dancing since the age of two, training at her mother’s studio, Stage Door Dance Academy. As a young dancer, Kate appeared on the UB40 music video, Sing Our Own Song. Kate was the 2003-2004 recipient of the R&B Professional Scholarship in Los Angeles, California. With R&B Dance Company, she performed at Keith Cliftons’ Friends in Dance, Deborah Brockus’ Spectrum #19, Concert of Love, Cindi Sears’ Da Da Debutante Ball, and the opening ceremony for the naming of the Mary and Richard Carpenter Park Plaza. Kate is currently on faculty at her Mother’s studio and is the Director of their Nationally Ranked Performance Company. Her choreography has received much recognition around the nation. Kate also teaches classes throughout the Chicago land area for D.A.R.E. Dance, a program that brings a positive alternative to drugs and violence.
|
|
Jean Marquez
Ms. Jean worked as a professional dancer/actress/singer for 10 years before joining the Stage Door family. Some of her stage credits include: lead roles in regional tours of A Chorus Line and West Side Story. She danced in 42nd Street and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers(lead understudy) with the Civic Light Opera in Los Angeles. She danced Ann Reinking’s Choreography on Royal Carribbean Cruise lines in Alaska, and danced in music videos, including one for LeAnn Rimes. She worked often in commercials, independent films, and print work in Los Angeles. She has a BFA from Millikin University. Ms. Jean is married with 2 children, Isabela and Marco.
|
|
Sue Gow
|
Susan Gow holds certifications in both Group Fitness (ACE) and personal training (Prairie State College). She brings her love of creative movement and children together to work with the younger dancers at SDDA. She has gone through the teacher education program at SDDA, under the tutelage of Debbie Scarpetti. Susan has also trained with Music Works under the guidance of the legendary Al Gilbert, and his protegee, Darryl Retter of Retter’s Academy of Dance. She continues to study dance biomechanics, to better prepare the Stage Door dancers for the rigors of the dance program. She is happily married to Gary Gow and has a wonderful black lab named Tabasco.
|
|
Yael Levitin Saban
|
Yael trained in her native Israel, where she danced with the Haifa Ballet for three years. In 1991, she joined Bat-Dor Dance Company as a principal dancer. In 1992, Saban represented Israel at the Paris Opera Dance Soloist Competition, receiving a silver medal for her performance. In the U.S., she worked with Complexions, Connecticut Ballet and Ballet Hispanico of New York, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and the Lyric Opera. Yael is currently teaching companies and studios in the Chicago area. |
Kim Piech
Kim Piech has been dancing since the age of 2 and performing since the age of 8. She has won numerous awards and scholarships while competing with Moves Dance Theater and later Perseverance Dance Company. After high school Kim moved to Los Angeles to further pursue her dance career. She’s trained extensively at Performing Arts Center, The Edge, and Millennium Dance Complex. Some of her teachers include Joe Malone, Jackie Sleight, and Roman Vasquez. While Kim was living in California, she was fortunate to have worked with top choreographers, tour as a dancer/ model with Wella Hair Company, and appear on the MTV Movie Awards.
|
|
Joe Caruana
Rob Lebron
Steve Ewing
Andrea Collier
Jordan Jurak
Desk Staff
Diane Courtright
Connie Boylan
Kate Scarpetti
Andrea Collier
Jordan Jurak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|