Jennifer Snyder
(10 year student) 
1991 Penn Hills graduate, was the Dance Captain on board the MV Mercury with Celebrity Cruise Lines, and assistant to the choreographer.  She explored the Caribbean, South America, Mexico, the Panama Canal and Alaska.  Not that the gypsy in Jennifer has been satisfied, she has returned to the Shoji Tabuchi Show in Branson, MO to enjoy the luxuries of "land-life".  This year, 2001, marks 10 years of a successful professional dance career! 
Update:  Jennifer had to light a fire under her director to get the dates off for Heather's Wedding.  Literally her costume caught on fire in the last show!  As the Maid of Honor in Heather's Wedding, Jennifer had to direct, choreograph and critique!  Luckily a theater was waiting for her return!  Jennifer will continue her Shoju Tabuchi Show In Branson, MO through this Holiday Season!
Update:  Working steady since graduating from High School, Jennifer has performed across the US and around the world delighting thousands of audience members she has decided to retire while still in her twenties, must be nice!  I am thrilled to have her back at the studio teaching!  Her life long training at the Maryen Lorrain Dance Studio combined with her professional performing experience, not to mention her high energy personality will be a great asset to all the students.
Update: Miss Jennifer Snyder became Mrs. Jennifer Zeitler on October 2, 2004. Best Wishes to the Beautiful Bride and her Handsome Husband! Update: Jennifer gave birth to a little boy so she would be guaranteed to be in the Front and the Middle

Heather Snyder
(15 year student)
This 1994 Penn Hills graduate, works that Rockette role, she was one of 12 dancers, chosen to workshop the new spring production, "Carnivale".  Heather just heard that she will also be working for the Radio City corporation setting more numbers this summer, nice work if you can get it - and she gets it all the time!
Update: Married in May of 2002, Heather is now residing on the West Coast of Florida and teaching at a local studio. This Rockette is gearing up for the New choreography in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. She will be performing in the newly added Indianapolis and Cleveland Shows!
Update: April of 2003 brought more than showers, Heather was put on the "Rockette List"  this good news means she doesn't have to audition for her spot on the line - she's got it!
Update: Ocober 2003 Heather in town for a visit to the studio before she begins rehearsals in Seattle. Abby will see her in the Tampa cast of the  Radio City Christmas Spectacular. 
Update: News just in - Heather already received her contract for next season - she will be kicking those beautiful legs on the great stage at Radio City Music Hall in New York City!  Merry Christmas!

Mark Myars
(15 year student)
Since graduating from Penn Hills in 1996, and just moving to NYC to try his luck... Luck has been his middle name! First Job, featured soloist in the Radio City Christmans Spectacular at the Music Hall in NYC. Second Job, On Broadway as the Dance Captain of FOOTLOOSE!   He is constantly working a a featured dancer; the Nikkon Industrial in California, the "Saturday Night Fever" Tour Commercial, Taina - a Music Video for Nickelodeon, the National Tour of Barry Manilow's "Copacabana".   Also, a choreography note to his credits, Broadway's Easter Bonnet Benefit.  Mark dedicated his first speaking role to Mr. Miller and played to great laughs in the revival of "The Golden Boy".  Formerly done with Sammy Davis, Jr. this story is about a fighter - Salty would have liked that. Then came the Principal Role of Carnival Boy in "Carousel" at the renowned Papermill Playhouse.  
Mark set the show "Footloose"  in Japan for the second time and will be performing again in the 2002 Radio City Christmas Spectacular on the Great Stage at Radio City Music Hall!
 Introduction to Santa in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with AC and also managed to tape the December 24th Episode of As The World Turns.Mark is the Nutcracker in Lucy's Dream. Mark will leave the Country for Germany on December 27th - he is the assistant choreographer for the amazing auto show on New Year's Ever!
Update:  February - rumor has it that Mark is the Dance Swing for the New Broadway Musical "Wicked"! This dancer is known for his training, technique and amazing acrobatics, this wicked dancer is perfect for the show!
Update: The show "Wicked" opened to rave reviews in San Francisco, the cast will rehearse back in the Big Apple and open at the Gershwin Theater in time for Halloween!
Update: The rehearsals are constant and the changes are many, "Wicked"starts to preview Thursday Oct 8th. Abby will see the show October 28th - the kinks should be worked out in time for the Opening.
THE REVIEWS ARE IN - WICKED IS THE NEW SMASH HIT ON BROADWAY!!! 

Michelle Pampena
(15 year student)
Miss Pampena made her dancing debut in The 1982 Maryen Lorrain Dance Studio Annual Dance Concert and made her Broadway Debut on November 21st, 2004 in Dame Edna - Back With A Vengence! A 1996 Penn Hills Graduate, another member of the Dream Team. Left high school a month before the actual graduation ceremony to jump start her career with her first professional dance job in the Beauty and the Beast Show at MGM Studios in Walt Disney World Orlando, FL. While others are enjoying their parties and friends and summer trips to the beach, this talented seventeen year old is already in her own apartment, paying her own bills and getting up for work every day... and loving every minute of it!!! Michelle didn't sit still for long she was one of two girls selected to travel on a seven month national tour promoting Disney's Birthday Celebration! Back in Florida she kept working and working towards her goal... the big move to New York, NY! Off the plane and onto the Great Stage at the Radio City Music Hall. I knew she had the "Legs" for this job by the age of 8! Michelle had an amazing holiday season in the big city, those lovely legs were featured in the Nordstroms Catalog and several Rockette Ads. Soon it was time to give a kick to her Radio City Rockette spot to do the National B'way tour of the hilariously funny Dame Edna Show.  The offer was too good to refuse - 10 months in our country's most exciting cities, a week off every month and a nice per diem. Little did she know this would be come the job of her lifetime!  Michelle toured, sat in Australia and then Reno and then Vegas before it finally ended early this season. Michelle go a really big rock to give up her amazing apartment in New York to follow her love to Los Angeles... She is now living la vida loca and trying to make a name for herself in the West coast dance community... it didn't take long, Watch Michelle en pointe in the new Sean Paul Video, July 2006! Michelle is planning a September Wedding where there will be lots of dancing! 

Danee Litman
(15 year student)
Upon graduating from Alderdice High School in Squirrell Hill this young socialite was ready to leave her Pittsburgh Pirates far behind as she moved west to Arizona to major in Musical Theater! Soon after graduating Danee decided that the cold snowy winters were a thing of the past and settled down where all the beautiful people live...Beverly Hills 90210! This stunning red head works for one of the top advertising firms in California. She also does most of her work using her raspy seductive voice in national voice-overs and radio commercials. She also does print work and films. Ms. Litman just finished filming a yet to be titled movie with Jodi Foster in New York, more about that later!

Erin Murphy
(15 year student)
Erin Murphy, 1996 Penn Hills graduates recently left her "kid" position at the Kids of the Kingdom show inside Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.  She is trying life the  grown-up the way; a World Tour on board the Royal Caribbean luxury liner.  Erin will work? her way through Austria, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Africa, Egypt and Greece.  She will also visit Alaska, Hawaii and the Panama Canal before returning home to the wonderful world of Disney!  Erin has no reason to go to Epcot, now does she?

Sara Kosinski
(15 year student)
ara Kosinski, 1997 Penn Hills graduate, went from "Learning French in Dancing School" to living in Paris - all with an education from The Maryen Lorrain Dance Studio - Ooh La La!  Sara spend months out at sea touring Europe abroad the Mistral, a French Liner.  Performing nightly, she is the Dance Captain as well as the Company Manager.  When the ship docks, she continues to work assisting with the Audition process for the Entertainment Corporation based in France!
Update:  After September 11, Sara and her new husband were eager to return to the States.  After a few weeks here in Pittsburgh, they were both hired by Busch Gardens in Virginia.  She is now directing the Main Stage Theater and he is the Sound Supervisor for the Park!
Update:  Sara was just certified in Pilates and will add this to her extensive resume'!
Update: Sara and her husband have relocated farther south (where the sound is better) and she is currently teaching pilates in Florida!

Asmeret Ghebremichael
(11 year student)
This 1998 Woodland Hills graduate, is currently understudying the Lead Role of "Lady of the Lake" in Monty Python's SPAMALOT! 
Update:  Asmeret graduated from NYU with a degree in communications but, she is communicating through movement  - using instead her education from The Maryen Lorrain Dance Studio, performing in the ensemble of the National Tour of "AIDA"! 
Update:  Once again Asmeret has connected with Abby's long time dance colleague AC Ciulla who spotted her at NYCDA and DMA Conventions and hired her for Footloose.  He is directing and choreographing a Broadway Review with fierce innovative movement that only well trained divas can do. The  Show at Ceaser's in Atlantic City is getting rave reviews!
Update: Just received another message on the answering machine from an old friend who "really pushed" for my former student at a recent audition. John Crutchman, assistant to Debbie Allen on the new revival of Beehive pulled a few strings for Asmeret. Meanwhile, in NYC Andy Blankenbeuhler - long time colleague, cast her in his new show The Little Princess opening in San Francisco next season.  This NYU Grad is getting a lot more use out of her dance bag than her diploma! Way to Go, Girl!!!
Update: Asmeret came in to audition for her old duet partner, now she joins, Mark Myars back on B'way in WICKED! Their first duet took place here in 1996. They shared the stage again on the great white way 1998's FOOTLOOSE, and now it pays to know the dance captain - she will be flying with the witches across the Gershwin Theater.
Update: Asmeret recently left the off B'way production of In The Heights choreographed by our friend, Andy Blankenbeuhler. Congrats on a hit Andy! She will star as one of the three Sorority 
Sisters in the new smash on B'way LEGALLY BLONDE!  

Katie Hackett
(13 year student)
Katie Hackett - Katie had quite a successful competition career before turning pro.  She held the prestigious titles of Petite Miss Dance of PA, Junior Miss Dance of PA, Junior Miss Dance of America, Teen Miss Dance of PA, Teen Miss Dance of America and Miss Dance of Pennsylvania - all for the Dance Masters of America Organization.  Before starting her Senior year of high school, Katie was cast in the principle role of "Cynthia" in the national tour of the Broadway Show "Big".  She traveled around the country complete with tutor and school books in tow, doing what she loves most, performing.  Since graduating from Penn Hills in 1999, Miss Hackett has been busy studying on scholarship in NY and LA.  Katie couldn't take the cold miserable Pittsburgh weather for long.  She is fulfilling her most recent goal... living the vida loca in LA!  Katie will have her own pad in the Valley between Hollywood and Studio City. Look on the bright side - now every dancer has a place to stay in LA!  Her theatrical debut is in full tilt; she is dancing in Disney's new movie premier show for the upcoming "Finding Captain Nemo" film! Katie has gone Hollywood - she was a background dancer on the recent GRAMMY AWARDS and is currently rehearsing for her next Disney Project, dancing in the Home On The Range Movie Premier Show at the El Capitan Theatre. Katie is always in the right place at the right time - The KID'S CHOICE AWARDS is next! For her sixth consecutive season, she will be performing in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. After working one on one with the illustrious Director, Linda Haberman Katie was selected for several principle dance spots and speaking parts. Last year we were thrilled to have her home in Pittsburgh, PA and back in the studio she calls Home! This time Katie will spend the Holiday Season entertaining fans in Dallas & Houston, Texas! 

Ira Cambric
(5 year student - Age 14 to 19)
Ira Cambric - Ira is the reigning Mr. Dance of PA and the New York City Mr. DEA.  After returning from the national competitions this summer, where he earned the Title, Mr. Personality from his peers, he decided to begin his professional career.  Now he is working right along side Kristi in the "Tarzan Rocks" Show at The Animal Kingdom!  Ira gets to improvise and be creative on stage every day, this is right up his alley.  He brings a fresh and innovative quality to every show!
Update:  Ira finished his first professional contract in August and began his second in August.  He nabbed a coveted eight month contract for Tokyo Disneyland. Ira is living in the American Village/ Tokyo, Japan and performing the the stunt spectacular, "Mystic Rhythms".  He stopped in Thailand to vacation before returning to the Burgh!
Update: You may have seen Ira selling programs at the annual dance concert. He was thrilled to see everyone before jetting off to South America.  Mr. Cambric will be touring the world with Stilletto Entertainment for the next 6 months.

Kristi Grachen
(14 year student)
Kristi Grachen - our recent 2001 Plum High School graduate is living on the wild side.  Kristi was offered a position from Walt Disney World Entertainment last April but due to previous commitments to the Maryen Lorrain Dance Studio had to tell them , NO.  Kindly, the folks at Disney Casting respected her integrity and called again in July to hire Kristi to perform in the "Tarzan Rocks"  Show at The Animal Kingdom!  Kristi is making the most of her own apartment complete with pool, sauna, work out room, etc.  She has also made a great connection though some of our other alumni, working on three industrials this month.  On her days off she has traveled to Tampa, Sacramento and Dallas to perform!  
Update:  After 911, many Disney Dancers were cut, but not Kristi! She was offered another contract to continue in "Tarzan Rocks" Show at The Animal Kingdom! She loves working for Mickey Mouse, loves performing every day and loves her new two bedroom condo! Disney keeps Kristi    busy on her days off - she does industrial shows for Beuna Vista Conventions! 
Update:  Miss Grachen called on Saturday, May 10th with great news... she will be joining Rachel and Ira in Tokyo to work for TokyoDisneyland!  Her contract is even better - 10 months (that's like $48,000) Kristi is doing well with her Education from The Maryen Lorrain Dance Studio!
Update: This busy dancer stopped home just long enough to do some laundry. She is back in Orlando and back at her Job in the Mouse House.

Lindsey Hensler
(3 year student, formerly w/ DMA colleague)
2001 Bethel Park High School graduate.  She is touring Europe with the Wolfgang Bosch production of the musical "Grease".  She is a dancer in the ensemble and also the understudy for the lead of "Patty" which she has performed many times already.  The 22 city tour began in Berlin.  She will be performing in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.
Update:  Lindsey came home to visit for  several weeks this summer, but the showbiz bug got to her and she headed back to Germany! She negotiated a 6 month contract to play the principal role of Patty Simcox! 
Update:  Miss Hensler is back on American soil for a while, we were glad to see her at the studio lending a helping hand at this busy time.  She is currently in NYC auditioning for the next role.
Update: Lindsey has her summer vacation all planned, she will be appearing with the Pittsburgh CLO in their summer series. Earning her Equity Card and stocking it away at home while honing her skills in Summer Stock!  She's off to Amsterdam for 6 weeks to recreate her role of Patty in the European Tour of Grease while she had some free time on her hands!
Update: On August 6th, the staff and students will be out in full force to see Lindsay dance & sing along with Tony Award Winner - Sutton Foster in the London Hit "Me and My Girl"!

Brittany Markle
(12 year student - age 3 to 16)
Brittany Markle - Brittany began her professional career at the ripe old age of 12.  She was cast as "Clara" in the Branson, MO production of The Radio City Christmas Spectacular.  She has done print work for Cicci's Costume Company and the Discount Dancewear Catalog.  Brittany has returned to the Radio City Stage this Holiday season in Nashville, TN.  
Petite Miss Dance of PA 1999
Petite Miss Dance of America 2000
Junior Miss Dance of PA 2001
Junior Miss Dance of America 2002  
Teen Miss Dance of PA 2003 
Update:  Brittany had an awesome summer attending DEA, NYCDA and DMA all on full Scholarship!  She gave up her title of Junior Miss Dance of America 2002 and won the National Over-all Scholarship - Algy Award for Excellence in all 4 phases of Dance on the first try!!!    She leaves for her third (count em 3!!! That's a lot of money!) Holiday Season working in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular.  This time it will be - Chicago for the winter!
Update: Little Miss Markle did it again - she won the Jazz Class Audition, Tap Class Audition, Acro Class Audition, tied for the highest score in the Ballet Audition and Interview.  
Update: Brittany has been busy performing her winning routine for the Ohio Dance Masters, Southern Council of Dance Masters in Myrtle Beach, and Dance Masters of Michigan! Thanks for the wonderful hospitality and all expense paid trips!

Semhar Ghebremichael
A 2001 Grad was attending Marymount Manhattan College in the City.  But, after getting a few great gigs from Master Insructors/ Choreographers/Directors and long time associates of Abby Lee Miller's  [who remembered her from the competition and convention circuit, when she was competing as a member of the ALDC and training in dance, voice and musical theater at The Maryen Lorrain Dance Studio] she couldn't get the itch out of her system.  So Sam started to audition and just landed a spot in the chorus of the Broadway Tour of "The Lion King"!!!  I guess Daddy thought Garth Fagan and Walt, himself were not half bad people to work for? Currently in rehearsal now, the show will open soon in Chicago!!!
Update: Semhar is currently vamping it out West in the comedy success Monty Python's SPAMALOT in the gorgeous new Wynn Las Vegas Theater designed for the show. 

Claire Taormina
(15 year student)
laire Taormina - graduated from Gateway High School in June of 2002! She traveled to NYC to attend the DEA National Convention in July! And began her professional career in August!  Colleague and friend, Pam Bolling - Choreographer &  Director needed several dancers for the "Halloween Spooktacular" at Busch Gardens - Tampa, Florida. So Claire and fellow dancer, Jessica  headed south to see their long time friend, Kristi Grachen.  No sooner did they begin rehearsals for their first show - did they hear from Walt Disney World, with a contract to do the Christmas Show at The Magic Kingdom!
Update: Claire is currently working on Celebrity Cruise lines, her first show debuted in San Francisco!
Update: Claire is back on solid ground - about as American as soil gets! See her in front of the Castle in the Disney Christmas Show!
Update: News Flash - Claire auditioned in house (Disney holds auditions for dancers already employed by the Disney Corporation)  immediately following her run of the Holiday Show.  To Claire and her teacher's honor, she was the only one left standing at the audition after several cuts! But, in this business you never know.  Well, we do know now - Jan 9, Miss Taormina received the call of a lifetime...she will be leaving the states on March 22 to debut in the brand new Peter Pan Show in Tokyo Disneyland!  More details to come!  Claire will cross paths with her fellow classmates; Rachel, Kristi and Ira! 
Update Nov 2004: Just began rehearsals for the Holiday Show in sun kissed Orlando, Florida. She really has to pay attention, her new job includes: assistant choreographer, dance captain and "swing" of the kids of the kingdom show in front of the castle at the Magic Kingdom. Any MLDS students headed South to the Mouse House should stop to see Claire! 

Jessica Swesey
(4 year student, formerly w/ DMA colleague)
Graduated from Latrobe High School in June of 2002! She also traveled to New York to attend the DEA National Convention in July! Attending several auditions with Claire proved to be quite successful - she too, began her professional career in August!  Working with Pam Bolling from Hard Drive Entertainment has been great! The choreography in the "Halloween Spooktacular" at Busch Gardens is challenging and the troupe of talented dancers is tremendous.  Jessica and Claire are having a great time in their very own Condo! These Lucky Ladies will be off for one week between shows - just enough time to work on their tans.  If your in Orlando during the Holidays make sure you visit our Alumni in Walt Disney World!
Update: Congratulations to Jessica who just signed an eight month contract to work in Japan at Tokyo Disneyland!!!  She will fly east on January 29th and live in the American Village.  Jess is certainly fortunate to see the world and get paid well for it!  Ms. Swesey is the fifth ALDC member to work in Japan! 
Update: Jess was home at the studio to visit and take class and say, "sayonara"  has just begun her 7 month contract in the Broadway Revue "ENCORE" in Tokyo Disneyland! Abby Lee's Advise;  Save your salary, live on your per diem, go to a bath house and climb Mount Fuji! 
Update: Jess is back in her homeland. Try to catch those beautiful feet in class before she lands her next gig! 
Update: Jessica Swesey has just moved into her very own apartment in the Big Apple. This Equity member is ready to take her bite! By the way you are all invited to stay!

Rachel Kreiling
(15 year student)
Like all Seniors at Penn Hills High School, Rachel is busy getting that Project English Senior Thesis finished. But, this young lady also has contracts to look over, as she decides on her first Professional Dance Job.  Having already been offered positions at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA and on a Celebrity Cruise Liner out of Florida, Rachel is anxiously counting down her last days of school.  She continues her daily intensive training schedule at The Maryen Lorrain Dance Studio and will competes as a member of The Abby Lee Dance Company until she leaves Pittsburgh and her amateur status.
THE BIG BREAK SHE'S BEEN WAITING FOR - RACHEL KREILING WAS JUST HIRED BY WALT DISNEY WORLD TO PERFORM IN TOKYO DISNEYLAND.  HER PROFESSIONAL CAREER BEGINS ON JULY 30 WITH AN 8 MONTH CONTRACT- THIS 2003 GRAD IS OFF TO A GREAT START!
Update: Rachel was invited right back to Japan to resume her role in the Encore Show at Tokyodisneyland. Although the yen was hard to pass up, she opted for an immediate replacement position on the Silver Seas Line.  Rachel got the offer on a Friday and was flown to Paris and then to Portugal on Sunday. Try getting an Egypt vaccination on Memorial Weekend in Pittsburgh! She literally had four days to learn four shows and partner adagio and silks.  But this quick study had the skills from her education with The Abby Lee Dance Company to master all the tracks.  She better get a video of the show for us to see, because the least expensive sailing is $5,000! Ms.Kreiling has already been half way around the world and she isn't even twenty, yet! 

Amanda Stelluto
(13 year student) is the newest addition to our professional alum... She is also the 10th dancer contracted by the Oriental Land Company to travel to the Japan to perform at Tokyodisneyland! Detail to follow! 

Studio owners that studied at 
The Maryen Lorrain Dance Studio

Studio owners that studied at
The Maryen Lorrain Dance Studio