Beginner/Intermediate Summer Intensive schedule

Samantha Sam

Samantha Sam began her dance training at The Rock School for Dance Education under the leadership of Bojan & Stephanie Spassoff, where she was awarded a merit scholarship to train in their professional division. Throughout her years at the Rock School, she was given opportunities to perform, student teach, and compete in the Youth America Grand Prix. She was closely trained and mentored by Eva Greiner Szabo, co-founder of the Gyori Ballet & dancer with the Hungarian National Ballet, and Natalya Lushina Zeiger, soloist of The Bolshoi Ballet. During her 7 years at the Rock School, she was trained professionally in classical ballet, pointe, variations, and pas de deux.

After receiving offers to study at the Kirov Ballet Academy, Bolshoi Ballet Academy, and Ballet Austin, Samantha went on to study at the Ellison Ballet in NYC. There, she received training in a Vaganova-based curriculum from Jolanta Valeikaite, Edward Ellison, Olga Pavlova, and Evgenia Singur. In addition to the ballet training she received, she studied repertoire under Maina Gielgud, character dance under Vladimir Dvorovenko, and contemporary dance under Cody Berkeley. She currently teaches ballet at the Koresh School of Dance and various studios within Philadelphia. 

Cheryl Francaviglia

Cheryl Francaviglia began training at Standing Ovation School of Dance where she attended national dance conventions and competitions studying under choreographers such as Joe Tremaine, Sheila Barker, Joe Lanteri, Wade Robson, and Tyce Diorio. She graduated from Rowan University with a BFA in Education and Child Drama, along with a Dance Concentration. During her time at Rowan, she was Captain of the RU Dance Team, performer for Rowan’s Dance Company, and in 2009 Cheryl was awarded the Dr. Joseph Robinette Theatre and Dance Medallion. She continued her dance training performing with Reading Phillies Dance Team and studying at the Koresh School of Dance. She has taught and choreographed for various studios, where she is continually recognized and awarded for her entertaining choreography. Cheryl is currently a first grade school teacher and participates in dance projects throughout the area such as Fringe Arts and Koresh Artist Showcase Series.

Tori Vincent

Tori Vincent is a native of Lafayette, Louisiana currently residing in Philadelphia. She received her BFA in Dance from the University of Louisiana in 2018, while working professionally with various artists throughout Lafayette. Her work with the Atlanta, Georgia dance community includes projects and performances with Zoetic Dance Ensemble and Fly on a Wall, as well as traveling to Italy in 2018 to attend the Staibdance Summer Intensive and directing NACHMO (National Choreography Month) Atlanta 2020. She is currently dancing with AMMDC (Anne-Marie Mulgrew and Dancers Co) and Melissa Rector of Koresh Dance Company. Tori is also instructing Pilates, completing a RYT-200 yoga teacher training, recently co-found GRATon40 Art Collective, and exploring new personal compositions. Her most recent work, InOutWard, was showcased in the 51st Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers’ InHale Performance Series in Philadelphia and the unKEMpT Dance Festival in NYC. Influences on her personal work involve the roles we play in our individual and societal health, alongside behaviors created by our milieu.