Summer Camp Faculty

Viktor Yeliohin

Viktor Yeliohin is a former soloist with the Donetsk Ballet of Ukraine with a career spanning 20 years. He graduated from the Tashkent State Higher School of National Dance and Choreography in Uzbekistan and he holds the degree of Professor of Choreography from the prestigious Ukrainian Academy of Dance in Kiev, Ukraine. The first tour of the Donetsk Ballet Company in the United States occurred in January 1989. After returning to the Ukraine for a time, Mr.Yeliohin again traveled returned to the United States with the Donetsk Ballet’s Nutcracker tour in Stockton, CA in 1990.

The next tour of the Donetsk Ballet began in May 1991, in Jackson, MS, and during this time the company lost their promoter, causing them to remain in Philadelphia, PA. The group began doing performances in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland and several members of the company decided to stay in the United States after the collapse of the former Soviet Union. At this time, Mr. Yeliohin decided to make the United States his home.

Since 1991 Mr. Yeliohin has been teaching ballet, character, pointe and variation as well as choreographing and staging dance in the United States. He staged his first full length performance of Swan Lake in Hagerstown, MD in 1992. The annual United States performances of Nutcracker with the Donetsk Ballet have been ongoing in local communities since 1992, and the children’s parts have been staged by Mr. Yeliohin since that time. The annual Nutcracker performances co-sponsored by US Intron and Ballet Theater of Lancaster continue to delight the public and the participating dancers each December.

Mr. Yeliohin has been teaching in studios in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland since 1992. His students have participated in Youth America Grand Prix dance competition and he has former students who have danced in companies such as the Joffrey Ballet, Martha Graham Company, Alvin Ailey Second Company, Ballet Met, City Dance in Washington, DC and other regional ballet and modern companies.

Through his ongoing relationship with the Donetsk Ballet and its Artistic Director, Vadim Pisarev, he teaches ballet internationally at the Vadim Pisarev School of Choreographic Mastery. Mr. Yeliohin also teaches summer courses and master classes at Cecchetti Council of America, Virginia School of the Arts, Atlanta Youth Ballet, and other dance studios throughout the United States.

Samantha Hewes

Samantha is very excited to be opening yet another door here at VYI BA. A native of Lancaster, she began dancing at the age of 3 at Carol’s Academy of Dance. You may recognize Samantha from our local stages such as Dutch Apple Dinner Theater, The Fulton, and American Music Theater. When she wasn’t performing locally Samantha has traveled the world on Holland America Cruise Lines and NCL Cruise Lines as a dancer/singer. Regional Theater credits include: CATS, the world premiere of, High School Musical 2, on stage, High School Musical, 42nd Street, Crazy for You, West Side Story, Footloose, Gypsy, and many more.

Samantha started choreographing for The Fulton Theater’s educational outreach program three years ago, along with musicals at Warwick High School, and she has choreographed for Dutch Apple’s Children’s Theater as well. She has also taught Tap, Jazz and Ballet at KMC dance in Kennett Square, PA, and currently teaches Tap, Jazz, Ballet, and Musical Theater at Rage Box Contemporary Dance studio in Forest Hills, Maryland. Throughout her travels and life experiences Samantha has had the privilege of studying with great directors, choreographers and teachers. Among these gifted teachers are Joshua Bergasse, Lisa Stevens, Marc Robin, Tyce Diorio. Samantha was recently certified as Zumba instructor and enjoys motivating her students through fitness as well.

When Samantha is not dancing, performing, teaching, or creating she works full time at Oscar’s Pet Resort in Greenfield. She cares for dogs, cats and any other animals that need it while their family is vacationing or simply working long hours. Having 3 dogs of her own, it is her outlet to exercise her pets as well. She is very grateful and feels blessed to be able to share her passion of dance with all those willing to learn! She is energetic, fun, and CRAZY!!! She lives by this quote, “Work like you don’t need money, love like you have never been hurt, and dance like no one’s watching!!!”

Kim Jureckson

Kim Jureckson has been working as a dance educator and choreographer in Lancaster since 1991. Prior to moving to this area, Kim lived in NYC where she studied at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance and The Laban Institute of Movement Studies. She holds a degree in dance from Mary Washington University and attended New York University for graduate studies in dance education. After completing her studies, Kim founded Kimetics, a movement and fitness sudio in Manhattan. During this time she also worked one on one as a movement consultant with clients in the entertainment and modeling industries. In addition to her position as director of the New Movement Center of Lancaster, Kim is on the faculty of the dance department of Lancaster Country Day School and also serves as artistic director of the Grant Street Dance Company. Her choreography has been presented at the Fulton Theater and Roschel Performing Arts Center in Lancaser, Whitaker Center and Rose Lehman Arts Center in Harrisburg
and the Majestic Theater in Gettysburg, among others.

Ricky Dieter

Born and raised just a stone’s throw away in the city of Reading, Pennsylvania, Ricky Dieter is a B.F.A. graduate, with honors, from the School of Dance at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Upon graduation, Ricky received multiple awards of recognition, including ‘The Blumenthal Prize for Service to the School of Dance’ and ‘The Most Dramatic Improvement Since Freshman Year’ Award.

Since then, Ricky has worked for several years as a featured vocalist and dancer on board the Holland America Line fleet of premium cruise ships, performing in elaborate production shows created by Stiletto Entertainment, with whom he continues to maintain a professional career. Working aboard cruise ships gives Ricky the opportunity to travel extensively, explore various regions of the world, experience different cultures, meet a variety of people, work closely with, and learn from, other professionals in the arts and entertainment.

In addition to performing on cruise ships, Ricky has performed for various companies in several production spectaculars and special events in various casinos and performance venues in Atlantic City, as well as performing in traditional musical theater productions throughout the east coast. Between extended performing obligations, Ricky enjoys returning home to southeast Pennsylvania to teach various forms of jazz dance, modern dance, and ballet dance techniques and styles, having taught for Berks Ballet Theater, Pottstown Dance Theater, The Yocum Institute for the Arts, and even for his Alma mater, the School of Dance at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

Anna Ivanova

Miss Ivanova began her ballet studies at the Perm Ballet Academy in the former Soviet Union and later studied at the Frunze Ballet Academy. Upon graduation from Frunze, she performed with Cheliabinsk Opera and Ballet Theater as principal dancer. After accepting the invitation to become a principal dancer with the Donetsk Ballet, Miss Ivanova toured the eastern United States.

From 1994 to 1999, she was a principal dancer with the Russian Ballet Theatre of Delaware and, in 1998 she was a finalist in the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi.

Miss Ivanova is a featured guest artist and ballet mistress with ballet companies throughout the United States. Noted for her lyrical style, Miss Ivanova has performed roles in many of the great classical ballets, including Swan Lake, Giselle, Paquita, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet and more. Her repertoire also includes many contemporary works by choreographers including Daniel Baudendistel, Leslie Browne, Robert LaFosse, Scott Joovovich and Matthew Neenan.

For the last 12 years Miss Ivanova has been teaching advanced levels in ballet companies throughout the Mid-Atlantic States, including Oxford Center for Dance, Russian Ballet Centre, Longwood Performing Arts, Brandywine Ballet Company, Anna Marie Dance Studio and she also teaches Master classes in many other ballet schools and academies.

Anne Meeder

Anne holds a B.S. degree in Speech, Communications and Theater Arts from Clarion State University. She is a professional member of NDEO – The National Dance Education Organization – where she served as a professional presenter in the field of Arts Integration. She holds an Associate 1 in the Cecchetti Council of America Teachers Examination. Anne works as a dance and drama educator in the Lancaster area, and her leading theatrical roles in musical theater and the opera span twenty-five years. She is a member of the Grant Street Dance Company and served as co-director of The New Movement Center. Anne’s most recent theatrical credits include the Artistic Director of Opera Lancaster’s World Premier Production of the musical “Georgia O’Keeffe: A Woman on Paper.” She remains active as a dancer, choreographer, singer, director and teacher while continuing her position as Artist in Residence in Dance and Drama at Brecht Elementary School in Manheim Township.

Karen Houck

Karen Houck, is the director of dance at the Yocum Institute for Arts Education located in Wyomissing, PA. Karen is a graduate of Wilkes University with a BA in Elementary Education and a minor in Dance. She was the recipient of the Wilkes University Dance Award. Karen danced with Ballet Northeast under the direction of Kristin Degnan dancing various soloist and lead roles in ballets including the Nutcracker, Coppelia, Giselle, The Firebird, Les Slyphedies, Bach, and Etudes. She has also performed four years with the Northeast Philharmonic Orchestra’s winter concert. Karen also trained with the Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, formerly the Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley, under the direction of Oleg Briansky and Mirelle Briane. She has also studied with Barbara Weisberger; founder of Pennsylvania Ballet, Margaret Tracy, Joe Fritz, Catherine Horta-Hayden, Karen Knerr, and Harlan Bengel. Karen is in her 5th year at the Yocum Institute where she teaches traditional ballet and various summer camps. She has just assumed the role of director last summer. Karen also holds her PA Certification as a K-6 Elementary Educator and is teaching fourth grade at Cumru Elementary School. Karen completed her Master’s of Education in Reading at Kutztown University last summer and currently is working on her principal’s certificate.

Cody Smith

Cody has been dancing professionally for 15 years. Locally, he has performed for the Fulton Theatre, American Music Theatre, and at EPAC. In New York, he has been a member of the ensemble of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular for the past 11 years. He has also assisted in numerous Broadway workshops and Off-Broadway productions, as well as, acting as Dance Captain in many regional and touring companies. Cody also directs and choreographs locally. He is the current director of the Hempfield Dance Theatre program, he has choreographed dozens of show for EPAC, as well as for the Hempfield Music program, Ephrata HS, Cedar Crest HS, the Cobalt Dance Company, and Rev9 Dance Company. He enjoys teaching Jazz and Musical Theatre and looks forward to working with a variety of local studios.

Andrea Calderon

Andrea is originally from Lexington, Kentucky, and holds a BFA in Performing Arts/Dance from Western Kentucky University. She has been performing professionally for the past 11 years. She was a featured dancer for five years with the award winning show Country Tonite in Branson, MO and Pigeon Forge, TN. Andrea spent the past two years, working with her husband at The Miracle Theater where she performed in The Miracle, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and most recently Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry. Andrea feels very blessed and grateful to God that she has been living out her dream of dancing. She has taught different styles of dance to all ages and loves sharing the joy of dance with others!