72 Hillside Drive
Drums
PA 18222
Join Stephanie McDermott for another amazing technical master class at TAOD!
Ages 9 and under:
12:00pm – 2:00pm $30
Ages 10 and up:
2:00pm – 4:00pm $30
Throughout her career, Stephanie always worked in various styles of dance. At an early age, she trained under Russian ballet dancers Julia Remezova, Igor Chifman, and Svetlana Krylova who danced for Donetsk Ballet and The Russian Ballet. Stephanie attended The Pennsylvania Governor’s School for The Arts where she trained with Doug Bentz. She also attended The Alvin Ailey School where she trained with Francisco Martinez, Bradley Shelver, Robin Dunn, and Joan Peters. In 2004, she graduated cum laude from DeSales University with a BA in Dance where she studied under Vincent Brosseau. Over the years, Stephanie had the privilege to work with numerous artists such as Cherie Noble, Trinette Singleton, Marissa Cerveris, Gill Stroming and Bruce Stegmann to name a few.
Immediately after graduation, Stephanie moved to New York City and was part of many independent and freelance dance projects. She was a dancer for Sheetal Gandhi, who was a creator and performer in Cirque Du Soleil’s Dralion and played a leading role in the broadway musical Bombay Dreams. Also, Stephanie worked with Sara Sessions of San Francisco Ballet, where she performed Contemporary and Classical pieces. Furthermore, Stephanie was the principal dancer for Regina Opera Company in Brooklyn. Lastly, while in New York, she was a member of BINDHAS, a modern based dance company, Neil Goldberg’s Cirque, and danced for Kanye West and Weird Al Yankovic.
For four years, she danced with Celebrity Cruises and performed with Gary Musick Productions in Nashville. With Gary Musick Productions, Stephanie performed in large scale production shows such as Wicked, Mamma Mia, Les Miserables, Hairspray, The Lion King, Chicago, The Producers, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and many more. Throughout her career, Stephanie continued to teach master classes, conventions, and set choreography for studios and companies. Along her travels, Stephanie had the opportunity to perform alongside Cirque Du Soleil and traveled to Montreal, where she got to experience the company. As her career continued, she was able to incorporate Ariel work (Hoops/Threads) into her performances and worked as a featured dancer with Poloni & Sun, an independent motion picture company. When Stephanie was offered a dance position with Stiletto Entertainment, she decided she was looking for a change and relocated to New Brunswick, Canada. While living in Canada for three years, she instructed and choreographed for dancers on a professional level. Also, she was the choreographer for Run for the Cure.
As a professional dancer, Stephanie has toured and traveled all over the world. With the many places and people that have inspired her, Stephanie feels being in South Africa really took her dancing, especially modern dance, to a whole new level. Because Stephanie is very passionate about the importance of physical fitness, nutrition and injury prevention for dancers and athletes, she became a Group Fitness Instructor. She developed her own classes focusing on improving the health and well-being of dancers and athletes. These classes were very much in demand and proved to be successful. As well as being a professional dancer, instructor, and choreographer, Stephanie was a Judge/Convention Teacher for Dancers Inc., a competition and convention that focuses on education and learning for a meaningful dance experience. Currently, she is contracted by various studios to come and teach master classes, work on technique, and set choreography. Also, Stephanie is head judge and master class teacher for Northeast Performing Arts competition.
Stephanie’s dancing and choreography have won numerous honors and awards. She continues to be asked to teach and choreograph for studios/companies in a variety of different areas. Her versatility of dance styles, passion, and unique movement creates an atmosphere that challenges every dancer to their full potential. She concentrates on the evolution of each student by developing strategies that help achieve objectives and goals. Being influenced by many dance forms and having an energetic attitude, her teaching methods will improve technique and dance performance in a positive, structured, and inspiring environment.