Celebrity Dance Emporium 716-636-1060
6989 Transit Rd East Amherst, NY 14051
MEET THE FACULTY
Amanda Lee-Artistic Director
Miss Amanda began taking dance lessons at the age of 4. She has been technically trained in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Acro and Contemporary for 23 years, and has competed locally and on the national level. She has been teaching dance for 10 years and has been part of the Celebrity family since 2002. Amanda is a proud member of the National Dance Education Organization and continues to study dance with renowned teachers as she attends dance seminars and workshops across the country every year. She grew up in Lancaster, NY and now resides in Amherst with her two cats Doozer and Wall-e.
Erica Schmidt-Teacher
This will be Miss Erica's 4th year teaching Hip Hop at CDE. She began dancing at the age of 2 in her hometown of Albion, NY. She has been technically trained in Hip-Hop,Tap, Jazz, Modern, Ballet, Lyrical, and Pointe. She has also danced on a competitive level for many years. While attending Canisius College for her Bachelor's degree, she continued dancing with the Dance Griffs dance team, as Dance Captain and Choreographer her senior year. In 2007, she also danced with the Buffalo Bandettes. She recently finished college, earning her Masters’ Degrees in Social Work and Business Administration. She currently lives in Lockport, NY, with her fiancé and her Boston Terrier, named Chip.
Alexia Buono-Teacher
Miss Alexia loves dance. She has been dancing since before she can remember and does not plan on stopping any time soon. She is trained in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Music Theatre and Hip Hop. When she's not dancing she is choreographing or teaching. This will be Miss Alexia's fourth year teaching at Celebrity, and this too will not stop any time soon! She also holds a passion for the Buffalo Bills, and is a die hard fan when it comes to them! Come May 2012 she will graduate with two or three degrees from the University of Buffalo, and will be free to dance to her hearts consent!
Karen Washbon-Teacher
Karen has been teaching and choreographing for over 30 years. She grew up in Hamburg, and has studied and performed with many local teachers and groups, most notably with master teachers Ginger Burke and Tom Ralabate. Karen owned a dance studio in Hamburg, and then went on to teach and choreograph at several local studios. She has won several national competition choreography awards, and many of her students have gone on to careers in dance. Karen also had the honor of working as a Teaching Artist for the WNY Arts in Education program. She holds a BA in English and an MA in Communication, both from SUNY/Buffalo. She currently lives in Clarence Center with her husband and three children.
Miss Amanda began taking dance lessons at the age of 4. She has been technically trained in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Acro and Contemporary for 23 years, and has competed locally and on the national level. She has been teaching dance for 10 years and has been part of the Celebrity family since 2002. Amanda is a proud member of the National Dance Education Organization and continues to study dance with renowned teachers as she attends dance seminars and workshops across the country every year. She grew up in Lancaster, NY and now resides in Amherst with her two cats Doozer and Wall-e.
Erica Schmidt-Teacher
This will be Miss Erica's 4th year teaching Hip Hop at CDE. She began dancing at the age of 2 in her hometown of Albion, NY. She has been technically trained in Hip-Hop,Tap, Jazz, Modern, Ballet, Lyrical, and Pointe. She has also danced on a competitive level for many years. While attending Canisius College for her Bachelor's degree, she continued dancing with the Dance Griffs dance team, as Dance Captain and Choreographer her senior year. In 2007, she also danced with the Buffalo Bandettes. She recently finished college, earning her Masters’ Degrees in Social Work and Business Administration. She currently lives in Lockport, NY, with her fiancé and her Boston Terrier, named Chip.
Alexia Buono-Teacher
Miss Alexia loves dance. She has been dancing since before she can remember and does not plan on stopping any time soon. She is trained in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Music Theatre and Hip Hop. When she's not dancing she is choreographing or teaching. This will be Miss Alexia's fourth year teaching at Celebrity, and this too will not stop any time soon! She also holds a passion for the Buffalo Bills, and is a die hard fan when it comes to them! Come May 2012 she will graduate with two or three degrees from the University of Buffalo, and will be free to dance to her hearts consent!
Karen Washbon-Teacher
Karen has been teaching and choreographing for over 30 years. She grew up in Hamburg, and has studied and performed with many local teachers and groups, most notably with master teachers Ginger Burke and Tom Ralabate. Karen owned a dance studio in Hamburg, and then went on to teach and choreograph at several local studios. She has won several national competition choreography awards, and many of her students have gone on to careers in dance. Karen also had the honor of working as a Teaching Artist for the WNY Arts in Education program. She holds a BA in English and an MA in Communication, both from SUNY/Buffalo. She currently lives in Clarence Center with her husband and three children.
Phil Wackerfuss-Teacher
Phil grew up in Palatine, IL a suburb of Chicago. There he studied jazz, tap and ballroom dance at Dorene's DancExpress, a studio founded by his mother and built by the family. He received his BA in Theatre arts from Illinois Wesleyan Unv, where he studied dance and movement under dance director Jean Kerr. Post-college, Phil attended the Chicago School of Massage Therapy, and is currently a licensed massage therapist. Since, Phil performed in Chicago with various theatrical and dance companies. First Folio Shakespeare Festival, several productions of modern dance company VADCO, and as a performing apprentice at Inaside Chicago Dance. Phil currently dances as company member of Lehrerdance in Buffalo, NY.
