TaMara Swank
Seton Hill Faculty Member
TaMara created the SHUDA program in 2005 and has been the coordinator of the Seton Hill University Dance Academy from January 2005 - May 2007 and co-coordinator for the past year. She holds a master's degree in exercise science with a certification as a performance enhancement specialist and a B.A. in dance (ballet concentration) from Point Park University. She has been an instructor in all levels of dance technique and has been commissioned to create choreography for children's programs, high school dance companies, university dance programs and musical theatre productions. As dance faculty at Seton Hill University, she has choreographed more than thirty pieces for dance concert productions and musicals, and her works have been selected for choreography awards at Showstoppers, Starquest, Headliners, Starbound and Platinum Productions. She has performed professionally for Paul Osbourne Productions and Don Brockett Productions and choreographed for many productions including: "Grease", "Hello Dolly," "Oliver," "The King and I," "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Pippin," and many more. Swank also has a list of original works including "The Jazzy Nutcracker," "The Seven Deadly Sins" dance concert and "The Little Mermaid." Prior to arriving at Seton Hill University, TaMara was the director of the Franklin Dance Conservatory from 1993 to 1997. In 1997, she founded Studio 22 Arts, Inc. with locations in Franklin and Titusville, Pa. Studio 22 was a performing arts center that offered instruction in all methods of dance as well as theatre, voice, piano, guitar, art and martial arts.


Lori Incardona
Seton Hill Faculty Member
Lori is both a University faculty member and a co-coordinator of the Seton Hill University Dance Academy. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from Slippery Rock University in dance, Lori moved to Sarasota, Florida where she taught ballet, pointe, jazz, modern and tap for 3 years. She was also able to choreograph and help direct mini theatre productions of "Peter Pan" and "The Wizard of Oz." While in the area, Lori performed as a dancer, actor, and singer in a number of productions at the Players Theatre of Sarasota, Manatee Players Theatre and The Golden Apple Dinner Theatre. Some of her favorite productions include "Fame; The Musical", "Miss Saigon", "Jekyll & Hyde", "Funny Girl" and "Grand Hotel" to name a few. She was also honored to serve as dance captain on many of these shows including "Miss Saigon," "Jekyll & Hyde," "Got a Minute? II" (a charity event to raise money for breast cancer) as well as an original show entitled "Best Seller" and as a swing for "Chicago." Although Lori has a passion for performing, her love will always be teaching and helping children develop a sense of who they are through dance and the performing arts. She hopes to inspire each of her students to be the best performer and person they can be, and to always believe that they can achieve anything.


Nick Falcone
Dance Coordinator and Instructor of Jazz, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, Tap, and Diamonds Dance Company
A native from the South Hills of Pittsburgh, Nick Falcone always possessed an infatuation with the art of dance. At the age of 10, he commenced his dance career studying in an all boy's gymnastics and hip-hop class. Shortly after, he was striving to achieve more. He began taking classical ballet, jazz, lyrical and tap. This led Falcone into the competitive world of dance competing for Borelli's Dance Gallery, and then Studio 19 Dance Complex (formerly known as The Tammy Croftcheck Dance Centre). Throughout his competitive dance career, he secured many competition high-score and title awards; both regionally and nationally. Upon completion of his competitive dance training, Nick studied in the intense contemporary dance program at Slippery Rock University. This is where he developed an obsession for the art of choreography. Subsequent to earning his Bachelor of Arts in dance, Nick began working as a full-time professional choreographer/dance educator for Borelli's Dance Gallery. For three years, he trained students in the genres of acrobatics/gymnastics, contemporary, jazz, lyrical and tap; both competitive and recreational. His competitive students reached great heights, securing numerous regional and national competition high-score and title awards. After teaching professionally for three years, Falcone decided to take a sabbatical from dance and try his hand in corporate America. This assisted him with the realization that he would never truly be happy unless he was able to work in an innovative and inspiring environment. At this point, he was sought out by Company G Premier Performing Arts Centre as a guest choreographer/instructor. Above all, it is Nick Falcone's mission to inspire young aspiring dance artists to be the best dancers they can possibly be through dedication and passionate creativity. Falcone believes that it is not about how many turns one can do, or how high one can jump. He conveys to his students that whatever element they are executing, it can only be executed with conviction if it comes from the heart.

Katie Hicks
Instructor of Ballet Technique 1B & 1C, Jazz 1A & 1B , Tap 1B and Combo I
Katie Hicks began dancing at age three and continued for the next 15 years. She danced with TaMara Swank at Studio 22 for seven years, studying ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, lyrical and tap. Katie was a teaching assistant for three years and was a member of PEDA, the Studio 22 Competitive Team. During her senior year, Katie taught for the studio as well as choreographed for the competitive team. She has performed at Disney's Magic Days and has been a competitive cheerleader for five years. Katie is a junior at Seton Hill where she is double majoring in dance and technical theatre. Her recent performances include "Jazzy Nutcracker," "Dancing for Life, Dancing for a Cure", and "EleMental R/Evolution: The World In Motion."