Our Instructors
Samantha Lebowitz Owner/Director
Samantha has been working with children in various forms of educational settings for the past 15 + years. She started dancing at Dance With M.E. under the direction of Melody Embry and fell in love with movement. While earning a bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh, Samantha was a member of the Pitt Dance Team for 3 years. She has performed at the Big East tournament at Madison Square garden and attended college level competitions in Daytona, Florida. While attending grad school at Arcadia University, Samantha worked with children in early intervention through the Bucks County IU for 2 years before taking on teaching dance full time and managing a dance studio. She is passionate about making dance accessible and fun for everyone.
Micah Geyer
Raised in North Carolina, Micah started dancing at a young age with Nina’s School of Dance in Durham. He later joined the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble under the direction of Gene Medler. During his career, he has had the privilege of performing at the Kennedy Center and the Joyce Theater for Tap City, as well as touring throughout Europe and South America. He received his BFA in Dance Performance and Psychology from East Carolina University and joined Koresh Dance Company in 2007.
Carlee Ciaffone
Carlee is our Studio Manager and music and dance as therapy and creative expression her whole life. Her favorite genres are hip hop and contemporary and she loves teaching dancers of all ages. Carlee has been teaching for the last 10 years and strives to help students find their unique style and gain emotional freedom through movement.
Ann Chernigoff
Ann is a performer, choreographer and dance educator based in the Philadelphia area. She began dancing at the age of 3 in her hometown of Arlington, Virginia. Her passion for teaching, creating, and performing budded in her teenage years. Ann is an artist and educator of all ages and abilities. Her work utilizes her experiences studying at Temple University’s Boyer College and under the instruction of the Paul Taylor American Modern Dance Company. Ann majored in dance and has her Bachelors degree with a minor degree in education!
Jahzaire (Surge) Sutton
Surge is a professional dancer & choreographer who aims to be a light to all those he encounters in hoops of leaving them inspired through his artistry. He has roots in praise dancing at church and when he turned 15, he began training professionally in the foundational styles of Hip-Hop. Surge is now signed to Bloc Talent Agency and has worked with names such as Doja Cat, T-Pain, Busta Rhymes, Keke Palmer, Anitta and more!
Paige Devitt
Originally from Clarkson, Michigan, Paige trained at Spotlight Dance Works under the direction of Liz Schmidt during her adolescent years. She also trained at Steps on Broadway and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Paige attended Point Park University and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. While there, she performed works by Adam Hougland, Sonya Tayeh, Alexandra Damiani, Jessica Hendricks, Troy Powell and Garfield Lemonius just to name a few. Currently Paige is a member of the Koresh Dance Company under the direction of Roni Koresh in Philadelphia. This is her 6th year with the company.
Leigh Bednoff
Leigh received her BFA from Ohio State University where she majored in dance education. This is where she fell in love with the power and impact of movement and dance on child development. She then went on to receive her MA from Hahnemann Drexel University Hospital specializing in dance/movement therapy. After a career in the mental health field, Leigh decided to take her thesis study on the influence of dance movement intervention on preschool and child development and create several creative movement programs in the area. Leigh has taught all levels and styles of dance for about 30 + years and her choreography has won numerous awards. She is so excited to be part of S.A.M. and share her love of dance and movement with everyone.
Heather Lacey
Heather grew up training at Pennsylvania Academy of ballet under John White and Margarita de Saa. She also received scholarship to study with David Howard in NYC. At 18, she was accepted and danced with Colorado Ballet. Upon returning to the area she was able to guest with various studios and companies including first state ballet. She has been teaching across the area and has completed John White’s syllabus training. She loves to pass down the knowledge and passion of ballet.