WELCOME TO PINNELL DANCE CENTRE!
Pinnell Dance Centre celebrates “46 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE”! We were founded in September of 1976 under the direction of Jeri Pinnell. Over the years, the Dance Centre has become nationally known as one of the top schools in the country. Dance Spirit Magazine voted Pinnell Dance Centre one of the top 50 schools in the nation! Students come to this outstanding studio for a multitude of reasons. Many students enjoy dancing as a recreational opportunity to build skills and improve self confidence while having fun and creating a healthy body. Others are serious dancers who find a well rounded program that creates the “total dancer” that can pursue a professional career if so desired. Pinnell Dance Centre has produced students who have performed on Broadway and in tours of Cats, Beauty and the Beast, Million Dollar Quartet, Will Rogers Follies, 42nd Street, Jesus Christ Super Star, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Weber, Requiem Variations, West Side Story, etc. Students have also danced with the Radio City Rockettes in New York and Los Angeles, as well as in music videos with Beyonce, Madonna, JayZ, etc, on Glee, on cruise ships and at theme parks including: Disney World, Disney World Tokyo, Opryland, Busch Gardens, Kings Island, Great Escape New York, King’s Dominion, etc.
Our Team
Jeri Pinnell - Founder
Jeri Pinnell began dancing at a very young age and fell in love with dance. As a teen, she became a member of Capital City Ballet Company, under the direction of Jorg Fasting. She attended the Ohio State University. In 1976, she founded Pinnell Dance Centre with her husband Don and has trained hundreds of dancers over the years. The love of children and watching them blossom are her passions. Jeri studied dance extensively in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Some of her teachers included Joe Tremaine, Luigi (Faccuito,) Frank Hatchett, Doug Caldwell and, her mentor, the amazing Gus Giordano, who was named “the father of American jazz.” For many years, Jeri was a board member of the Columbus Theatre Ballet Association, and she was an original board member of the prestigious Jazz Dance World Congress. She was tested to teach dance and is certified by both Dance Masters of America and Dance Educators of America. Her students have danced on “So You Think You Can Dance”, in Broadway shows and tours, at Disney Orlando and Disney Tokyo, in music videos, on cruise ships and in The Rockettes. Many students have gone on to teach dance and open studios across the United States, including Florida, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, and several have opened dance schools in Ohio. Jeri taught on the dance staff at Otterbein University in Columbus for may years. She has taken two different groups of Pinnell Dancers on the European tours of “The Tanzsommer Stars of Tomorrow” concert series. The performances included dance concerts throughout Austria and in Paris, France. Jeri is honored and happy to see second generation dancers at Pinnell Dance Center and has enjoyed seeing her students teach and preform throughout the world.
Ashley Holt - Executive Director
Ashley has been teaching dance to children of all ages for over 23 years. She began her training at Pinnell Dance Centre at the age of 2 and has trained extensively throughout her life at prestigious studios such as Broadway Dance Centre in NYC, Steps on Broadway, and at Debbie Allen’s Dance Academy in LA. Performances of note from Ashley’s dance career include the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, as well as television commercials for Schottenstein Department Stores, Bob McDorman Chevy Town USA, and Fox28’s Kids Club.
Ashley is a proud graduate of Miami University’s Richard T. Farmer School of Business where she was featured on the National Dean’s List and was honored with a “Who’s Who” Among American Students award. While at Miami University, Ashley was a member of the “Empower” social justice and civic leadership program where she developed a volunteer program helping underprivileged kids through dance. Her studies continued at Regent’s University in London, England where she focused on International Economics, International Business and Management.
Ashley spent 5 years teaching Intermediate, Intermediate/Advanced, and Advanced tap courses at Otterbein University. She also taught for 7 years for The Columbus Academy’s Summer Program. One career highlight for Ashley was when she organized and choreographed a flash mob of 150 dancers for Safe Auto Insurance which became a national television commercial. She then went on to choreograph a music video for the television trailer “School of Hard Knocks”. Her competition routines have won numerous regional and national awards. Ashley’s students have had successful professional careers as back-up dancers, dancers in music videos and on cruise ships, and appearing in television. She loves sharing her enthusiasm and watching her students thrive.
Having ownership in the family business brings Ashley much joy. She loves working alongside her mom, Jeri, and watching her two daughters experience all the magic of Pinnell Dance Centre.
Katie Skamfer - Artistic Director
Katie Skamfer grew up at Pinnell Dance Centre and trained under Jeri Pinnell. She had the privilege of learning with master teachers Greg Russell, Keith Cross, Joey Dowling and Mandy Moore. At Pinnell ,Katie danced in the Tanzsommer European tour and performed at Euro Disney. Katie also competed as an Elite dancer for Pinnell and won several national titles.
Katie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Degree in dance from the University of Akron where she was trained by members of The Martha Graham Company, The Pennsylvania Ballet, Jennifer Muller/The Works and guest artists Laura Alonso and David Parsons. She was in The University of Akron Dance Company for four years and also was selected to choreograph Akron’s “Spring into Dance.”
Katie has been teaching for 17 years as an instructor and choreographer. Katie’s solos, duets and groups have won numerous regional and national awards and have been showcased in Showstoppers National Final Live TV Shows. Katie has successfully trained dancers of all ages. In 2015 Katie and her dancers were highlighted in a Safelite AutoGlass national commercial. Katie is excited to start as our new Artistic Director for the 2017-2018 season! “Teaching has always been my passion, and watching my students reach their goals is the biggest reward.”
Abby Griffiths
At age 3, Abby began her dance career at Pinnell Dance Centre. Throughout her training, she has studied ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, contemporary, and musical theater. Abby has won regional and national titles with groups and as a soloist.
She has also earned several regional scholarships from Jump, New York City Dance Alliance, and Tap the Map.
Abby has been involved in several dance filming opportunities including a music video for “School of Hard Knocks” and a Flash-Mob for a Safe Auto commercial. She also played a dancer in the movie “Constraint”. Abby has worked with many well-known choreographers in the industry including Jackie Dowling Ford, Lauren Adams, Greg Russell, Seth Stewart, and Anthony Russo.
Abby attended Ohio University where she received a Bachelor of Science in K-12 moderate to intensive special education and a minor in dance and choreography. Currently, she is an intervention specialist in Gahanna Jefferson Public Schools. Abby enjoys sharing her passion for dance and movement with her students at the studio and within in her classroom.
Alex Solomon
Alex Solomon grew up dancing at Dance Expressions in Toledo, Ohio. She has a combined 18 years of training in ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, and hip hop. Alex attended the University of Kentucky where she majored in Integrated Strategic Communications and minored in Marketing. While attending UK, Alex was a member of the Varsity dance team where she performed at all home football and basketball games, campus events, and competed at UDA College Nationals.
Alex has been teaching for 10 years as an instructor and choreographer. Alex travels throughout Ohio and Kentucky choreographing for studios and several high school and collegiate dance teams. Her solos, duets and groups have received numerous regional and national awards.
Alex’s passion for dance is evident the second you meet her. As a new Columbus resident, Alex is excited to share her passion with the students at Pinnell Dance Centre!
Andrea Padova
Andrea Padova has been studying dance for over thirty years. Her education includes a scholarship to Point Park University, where she obtained a Bachelors of Arts in Degree Dance, and performed as a company member of The Philadelphia Ballet. She has also studied extensively at various dance intensives all over the world, including The School of American Ballet and The Bolshoi Ballet. Additionally Andrea has trained with notable choreographers Mikhail Korogodsky, Yelena Rubinkenov, Nikolas Petrov, and David Howard.
During her years at Point Park University, she had the opportunity to receive a combination of rigorous training and hands- on, real world experience that not many other colleges offer. Resident faculty, guest artists, and choreographers helped her develop a solid foundation of skills. While dancing with The Philadelphia Ballet Theater, she danced many lead roles in Paquita, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, and many other famous ballets.
Andrea’s passion for dance inspired her to teach and choreograph. She has successfully trained dancers of all ability levels during the past fifteen years. Many of her students have experienced success as professionals in companies around the country, on “So You Think You Can Dance,” in the Radio City Rockettes Spectacular, in music videos, and on cruise ships. Much of her choreography has been nationally recognized. Andrea is an elementary school teacher. Education and growth in dance remain an integral part of Andrea’s life.
Caitlin Brosnahan
Caitlin Brosnahan grew up at Pinnell Dance Centre where she received numerous awards and titles as an elite dancer. Her tap and musical theatre solos received first overalls and top ten awards on several occasions. In 2005, she was a part of the Young Tanzommer Tour in Austria. Caitlin has taken classes from Andy Blankenbuehler, Savion Glover, Chloe Arnold, and many others. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.A in Dance and an M.S. in Adapted Physical Activity with a concentration in dance from Slippery Rock University. Her senior synthesis piece was based on the concept that “if you can blink, you can dance.” Caitlin has extensively taught individuals with and without disabilities. She has performed in numerous Slippery Rock University Dance Theatre, Faculty and Guest Artist, and Senior Synthesis concerts. She has had the opportunity to perform in Ursula Payne’s and Michael Pili Pang’s hula repertory. Caitlin studied Bharatanatyam under master teacher Revathi Ramachandran in Chennai, India during the summer of 2013. She was a member of Afro-Colombian Dance Ensemble and a dance captain for Dance Express at Slippery Rock University. At the Motor City Tap festival Caitlin performed a tap piece by Greg Russell in the showcase. Her favorite styles of dance are tap and musical theatre!
Jeanel Gliebe
Jeanel started teaching dance in 1974 at the studio where she studied and performed in Dayton, Ohio. She spent seven years at her home studio before moving to and teaching in Chicago, Naperville, Illinois, Boston, Londonderry, New Hampshire and then to Gahanna, where she found Pinnell Dance Centre in 1998.
During the past twenty years, she has focused on pre-school age dancers and on making each child’s first dance years a positive, loving, and fun experience.
Pinnell has been a wonderful place for her to continue to develop young children’s love of dance.
Katelyn Capparuccini
Katelyn began dancing at the age of 2 at a local studio in a Columbus, OH. She began competing at age 5 and did so up until the age of 16. She has had the pleasure of training in ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, and hip hop. She has received multiple scholarships with vocal and dance. She had the opportunity to study voice, dance, and acting in New York City during a summer intensive with Broadway Director and Emmy Award winner Michael Rafter. Katelyn received her bachelor’s degree in Consumer Sciences and Hospitality Management from Ohio State University in 2013. Katelyn always loved being a student, but teaching has brought her an overwhelming amount of joy. She is so grateful to be able to share and pass a long her love and passion for something that has inspired her and given her life for the last 28 years. She is so thankful to be a part of the Pinnell family and looks forward to a new season.
Leigh Lijoi
Leigh is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, where she trained under the direction of Anna Reznik and Alexei Kremnev as well as with the Otto M. Budig Academy of Cincinnati Ballet. During her last two years of high school, Leigh was privileged to perform both locally and on tour as a trainee with Cincinnati Ballet for The Nutcracker. Upon graduation, she joined Cincinnati Ballet as a full time company member while continuing her education at the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music.
During her professional career, she has also been an artist with the Cincinnati Opera, Ballet Memphis, the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, and the Peridance Contemporary Dance Company under the direction of Igal Perry, where she had the opportunity to perform on a number of national and international stages.
While continuing to dance professionally in New York City, Leigh returned to her academic studies and received a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership with a minor in Business Administration from Fordham University. She has served on the faculty of Ballet Memphis, NVS Dance, The School at Peridance, and BalletMet as well as had the pleasure of re-staging a number of Igal Perry’s works on pre-professional training programs and professional companies. She is currently acting as the Education Assistant for the BalletMet Education Department. Leigh has a passion for seeing the arts thrive and is excited to join the faculty of Pinnell Dance Centre.
Onjelee Phomthirath
At a young age, Onjelee Phomthirath began her dance career at Pinnell Dance Centre under the tutelage of Jeri Pinnell. In her junior and senior years of high school, Onjelee accelerated her dance training at Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools Performing Arts Program under the direction of Gale LeVan and Doreen Dunn. She gained knowledge in acting, singing, costume design, stage managing and choreograpy as well as deepening her training in dance, all while continuing to dance a full schedule at Pinnell.
Throughout Onjelee’s training, she has studied ballet, contemporary, Horton technique, musical theatre/character, jazz, jazz funk, hip hop, tap and in voice. She has been recognized locally and nationally, earning top titles in some of the country’s largest dance competitions and venues. She has also earned scholarships and invitations from well-known dance competitions, intensives and conventions. She has worked personally with choreographers such as Greg Graham, Jon Leher of Leher dance company, Seth Stewart, Jackie Dowling, Shannon Mather, Dusty Button, and Alex Little.
Currently, Onjelee is attending The Ohio State University where she is earning her BFA in Dance and focusing in costume design, management and composition/choreography. Outside of school, she travels on the weekends as a faculty assistant for Bella Moxi Dance Convention.
Sophia Peck
Sophia began dancing at Pinnell Dance Centre at age 7. She has received numerous awards as a member of the studio’s elite competition team, and has trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and musical theatre. Sophia has taken classes from Travis Wall, Lauren Adams, Seth Stewart, Jess Hendricks, and numerous other notable choreographers in the industry.
Outside the studio, Sophia continues her passion for creativity as a senior at Gahanna Lincoln High School. She danced and sang in the ensemble of Mamma Mia, and was cast in Chicago: High School Edition. At GLHS, she also pursues her passion for filmmaking and participates in the daily live newscast Lincoln Live. Sophia received recognition for her hard work by receiving a Student Production award from the NATAS Ohio Valley Chapter as a Junior.
Sophia Hopes to continue her passions for film and dance in the future. As for now, she is beyond excited to join the PDC staff and work alongside her biggest mentors.
Taya Lukacsko
Taya Lukacsko grew up at Pinnell Dance Centre where she studied under the direction of Jeri Pinnell. Taya also studied at Broadway Dance Centre and with Gus Giordano. After high school, Taya performed as a singer and dancer at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia, and at Kings Island for four summers. She has also performed in multiple industrial shows and performed with the Beach Boys! One of Taya’s loves is choreographing musicals for Gahanna Lincoln High School, which she has been doing since 1996. Taya has taught dance in Pennsylvania and Maryland and has been teaching at Pinnell for over fifteen years. Taya has a passion for teaching the love of dance to all ages.
Emily (Gotschall) Webb
Emily (Gotschall) Webb has devoted over three decades of her life to the art of dance. Recently having retired from a nearby 20 year career performing as a soloist and principal dancer with Dayton Ballet and Balletmet she now teaches in the Ohio area, and around the US and in the UK as a guest instructor and stager. Emily was fortunate to work with many of the great choreographers of our time and performed leading roles in Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Dangerous Liasons, Peter Pan and numerous neoclassical and contemporary works. She finds great fulfillment now sharing her knowledge with students and helping them on their training journey with positive and encouraging energy in the studio and beyond. Recent projects include co artistic directing the Bozeman Dance Project, an outreach program serving the community of Bozeman, MT in 2019 and staging Edwaard Liang’s full length Romeo and Juliet on Ballet San Antonio. Emily and her husband, dancer David Ward have two children and are based in Columbus, OH.
Josie Farley
Josie Farley began dancing at Pinnell Dance Centre at the age of 3 and started competing in babes at age 7. She has a background in ballet, lyrical, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, tap and musical theatre. She has expanded her knowledge in these areas by assisting classes continuously from 2017 and beginning her own private lessons in 2020. While competing with Pinnell, recently she has won the titles of Showstoppers dance competition 2021 1st overall senior soloist, Hollywood Vibe dance convention 2021 scholarship winner, 24/7 dance convention 2020 scholarship runner up, and Star systems dance competition 2020 1st overall senior soloist. Josie’s knowledge of choreography began in 2020 when she self choreographed a group dance along with 6 other peers to compete at regional and national competitions that placed in the top 10 and won titles such as “Most Entertaining”. Outside of dance she graduated with class of 2021 with an honors diploma, member of the national honor society, varsity cheerleading captain and is now attending The Ohio State University.