Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center Faculty & Staff

  • Gwendolyn Bye has spent 45 years in the performing arts. In those years, she was mentored by Nadia Chilkovsky Nahumck and Mary Anthony and has been able to work with legendary artists Martha Graham, Charles Weidman, Anna Sokolow, and Pauline Koner. She founded Dancefusion to carry the rich history of modern dance into the 21st Century; reconstructing historic works, creating new and vibrant choreography, and training the next generation of dancers.

    A native of Philadelphia, Gwendolyn was awarded a Ford Foundation Honors Scholarship and graduated from the Philadelphia Performing Arts School under the direction of Nadia Chilkovsky Nahumck. Gwendolyn joined the Mary Anthony Dance Theater in New York and became a principal dancer, performing in seasonal concerts and tours throughout America for over fourteen years. Two dances were created for her: Tides by Ross Parkes and Lady of the Sea by Mary Anthony. She danced in Dreams and Rooms choreographed by Anna Sokolow and partnered with Charles Weidman in Fables of Our Time. Gwendolyn taught at the Mary Anthony Dance Studio, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, and the Martha Graham School, where she was awarded a Helena Rubenstein Scholarship. She has choreographed and taught at universities and colleges including, University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, Drexel University, and Rowan University.

    In 1984, Gwendolyn returned to Philadelphia, opened the Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center and became Artistic Director of Penn Dance at the University of Pennsylvania. She formed Dancefusion in 1987 where she choreographs and performs up to the present. Gwendolyn has directed, choreographed, reconstructed and restaged numerous dance works on Dancefusion for over 35 years. She is a movement specialist for the Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership and has taught in schools throughout Greater Philadelphia, including work as director/choreographer with Jacques d’Amboise. In 1996 Ms. Bye was invited to dance the lead in Mary Anthony’s masterpiece Threnody, presented at Mary Anthony Dance Theater’s 40th Anniversary Season in New York City. Gwendolyn has received the Award of Recognition from the City of Philadelphia and the “Rocky Award” for her contribution to the Philadelphia Dance Community. Currently Gwendolyn is very active as director, teacher and administrator, for the programs of Dancefusion and the Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center.

  • Assata Hazell started her dance career at the Wharton Settlement Center under the watchful eye of Eugene Harris. With his recommendation Ms. Hazell was accepted with scholarship, into the Philadelphia Dance Academy of Performing Arts, directed by Nadia Chilkovsky. While attending the Academy she became an honor student and began performing with Civic Ballet. Assata received a scholarship to the Pennsylvania Governors School of Performing Arts, which allowed her to work closely with Alexei Yudenich & Barbara Sandonato. In Philadelphia, Assata taught & danced with so many extraordinary teachers, & dancers and landed her with Philadanco. While on Scholarship at The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and, dancing with Philadanco, she began working with Mr Talley Beatty. Assata was assistant choreographer, with the broadway, production of, “Your Arms to Short To Box With God” under the direction of Vennette Caroll. Ms. Hazell went on and continued receiving scholarships (New York Conservatory of Dance & more), and performing as a featured dancer with musicals, Mahalia, Louis, Stompin At the Savoy to name a few). She has worked with so many extraordinary musical directors costume and set designers, dancers, actors, choreographers, recording artist (Chaka Khan), & all those folks that make it happen. I am so blessed to be back in Philadelphia teaching at the Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center, dancing with the New LEJA Dances the Company. Assata is looking forward in impacting lives through the Arts. Assata is the Scholarship Director at the Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center where she also teaches African dance. Assata is an Assistant Director and teacher at Sound Space Center.

  • Andrea Brock has trained in classical Ballet from a young age. She expanded her training to include jazz, tap, African, improvisation and modern at the age of 18. She received her B.A. in Dance Performance from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. Andrea then moved to Philadelphia where she then received her M.F.A. in Dance Choreography and Performance from Temple University. Andrea has enjoyed over 25 years of dancing, choreographing and teaching in Philadelphia. She has danced with choreographers such as Jeanne Ruddy, Christopher Fleming and Jaye Allison's New LEJA Dances. In addition to classical dance, she has also performed and choreographed for a number of Mainstage Philadelphia musical theater productions. Andrea currently teaches creative ballet, ballet and pointe at the Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center.

  • Jim Bunting, graduated from the University of the Arts in 1995, receiving his BFA in Dance. During this time, he became a founding member of Koresh Dance Company and went on to dance professionally for an 8 year tenure with the company. Jim then developed as a choreographer and teacher and has over 25 years of experience teaching and choreographing dance in the greater Philadelphia area. As a choreographer, Jim has had the pleasure of creating works for Koresh Dance Company, Pennsylvania Ballet's Shut Up and Dance at the Forrest Theater, the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, The University of The Arts and Drexel University. In 1999, Jim received a Fellowship Grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts for original choreography. His 25 years of teaching experience has allowed him to serve as a mentor and educator for both children and adults. Jim currently choreographs on youths performing for the pre-professional dance companies in residence at Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center and Haverford Dance Center and in addendum has taught Master Classes for the dance departments at the University of the Arts, St. Bonaventure University in New York, the University of Colorado, The Roswell Dance Theater in Atlanta, The College of Charleston, Dance Davidson in Charlotte NC and Eastern University. Additionally, Jim has been on faculty as an adjunct professor of jazz dance at Drexel University since 2007 and currently Temple University. He started Jim Bunting Dance Company in 2014 with the 1st full length production of “The Shaman’s Dream” which premiered at the Mandell Theater in Philadelphia. The company has performed at the Capitale in NYC for the School of Visual Arts Annual Holiday Party, the Philadelphia Art Museum's "Friday After 5 Series", Kun Yang Lin’s “InHale Performance Series” , “The 2016 Henri David’s Halloween The Ball”, “The Koresh Artist Showcase”, “The Koresh Come Together Festival”, “The Philadelphia Fringe Festival”, “The Philly Raw Artists at the Trocadero”, The 2023 Joint Production of “Backwoods” and The 2024 Joint Production of “One Thousand And One Nights” with Melissa Rector.

  • Nancy Berman Kantra, CMA, MFA, is a choreographer/dance educator presently spending most of her time as Lecturer of Dance at Rutgers University Camden and as faculty choreographer (since 1988) for Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center and fusion2 Dance Company. In 2021, after 38 dedicated years of training artists at the University of the Arts, Professor Kantra was awarded Emeritus status and retired from her role as Head of Dance and Movement in the Ira Brind School of Theater Arts. During her lengthy tenure at her UArts alma mater, Ms. Kantra  choreographed over 30 musicals including, High Fidelity, Hot Mikado, On Your Toes, Cabaret, Carousel, Into the Woods, Nine, Once On This Island, Sweet Charity and She Loves Me. Nancy continues to serve as Artistic Director Emeritus for Penn Dance Company at the University of Pennsylvania, and as educational consultant/teacher/choreographer for many arts organizations, studios, local theater companies and universities including LaSalle, Rutgers Camden and Villanova. Nancy is a Certified Movement Analyst and is associated with the Laban Institute of Movement Studies and the Actors Movement Studio of New York. Ms. Kantra was first trained by Thomas Cannon of the Littlefield Ballet and performed with the Philadelphia Metropolitan Opera, The Duncan Ensemble, South Street Dance Company and was soloist with Philadanco (1978 to 1985). Favorite performance credits include working with choreographers Ellen Forman, Alice Forner, Louis Johnson, Pearl Primus, Rudolph Nureyev, and Twyla Tharp. Ms. Kantra has been honored by the Barrymore Awards Committee and the American College Theater Festival for her choreographic contributions and cited her for her contributions to educational excellence by Who's Who in America College Teachers and Girl Scouts of America. Nancy’s choreography for the Nice Theater Company's HAVE A NICE LIFE was showcased with rave reviews in the 2010 New York and 2009 Edinburgh Fringe Festivals.

  • Julia Coakley is the musical theater accompanist since 2022. From North Wales, Pennsylvania, she began playing piano at the age of 6. She has accompanied various choral groups and events since 2014, and has studied both classical and jazz piano. She has a strong passion for theater, and has performed on stage in several musical productions. She has also been involved in several vocal groups, currently including Project Philly acapella group. She got her B.S. in music and neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh before returning to her beloved city of Philadelphia.

  • Rachel Kantra Beal is a dancer, choreographer, teaching artist, and physical therapist. Rachel has taught throughout the Philadelphia area including faculty positions at The University of the Arts, Temple University, Koresh School of Dance, and Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center, and has served as Artistic Director of University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Dance Company since 2011. From 2006-2013, Rachel was a member of Philadelphia-based modern dance company Dancefusion, where she performed the works of Mary Anthony, Pauline Koner, Anna Solokow and José Limón, among others. Since then, Rachel has returned to work with Dancefusion as both guest dancer and choreographer, most recently presenting her original work Forces In G: Ode to a Ball in the 2024 Fringe season. Continuing her long-time relationship with the Dancefusion organization, Rachel served as fusion2 Director from 2008-2014. Rachel has choreographed for the Mask & Wig Club of the University of Pennsylvania in their annual productions of Once Upon a Crime in Hollywood (2005) and Vaude-Villany! (2006). She has also worked with Enchantment Theater Company, creating live theater for children and their families. Rachel is an alumna of the Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center and was a founding member of fusion2 in 1995. She has studied at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Koresh School of Dance, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, and holds a BFA from the University of the Arts. Rachel’s studies have taken her as far as Tel Aviv, where she developed English language curricula and taught English to Israeli school children. Rachel earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Temple University in 2021 and is currently in clinical practice in Philadelphia. Rachel teaches Ballet and Pointe at the Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center.

  • Gabrielle Wright a native of New York has worked with various choreographers and teachers such as Mary Barnett, Nina Klyvert-Lawson and Darrell Moultrie and performed Donald McKayles piece "Games" before moving to Philadelphia to pursue college. She graduated from the University of the Arts with a BFA in Dance Education. There she performed various works by choreographers and dance pioneers such as Isadora Duncan, Milton Myers, Kim Bears-Bailey, and Brian Sanders. Since her move, she also worked with Philadanco’s second company Danco2, LEJA, and the Civic Ballet. Gabrielle has been a company member of Dancefusion for 15 years and has danced in works of Mary Anthony, Pauline Koner, Daniel Maloney, Suellen Haag, Joe Cicala, and Anna Troester to name a few. Along with performing Gabrielle has taught and choreographed for institutions within the Philadelphia area including, Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center, CAPA High School, Point Breeze Performing Arts Center and Stars Studio of Dance. For the last ten years she has had the pleasure of directing Dancefusion’s fusion2, a training company for young professional dancers and also teaches Modern at the Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center.

  • Martha Chamberlain began her dance training at age five at the Fellowship House in Media, Pennsylvania, where she was born and raised. She went on to study with Donna Muzio, Paul Klocke and Cherie Noble at West Chester’s Dance Center and The School of American Ballet’s Summer Program from 1985 to 1988. She is a graduate of Friends Select and The School of Pennsylvania Ballet. Ms. Chamberlain joined Pennsylvania Ballet as an Apprentice in the fall of 1989 and was promoted to the Corps de Ballet three months later. She was promoted to Soloist in 1997 and to Principal after her premiere as Juliet in John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet in March 2000. Ms. Chamberlain has danced several leading roles including Cinderella in Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella, Katherina in John Cranko’s The Taming of the Shrew, Juliet in Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, Swanhilda in Coppélia, Myrtha in Giselle, Dewdrop and Sugarplum Fairy in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker and Helena and Divertissement pas de deux in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She has also had featured roles in George Balanchine’s Ballo della Regina, The Four Temperaments, Agon, Western Symphony, Serenade, Apollo and “Rubies” from Jewels; Twyla Tharp’s Push Comes to Shove and In the Upper Room and Paul Taylor’s Company B and Arden Court. She has created roles for such choreographers as Trey McIntryre, Jessica Lang, Jorma Elo and Matthew Neenan; and she has had the opportunity to dance internationally in Portugal, England and Germany. She retired from the Pennsylvania Ballet in 2011, after dancing with that company for 21 years. Ms. Chamberlain has designed costumes for many years. Among the choreographers she has created works for are Christopher D’ Amboise, Matthew Neenan, Meredith Rainey, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Jorma Elo, and Nicolo Fonte. She is the founder of Chamberlain Goods, a dancer wear company, specializing in custom made leotards, tights and warm-ups.

  • Dyn Garcia is a graduate from Temple University’s Dance BFA program. She holds the Rose Venrick Award for Choreography. She began her dance training at The Dance Carousel and continued her dance journey attending Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, and Arts Academy Middle School. Performing and teaching includes, Shawnee Playhouse, Meg Allison Artistic Dance Collective, Temple University Shadowcasters, Monroe Ballet Theater and the Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center Summer Camp. Dyn is teaching Mod/Jazz and Tap at the Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center.

  • Kerian Pearson began her dance training at the age of four and enjoyed many years as a student at the Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center. She was a member of fusion2 from 2009 to 2012, during that time she also participated in the HMS School collaboration. It's also where she began developing her teaching skills. She found a new love in social dance at college, particularly Blues and its many idioms. Her choreography has been performed by fusion2 in 2024 and 2025. She is currently teaching various dance styles in various places and is GBDC’s and Dancefusion’s stage manager. Kerian teaches Creative Ballet, Creative Tap, Mod/Jazz & Musical Theater at the Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center.

  • Kathryn Schweingruber is a dancer, teacher and choreographer from Philadelphia, PA. She grew up training at Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center and went on to earn a B.S. in Dance from Drexel University. She is trained in Modern, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Jazz and African Dance techniques. Throughout her time at Drexel, Kathryn performed in works by Sandra Parks, Jennifer Morley, Dinita Clark, Cachet Ivey, Miriam Giguere and Brendan Fernandes. Kathryn has choreographed works for Drexel Dance Ensemble, FreshDance, fusion2, Penn Dance Company and Philadelphia Dance Academy. She's attended summer programs at Earl Mosley’s Institute for the Arts, Philadanco and Urban Bush Women’s Summer Leadership Institute. After graduating, Kathryn spent two years as an ArtistYear Resident Teaching Artist at Samuel Fels High School. She most recently was a member of Academy of Phresh Performance Company directed by Smart Mark and Shanika QP. Kathryn also performed as a company member in the Philadelphia Jazz Tap Ensemble from 2022-2023. She is currently teaching at several studios and schools in the Philadelphia area. Kathryn was a member of fusion2 from 2010-2016. Kathryn teaches tap at the Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center. You can follow everything she’s up to on Instagram! @movin.gruber.

  • Jill Zhuraw pianist and clarinetist, performs in the Penn Wind Ensemble, Ed Bogusz Opera Orchestra, Verdi Band, master classes, and has as well in the Main Line Symphony, Penn Orchestra, Rose Tree Orchestra, and the Main Line Ecumenical Choir Orchestra. She has performed as dance accompanist at the University Arts League for Binnie Ritchie Holum and Anne-Marie Mulgrew and has been staff pianist at the Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center since its inception in 1985. She studied piano with Estelle Kahn, Max Koffs, and David Sokoloff, and clarinet with Rick Lawn and Paul Stauffer.