Instructors who've lived this stage.
From Broadway-adjacent credits to two decades of twirling with Wolf's, the team teaches from real performing experience.
Laura Wolf
DirectorFounder of Wolf's Performing Arts and Wolf's Twirlers (2000). Penn State grad; 38+ years instructing award-winning dance, guard, and majorette groups.
Amanda (Ferguson) Nelson
Admin DirectorBaton, Acro, Ballet & Tap InstructorBegan twirling with Wolf's at age 9 and teaching by age 10; Acrobatic Arts certified. 24 years with WPA.
Michaela Gerney
Competitive Baton · Toddler Baton · PreschoolTwirling since 2002; instructing since 2014.
Sierra (Kosmac) Gdula
Advanced Competitive Dance Coach · Upper-Level Traditional DanceTrained at Central PA Youth Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theater, and Pittsburgh Musical Theater; completed training at Marymount Manhattan College. Also choreographs for local theater programs. 10 years with WPA.
Mykenzie Stager
Recreational Jazz & Ballet · Competitive Cadet & Jr. BatonStudying Early Childhood Education at Pitt–Johnstown while dancing and twirling on the university's team. 17 years with WPA.
Sophia Shedlock
Level 2 Ballet, Tap & JazzA Wolf's dancer since age 3; spent 5 years as a student instructor before joining the teaching staff. 15 years with WPA.
Shyanne Emmel
Recreational Ballet, Jazz, Acro & Baton4 years with WPA.
Ashley Cassol
Tiny Tappers, Creative Movement, Combo & Jr. Jazz20+ years of dance experience, including competitive years with the UPJ Dance Ensemble; her daughter Annika dances competitively at Wolf's. Starting her 5th year instructing.
Kailee St. Pierre
Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop & Jr. Competitive Hip Hop TeamA dancer for nearly 18 years; over 7 years with WPA as both student and instructor.
Anna Knobloch
Creative Movement & Tiny TappersDanced with Wolf's for 6 years, studying ballet, pointe, and contemporary; now studying sonography at Mount Aloysius College. 7 years with WPA; 5th year instructing.
Olivia Westover
Combos & Junior JazzDanced competitively for 15 years and recreationally for 13; in her final year at Saint Francis University studying exercise physiology. 5 years teaching at WPA.
Krystal Keener
Musical Theater & Cheer BasicsChoreographed musicals for 10 years and coached cheer for 8 years at a previous school.
Jenelle Hanlon
Acro 1, Acro 3, Advanced Acro Certified · Assists with Advanced ContemporaryCompetitively twirled for 16 years and danced for 10. 20 years with WPA as student and instructor.
Stephanie Cooper
Competitive TwirlingBegan dancing and twirling at age 3; competed in Color Guard with the Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps. Her daughter Lena dances and twirls too. 14 years instructing with WPA.
Brandy Franke
Fundraising CoordinatorRuns the studio's monthly fundraising program that helps families offset tuition, costumes, and travel. Going into her 5th year in the role; an active dance mom for 9 years.
Ashley Stranathan
Office AssistantSpent 15 years as a Medical Assistant before becoming a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom. Her two daughters dance at Wolf's. With WPA since 2022.
Crystal Long
Office AssistantA dance mom of about 12 years who enjoys reading, the outdoors, and fiber arts. 6 years as OA.