Broadway Connection

Imagine taking a master class with the Emmy Award-winning, seasoned Broadway tap dancer Jason Samuels Smith, or an acting class with Ayodele Casel, co-star of television shows like Law & Order and Third Watch, or spending a weekend in intensive workshops with the veteran international performer and choreographer Heather Cornell...

Few dancers could ever hope to travel to New York or Los Angeles to have an opportunity to work with even one of these great artists. Students at PAA have only needed to travel to Potters Mills, Pennsylvania! PAA has been thrilled to host these wonderful performers for weekend workshops in our local studio as part of our Broadway Connection program.

Our goal is to bring PAA students together with the world’s greatest dance and theater artists. Since we opened our doors in 2003, our students have worked with dance greats in both New York and Chicago, and we are thrilled to see so many of these artists travel to PAA’s studios to continue to work with our students. At PAA, we strive to provide a performing arts education that allows every student the opportunity to train with the very best, in order to fulfill their greatest potential as young artists. Students can achieve their dreams; we encourage them to believe in those dreams and let us show you the path to making those dreams come true!

Master Classes with Heather Cornell

PAA is proud to welcome one of the best tap teachers, choreographers and performers in the world, Ms. Heather Cornell. She is responsible for training many young tap artists including Mike Minery, Max Pollak, Roxanne Butterfly, Parris Mann and Jeannie Hill, as well as cast members of Manhattan Tap, Stomp, Bring in da' Noise, Bring in da' Funk, Tap Dogs, Cool Heat Urban Beat and Riverdance. She travels extensively, mentoring new tap communities, teaching master classes, and performing as a solo artists as well as with her company. Ms. Cornell is the Artistic Director of Manhattan Tap, one of New York City's leading tap ensembles. She also is a prolific choreographer, and recently choreographed the Tony-nominated Broadway comedy The Play What I Wrote. Heather's mentors include the great "hoofers" Eddie Brown, Buster Brown, Cookie Cook, Steve Condos and Chuck Green, and she has also worked with top jazz musicians worldwide.

Check out www.manhattantap.org for more about Heather Cornell!