Gretchen Shelesky, owner & artistic director

TRAINING: Gretchen began dancing at age 5. She studied with Kelly Patrick Swingle in Archbald, PA in tap, lyrical, ballet, and jazz from 1991-2001. She has taken with Pearlann Porter, Caitlin Gudat, Jeremy Czarniak, Debby Benvin, Angela Wheland, Gino Vaccaro, Kiki Lucas, Kim Clay, and others since moving to Pittsburgh in 2001.  Her promise is to continue to learn from others.

TEACHING: Since 1993, Gretchen had taught with the Kelly Patrick Studio of Dance, Benvin Dance and Performing Arts Center, and Point Park Community Classes before opening Ideal Dance in 2010.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY: Her promise is to provide an open and supportive environment to help dancers grow in abilities, personal development, and well-being.

OTHER CAREER: Gretchen is a family doctor with the UPMC St Margaret Family Medicine Residency Program, though her most important job is as a mom of 2 beautiful girls.

She will be teaching tap, contemporary, and jazz during the 2023-2024 academic year.

Sarah Danylo, faculty

TRAINING: Sarah began dancing at 5 years old with a formal focus on ballet and a love for hip hop. She joined Addis Studios 2005-2009, with experience in Jazz, Contemporary, and Ballet where she had featured roles in The Nutcracker. She also completed a summer program at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. In 2010, she joined the Ideal Dance family where she has been dancing ever since. 

TEACHING: Sarah has been teaching and demonstrating at Ideal Dance since 2017.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY: Her Teaching Philosophy is laughter. She will help you get out of your comfort zone and push yourself to be your best by remembering to laugh, smile, and enjoy the experience along the way.

OTHER CAREER: She is the owner of a magical arts and craft shop, The Chosen Wand. #thechosenwand

She are so excited to have Miss Sarah teaching ballet and hip hop for the 2023-2024 season!

Kaitlin Muczyk, faculty

TRAINING: Ms Kait is a graduate of Penn State University with concurrent BAs in Theatre and Integrative Arts/Dance. Since then Kaitlin has trained with masters of dance, voice, and theatre in Pittsburgh, New York City, New Hampshire, and London.

TEACHING: Since 2007 Ms Kait has been teaching dance, musical theater, and kinesthetic wellness all over Western Pennsylvania. 

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY: Ms Kait loves working with people of all ages and abilities and finding ways to enhance life through movement. Seeing the inherent dignity in all students and holding space for all to find comfort in their own skin, She firmly believes that everyone can dance. She aims to inspire her students by igniting their passion for movement, meeting people where they are, nurturing their abilities, and promoting a strong sense of self confidence.

OTHER CAREER: Ms Kait is currently the Interim Arts Education Director for Attack Theater Pittsburgh; supporting, training, and engaging teaching artists around Pittsburgh/West Virginia/Ohio. But her favorite titles are Mommy to Sidney and Wife to Stephanie.

We are thrilled to have Ms Kait back this year to teach ballet, jazz, and special needs in the 2023-2024 academic year.

Aeriana Olds, faculty

TRAINING: Aeriana began dancing at the age of 4 at the Benvin Dance and Performing Arts Center and has been with Ideal Dance since 2010. She has experience in tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, and contemporary and continues to train in college where she is taking classes in modern, jazz, and ballet. 

TEACHING: Aeriana has been demonstrating at Ideal Dance since 2018.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY: Aeriana hopes that she is able to help dancers build a connection not only with themselves, but also with their movements, their music, and the space around them when they dance. She wants dancers to be able to express themselves however they want or need to and put whatever they are feeling into each of their movements without being afraid. 

OTHER CAREER: Aeriana is currently a college student at the University of Pittsburgh working towards earning a BA in Theater Arts and a Minor in Dance. She is also a part-time associate at TJMaxx. 

We are so excited to have MIss Aeriana teaching tap, jazz, and contemporary during the 2023-2024 academic year.

Julia Wallace, assistant artistic director & faculty

TRAINING: Julia began dancing at various local studios at the age of three. She trained with the Benvin Dance and Performing Arts Center from 2002-2010. She danced as a member of the Pittsburgh Community Ballet Company from 2006-2010 and continued her training as a company dancer with Ideal Dance when it opened in September 2010 until June 2012. In college, she attended tap classes led by Barry Blumenfeld and continued to perform with Ideal Dance.

TEACHING: Julia demonstrated at Ideal Dance from Sept 2010 to June 2012, and has been teaching all genres at Ideal Dance since 2016.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY: Her promise is to promote a love, appreciation, and passion for dance in each of her students by enhancing individual knowledge of dance, technical skills, and creativity of movement.

OTHER CAREER: Julia graduated from New York University in May 2016 with degrees in Psychology and Architecture/Urban Design Studies. She currently works for the University of Pittsburgh as a research specialist at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and hopes to return to school for a Masters in Neuropsychology.

We're so happy to have Miss Julia on faculty! She will be teaching ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, and tap during the 2023-2024 academic year.