FACULTY & STAFF

Joan E. Van Dyke - Artistic director

Associate Professor of Dance at Indiana University of Pennsylvania
B.A. Ballet & Teacher Certification - Virginia Intermont College
M.S. Ballet, specializing in Kinesiology - Indiana University of Bloomington, IN
M.F.A. Dance - Arizona State University

Ms. Van Dyke holds a M.S. in ballet from Indiana University and an M.FA. in dance from Arizona State University, where she performed, taught and conducted extensive research on The Effect of Climate on Young Ballet Dancers. Ms. Van Dyke has choreographed numerous main stage productions for Indiana University of Pennsylvania Department of Theater and Dance and IUP Dance Theater, The Unseem’d Shakespeare Company, and Squonk Opera. She has served as Vice President of Dance for the Pennsylvania State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, and is a member of the World Dance Alliance - Americas, and Corps de Ballet International. She was awarded outstanding professional of the Year award in 2006 and 2010. Ms. Van Dyke was appointed ballet master for the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts from 2001-2007. Ms. Van Dyke was honored with the PSAHPERD Teacher of the Year Award for University Professors in Pennsylvania. Presently, she is an Associate Professor of Dance at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the Artistic Director and Director of Curriculum for Van Dyke and Company and the Mahoning Valley Ballet. She is the founder and director of “Forest Dancing” and serves as assistant director for IUP Dance Theater. Ms. Van Dyke has taught master classes for Evolve Productions Summer Intensive in Pittsburgh, PA. Ms. Van Dyke was the invited guest choreographer for “Darsa/Farsa” written and directed by Matko Srsen, which premiered at the 59th anniversary of the Dubrovnik International Festival Croatia in 2008. Ms. Van Dyke was an invited faculty member for the 6th International Summer Festival for the Theater of Change in Athens, Greece and invited presenter for the International Dance Alliance Conference in Vancouver, BC. and guest artist for the International Alexander Centre, Galway, Ireland. Ms. Van Dyke was awarded the Distinguished Faculty Award for the Creative Arts at IUP. Alexander Centre, Galway, Ireland. Ms. Van Dyke was awarded the Distinguished Faculty Award for the Creative Arts at IUP. View additional biography here.

Nancy Jones - assistant director, faculty

B.A. Art Education - Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)

Nancy was a former member of the IUP Concert Dance Company and, as well, has graced the stage in several Van Dyke & Company performances. Mrs. Jones has been teaching at our studio and serving as the Assistant Director for over 30 years. She currently instructs Ballet, Pointe, Stretch & Flex and a more recently formed Adult Ballet class. Nancy formerly worked as an Art Educator for the Punxsutawney Area School Disrtict and dedicated much time and talent to her students. She has influenced so many young dancers and artists through her unique approach and her ability to joyously share her deep understanding and knowledge. Nancy choreographed "The Crash," in VDC's original ballet, "Lace, Ecole de Vie."

CARLA FILLMAN - FACULTY

B.A. Dance - Point Park University
RYT - Yoga Alliance; 200 hr. Satya Yoga Teacher; Chair Yoga Teacher

A Van Dyke and Company alumni, Carla went on to complete a BA in Dance at Point Park University. Following an interim Artistic Director and teaching artist position with Van Dyke & Company/Mahoning Valley Ballet, Ms Fillman relocated with her spouse to the state of Delaware where she fulfilled multiple roles with the Dance Conservatory of Dover and Ballet Theater of Dover. Among those, she was Arts in Education Coordinator for the Dover High School Dance program and Visual Performing Arts Gifted program; Artistic Assistant; Resident Choreographer; Ballet Mistress and teaching faculty. She also coached conservatory pre-professional program students for the Youth America Grand Prix where one of her dancers earned a second place senior contemporary category finish in regional competition. During this time, Carla also returned to Pennsylvania as a guest teaching artist for the annual Van Dyke and Company Forest Dancing camp. Afterwards, she chose to lean into a new adventure as full time mom for her daughter where she quickly noticed a community need and became an advocate/parent group organizer for the Delaware Children in Nature Coalition. Her mission emphasized the important roles free play and nature connection serve in nurturing creative instinct, problem solving capabilities, resiliency, and meaningful relationships with our world. Most recently Carla returned to the PA Wilds with her family and completed a 200 hour Satya yoga teacher training. In that arena, she is beginning to fuse her passions for nature, dance, and the holistic wellness practice that is yoga into her offering - Wilds Expanded Yoga. She is excited to bring broader understanding of these historic roots within the Modern/ Contemporary dance lexicon with her as she comes full circle once again into the world of dance at Van Dyke and Company studios.

APRIL ASTORINO - substitute faculty

M.Ed. Counselor Education - Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)
B.S. Communications Media - IUP
Minor in Dance - IUP

April studied at the university level under Holly Boda-Sutton (Modern) and Joan Van Dyke (Classical Ballet) as well as received dance training through various residency programs which included the professional companies of Paul Taylor 2, Attack Theater, Group Motion, Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal, Headlong Dance Theater, Flamenco Ole!, and the Nego Gato African Brazilian Music & Dance Ensemble. As a member of the IUP Dance Theater, she earned the Most Outstanding Company Member Award and was selected as Rehearsal Director and dancer for Michelle Van Doren’s piece, “Wild Things.” She was additionally cast in several guest artist works and more notably, danced on stage with Flamenco Ole! and the Nego Gato Ensemble during their IUP Lively Arts performances.

Enhancing her technique, April trained at several summer programs including Point Park International Summer Dance, Mercyhurst Summer Dance Institute and Bodiography Contemporary Ballet. During her foundational years, she danced at Van Dyke & Company, was a Mahoning Valley Ballet company soloist and attended Forest Dancing Summer Intensives.

Since 2005, April has instructed Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Jumps, Turns & Leaps, Repertoire and Conditioning at our studios. She contributes to Van Dyke & Company in a variety of roles including choreographer, rehearsal assistant, photographer, sound technician and marketing assistant. April has choreographed several performance pieces and has taught classes at our Forest Dancing Summer Intensive, as well as at The Dance Academy in Indiana, PA. She also holds a current Pennsylvania School Counselor (PK-12) Certification.