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Miss AlisonOwner/Instructor, holds a BFA in Performing Arts from Oklahoma City University and has extensive teaching experience in all forms of dance. She has taught, choreographed and directed locally for nineteen years. Alison takes pride in teaching her students to be good people as well as successful dancers.
Before calling Montoursville, PA home Alison performed and taught in Boston, New York City, New Jersey and Chicago. Some of her credits include Nutcracker, A Chorus Line, Busch Gardens (Virginia) and Crazy For You, where she met her late husband Dean Stroop. Together their best accomplishment was their children, Abby & Mason. Alison believes in using her time and talent to give back to our community. She has choreographed several musicals for Montoursville High School, Loyalsock High School, Student Summer Stock, and most recently CTL's Penguin Project. Working with the Penguin Project inspired her to become a certified instructor for Rhythm Works Integrative Dance Program. She is thrilled to team up with drum instructor/mentor Mike Wrench to offer the "I Can" program, a dance and rhythm class for students with disabilities. Alison opened You Can Do It with the aim of providing quality dance education in a positive, stress free, family environment. "Our main goal is to build character through dance education." The instruction provided at You Can Do It is diverse, tasteful, genuine, and fun! Most importantly we aim to instill life skills through teamwork, leadership, confidence, loyalty and respect.
Miss Kristin Kristin grew up locally in the Williamsport area. She is currently an Autistic Support teacher for Blast IU 17 working in the South Williamsport School District. Kristin holds a Master’s Degree focusing in Special Education. She has been in the education field for 15 years working in Maryland, Delaware and back to her roots in Central Pennsylvania. While growing up, Kristin danced 13 years for Judy Hakes which included; tap, jazz and ballet. Throughout college, she continued the art of dance on school teams and with local dance studios. Kristin is the Founder of the local non-profit Growing Awareness, Inc. She is a mom of three. “I am excited to be a part of the You Can Do it family. Dancing has always been a passion of mine. I am so excited to share my love of dance with others” Miss Rebecca
Rebecca started dancing locally at the age of seven. She has studied ballet, lyrical, pointe, tap, jazz, contemporary, beginner gymnastics and musical theater throughout her dance career. She has also taken fitness classes in pilates, yoga, zumba and barre. At the age of thirteen, she went through a “teacher in training” program with Alison Stroop and has been instructing dance classes ever since. She held the role of Children’s Dance Program Director for several years until a move took her out of state. Rebecca taught at Fit To Dance Studio in Mullica Hill, New Jersey for three years and is returning to PA this year to teach at You Can Do It Dance and Fitness. Rebecca holds a teaching degree in Early Childhood Education from Lock Haven University and was a Pre-K Counts teacher for seven years at a local school district. During her undergraduate studies, she took a dance integration course and attended a dance teacher summit in NYC. She also supervised “Princess Dance Camp” for many summers. She will be completing the M.Ed. program at Penn State in Curriculum and Instruction emphasis in Children’s Literature this year and is part of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. She currently specializes in teaching children’s dance at a foundational level, including creative movement, ballet, tap, jazz and more. Rebecca is looking forward to continuing her career with You Can Do It, sharing a love of dance with her students in a community oriented environment. Miss Kailey
Kailey started dancing at three years old and has never stopped loving it. Over the years she practiced ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical/ contemporary. " I am grateful to have the opportunity to share the beautiful art of dance with so many others!" In addition to dance Kailey is currently a swimming teacher, lifeguard, and lifeguard instructor at the Eastern Lycoming YMCA. When she is not dancing or in the pool she is working on earning a K-12 teaching certification at Lycoming College. She is excited to part of the YCDI team! Miss Stephanie
Originally from Buffalo, New York, Stephanie is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of The University at Buffalo with a BFA in Dance. While in school, she made her debut performance asa Dancer/Singer at Darien Lake Theme Park Resort. She also had the opportunity to performwith the Zodiaque Dance Company, the elite in-house performing Company at the University. Shortly after graduation she continued her professional career with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. After traveling with them throughout Europe, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, she joined the Oasis of the Seas to play Amber Von Tussle in the Broadway Musical Hairspray. Following “ship-life” she made a career on land with Spirit Productions performingin their shows in Reno, Myrtle Beach and Beirut, Lebanon.She then became the assistant to Ben Blaque from “America’s Got Talent,” for his Danger Crossbow Act. Stephanie has performed in prestigious theaters at the Revel Casino and the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, and Harrah’s Resort in Laughlin, Nevada. Stephanie joined the cast of The Illusionists 2.0 alongside Ben Blaque, and toured inMelbourne, Australia and Osaka, Japan. She made her television debut in Los Angeles on anepisode for a talent reality show “I Can Do That” on NBC. Stephanie then joined the NationalTour of “The Illusionists: Live from Broadway” for two years. In her down time, she is assistant to Jason Marquette: Choreographer and Master Teacher, and Associate Choreographer with MPower Workshops and Marquette Productions. After retiring from tour life, Stephanie worked her way up to become a Director for several dance competitions, a dream job that unites all of her passions into one. She works closely with the owners to plan and execute large events all over the US. She also recently launched her own calligraphy business! Currently, Stephanie lives in Williamsport, PA with her husband and just welcomed a little boy. She is thrilled to join the YCDI team and share her joy with your dancer! Mr Mike Wrench /Percussionist
To say that drumming is a big part of Mike’s life is an understatement. It is his life. Starting at a young age it was apparent that just learning drum set was not going to be enough.
Taking lessons from some of the biggest names in the industry and watching his favorite percussionist, it became a reality this was what he was meant to do. From teaching private lessons, group classes, school settings, learning centers to corporate clinics and beyond. “ I wanted to take the two things that I felt I was excelling at, taking care of people and being a percussionist”this was the birth of “Upbeat Outreach” A company started by Mike working with not only special needs, but mentoring and inspiring people. “It’s always about others and trying new things” With this, it was time to once again get out of his comfort zone and pursue his teachings and talents into this dance studio. Dancing and drumming go hand-in-hand. They showcase our emotions and give us the freedom of expressing ourselves. Teaming up with Alison’s vision was the perfect fit. We want to do something different, and you can expect a experience you won’t find anywhere else! |