Instructors
Lauri Welteroth
Owner
Lauri has dedicated her life to the beautiful art of dance, the community and to bringing her students the very best experience in dance education. For more than three decades the LKW Dance Center programs have turned out confident, expressive dancers, and strong, committed individuals. Since 1982, Lauri continues to advance the opportunities of our students and their families.
Olivia Swink
Director
Olivia is a Pennsylvania native, born and raised in Williamsport. She has studied dance since the age of two, dancing at LKW Dance Center from the ages of seven to eighteen. She continued her study of dance at Skidmore College, where she has graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Human Physiological Sciences with honors in a double major of Dance with a Research Studies concentration.
Studying Human Physiological Sciences, Olivia is knowledgeable in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and nutrition and how these concepts are related and applied to physical activity and dance. Throughout her years at college, she shadowed a physical therapist who specializes in dancers to gain a better understanding of dance-related injury treatments and care. She incorporates these skills into her personal approach to dancing as well as her teaching modalities.
In her dance education at Skidmore College, Olivia studied subjects including dance composition and choreography, dance history and society, music for dance, and anatomy in dance, as well as conducted research in healthcare disparities present among dancers and the inclusion of dance in liberal arts education for elementary schools. Olivia has also participated in a partnership with PBS Learning Media to create a series of socio-emotional learning videos for promoting movement in elementary classrooms.
Within her physical dance education, she has maintained focus in ballet and modern styles in addition to studying jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, and afro-contemporary. She has worked closely with and performed pieces by professionals including Erika Pujič, Jason Ohlberg, Brian Lawson, and Hettie Barnhill, as well as worked with and performed pieces by Peter Chu, Monica Bill Barnes, and Francesca Dominguez.
Olivia worked as a teaching assistant for the Skidmore College Dance Department, where she designed lesson plans and instructed an upper-level modern dance course for collegiate students. Additionally, she has worked as an academic peer tutor for anatomy in dance and as the social media content manager for the dance department.
Olivia’s passions lie within promoting dance as a means for physical and mental wellness and teaching the next generation how to use dance as a tool to create a positive relationship with themselves and their peers. As a member of the National Dance Education Organization, she continues her own education in respect to dance and teaching, as she believes learning should be a constant for educators, especially those in the field of dance.
As she begins her position as Director of LKW Dance Center, Olivia is excited to get to know the students and families of LKW and share her love of dance with all!
Martin Carrasco
Artistic Director of the Ballet Program
Martin Carrasco received his Bachelor Degree in Classical Ballet, from The National Institute of Fine Arts in Mexico City. Immediately following graduation he was offered a contract to come to the United States. He began his professional dance career in 1986 with Ballet of the Americas in El Paso, Texas. Since then he has danced with Michigan Ballet, The Florida Ballet, Atlantic Ballet Theater and Berkshire Ballet Company. He trained in New York City under the coaching of John Magnus, Finis Jhung, Maggie Black, David Howard, Nancy Bielski and Marina Staviskaya. Martin has also studied the Bournonville technique and Methodology with Madame Kirsten Ralov from The Royal Danish Ballet.
Martin joined the Berkshire Ballet Company in Albany, NY as a principal Dancer in 1988. His repertory included “Peasant Pas de Deux” from “Giselle”, and “Grand Pas de Deux” from “The Nutcracker”, performing all with fiery brilliance.
Martin was recognized in Newsweek magazine in 1990 for his performance in the special production of “The Nutcracker” with the Red Bank Ballet Company.
In 1991, he joined The Metropolitan Opera Ballet Company at Lincoln Center in New York City under the direction of Diana Levi, performing at The Metropolitan Opera House. His repertory included Operas such “Aida”, “Turandot”, “Tannhauser”, “La Traviata”, and many others, where he was fortunate to work with such stars like Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, & many others.
Martin has toured intensively, performing with national and international ballet companies, studying styles of Dance and Choreography in Vienna, Austria; Munich, Germany; Amsterdam, The Netherlands; London, United Kingdom; Madrid and Seville, Spain. With over 33 years of performing experience, being an accomplished professional ballet dancer, he enjoys teaching Classical Ballet Technique, Ballet Repertory and, coaching. Martin has so much to offer to new generations of ballet dancers.
Moving to Williamsport, Pennsylvania in December 2010, he began teaching Classical Ballet Technique & Repertory at LKW Dance Center in nearby Montoursville, PA. He has devoted himself to developing a strong Ballet Program, teaching and helping the young ballet students to achieve their greatest potential in dance thru discipline, hard work, perseverance and passion for this beautiful timeless Art.
Martin has been setting suites of Classical Ballet productions for LKW Dance Center for their year-end recitals since 2011. Among them, Swan Lake, Sylvia, first Act of Giselle, Paquita, Coppelia and 2018 La Bayadere, delivering every single one of them with the highest artistic quality and receiving a great ovation from the audience.
Jaime Feerrar
Dance Instructor
Jaime has been an instructor at LKW Dance Studio for more than a decade. She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Development and Strategies from Wilkes University. In 2009, she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Special Education and a concentration in Dance from Lock Haven University. In addition to teaching dance, Jaime is a second grade teacher with the Loyalsock Township School District.
Jaime had the pleasure of being the choreographer of numerous high school and community musicals including: Little Shop of Horrors (Jersey School Area School District); Oklahoma (Community Arts Center Student Summer Stock); Seussical the Musical, Willy Wonka, and The Music Man (Meadowbrooke Christian Academy); Fiddler On The Roof (Loyalsock Township High School); and Gypsy (Riverside Community Theatre League).
Jaime has attended several Professional Dance Development Conferences including the DanceLife Teacher Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Jaime continues to participate in Professional Dance Development for Teachers.
She hopes to enrich and inspire the artistic and cognitive development of all her students through the art of dance.
Gabrielle Fries
Dance Instructor
Gabrielle has been an LKW dancer for the past sixteen years. During 12 of those years, she competed on LKW’s competitive dance team.
Additionally, she has been an Assistant Dance Teacher in the preschool and combo programs for the past 8 years. Outside of the studio, Gabrielle is in the Accelerated Physician Assistant Program at Pennsylvania College of Technology. She is looking forward to a great year, and cannot wait to share her love of dance with all of you!
Gabrielle Moser
Dance Instructor
Gabrielle started dancing at LKW when she was just three years old. She grew up at the studio and called it a second home. Gabrielle was an assistant teacher in various classes throughout her years, and loved helping other students grow.
After graduation, Gabrielle attended Bloomsburg Univiersity and received a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management with a minor in Human Resources.
She is currently work for a non-profit, Families United Network, Inc., in the Human Resources Department.
Gabrielle is thrilled to be back working with students that are of the age when she first started dancing, so they can call the studio a second home, just like she did.
Shaye Fries
Dance Instructor
Shaye Fries began dancing at LKW Dance Center in the ‘Mommy & Me’ class when she was 16 months old. Ever since her first class, Shaye has shared an immense love for dance. At age five, Shaye joined the competitive dance team where her passion for dance truly grew. She continued dancing competitively until she graduated high school in the Spring of 2021. Shaye now attends Pennsylvania College of Technology with a major in Physician Assistant Studies, and minors in both Biology and Psychology. She hopes to combine her Physician Assistant degree with her minors in order to help her patients achieve their best possible health, both physically and mentally. Shaye began assistant teaching at LKW Dance Center when she was 14, and she has loved working with the children ever since. Shaye enjoys teaching Mommy & Me, Pre-K, Kinderdance, and Combo, because she started her journey as a dancer in those classes, and she wants to help new dancers along their own path. Shaye hopes to share her love of dance with her students so they may be inspired to find their own passion within dance.
Amanda Miller
Virtual Instructor
Amanda Miller is thrilled to be teaching classes virtually from across the pond to her hometown dance studio, LKW Dance center. Amanda is currently back up singer and choreographer for rock sensation, Sir Rod Stewart. She previously closed a few great runs in the Musical Theatre world including Sherrie in Rock of Ages, Las Vegas and Val Clark in A Chorus Line, New York. She has had the opportunity of performing alongside other iconic musicians such as Cyndi Lauper, Foreigner, Jeff Beck and The Faces. Memorable performance events include Strictly Come Dancing, The Graham Norton Show, Chris Evans Breakfast Show, Queen Latifah Show and NASCAR. Favorite Venues performed at include The 02, Madison Square Garden, Hollywood Bowl and Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. She’s been living the dream since an early age where she appeared in both national and international commercials for Disney and Nickelodeon. She also appeared as a featured dancer in live Disney productions and was honored to be appointed to the Pennsylvania Governor’s School of Performing Arts for Dance. Screen and film work include independent films and ABC’S ‘Six Degrees.’ To schedule private Pop/Rock and Musical Theatre Vocal Lessons with Amanda, schedule at [email protected]
Samantha Theriault
Her experience teaching recital and competitive dance classes deepened Samantha’s commitment to working with children. Currently, Samantha is a pediatric dental hygienist. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from the Pennsylvania College of Technology, complemented by minors in psychology and business administration.
Michele Kautz
Business Manager
Lisa Fries
