Connie Dienner, Executive Director
Connie Dienner is the the founder and director of the Chabod Academy of the Arts, pulling together 30+ years of involvement in the Theatre Arts both in the United States and abroad, and the desire to foster a setting where creative people are accepted and their gifts nurtured. Connie’s undeniable passion for God, the students, and the community, is shared with a distinct vision of how excellence in the arts can be used to grow and advance the God’s Kingdom. This vision radiates through the Academy as student’s are trained and mentored to user their creative gifts in an inspiring and world-impacting way. Connie’s successful leadership was pivotal in several musicals to include the Academy’s own “[Clever Holiday Title]”, and producing Meredith Wilson’s “The Music Man”; impacting the local region for years to come. Her submissiveness to God’s direction and call, has revealed a growing Chabod Academy family.  “As the student’s and staff grow also in confidence, the achievement of excellence seems almost…..contagious!”

Tahnya Lapp, Assistant Director/Artistic Director, Ballet Instructor (Grade I and II and Adult Beginner)
Tahnya has been dancing at various schools in the region from a very young age. Her passion for dance developed when she traveled and performed across the east coast on a mission trip at 14 years old. It was then that she discovered there was more to dance then looking good onstage… dance is a powerful tool that breaks cultural barriers and reaches the hearts of people without even saying a word.  Tahnya has been with Chabod Academy of the Arts since it’s small beginnings. She has taught hip hop, modern, worship dance and ballet. She is currently focusing on ballet and her roll as Assistant Director/Artistic Director. She has been receiving much guidance from Carolyn Trythall, owner of Lancaster School of Ballet. She has been taught under the professional instruction of Paul Sutherland (Joffrey Ballet), Brunhilda Ruiz (Joffery Ballet), Emily Borthwick (Contra Costa Ballet), Raymond Lukens (American Ballet Theatre), Christopher Hird (Boston Ballet), Franco De Vita (American Ballet Theatre). Tahnya attends the Cecchetti Council of America conference every fall and spring. She is in the process of getting her Grade I teacher certification from Cecchetti Council of America. She is very excited about the potential the academy has not only to raise up dancers with beautiful technique but dancers that can dance with excellence and purity unto the Lord. She has a passion to see the Kingdom of God influence the world with dance that is modern and relevant, instead of the world influencing the Kingdom. Tahnya and her husband, Richard reside in New Holland. They have four young children.

Administration

Ashley Dienner, Bookeeper/Administrator
Ashley graduated from Acts International Bible School where she received her Associates Degree in Theology. She is married to Derek Dienner who oversees the media/video of Chabod Academy. She has also been involved in organizing numerous Chabod Academy events. Ashley has always enjoyed working in administration. She has been a great asset to the Academy.

Jeremy Schmidt, Office Assistant and Stage Manager

A native of the suburbs in Chicago, Jeremy has been involved in theater and the arts since elementary school. In high-school he acted in such shows as Plaza Suite, To Kill A Mockingbird and Harvey, and also had a chance to student direct Fools. In college he played Tumnus the Faun in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and also wrote and directed his own one act show.In 2004, Jeremy moved to Pennsylvania and started work at a church as an Administrative Assistant, to help grow a small college and career age Sunday evening service. In 2006, Jeremy started working at Sight & Sound Theatres, backstage and gained much experience in the control booth and stage management. In 2008, Jeremy was cast in Sight & Sound’s Daniel and the Lion’s Den. After the show closed he went backstage again has been there since. Last year Jeremy came on board to Stage Manage the Academy’s Christmas show, [Clever Holiday Title], and The Music Man this past Spring. This year he is a part of the production team for Chabod Community Theater, and is so excited to be working on It’s a Wonderful Life this fall!

Dance

Julie Krothe, Hip Hop Instructor
Julie has studied dance at the academy for 5 years and started teaching Hip-Hop for 3 years ago. She has been involved in productions at the Academy including “The Choice”, “[Clever Holiday Title]”, and “The Music Man”. Julie is currently employed by Sight and Sound Theatres as a hair assistant. She also works in concessions and appeared in “In the Beginning”. This past Spring, she choreographed “Seussical” for the Manheim Recreation Center. Julie is also a talented singer, currently taking voice at the Academy.

Marian West, Lyrical/Duncan Modern Instructor, Infusion Choreographer
Ms.West graduated Summa Cum Laude from DeSales University with a B.A. in Dance and minors in Music and Marriage & Family Studies.  She has studied ballet, modern, jazz, hip-hop, and African dance.  After college, Marian’s performing and teaching career took her to NYC, where she studied under the mentorship of Lori Belilove and Cherlyn Smith of the Isadora Duncan Dance Company and performed with St. Michael’sWarriors, a Christian hip-hop, contemporary company and Skylight Dance Theatre, a Christian modern company.  Marian is so grateful to be back home, where her heart is, close to her family, and doing what she loves!  It is Marian’s delight to share the joy of movement and discipline of dance with students of all ages and stages.  Having graduated from the Swedish Institute of NYC as a Licensed Massage Therapist as well as having studied the Theology of the Body, Ms.West has a deepened appreciation for the intricate structure and kinesthetics of the human body and all that the body reveals.  Marian hopes to continue performing, teaching, and choreographing, while also interweaving her two loves of movement therapy and massage therapy into a beautiful healing ministry.

Stephanie Morales, Ballet Instructor (Primary I and II and Non-Syllabus)
Stephanie has been trained in classical ballet for eight years under the direction of Dance For Joy Ministries, Lancaster School of Ballet, and Premiere Danse Academy. She has participated in Ballet Theater of Lancaster’s productions of Chippolino, Snow White, The Seasons, and The Nutcracker. Stephanie has attended Ballet Magnificat’s summer dance intensive in 2009 and 2010 and in 2009 competed in the Assemblies of God Fine Arts competition locally and nationally in the category of Worship Dance. She has been an apprentice ballet teacher under the supervision of Molly Carey from Lancaster School of Ballet. Along with dancing, she has participated in dramas and musicals such as Jane Eyre, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, and Sight and Sound’s production of In the Beginning. Stephanie’s passion lies in sharing God’s love, through dance, all around the world. She is so thrilled to join Chabod Academy of the Arts’ faculty this year.

Chris Torchia, Break Dancing
Chris Torchia was first introduced to breakdancing six years ago. Since then, Chris has been developing his talents in this dance as well as using it do connect with the community around him. Along with co-members of his Bboy crew, Break Free Crew, Chris has performed at various regional venues, including performances at the Philadelphia Painted Bride Theater, Millersville University half-time shows, the Clipper Stadium, Lancaster Bible College, numerous churches and schools, as well as an album release concert for Phanatik from The Cross Movement. In one of their most recent achievements, Break Free won first place in the WJTL’s Talent Challenge 2010. A recent graduate of Lancaster Bible College with a B.A. in Intercultural Studies, Chris has been active in ministry both locally and internationally, this includes teaching in Namibia, as well as work in Kenya, Turkey, and Western Europe. Chris has taught breakdancing for the past four years in various places, including the Lancaster city school system for two years with a nonprofit organization called Heads Up. He has also attained a Certificate in Bible studies at Word of Life Bible Institute in Southern Florida. Apart from his dance, Chris has a very strong desire to teach and disciple through the Word of God, showing people how to become followers of Christ Jesus.

Cara Richardson, Tap and Jazz Instructor, Secretary/Events Coordinator
Cara appreciates all forms of dance and enjoys teaching students of all ages. She has been teaching Jazz, Tap, and Hip Hop at Chabod Academy for 2 years and has taught Lyrical and Hip Hop at Academy summer camps. She has also been performing with Chabod Academy’s dance company, “Infusion” for 2 years.Cara has lived all over the country, and as a result gained a rich cultural and artistic experience. She danced in the Florida Ballet’s production of “The Nutracker” from 1997-1998. In 2007 Cara choreographed “Godspell” for Fitch Senior High School in Connecticut and most recently she worked as a choreographer for Shining Light Ministries in Lebanon, PA. Cara has also performed in various musicals and shows including, “Grease”, “Romeo and Winnefred”, “Little Shop of Horrors”, “The Choice”, “[Clever Holiday Title]”, and “The Music Man”. Cara also works in the Academy office as a secretary and plans and coordinates many of Chabod Academy’s events.

Diana Nugent, Jazz, Pilates, Physical Theatre, Tiny Tots, Creative Ballet and Movement Instructor
Diana has an extensive history with the arts. From Syracuse, NY to Philadelphia to Lancaster, Diana has studied with premiere choreographers from the Dance Arts Studio & Center For Movement Studios to the Koresh School of Dance. She has choreographed for numerous theatre companies on the east coast and teaches dance across Pennsylvania. Diana enjoys challenging artists in their craft and brings a loving but professional aura to her classes. Outside of her time teaching dance, Diana sews and does makeup artistry professionally. Diana also leads PRiMA Theatre Company with her husband Mitchell.

Aaron Dienner, Hip Hop Instructor

Aaron has studied dance at Chabod Academy for 6 years and is teaching Beginner Hip-Hop this year with Cortlynn Phillips. He has performed in numerous academy productions including “A Mixed Mashed Mess of a Tale”, “The Choice”, [Clever Holiday Title]”, and “The Music Man”. Aaron has also been performing with Chabod Academy’s dance company, “Infusion” for 3 years.  He has a passion for music and is currently taking voice and piano.

Cortlynn Phillips, Hip Hop Instructor

Bio coming soon…

Gymnastics

Derek Martin, Gymnastics
Derek comes to us with a variety of experience in gymnastics and tumbling. He has had 17 years of training through Positive Fitness Gymnastics. He taught there for 4 years and has been teaching at Chabod Academy for 2 years. Derek was a stunt coach for Garden Spot Varsity for 1 season. He was also a competitive cheerleader for 2 years and a tumbling coach for Synergy Elite Cheerleading. Derek is currently performing with Chabod Academy’s dance company, Infusion and is involved in many of the dance classes at the Academy.

Theater

Stan Deen, CCT Director

Stan has been active in theatre since elementary school in Lancaster City.  A teacher of some thirty-five years in public education at Penn Manor, Solanco, and Garden Spot, he now continues to teach and direct at Veritas Academy, Teach Homeschool, Garden Spot High School  and most recently at Lancaster Bible College in the Worship and Performing Arts Department.  He is a graduate of  Millersville State Teachers College, and Pasadena Playhouse of Performing Arts in California.  Stan also studied voice and acting  in England for five summers.  Stan has acted locally at the Fulton Theatre and Sight and Sound Theatres. He has directed over 100 shows in his busy career and is still staging productions  locally.  He also speaks at various fund raisers, banquets, retreats and conventions.  Stan is known for his sense of humor, inspiration and enthusiasm in all he does.  As Shakespeare states in one of his plays, “All the world’s a stage”, and Stan literally believes that to be true.

Ben Krothe, Stage Manager

Ben has been involved in drama in one form or another for over 20 years. His credits include seven years on stage as a principal actor at Sight and Sound Theater in shows like Behold the Lamb, The Joys of Christmas, Happiness is Easter, The Eternal Flame and Noah as well as a deck technician and working in the shop helping to design and construct sets. He has acted in, and helped direct, several shows at Chabod Academy of the Arts in the last five years and currently teaches Drama. He has also been an acting coach for a short film produced here in Lancaster. Ben has had the pleasure of working with Stan Deen as an actor at Sight and Sound, in a live Easter performance in downtown Lancaster, and as a Technical Director at Garden Spot High School.

Steve Atherholt, Acting Instructor
Stephen is glad to be back at Chabod teaching acting. Stephen attained his BA in Theater from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and his Masters of Fine Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University. He has been acting on stage at Sight and Sound since 2001, and has enjoyed playing roles such as Adam & Christ (In The Beginning), Hiram (Ruth), King Herod (Miracle of Christmas), and is currently playing Simeon in “Joseph”.  Stephen also has the privilege of working in the local television and commercial market and is excited to teach a commercial acting class this fall. When not acting, Stephen is either fixing computers or traveling the world with is beautiful wife, Jessica.

Emerald Conniff, Acting Instructor

Emerald is currently a senior at Lancaster Bible College, studying as a vocal performance major.  Although she studies voice, theater is her main passion.  She has had a desire to cultivate a more professional view of Christians in theater.  Any roles she has played include various aspects of the production process: writing, directing, producing, backstage, acting, and anything else she can get her hands on.  Excited about the opportunity to teach theater at Chabod Academy, Emerald hopes to encourage young aspiring actors.

Mitchell M. Nugent, Special Events Consultant
Mitchell M. Nugent is glad to share his skills and knowledge base of arts administration with the Chabod Academy. Mitchell works at Sight & Sound Theatres and also is the Artistic Director of PRiMA Theatre Company. Before coming to Lancaster, he worked in Upstate New York, directing a myriad of theatre productions and bringing acts to the area such as Colm Wilkinson, Broadway’s original lead in Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables. Mitchell enjoys cultivating a growing community of artists in the region who aim to positively impact the world their art and their lives. In addition to his administrative work, Mitchell is an accomplished actor and singer. Some past roles include Cain in In The Beginning, Jamie in The Last Five Years, Rum Tum Tugger in Cats, and Jesus in Godspell. He has also performed alongside Dean Armstrong and worked with Carla Bianco of Broadway’s Rent.

Music

Laura Kautz, Suzuki Piano Teacher
Laura Kautz began her music career as a Suzuki piano student and continued her studies in college. She has a B.A. in Music from Bethel College, North Newton, KS where she also took piano pedagogy classes.  Laura has taught piano for 10 years, and is a member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas.  She is trained in the Suzuki method and philosophy. Her passion is to teach not only the music, but the whole person in order to encourage good self-esteem, discipline, and to inspire students to develop their abilities.

George Yellak, Private Drums, Bass, and Guitar

George Yellak has been a professional musician since graduating high school in 1983.   He did his bachelor’s work at the University of North Texas, majoring in Jazz Studies with a concentration in Percussion. He also studied electric bass in the school’s Lab Band program. Post college, George toured the Southeast extensively with rhythym&blues performers ranging from Little Joe Blue to Johnny Taylor. He presently performs in the Northeast with a number of jazz, blues, pop, and worship ensembles. George has been teaching privately in Lancaster County for 18 years and offers lessons on guitar, bass, drums, and piano. In 1996 he opened a teaching studio called the Music Workshop which he continues to own and operate. George has played an integral part in the development of church worship departments and the training of musicians who participate in them. His versatile skill set enables him to communicate  the intricacies of music in an easy to understand vocabulary.

Johnathan Bauer, Piano and Voice Teacher
Johnathan joined the staff of Chabod Academy in the spring of 2010 as a piano and vocal instructor. He received a bachelors degree in vocal performance from the University of Southern Maine, graduating summa cum laude, with a 4.0 GPA. Johnathan was twice selected to perform in the Honors Recital at USM, and has won 1st place three times at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition. Before moving to PA, he performed and taught in Maine, directing shows at Greater Portland Christian School. Johnathan moved to the Lancaster area with his wife Rebecca, to work at Sight & Sound Theatre. He is currently playing the role of “Benjamin” in Joseph.

Stephanie Todoroff

Stephanie Todoroff is currently a Senior at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design studying Illustration. She has been interested in artwork most of her life, and recently discovered her passion for teaching. During the summer of 2010, she painted the sets for the production “The Music Man,” put on by the Academy. Soon after that she designed the set of the children’s musical “Zoo Cruise for Two’s” as well as teaching the art class at Chabod’s summer camp at Tel Hai in Honeybrook, PA.  Stephanie had the opportunity to assist in painting a few set pieces for the Fulton Opera House’s “Treasure Island,” and in high school she Illustrated a book entitled “The Autopsy of a Dead Church” written by Lou Mancari. Her senior year in high school she received the American Visionary Award in the Scholastic Art Competition held nationwide, and was one among of fifty in the country to receive the honor.  She has had some photography published in collegiate and professional photography books. She is looking forward to her first teaching endeavor and is extremely thankful for the Academy and this opportunity.