ASHLEY KOHL
Owner & Creative Director, Hip Hop, Jazz, Acro, Musical Theatre
Summer Intensive
Ashley Kohl started dancing at New England Dance Conservatory at the age of 2. She was in the back line for her first dance on stage, but that didn’t stop her from pushing her way to the front line. She always knew she was meant to pursue performance and inspire others to have a passion for it. She went on to dance at "The Dance Shop", where she studied ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical and acrobatics under the instruction of Joy Barcome and Marianne Bouthilette. She continued dancing in their company, until her Mom, Darlene Sattler, opened Technique Studio of Dance in 1997. She danced competitively for most of her childhood, traveling across New England to compete and perform. Ashley began teaching and choreographing dance when she was 14 years old. She went on to attend Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter High School, where she was a member of Catalyst Dance Company. She traveled to conventions and dance festivals, learned from a variety of dance professionals and studied partnering, ballroom, ballet, jazz, modern and hip hop. She was asked to teach a hip-hop class during her senior year of high school and has also choreographed and performed in numerous musical theater performances. While living in New York City, she studied dance at Broadway Dance Center for 3 years, under various instructors including Chio, Luam, Jamie Jackson and Bev Brown. Ashley worked for The World of Disney Store in New York City where she was a full-time character performer. She was a Master Faculty member at NADAA Dance Conventions in New England. She taught all styles of dance at Technique Studio of Dance for over 10 years and also taught hip-hop to various ages and abilities at Hackworth School of Performing Arts for 3 years. She was certified to teach Zumba Fitness in 2007 and went on to teach for 5 years. Since then, she has continued to dance, grow, learn and choreograph.
Her experience as a co-host and associate producer of WWLP-22News’ NBC weekday morning lifestyle program, “Mass Appeal”, for the past 6 years has allowed her the chance to discover what fuels her soul and what her true purpose is.
Ashley is a western Massachusetts native. She was born and raised in South Hadley, and she is a graduate of the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts High School. Ashley also attended Wagner College studying Arts Administration, and the University of Massachusetts where she majored in Communications.
Her heart, soul and purpose are in being a mom to her 5 year old daughter, Summer and 4 year old son, Brody.
DARLENE SATTLER
Ballet, Jazz, Musical Theatre
Summer Intensive, Broadway Bound
Ohana School of Performing Arts, formerly known as "Technique Studio of Dance" was founded in 1997 by Darlene Sattler. Along with her daughters Christy and Ashley, Darlene and her staff provided exceptional dance training in a fun, friendly and caring environment with emphasis on proper technique. Sattler has over 45 years of dance training including performing with The Massachusetts Ballet Company, The Springfield Ballet Company, The Frank Hatchett Dancers and the Dance Conservatory of New England.
She started her teaching career 25 years ago with Northeast Dance Academy before opening Technique 19 years ago. She has also taught for David Bovat, Pioneer Valley Performing Arts High School and Holyoke Community College. Her daughters Christy and Ashley have been dancing for the more than 25 years and have trained extensively in New York city and with some of the world's best choreographers. They have both danced professionally including jobs with Disney and have been teaching and choreographing for over 15 years.
DEBRA VEGA
ROCKETTE Experience, Musical Theatre, Yoga
Summer Intensive
Debra Vega has made a career out of her great love for dance and musical theatre! As a performer in NYC, Debra danced on Broadway in such productions as: A CHRISTMAS CAROL THE MUSICAL (Madison Square Garden - 4 seasons), ANYTHING GOES (Lincoln Center), FUNNY GIRL (Actors Fund) and the RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR as a Rockette (NY - 4 seasons). National and European Tours: FAME! THE MUSICAL, CRAZY FOR YOU and STEEL PIER. Favorite Regional Theatre: A CHORUS LINE (Judy), WIZARD OF OZ (Glinda), A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (Gymnasia), and 5 productions of THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES. Debra is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association (AEA) and American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA).
Debra has taught dance throughout her performing career, now over 25 years. Locally, she teaches classes at Massachusetts Academy of Ballet (MAB), is a Visiting Professor in Musical Theatre Jazz and Tap at Mount Holyoke College and is the Director of Dance at Williston Northampton School.
Debra’s choreography career started in NYC with the Off-Off Broadway production of A DASH OF ROSEMARY; The Life and Music of Rosemary Clooney. Since then, she has choreographed numerous professional AEA productions across the country. Locally, she choreographed productions of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, THE MUSIC MAN, PETER PAN and MARY POPPINS for Saint Michael’s Players, RENT and CABARET for Mount Holyoke College, as well as PIPPIN, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, URINETOWN, AS YOU LIKE IT, IN THE HIGHTS and PETER AND THE STARCATCHER for Williston Northampton School.
Additionally, Debra is an avid yoga practitioner and teacher. She and her husband opened VegaYoga, www.vegayoga.com, in Holyoke, MA in 2008. They have a young son named Odin, who just loves to dance, and did his very first recital with Miss Ashley Kohl at Ohana this year. Debra is thrilled to be teaching for Ashley this summer and looks forward to passing on the love of dance!
BLAKE A. BALATHUNIS
Contemporary, Hip Hop
Summer Intensive
Blake A. Balathunis is a professional dance educator, choreographer, and gymnastics coach from Western Massachusetts. Blake has over 15 years of expert level technical dance & preforming arts training in all styles from several dance studios within Western Massachusetts, as well as advanced gymnastics training from Chicopee gymnastics, where he is also a coach. Blake has had the honor of touring all throughout the east coast performing in over a dozen dance showcases and theatre productions. Blake is currently a competition choreographer and dance teacher at several studios and at a Performing Arts school, all within the Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut area. In addition, Blake is also a national judge and master teacher for That's Entertainment Performing Arts Competition.
LORYN ENGELBRECHT
Tap, Jazz, Contemporary
Summer Intensive
Loryn began her dance training at 5 years old with Northeast Dance Academy in South Hadley. She later joined Technique Studio of Dance where she expanded the variety of her dance training. During her senior year of high school, she was selected by Technique’s Artistic Director, Darlene Sattler, to assist her in tap classes, and a passion for teaching was born! Loryn has been a member of Technique’s faculty since 2008, and has taught tap to students of all ages and abilities, as well as hip hop, jazz, creative movement and youth acro classes. A tapper to the core, her tap classes are greatly influenced by Jared Grimes, the Syncopated Ladies with a pinch of Fred Astaire. A native of Granby, MA, Loryn graduated from Elms College with two Bachelor of Art’s degrees in Graphic Design & History. After college, she followed her life-long dream all the way to Walt Disney World to work as a photographer. In addition to Ohana, Loryn works as a web designer & digital brand stylist in throughout Western MA via Loryn Design and is the gal behind Ohana's brand, website, social media presence, and all digital and print materials. She began working as Ohana's Studio Manager in September 2017 where she puts her organization skills and affection for spreadsheets to good use! Loryn’s classes are filled with high energy, a love of noise-making, smiling, and inclusion for all. She encourages each of her students to find the joy in movement, because... it's all going to be GREAT!
SARA BUCKHOUT
Jazz
Summer Intensive
Sara has been teaching with Technique Studio of Dance since 2009, after obtaining her BA in Dance from Dean College. She went on to obtain her Master's degree in Dance Movement Therapy and Licensed Mental Health Counseling from Lesley University, and currently holds a full time position working with children from the community in need of mental health services.Sara grew up in South Hadley, dancing at local studios in Holyoke and East Longmeadow. Sara attended Dean College to focus on her dance career, honing her technique in ballet, modern, hip hop and jazz. Her professors and choreographers included the likes of Jill SIlverman, Maryanne Kodzis, Nailah Randall-Bellinger, and Kelly Peters. Sara instills her values of teamwork and support, work ethic, compassion, love and fun in her classroom. She is an accomplished dancer, teacher, and choreographer, and has a passion to share her love of dance, music and performance with her students.
HEATHER FAGAN
Contemporary, Jazz
Summer Intensive
Heather Fagan began dancing at the age of 2 with Mary Ann’s Studio of Dance in Springfield, MA. There she studied Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Lyrical for 15 years under the instruction of Mary Ann Langone. At age 16 a passion for teaching was born when she was asked to become an assistant instructor for several Jazz and Tap classes of various ages. After graduating from Granby High School, Heather attended Franklin Pierce University in Ridge, NH where she obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Dance. Her professors included Wendy Dwyer, Sally Bomer, and also “Boston Ballet’s” Reagan Messer. During her four years at Franklin Pierce, Heather choreographed and instructed dance at several elementary schools as well as at her college. She also did several performances with the Ravens Thunder Dance Team which she was a part of for 3 years. Her Senior year she co-produced a dance show titled “Creative Fusion” where her choreography of Modern and Lyrical was presented by students. Heather was also awarded The Spring Concert Dance Scholarship her Junior year and went on to graduate with High Honors. Directly out of college Heather began instructing Dance in Belchertown, MA at Dance Solutions Studio. For the past 12 years she has choreographed and instructed classes for ages 2 through adult in the styles of Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Contemporary, and Hip Hop. Most known for her creative dance terms, Heather brings a lot of fun, passion, and energy to her classes and she hopes to keep inspiring others through the art of dance at Ohana.
EDDIE ZITKA
Musical Theatre, Audition Prep, Scene Work, Monologue Class
Summer Intensive, Broadway Bound
Eddie Zitka is so excited to be coming to Ohana School of Performing Arts this summer. He has been working in musical theater around the country for over a decade and is so excited to bring his knowledge to Western Massachusetts. Credits throughout the country include: The Wedding Singer first national tour, Ogunquit Playhouse, and the Mccarter Theater just to name a few. He spent the last 2 years in Kissimmee, FL working fulltime at Walt Disney World as Johnny Ringo in the Hoop Dee Doo Revue,as well as occasionally hopping under the sea in Finding Nemo the Musical. Eddie is also the co-founder of a brand new non-profit theater company in Western, MA called K and E Theater Group which has its premiere show in October 2018 at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke, MA.
LYNN HADDEN-QUINN
Jazz
Summer Intensive
Lynn Hadden-Quinn is the director of LHQ DANCEFORCE, and has been dancing, teaching and directing for over 25 years. She has been trained in all styles of dance. Her talents have given her the honor of being a featured performer and choreographer on numerous stages across the globe. She was recently featured in the "Teacher Spotlight in Dance Studio Life Magazine," Lynn was also certified with the DEA Teacher Training Program. This dynamic multi-dimensional program of study, enhancing the knowledge and teaching techniques of all dance professionals. She continues her dance education training and has worked with so many great teachers across the glode. She also is currently working with DSOA as an Inner Circle member along with other studio owners and directors from Australia, Canada and gaining more knowledge for her business and dance training for her students & staff. Lynn is also a certified lifestyle coach and has a passion for wellness & giving back the gift of dance and wellness in her programs at LHQ Danceforce.