Performing Arts Staff

Leigh began dancing at the age of 5 and has danced with Beth Gaynes Dance Studio, Truman State University, at multiple conventions and Rugged Soles.  She holds her BA in Communication-Journalism from Truman State University and a Master’s Degree in Arts Education from University of Central Missouri.  Leigh has also choreographed for community theater, show choirs, high school dance teams and charity events.  Leigh began teaching at the J in 2015.  When she’s not dancing, Leigh love to read, bike and spend time with family!

Alyssa, an Arkansas native, graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BFA in Ballet Performance summa cum laude. She has been dancing with American Midwest Ballet since 2014.  Alyssa began teaching at the J in 2018.  When she’s not dancing, Alyssa loves to try new recipes and spend time with her husband and miniature schnauzer.

Wendy began her training in Omaha with local Omaha Ballet Theater, Donna Kurtz Cartwright and the Omaha Academy of Ballet.  During the school year, she studied in Omaha under the auspices of an Honorary Ford Foundation Scholarship for the Arts.  Summer study took her to Saratoga Spring, NY, where the Saratoga Performing Arts Center was the summer residency venue for the New York City Ballet, Julliard Theatre School and the Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra.  Wendy studied at the Bariansky Saratoga Ballet Center, located on the campus of Skidmore College, with Oleg and Mireille Bariansky, for eight summer sessions, loving and enjoying every minute of performances and training.  Wendy credits that experience for her continuing love and passion for dance.  She also attended summer sessions, on scholarship, at the School of American Ballet and Harkness Ballet Company in New York City.  Wendy danced with the original Omaha Ballet Company for ten years, as a Principal Dancer, performing a wide variety of roles with the company.  Wendy graduated from Stephens College with a degree in Business Administration and owned and ran a Manufacturing firm in Omaha and currently works as an Accountant for City + Ventures.  Wendy began teaching at the J in 1986 and brings a deep and passionate understanding of a former Performing Artist to her abilities as a teacher and choreographer.  Wendy has two lovely grown daughters, Chloe and Cygne.  When she’s not dancing, Wendy enjoys traveling with her husband, watching Turner Classic Movies and reading books about the Golden Era of Hollywood.

Lynne holds an Associate Diploma through the ISTD Professional Teaching Examinations and has studied the Alexander Technique, she also has a BA in Art History from UNL. Lynne was a company member of Omaha Ballet.  She resumed teaching at the J in 2009.  When she’s not dancing, Lynne loves to spend time with her friends.

Deidre starting dancing at the age of 3 and has danced with Pat Carlson, Mildred Collins School of Dance and the Drake Dance Team.  She has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from Dana College.  Her family has been dancing with the JCC Dance program since 2013 and Deidre began teaching at the J in 2019.  When she’s not dancing, Deidre loves to cook and read.

Lauren, a Chicago native, has danced for choreographers Liz Lerman and Risa Jaroslow.  She received her M.F.A. in Performance and Choreography from the University of Colorado-Boulder, Ed.M. from Harvard University, and B.A. from Carleton College.  She taught dance at the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, Harvard College, and the University of San Francisco.

A recent transplant from San Francisco, Lauren maintains close ties with the Bay Area performance community. She is one of ODC’s Artists in Residence for 2018-2021. In 2014 Lauren co-founded Simpson/Stulberg Collaborations, a San Francisco-based performance company, with Jenny Stulberg. Together they were nominated for two Izzie Awards in 2016. They have been artists in residence at CounterPulse Theater, Shawl-Anderson Dance Center, and the Margaret Jenkins Dance Company’s CHIME Program. Her most recent evening length work, DANCE EXHIBIT, was the first dance residency at Minnesota Street Project in San Francisco, May 2019.  Her recent Omaha-based work has been featured in the Kennedy Center’s Arts Across America and supported by Omaha’s Amplify Arts.

Lauren began teaching at the J in 2021.  When she’s not dancing she is working on building her marketing business, playing tennis, and dancing to country music with her two daughters.

Susan is a mother of two, Pianist and Artist. Born and raised on the North Shore of Long Island, New York, she began piano lessons at age 2 and quickly learned to read music with the help of her two older sisters.  By age 4 she started private piano lessons and was entertaining her family and friends with mini piano recitals.   She came from a family of Artists and Musicians who frequently went to Classical, Broadway, Pops, and Jazz concerts in NYC.  This gave her a broad appreciation of the Arts at a very young age which has enriched her life.  Going to the Met, the Guggenheim Museum, etc. was a normal part of life for Susan.

At the age of 16 she started performing and teaching piano and organ lessons on Long Island.  She also performed Bb, Eb, and Bass Clarinets with a Baroque Quartet.

She possesses a B.S. in Textiles & Business from Arizona State University and a B.M. in Theory & Composition/Piano from the University of Nebraska.  Her studies were further expanded in Music when she attended the Aspen School of Music, studying piano with Mary Norris.  Later, she studied Music Composition at the Conservatoire Americain de Fontainebleau in France with Gilbert Amy.  Studying with Phillip Manoury at I.R.C.A.M. in Paris France also enhanced her appreciation of contemporary studies in acoustics and music theory.

Susan has been a Piano Teacher, Performer, Composer/Arranger and a member of the National Music Teachers Association for many years in Omaha, Nebraska.  Her experience teaching has passed on a legacy of music appreciation and piano performance to countless students.  In addition, Susan is an accomplished Textile/Bead Artist and Interior Designer.  When she is not playing or teaching, Susan loves to go on long walks.

Philip began his piano studies with his grandmother at the age of nine.  In 2005, he began studies with Ms. Iby Kovacs at the Classical Piano Academy.  In 2013, he completed his B.A. in Piano Performance from Texas State University – San Marcos, where he studied classical piano under Dr. Jason Kwak.  After completing his degree, Mr. Castro became the Piano Program Coordinator for the Mcallen IDEA Public Schools. As coordinator, Mr. Castro taught and organized the elementary and middle school group piano classes.  In the Spring of 2016, Mr. Castro completed a M.M. in piano pedagogy at the University of South Carolina as well as a Graduate Certificate in Jazz Performance. While at USC he taught group piano courses to undergraduate students and studied applied lessons with Dr. Joseph Rackers (classical) and Mr. Bert Ligon (jazz). Mr. Castro’s passion for teaching is matched with his passion for performing.

Margaret has accompanied dance classes at the JCC from 1991-1995 and resumed in 2012. She has also accompanied at the Omaha Academy of Ballet School of Ballet Omaha, Daniel J. Gross High School and Brownell-Talbot. She holds a B.S. degree in Bible/Music from Faith Baptist Bible College and was a private piano teacher for 24 years.  When she’s not playing for classes, Margaret loves to have shop, take road trips, read, write, personally meditate and have a coffee and talk with good friends.

Cathy Pacholski began playing the piano when she was eight years old, taking lessons for about four years.  Thanks to support and encouragement from a school music teacher, she continues to play to this day – at weddings, for high school choirs, and in church and senior living communities. Cathy graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and minors in music, communication, and sociology. She began accompanying dance classes and teaching piano at the J in 2020.