Instructors

Siri Heasley

Siri Heasley, the owner, operator, and chief instructor of Siri’s School of the Performing Arts, originates from Great Britain.  Siri grew up in Bristol where she graduated from Colston Girls High School in 1989.  She studied Ballet at the prestigious Elmhurst Ballet School in London, and received her National Diploma for Professional Dance and Musical Theatre at the Performer’s Dance College, also in London, in 1992.

Siri has appeared professionally in numerous venues in the West End of London and around the U.K. She was the featured singer and dancer in shows directed by Paul Stone at the London Palladium.  She starred as Rizzo in “Grease” at the Llandudno Theatre and played the Fairy in “Jack and the Beanstalk” at the Plymouth Theatre Royal.  She performed as a Backing Vocalist for Michael Ball at the Guernsey Theatre and served as Assistant Choreographer for “Cinderella” at the Woking Theatre Royal.  She also appeared in “The Mikado” at the Thameside Theatre and performed in the Ensemble of the “Holiday Inn 75th Anniversary Show” at the Royal Albert Hall.

Later, Siri performed in shows for Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruise Lines where she was the Female Guest Entertainer, starring in the ship’s production shows and in her own cabaret.  Some highlights include Sally in “Cabaret”, Evita in “Evita”,  Christine in “Phantom of the Opera”, and Esther in “Meet Me in St. Louis.”  She also performed in the Ensembles of “42nd Street” and “Brigadoon.”

Siri has recorded in the famous Abbey Road Studio in London, and in 1997, recorded her first solo album, “This Dream”, at Audiomation (now Anything Audio) in Pittsburgh, PA.

Lori Misitis

Lori Misitis is a Pittsburgh native and a graduate of Point Park University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre.  She has recently moved back to Pittsburgh with her family after a 10 year stint in NYC. Lori has performed everywhere from Off Broadway all the way across country on various touring productions.  She is thrilled to be sharing her love of musical theatre with her students here at Siri’s School.

Alicia Ferguson

Alicia Ferguson received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from Slippery Rock University in 2006. In addition to performing for the SRU Dance Theater, she also had the opportunity perform in works by Jennifer Keller, Nola Nolen-Holland, Michelle de la Reza, and Peter Kope.  Alicia was the recipient of the Lucy Issaco-Sack Summer Scholarship which she used to attend Dance Alloy Theater’s: Define the Dancer summer workshop.

Alicia taught at various performing arts camps and completed training to become a certified STOTT® Pilates Matwork instructor.  When she is not teaching dance, Alicia is dancing with the Rock Dance Company, which performs educational dance programs for local preschool and elementary students, and attending classes to complete her elementary and early childhood teaching certificates.

Nicole Skarbek

Nicole McCandless graduated from Slippery Rock University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance.  As a dance major, she performed and choreographed for the Slippery Rock Dance Theatre as well as the dance team, Dance Express. For her internship, Nicole studied at the Broadway Dance Center in New York City.

Nicole has performed as a dancer in “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Caberet” with the Butler Musical Theater Guild.  She is certified to teach group fitness/aerobics and spinning, and is also a certified personal trainer.  She runs “NOW! Fitness Design,” an in-home personal training service.

Dan Heasley

Dan has been practicing and studying Yoga for eighteen years.  He has studied with several respected Yoga experts throughout the country including BKS Iyengar, and continues to study periodically with Iyengar certified instructors.  Dan’s teaching style emphasizes the precise alignment, balance, and technique of Iyengar style Yoga.

Jan Negri

Born and raised in Allegheny County, where she attended and graduated from Moon High School.  While attending Moon she developed an interest in Speech and Drama.  This continued through her college years where she attended Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY from 1971-1975.  She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree and teaching certification in Drama/Speech and English.

While at Kentucky Wesleyan she trained under the late Leo Burmeister who has appeared in many movies such as “The Abyss” and “The Last Temptation of Christ” and performed in the role of Thenardier in the original Broadway cast of “Les Miserables.” Also while at KWC she toured the midwest with their college production of “Shakuntala.”  She appeared in “Faust” and “JB” while also working backstage as well as on stage in many other productions there.