Cecil Dancenter

ABBY PINKERTON is a dancer, dance instructor, and choreographer from North East, Maryland and grew up dancing here at Cecil Dancenter! Abby went on to study at DeSales University where she received her B.A. in dance and minor in business in May of 2022. While at DeSales, she had the pleasure of performing many original works by talented faculty and guest artists as well as a restaged historical excerpt of Paul Taylor's Cloven Kingdom. Abby has been back to DeSales to teach at their Summer Intensives and to set work on upper class dance majors as a guest choreographer in their 2025 fall concert. Abby also dances professionally and performs in Philadelphia as a part of Jim Bunting Dance Company and in the Harford County region as a part of MA.DE Dance Collective. She has had the pleasure of appearing as a guest artist in Repertory Dance Theatre's The Nutcracker in Allentown, PA as multiple lead roles over the past few years. Abby loves sharing the art of dance through teaching and has been on faculty at multiple studios in the MD/ PA area. She also taught in the greater Chicago area while continuing her own professional ballet training in IL from 2023-2024. Whether it is through performing or choreographing, her versatility shines through as she seamlessly transitions between ballet, contemporary, jazz, and other genres. Her choreography has been recognized at the national level and has won multiple awards at screendance festivals across the country. She is honored and excited to continue to inspire the next generation of dancers at the very place she began her dance journey!

TINA TRAVERS is the owner of Cecil Dancenter, as well as the administrative director of Cecil Junior Dance Troupe and Cecil Dance Theatre.  She received her B.A. Degree in Dance Education from Goucher College in 1989 and has been teaching dance for over 30 years.  Mrs. Travers taught at the Baltimore Actor's Conservatory, Harford Gymnastics and Dance Center, Ballet Studio of Glendon, Harford Community College, and Cecil College’s Kids in Kollege. She has also choreographed for Cecil Dance Theatre, Dulaney Dance Company and Harford Dance Theatre.  She was a dance specialist for the Cecil County Public Schools through the CREATE grant and assisted in writing their K-12 dance curriculum and the integrated arts curriculum. She has attended intensive dance teacher conventions in New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Mrs. Travers has studied at Body Arts and Science International in Washington, DC, where she received intensive training in Pilates.  She is active in providing extra-curricular performance opportunities to dedicated dancers as well as opportunities to enhance their technique and experience through scholarship opportunities, multi-cultural programs, Maryland and Delaware dance festival participation, community out-reach events, master workshops, and organization of ‘professional company’ field trips.  Her prestigious nominations for Cecil County’s 2006 ‘Most Beautiful Person’ and the 2013 Cecil County Chamber of Commerce's Athena Award is an indication of the joy she receives from bringing her love of dance to our community.  She is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Maryland Council for Dance and has taught teacher training workshops for the Maryland Dance Festival and Davy Dance Academy in Annapolis.

Lee Ellen Van Voorhis, a native of Morgantown, WV, received her master's degree in computer science from West Virginia University but she has always enjoyed participating in artistic outlets helping to foster her love of the arts.  Lee Ellen has been a part of Cecil Dancenter activities for over 10 years and has served as costume manager for our performing companies since 2011.  As a former dance student herself, she understands the importance of how costuming can help to bring characters to life and ensures that all of our dancers look their best on stage.  Lee Ellen's volunteer efforts also extend to coordinating many activities such as the production of promotional t-shirts for each company performance as well as helping to manage the social media groups that keep our dancers informed of company activities.  Lee Ellen's desire to serve reaches into many other organizations such as New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, Monarch Recovery Ministries, and Providence Christian Academy.  Her passion for service is greatly appreciated by all those who are touched by her talents.

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