SHDA Staff
Heather Hebda Stark
Founding Director and Owner
As a native of Pittsburgh, Mrs. Stark studied at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania where she received her Bachelor of the Arts Degree in Dance with minor courses in Arts Administration in 2005. Heather danced professionally with Space Coast Ballet as well as Manassas Ballet Theatre in Manassas, Virginia and served as Executive Assistant for Manassas Ballet Theatre and Manassas Ballet Academy. Her dance training include Point Park College, La Roche College, Ballet Met, Ballet Austin, Chautauqua Institution, Pittsburgh Youth Ballet and summers performing with The New York City Ballet in Saratoga Springs, NY. Heather taught and choreographed dance at Spacecoast Ballet, The Dance Zone and King Street Dance in Florida, Manassas Ballet Academy in Virginia, and at Shade Sisters Dance Studio in Pittsburgh, PA. She danced in various dance teams including AIFL The Erie Freeze Chillers and appearances in Cleveland Cavalier's NBA games as part of the Mercyhurst Dance Team, The Lakers Shakers. Heather was excited to bring her love of teaching dance along with her Arts Administration background and experience to her hometown in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Furthermore, her passion for teaching and dream of owning her own studio is clearly demonstrated in the success of her studio and most of all the accomplishments of her dancers. She will be dearly missed by all and will always be forever in our hearts.
Michele F. Hebda
Director
As Heather's sister, Michele also enjoyed growing up in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. She received extensive dance training at Point Park College, Chautauqua Institution, Ballet Met, North Carolina School of the Arts, Ballet Austin, and The Ruth Page Center for the Arts. Michele was accepted to the distinguished dance program at Jordan College of the Arts at Butler University where she pursued a B.F.A. in dance performance. She left after just a year to dance with Ballet Austin. Michele continued her professional dance career for over the next 10 years dancing across Texas, in Chicago, and finally in Nebraska where she was a member of the Omaha Theater Ballet Company. She performed principal roles across her career including Clara and the Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. Her teaching career is just as impressive, as she began teaching ballet technique in Texas and continued through to dance instruction at Shade Sisters Dance Studio, adding pointe technique, jazz, modern, a variety of choreography, and her Zumba® license to her dance teaching repertoire. Michele also holds a Doctor of Pharmacy & Board Certification in Pharmacotherapy, also working as a clinical pharmacist and faculty in family medicine at a local Pittsburgh hospital. She dedicates her life to serving others in the community, including her dear sister’s legacy and her family at South Hills Dance Academy.
Darcie Spisak
Instructor
Darcie Spisak, a native of Ohio, moved to Pittsburgh in 2002 to attend Point Park University where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, with a concentration in ballet, along with her minor in Business Management in 2005. Darcie has studied extensively in Ballet, Jazz, and Tap throughout the Cleveland and Pittsburgh areas. She starting her teaching career while in high school teaching at her childhood dance studios, Nelyon Dance Studio and Hillcrest Dance Center. While attending University, Mrs. Spisak started her teaching career in the Pittsburgh area at several studios in the North Hills. In 2012 she started a youth ballet company which performed several ballet performances around the area. Mrs. Spisak was also lucky enough to become part of the staff at Seneca Vally School District as they adapted Dance into their curriculum. She continued teaching there as well as several other studios in the North Hills until she and her husband relocated to the South Hill in 2018. Mrs. Spisak has choreographed award-winning pieces for Youth American Grand Prix, Access Broadway, Onstage New York, and Fierce Dance competition. Darcie utilizes both of her degrees as she is a Staff Accountant at a local food manufacturer and continues to pass on her love and knowledge to the students of South Hills Dance Academy.
Kenzie Eggert
Instructor
Originating from the South Hills of Pittsburgh, Miss Kenzie trained at Shade Sisters Dance Studio for 16 years, including instruction under both Miss Heather and Miss Michele. During her time at Shade Sisters, Miss Kenzie developed a strong love and passion for sharing the gift of dance and served as a teaching assistant for 6 years. She then continued her dance training at South Hills Dance Academy where she was promoted to a Teaching Apprentice from 2017-2018. Now as an Instructor, Miss Kenzie shows a devout commitment to developing the younger students of South Hills Dance Academy in their technique, confidence, and love for dance. A recent graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Science, Miss Kenzie now works as an Information Technology Consultant at Pitt. During her time as an undergraduate, she was an active member of the Ballet Club at Pitt and took various dance courses alongside her IS classes. Kenzie looks forward to building more life-long relationships with her students along with continuing to pursue her love of dance and passing it along through instruction.
Danielle Eggert
Instructor
Danielle Eggert, sister of Kenzie Eggert, also originates from the South Hills of Pittsburgh. She trained with Shade Sisters Dance studio for 13 years beginning at the age of three, including the instruction from both Miss Heather and Miss Michele. During her time at Shade Sisters, Miss Danielle had the opportunity to further her passion for dancing as she assisted with multiple classes of younger dancers and served as a teaching assistant for 5 years. With a devout dedication to the art of movement and expression through dance, she was thrilled at the opportunity to teach Ballet, Tap, and Jazz to the younger students at South Hills Dance Academy upon its opening in 2017. Outside of the studio, she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management at Point Park University in the Spring of 2023. During her time as an undergraduate at Point Park, Miss Danielle even furthered her dance education studying Dance History; a theoretical and historical basis for analyzing global dance practices. She currently remains at Point Park University as she completes her Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and works as a Graduate Assistant. With her continued eagerness to learn and grow as an instructor, she strives to bring enthusiasm and inspiration to her students through every class. Miss Danielle aims to inspire her students to become the best versions of themselves, all while instilling the same passion of dance into her students’ heart that encompasses her own.
Samantha Musillo
Instructor
Samantha Musillo was born and raised in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. At age three, she began her dance journey at Shade Sisters Dance Studio, where she fell in love with the art form. From there, she went on to explore a diverse range of dance styles across a number of Pittsburgh dance studios, acquiring nearly 20 years of combined dance experience. In 2019, she graduated from Pittsburgh Technical College, receiving her Associate's Degree in Multimedia Design, specializing in Web Design & Development, and works as a Web Developer for a Pittsburgh-based marketing agency. She remained active in her dance training throughout her education, attending Ballet and Jazz classes alongside her college curriculum. Shortly after graduating and embarking on her professional career, she also began her teaching career, choreographing and instructing Jazz and Contemporary styles in an adult class setting in the Pittsburgh area. Now, at South Hills Dance Academy, Miss Sam is thrilled to teach Ballet, Tap, and Jazz to the next generation of dancers, with the ultimate goal of providing a fun, encouraging, and inclusive environment for her younger students to learn, grow, and build self-confidence through dance.
Brittany Samolovitch
Teaching Apprentice
Brittany Samolovitch, also grew up in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. She trained at Shade Sisters Dance studio for 15 years under the instruction of both Miss Heather and Miss Michele. She also continued her dance training for 3 more years at South Hills Dance Academy. While dancing she was also studying Early Childhood Education at the Community College of Allegheny County where she received her associates degree in Early Childhood. Miss Brittany continues her education at Pennsylvania Western University (California Campus) to obtain her bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education pre-k-4. She is excited to keep dancing and passing on her love of dance to the students of South Hills Dance Academy.
Joseph Stark, Financial Manager
Fortune Hebda, Receptionist
Staff photograph credits to Cristin Goss @gossboss_photovideo