HEATHER west
Owner & Director
Heather Kronk West is the owner of Stage West. She began training at Doris Singer dance studio at the age of 3 and continued on to the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.
At Mercyhurst University she received a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Dance with a concentration in Pedagogy. Afterwards, she performed with the Lake Erie Ballet and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.
Her 20+ years of teaching and choreography experience include, The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Point Park University and The Civic Light Opera Academy. For 15 years she has successfully owned and operated B.C. Dance Academy, along with aiding the musical theatre department there, before expanding to include Stage West Performing Arts Center, which opened in 2016.
Along with teaching dance, Heather has a loving husband and two children.
SAM beckas
Teacher, Choreographer, Marketing
Sam began dancing at three years old. With desires to be a ballerina, she began studying at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre around age 8, under the instruction of Heather Kronk. In her time at PBT, Sam participated in The Nutcracker for three years, and this experience remains one of her fondest memories.
Sam soon decided to explore other dance opportunities including musical theater instruction at CLO and then moved on to competitive dance at DancExplosion Arts Center.
Following in Ms. Heather’s footsteps, Sam attended college at Mercyhurst University and took a break from dance, though she never lost her love for it. Sam has taught and choreographed at Stage West for 3 years.
DANIELLE crivelli
Guest Teacher & Choreographer
KAITLYN teams
Hip Hop Teacher
Kaitlyn is the hip hop teacher at Stage West, and has been dancing since she was 3! She taught at Stage West when she was in high school and is now back! She has been trained in all dance styles, but found a passion for hip hop. She holds 6 Dance Worlds Medals throughout her dance career and can’t wait to share her love and knowledge of hip hop with all her students!
