Susan Hartley's Bio
Susan Hartley and the "boys"
Rehearsing for 2003 Showcase
Susan Hartley's dance training began in Uniontown, PA with Katy Lyon at age 5. Training included yearly trips to New York for classes with Bob Audy, Jack Stanley, Ronn Daniels and famed tapper Paul Draper. At 12 years old Susan was a demonstrator for Paul Draper in his teachers class in New York City.
Susan won many awards and competitions for
acrobatic, jazz and tap on the regional and state levels. Susan
also performed in yearly
ballet productions of Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and
La Sylphide under the direction of Crystal
Steiner who
performed with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.
At age 15 Susan and a group of precision acrobats known as 'The Hurricanes' were the opening act for Gary Lewis & the Playboys & Herman's Hermits on the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The 'Hurricanes' also performed for the Miss America Celebrity Luncheon in Atlantic City.
After high school graduation Susan, known professionally as Susan Wylen, performed at the Twin Coaches Night Club and with the Civic Light Opera in Pittsburgh in shows including Carousel, South Pacific, Camelot, & Kismet. Susan also appeared in productions of Showboat at the Nixon Theater in Pittsburgh and Brigadoon at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. Susan spent 6 months touring the United States with the 'Manhattan Rockets' a variety dance troupe under the direction of Carlos Romero. .
Susan's extensive teaching training came from
Katy
Lyon both at Katy's dance studio in Uniontown and in the second
location where
Susan taught exclusively. In 1987 Susan opened a studio in Baltimore
and
moved shortly thereafter to Florida. In 1988, in Seminole, FL,
DANCEMOVES Studio was opened.
