Faculty
Instructors:
Jacqueline Jackson-DeGarcia - Owner
Miss Jacqueline began dancing at the age of 3 for an area recreational school. She joined the Harrisburg Dance Conservatory, joining the Company under the tutelage of Forry Gehret. Due to injury, she was forced to leave dance. She then turned to Martial Arts which she studied for over 20 years. She returned to dance here at Richie's as a member of the Adult Jazz class several years ago.
Miss Jacqueline is an attorney specializing in Employment and Labor Law (HR). In 2017, she and her husband, Brian Sill, bought Richie School of Dance and are excited to be the current owners of Richie's! Family is very important to Miss Jacqueline, and she enjoys spending time with Mr. Brian, her daughters Britteni and Kayla, her step-sons Michael and Patrick, and her step-daughter Maggie and the two family dogs.
Angela Harp - Artistic Director
Angela Harp is the Artistic Director of Richie School of Dance. She received this
promotion in the Summer of 2017 after a long-standing association with Richie’s. She
was a student of Richie’s beginning at the age of 4, a student demonstrator from 1993-
1997, a faculty assistant from 1997-1999 and an instructor from 1999-2000. She
returned as a full-time Instructor/Choreographer after college from 2007-2017.
Miss Angie is a graduate of Slippery Rock University with a BFA in Dance Performance,
Choreography and Education. She is a former member of the Central Penn Piranha
Cheer and Dance Team. Her professional credits include: Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom and Holland America Cruise Lines.
Miss Angie’s choreography has won many awards at the Regional and National
Competitive Level, including “Most Entertaining” 2017-2019, “Best Choreography” 2018
and “Best Showmanship” 2019. She continues to train in her profession by attending
conventions, workshops and classes including Tap Ties Dance Festival, Hollywood
Vibe, Dance Teacher Summit and Broadway Dance Center in NYC.
Miss Angie teaches Intermediate V, Advanced and the Junior, Teen and Elite Company
Dance Teams and Ballet classes. She pushes her students to reach their personal best
with a focus on proper technique and showmanship. Her main focus is creating a family environment, while encouraging a passion and love for the arts.
Outside of the studio, Miss Angie enjoys spending time with friends and her family,
including her husband Sean and her two daughters, Vincenza and Gianna, both of
whom are following in their mom’s footsteps as dancers at Richie’s.
Erin Henderson - Office Manager
Miss Erin began dancing at the age of 2 in her hometown of Wyomissing, PA, at
Marilyn’s School of Dance, where she was a faculty assistant during her high school
years. From 1994-96 she was also the assistant for local ballroom dancing lessons for
school-aged children, held at the Wyomissing Institute, after years of taking those
lessons herself. Miss Erin attended Elizabethtown College, where she was a member of
the college dance team, E-Motion, for four years, serving as both Treasurer and Vice-
President. She earned her degree in Political Science from Elizabethtown, and is a
member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honors Society. In 2000, she
moved to Harrisburg and worked as a Legislative Aide to the Senate Majority Leader in
the Senate of Pennsylvania until the birth of her son in 2006. Miss Erin began working
at the desk at Richie’s in 2015 and was offered the position of Office Manager in the
summer of 2018. She is so happy to have found her way back to dance.
Miss Erin enjoys spending time with her husband Pat, their son Max and daughter
Emmy, who has been dancing at Richie’s since she was 3, and their cats. She is the
President of the PTO at Saint Catherine Labouré School, and is very involved in all her children’s activities.
Victoria Dehart - Teacher
Miss Victoria began dancing at Richie School of Dance when she was 4 years
old. Throughout high school she was a student demonstrator, and a member of the Bishop McDevitt band front.
Following her graduation from Bishop McDevitt, she attended West Chester University
where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. She
returned to Richie's as a member of the faculty in 2007. Miss Victoria currently teaches Pre-Ballet I and Advanced Lyrical and Jazz.
Miss Victoria enjoys spending time with her husband Shawn and her two sons,
Kadyn and Asher. They enjoy traveling together, and in the summer months she loves to spend time outside hiking.
Justine Diggs - Teacher
Miss Justine Diggs began dancing when she auditioned for the 2014-15 Harrisburg
Stampede Crush Dance Team, which she was a member of for one season. Soon after
that, Miss Justine joined the Keystone Dance Project, which was created and directed
by Moncell Durden. In 2015, she auditioned for the Jazz to Hip Hop Program at the
School at Jacob’s Pillow, which she attended and was one of 12 females that were
chosen. Miss Justine received a professional advancement award for completing this
program. In 2016, she and her dance partner, Eric Durden, Jr., were chosen to be a part
of the American Lindy Hop Association through the Frankie Manning Foundation, and are now ambassadors for that program.
She currently trains and dances with Funk Fugitives, which is affiliated with Hood Nation
from Philadelphia. Miss Justine teaches Hip Hop Junior, Hip Hop Teen and the Hip Hop Crew Competition Dance Team at Richie School of Dance.
Melissa Dinger - Teacher
At the age of 4, Miss Melissa began dancing at Richie School of Dance, and became a
student demonstrator at the age of 13. During high school she was also a Majorette for
Central Dauphin High School. Miss Melissa began teaching at Richie’s during her
college years and has taught Pre-Ballet I through Beginner II. She currently teaches Pre-Ballet II at the Lower Paxon Studio.
Miss Melissa enjoys spending time outside of the Studio with her family and friends, and
watching her daughter follow in her mom’s footsteps as she takes classes at Richie’s.
Teresa Heagy - Teacher
Miss Teresa has been a part of the Richie School of Dance family for 33 years,
beginning when she began taking dance classes at 4 years old. During her high school
years, she became a student aide, worked as faculty assistant through college, and
became a full-time teacher in more recent years.
Miss Teresa has taught almost every level of dance at Richie’s, and especially enjoys
teaching the Creative Movement, Pre-Ballet, and Beginner level classes because of
their high energy. She has assisted at the Intermediate level, as well as the Advanced
class, where she likes helping students focus on technique and teamwork. She has also
participated in the Adult Jazz class. Miss Teresa can be found teaching Pre-Ballet I and
II, Beginner I, Beginner II/III Special Baton and Intermediate I-IV Special Baton/ Flag.
When she is not teaching or assisting at Richie’s, Miss Teresa can be found at several
libraries around the area as a volunteer for the Friends of the East Shore Area Library
(Dauphin County Library System). She has also been involved in local theater under
several capacities - actress, crew and usher. She has a passion for the arts and feels
her heart will always be in dance.
Jill Healey - Teacher
Miss Jill began dancing when she was 5 years old. She studied dance locally and
became a part of Richie School of Dance as a teenager. She was both a feature
majorette and competitive twirler during her years at Central Dauphin High School. Miss Jill joined the teaching staff at Richie's in 2007.
Miss Jill currently instructs the Intermediate I and II core classes at the Highspire Studio, as well as Intermediate I-IV Special Baton and Flag.
When she isn’t dancing, Miss Jill enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, two
children and their dog. Her daughter Paige is also a part of the RSD family and has been dancing at Richie’s since she was 3 years old.
Molly Klose - Faculty Assistant
Miss Molly began dancing at the age of 3 at Richie School of Dance and has been there
ever since. She has been a Student Assistant for 4 years for the Junior Company
Competition Team, Pre-Ballet II, and Beginner I. She is so excited to become the
Faculty Assistant this year. Miss Molly is a part of the Elite Company, Advanced
Competition Team, and Hip Hop Crew. She has attended the Messiah University
Summer Dance Intensive as well as the Penn State University Lionettes Dance Camp.
She continues to attend master classes and conventions to further her dance education.
Miss Molly is currently a sophomore at Central Dauphin East High School. In her spare
time, she loves to bake and try new recipes.
Roni Masters - Teacher
Miss Roni began studying dance at Richie School of Dance when she was 4 years old.
In 2018, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Palm Beach Atlantic
University. While studying Dance Pedagogy and Exercise Science at PBA, Miss Roni
also pioneered the school’s chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts,
presented research on dance and mental health at both school and state-level
conferences, actively participated in and performed with the University’s Dance
Ensemble, and choreographed, directed, and produced her own dance concert.
Miss Roni returned to Richie’s in 2018 and currently teaches Intermediate I/II at the
Highspire studio, and at Lower Paxton she teaches Intermediate III/IV, Advanced Ballet,
Level 2 Classical Ballet and Jazz Team, and Level 3 Classical Ballet and Jazz Team.
Miss Roni also teaches beginner dance classes through GEARS summer program and
choreographs musicals for her alma mater, Mount Calvary Christian School.
Sherri McGeehan - Teacher
Miss Sherri began her career in 1980 as an adult dance student at Richie School of
Dance, and since then has taught many levels of dance over a period of 34 years.
Besides attending various dance seminars in New York City, she has also twirled flag
as a member of the Middletown Area High School Alumni Marching Band.
Miss Sherri teaches Beginner III, Intermediate III-IV and Intermediate V Tap.
Christi Zehner - Teacher
Miss Christi began dancing at the age of 3 at the Pennsylvania Performing Arts Studio
and has been studying at Richie School of Dance since she was 4 years old. Miss
Christi became a Student Assistant in 2013 and has also been choreographing dances
for the Studio for the past three years. She continues to attend numerous master
classes and conventions to further her dance knowledge. Miss Christi is a member of
the Elite Dance Team and currently studies Lyrical, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Pointe, and
Contemporary. She teaches Intermediate I/II, and assists with the Level 1 Classical
Ballet and Jazz Teams and the Teen Company Ballet and Jazz Teams.
Miss Christi is currently a sophomore at Central Dauphin High School. In her spare
time, she enjoys participating in her church youth group, singing in the school choir and
spending time with friends and family.
Jen Zehner - Teacher
Miss Jen began dancing at the age of 3 at the Susan Yushko Academy of Dance and
became an assistant dance teacher at the age of 17. This Studio is credited for founding
one of the first national dance competitions, “All American Talent Awards,” which Miss
Jen was a participant in. She was also a majorette during high school and majorette
captain her senior year. Following her graduation from high school, she attended St.
Luke's Hospital School of Nursing and became a Registered Nurse after graduation. She practiced nursing from 1991-2012.
Miss Jen returned to dance at Richie’s as an adult student in 2009 and became a
faculty assistant in 2010. At the start of the 2014-15 dance year, she joined the staff as
a full-time teacher. Miss Jen teaches Pre-Ballet through Beginner III, and works at the Lower Paxton desk on Friday evenings.
When she isn’t dancing, Miss Jen enjoys spending time with her husband Mike and
daughters Shannon and Christi, who both dance and teach at Richie’s as well. She is an avid animal lover, especially to her 5 cats.
Shannon Zehner - Teacher
Miss Shannon began dancing at the age of 3 at McCann’s School of Dance but joined
Richie School of Dance in 2008 and has been studying here ever since. Miss Shannon
has been a member of the Elite Company Dance Team since the Fall of 2016 and is
also a part of the Advanced Ballet and the Advanced Jazz Competition teams. She
currently studies Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Modern, Soft Shoe Ballet, Tap, and Hip
Hop. Each year, she attends numerous conventions and master classes to further her
dance technique and skills. Miss Shannon began as a teacher assistant in the Fall of
2012 and has continued to do so until she became a dance teacher in the Fall of 2017.
Since 2017, she has choreographed and teaches Level 1 Classical Ballet and the Level
1 Jazz Competition Dance Team. She has also taught Intermediate III/IV classes at the Lower Paxton Studio.
Miss Shannon is a 2019 Central Dauphin High School graduate and will continue her
education at Penn State Harrisburg, studying Kinesiology. In her spare time, she enjoys
participating in her church youth group and being a worship assistant during church
services, is involved in Girl Scouts and loves spending quality time with her friends and family.