Paula Zawalich Dance Academy
Paula St. George is the original founder and owner of the Paula Zawalich Dance Academy. She received her early training locally and then went on to Westfield State College, where she earned her degree with a double major in Elementary and Special Education. While living in western Massachusetts, she studied ballet at the Massachusetts Ballet Ensemble, and jazz with the renowned Frank Hatchett. During that time she also served on various college dance faculties, as well as teaching and choreographing for local dance studios. She also spent extensive time in New York City studying with noted master teachers, such as Luigi, Ronnie DeMarco, Judy Bassing, and Chuck Kelley.
Since opening her doors in 1976, her students have been consistent recipients of awards and scholarships on a regional and national level. Her choreography has been recognized throughout the competition and performance circuit with top honors. She has served as a judge for numerous dance competitions. Her students have gone on to pursue professional dance careers as performers and teachers. Because she believes in community involvement, her students have been involved in numerous benefits and charitable productions. She remains active at the studio by teaching all ages at all levels, so as to give individualized and personal attention to all of her dancers.
Paula resides in Paxton with her wonderful husband, amazing three children, and two dogs!
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Kaila St. George has been a part of the PZDA family for as long as she can remember. She attended the studio for sixteen years, where she competed at both regional and national levels. She received top awards and honors all throughout high school including “Outstanding Actress in a Musical” and “Best Actress” from the Massachusetts High School Drama Guild. Kaila also received many coveted awards in the competition circuit with the PZDA. She was also fortunate enough to receive the “Access Broadway Triple Threat Scholarship” twice throughout high school. Along side competitions, she attended many conventions and studied with many noted master teachers throughout the country. She also enjoys taking classes at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway.
Kaila is currently pursuing a degree in Mass Communications with a focus in Public Relations and Broadcasting at Oklahoma City University, one of the top schools for the arts and communications in the nation. Kaila still studies music, acting and dance at the University as well. She studies dance under the renowned Jo Rowan, director of the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management. When Kaila is not at school, her passion is choreography. Her choreography has been recognized with highest awards and overall placement at many competitions throughout New England. Kaila prides herself on making dance class, at any level, not only challenging but extremely enjoyable and fun.
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Pamela Moscatelli Is the owner/artistic director of the PZDA. She began her dance training as a 14 year old at the PZDA in 1977. Within a year, she earned her place on the Senior Competition Team. During these competition years she was recognized for her talent with many honors, including “Best in Ballet”, “Best Technical Execution”, “Miss Dance of Connecticut”, 2nd runner up to “Miss Dance of America”, and numerous scholarships to attend prestigious Dance Centers. As her love for teaching grew, Pam began to assist at the studio and study in New York with well-known instructors David Howard, Douglas Wassell, Starr Danias, Christine Neubert, Luigi, Ronnie DeMarco, Frank Hatchett, Chuck Kelley, Michael Owens and Judy Bassing.
While studying dance, Pam earned her teaching certificate in Early Childhood Education. For several years she was pre-school teacher by day and dance instructor by night. Pam eventually made her mark in the competition circuit as a choreographer by creating pieces that have earned top awards such as “Best Choreography” and “Overall High Score” both on the Regional and National levels. Her performance credits include local Ballet Theatre, Repertory Concerts and performances with ACE Entertainment of Boston involving the legendary Gregory Hines and Cher. Throughout her successful years of competing, performing, judging and teaching, “Teaching is by far the most rewarding.” Presently, Pam continues to study and teach (and lovin’ it!) in Boston to all ages and levels and here at the PZDA where she recently became the new owner! She is affectionately known as “Miss Pam”. Pam lives in Shrewsbury with her husband, 2 sons and dog.
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Meghan Anderson has been a student at the Paula Zawalich Dance Academy since the age of two. Meghan now attends Dean College in Franklin, MA as a dance major and is a member of the honors program. She has studied with choreographers such as Missy Lay Zimmer, Andrew Hubbard, Tracie Stanfield, Sonya Tayeh and many more. She studied and continues to study Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, and Lyrical/Contemporary.
Meghan has received numerous awards over the years including the title of Teen Miss Superstar 2003 and the Mr. and Mrs. Z award 2003-2004 at the PZDA. She has choreographed many shows such as Quabbin Regional High School's Productions of "Beauty and the Beast" in 2007 and "Little Shop of Horrors" in 2008. She has also choreographed for Ware Middle School and their production of "The Wizard of Oz." Meghan has taught beginner jazz and ballet at Rutland Recreation Center and has assisted for many years at the PZDA. She looks forward to sharing her passion and knowledge for the art of dance with the students of the PZDA as she joins the faculty.
“ On with the dance!
Let joy be unconfined!”
- George Gordon Lord Byron
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Devon L.Tremblay is a native of Massachusetts where she began her love and passion for the art of dance at the young age of 8.
Devon has gone on to contuniue her studies at Dean College in Franklin, Ma. She graduated with her B.A. in Dance in 2008 with a focus in modern and pedagogy. Devon has worked with many choreographers and teachers along the way such as Nialah Randal Bellengerm Jill Silverman, Kelly Peters. Michelle DeSilva Ball, AC Ciulla, Maurice Hines and many more.
Devon;s performance credit's include "Anything Goes: as a lead dancer and choreographer, "Guys and Dolls" as a choreographer and the lead "Adelaide". "Dance Extravaganza" in 2004, a soloist in "Dean Dance Company" 2005-2008. Devon worked as the Vice President of the Dean College Dance Team 2006-2008. Devon's main focus has become her passion for choreography.
Devon has choreographed for the Worcester State College Dance Team as well as other local studios. Her dances have won many awards such as "Over All" titles, "Judges" and "High Score" awards on both the regional and national levels. In 2007, Devon's piece won the National Title at "Dance Ovations". Her work has also been recognized with a perfect score and was placed in the "Dance Off". Most recently, two of her pieces she did for the PZDA won 1st runner-up and the "Best Choreography" award at the Access Broadway National Competition in Las Vegas. They also placed in the top three for "Overall High Score". Devon's goal is to show everyone the beauty and joy of dance through all of her classes and choreography!
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Kristen Senior has been studying dance since the age of 2, where not only did she learn the styles of jazz, ballet, tap, belly dancing and hip-hop; but it's where the start of her well known nickname of " Monkey" came from. She later graduated from Burncoat Sr. High in 2006 where she studied dance with Joan Sheary and was an active member of the Burncoat Sr. High Dance Team and Dance Captain of all musical and theatre productions. For her last year in high school, she wanted to be apart of a studio and loved the fact that PZDA not only welcomed her with open arms, but gave her a chance to be apart of a team she loved to work with. Throughout these years, she has assisted classes with choreographer Kelly Graham and has taught many of her own master classes at other known studios in and around Worcester.
After realizing the style of hip-hop was her strongest suit and the one she enjoyed performing the most, she became a chaperone for Beginnings Workshop by Peter Sklar where she took classes in acting, writing, improvisation, musical theatre and casting. Mainly focusing on dance with choreographer Wayne Williams, she performed at the Minetta Lane Theatre in NY. She then moved to California where she took classes at studios Millennium Dance Complex and The Edge Dance Complex. Soon after, she decided to moved back to the East Coast where she took classes at the Koresh Dance studio in Philadelphia. Kristen is excited to be back in Worcester and even more excited to be apart of the PZDA faculty where she can't wait to express to others the art of hip-hop.
