Part One: Meet the Company Dancers
Updated: Mar 15, 2019
As we approach our upcoming performance of Equinox we wanted to take this opportunity to let our audience get to know the company dancers beyond their dancing abilities. In this post, the first in a series of three, we feature six company dancers who are juggling dance with full-time careers or school schedules.
Marcella Day, from La Plata, Maryland, is an instructor for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and a Lululemon Educator. She never leaves home without a snack and loves fitness, cooking, baking, reading, and crocheting. A fun fact about her is that she can hold a plank for seven minutes! Check out Marcella’s fitness journey on her Instagram @marcelladay7.
Sandi (Alessandra) Comunale, Pittsburgh born and raised, works as a Conservation Education Specialist at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. She teaches with animals to inspire people to protect our planet. She never leaves home without a sense of adventure and loves food, dogs, traveling, learning, and helping others. A fun fact about her is that she danced in a flash mob for a televised event with the Jonas Brothers. Check out Sandi’s adventures on her Instagram @sandic33.
Jenny Altman, from Murrysville, PA, is a digital product manager at PNC. Her job keeps her on her toes with a mix of relationship and project management, content strategy, copyrighting, web design and development. She is an auntie to three awesome kids and volunteers her time to help nonprofit organizations (in addition to Exhalations as the Public Relations Officer). She never leaves home without her lipstick or jewelry and enjoys fashion and musical theater. A fun fact about her is that in an earlier stage of her career in NYC, she used to greet celebrities and manage press on red carpets for movie premieres and film festivals. Check out how Jenny balances it all on her Instagram @JenElizA84.
Rachel O’Rorke, from Altoona, PA (the home of trains and Sheetz!), is a full-time Registered Nurse in a medical ICU at UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital. She also works part-time as a pediatric home care RN. Rachel never leaves her house without lavender or peppermint oil and enjoys taking yoga and barre classes. A fun fact about her is that she loves to shop for used records for her record player and loves to try new foods. Check out Rachel’s yoga and food adventures on her Instagram @rachelororke.
Allison (Ali) Long, from Chicago suburbs – Schaumburg, is a Pilates instructor, dance teacher, and assistant company manager with JAMPress Management. She never leaves home without her scrunchie and loves working out, listening to true crime podcasts, reading, and playing with makeup. A fun fact is about her is that she’s been fluent in American Sign Language since 1st grade and broke her jaw in high school. Check out how Allison balances it all on her Instagram @al_long94.
Shane Wiseman, from Elizabeth, PA, is currently a full-time student at Seton Hill University. She never leaves home without her water bottle and has an interest in photography outside of dance. A fun fact about her is that her middle name is Tootsie! Check out how Shane balances Exhalations with being a college student on her Instagram @shanew08.
Come back later this week to read about more company members and we hope to see you all next week at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater!