Meet the Founders

Tauna Hunter is a retired professional dancer, teacher and choreographer.  She holds an MFA from University of Utah.  She performed with Ballet West, Colorado Ballet and the Dallas Ballet.  Ms. Hunter acted as Professor and Chair of Dance at Mercyhurst University and currently serves as a board member for Erie Arts & Culture. 

Carla B. Hughes is a professional dancer, choreographer and actress, who currently teaches dance for the Erie School District.  She holds a BA in Dance from Point Park University, and an MFA in Performance and Dance Education, from the The Ohio State University.  Carla is the Artistic Director of her solo performance company, SheWorks Dance Theatre and a rostered Teaching Artist for the PA Council of the Arts, Arts in Education Program.  

Mark Santillano is co-director of SoMar Dance Works, and Assistant Professor of Dance at Mercyhurst University. As a dancer, choreographer, educator he is interested in interdisciplinary, multi-media works. Mark is the proud recipient of the Erie Arts & Culture Artist Fellowship; his work has been seen around the world. 

Jennifer Dennehy is the owner of Kinetic Creativity: Enabling Dance for All and a teaching artist through the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. She is also an internationally recognized performing artist, educator, and choreographer. Jennifer is the proud recipient of the 2015 Erie Arts & Culture Artist Bruce Morton Wright Artist of the Year Award and a 2018 Emerging Artist Fellowship. 

Jacqueline George is an award-winning film producer.  Some of her credits include The Cheetah Girls, Batman and Robin, Richie Rich, Demolition Man, Dick Tracy, Searching For David’s Heart (Humanitas Prize winner), and Out For Justice.  Upon returning to Erie, she has taught filmmaking at the Downtown Erie YMCA.  Jacqueline is the Board President of Dafmark Dance Theater and a Board Member at BEST.