Our Staff

​Sarah DiFrischia
When Miss Sarah began her dance career, she fell in love with the beauty of dance, the dedication and determination it took, and the excitement of the ever-changing art form. During grade school, Sarah danced at a local studio for 10 years. She studied Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Cecchetti, Acrobatics, and Pointe. She was a student teacher for 8 years and a member of the Competition Team for 5 years. Every year she had the privilege of taking master classes from many well-known and accomplished dancers, choreographers, and dance teachers. During high school, Sarah was a finalist in the PA Governor’s School of the Arts, was accepted and attended the PA Free Enterprise Week, and always placed high during competitions with solos as well as with her Competition Group. After graduating high school, Sarah attended Palm Beach Atlantic University.  While at PBAU, Sarah had the privilege to study under Demetrius Klein, the well-known and established modern choreographer and master teacher. She studied Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Partnering, Modern, and Contemporary movement. Sarah was also the only Freshman to become a member of the prestigious Palm Beach Atlantic Dance Ensemble. While there, Sarah was chosen to dance many solo and partnering duets for the Dance Ensemble’s numerous performances. Sarah then moved to Slippery Rock and finished her education at Slippery Rock University. She continued her studies in Modern, Jazz, and Ballet, however, it was at SRU, that Sarah began structuring a solid foundation in Teaching, Improvisation, and Choreography. During her college years, Sarah taught at many local studios as well as choreographed many pieces for performances at SRU. Among her many accomplishments, Sarah is most proud of her “Top Teacher” award she received while her students competed, having her SRU acapella Tap dance “Rhythms” be picked for 3 different venues, and dancing with her (then) 4 month-old daughter, Elise, for her final Senior Synthesis performance. After graduating, Sarah continued to teach locally and hone her Teaching and Choreography skills and pursued and received dance teacher credentials and certifications through the Cecchetti Council of America and USA Gymnastics. Sarah is looking forward to the future in growing the studio and expanding the space, continuing to create the studio’s thorough curriculum, and grow the business through leadership and teacher mentoring. Most importantly, Sarah is enjoying the moments that make her life wonderful; seeing her 3 children grow, watching her dancers enjoy dancing, and being able to use her talents to praise God through dancing.
Robyn Hughes
Robyn Hughes has been dancing since the young age of 2. She started teaching at the age of 14 and had choreographed her first competition group by the age of 16. After high school, she attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia as a Dance major. Robyn is a member of Dance Masters of America where she has been certified to teach all aspects of dance by written and demonstrative tests. She has attended the Dance Masters of America Teachers Training School in Buffalo New York, where she had classes by such names as Tom Ralabate, Lynn Formato, Bob Rizzo, and Judy Ann Bassing. Robyn has also attended Dance Teacher Summit, NUVO and many dance conventions where she has taken Master classes from such names as Mia Michaels, Twitch, Mandy Moore, Ray Leeper, and Travis Wall. Studying to be the best teacher she can be is one of her goals. She feels that as a teacher you should always push your students and push yourself to be the best that you can be. In her past 30+ years of teaching she has had numerous award-winning dances. She has choreographed dances that won overall award in both group and solo numbers. Some of her students have gone on to dance professionally. To name a few, one was a Rockette, many have danced on cruise lines including Disney, one is the head coach of the University of Tennessee’s National Champion dance team- Go Vols! One of her proudest moments was seeing her student, Andrew Wilson, dance on Broadway in CATS. He was also a dancer and dance captain in Disney’s Newsies, and he is in the movie! Along with all her amazing students and parents Robyn has loved throughout the years, her greatest joy is her husband of over 25 years, Charlie, and their 3 daughters; Hannah, Rachel, and Belle.
Lydia Anthony
Lydia Anthony has been involved with dance and performing for most of her life. Throughout her youth, she gained experience in Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Cecchetti, Acrobatics, Pointe, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, and Musical Theater. She enjoyed using her skills in a variety of competitions, pageants, talent shows, and musicals. After high school, Lydia studied Dance at East Tennessee State University. She had the opportunity to choreograph and perform in multiple numbers for the department’s spring showcase. While at ETSU, she was privileged to study under wonderful staff members including Jennifer Kintner, the director of Mountain Movers Modern Dance Company. After moving home to Pennsylvania and joining the staff of Crossroads Dance Academy, Lydia was blessed to continue to share her love of dance with others. She furthered her education and obtained her A.A.S. degree in Business Management from BC3. Lydia was also trained in hand-balancing at New England Center for Circus Arts in Brattleboro, Vermont. With safety as a top priority, Lydia is a member of USA Gymnastics and she is a certified Emergency Medical Responder through the American Red Cross. Using her knowledge in both business and dance, she enjoys instructing in the classrooms and connecting with the families that are a part of the studio. She enjoys improving student’s technique, creating new choreography, and providing a safe and enjoyable dance experience. She finds it rewarding to teach and choreograph for all ages in an uplifting environment. Her passion is to encourage her students in their education, creativity, and character development as they grow into young adults.
Belle Hughes
Belle Hughes has been dancing at Crossroads Dance Academy since it opened. She has been a member of the Performance Company since 4th grade and one of her favorite performances was for the Harlem Globe Trotters game in Youngstown, Ohio. While traveling to gain dance education experience, she has taken classes from world renown teachers such as Travis Wall, Mia Michaels, Mandy Moore and Twitch. Belle also attended a Musical Theater camp at Broadway Dance Center in New York City. Since her competition days began, Belle has held numerous titles such as Miss Showbiz and Miss PrimeTime and National Miss Showbiz. In 2019 she earned her first choreography award for her solo “Amazing Grace”. Belle was very involved in multiple organizations through Grove City High School. She was a member of the student council and was the secretary of her class. She was also a member of the dance line and show choir where she has performed in many different games, shows, parades, events, and competitions.  Being in musicals have become a huge passion for Belle. She held the role of Victoria (white cat) in the Grove City production of CATS. She also held the role of Ali in Mamma Mia. In 2017, Belle attended the Arts International showcase in Orlando where she was a finalist for her dance solo. This incredible experience opened the door for her to become a model for A Wish Come True dance catalog.  Belle graduated from Grove City High School in 2021 and graduated from Grove City College in 2025 as a dual major in Elementary Education and Special Education.  She was part of the college's Orchesis Dance Company as well as a cheerleader for both football and basketball. Belle is currently using her passion and love for dance in Florida while working in Entertainment for Walt Disney World. Sharing her love and passion for dance through teaching is an exciting opportunity for Belle. She can’t wait to see the young dancers grow in both skill and confidence.  
Elise DiFrischia
Elise DiFrischia has been dancing for 15 years. Her first performance to a live audience was when she was 4 months old. She says, "I love to dance and especially improv because I can express myself through movements made up on the spot." Her favorite type of dance is Modern and Acrobatics "In modern there is no strict movement that you need to follow so you can just move with your body, and in Acro, you get to use your strength and test your limits." Elise has loved watching, learning, and closely studying her teachers and their unique ways of teaching. "My favorite thing about teaching is interacting with the kids and watching them enjoy my passion," Elise said. While dancing with Crossroads Performance Company, Elise has attended Showbiz and PrimeTime dance competitions where she received a sudent scholarship in 2024, as well as the NUVO dance convention, where she received a student scholarship in 2018. She has also danced in every recital that Crossroads has ever put on as well as multiple venues every year with the Crossroads Liturgical Company. Elise is homeschooled and privileged to dual enroll her senior year at Grove City College. She is also a member of the Slippery Rock High School rockenettes and currently competes in track with SRHS pole vault, holding her record at 9' 6". Elise now attends Grove City College where she is majoring in Mechanical Engineering. She is involved in Orchesis Dance Company while in college. Although, she is involved in many activities, one of her favorite things is dance. "Dance is still my joy and passion and one of the best ways to worship God."
​
Eilee Belle DiFrischia
Eilee Belle DiFrischia has been dancing for about 14 Years, she started dancing when she was around two and kept it up ever since. she fell in love with with the challenge, determination, and satisfaction of dancing. The first time she knew that dance was something she will never let go was when she got her first pair of pointe shoes, pointe was a lot harder than it looked, she almost gave up on it a couple times but she wanted to be as talented as her older sister so she continued with every class that was hard and with the help of her teachers, and parents she could get to where she is today. Eilee Belle has the privilege of taking many different genres such as tap, ballet, jazz, acro, pointe, modern, lyrical, hip hop, baton, Liturgical, contemporary and musical theatre, Eilee especially likes contemporary and modern because it feels very natural and free. Eilee competes at Prime Time and Showbiz with Crossroads Dance Academy's performance company, Eilee won first place and got Pre-Tee Miss showbiz in 2021. Eilee Belle has taught many genres of dance but her favorites are modern and jazz. What she likes most about teaching is seeing all of the kids improve, watching them work on getting to the next level, and completing their goals. Eilee's mom, Sarah DiFrischia, is a great example for Eilee and guides her through life, she teaches her peace and selflessness, even when Eilee doubts herself her mama is always there for her. Eilee's dad, Allen DiFrischia, teaches her the importance of patience and a good, positive attitude, and the best way to make omelets. Her best friends/siblings, Elise and Apollo, teach her patience, love, and joy. I am excited to teach every dancer that I have the opportunity to, how to use the determination and unique strengths God gave them to conquer their goals. Dancing is a way for her to praise God, it gives her hope and a purpose. Dance gives Eilee a place to rejoice, release, feel and fly.
Mackenize Stone
Mackenzie Stone has been dancing with Crossroads Dance Academy since the age of 9. She has been a part of the Crossroads Performance Company since 6th grade. Mackenzie has danced at competitions such as Showbiz and PrimeTime. She won Miss Showbiz in 2023 as well as Miss Primetime in 2022 and 2023. She has attended NUVO Dance Conventions, The Next Step Dance Conventions, as well as convention classes through Dance Masters of America. Mackenzie is also a part of Crossroads Liturgical Company where she has had many different performing experiences. With the Liturgical Company, she has enjoyed not only dancing, but using her gifts to praise God. Before starting dance, Mackenzie was a competitive gymnast. Her favorite dance class is Acrobatics. She loves the strength, attention to detail, and patience Acro takes. Other classes she regularly takes include Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Baton. Mackenzie had the privilege to teach for 2 years and has been a Teacher’s Assistant for 3 years. Teaching and assisting have been wonderful experiences and enabled her to grow as a person as well as a dancer. Mackenzie loves to not only teach but to get to know each student. She loves to see the individuality of each student and watch them grow at their own pace. Mackenzie is now a student at Grove City College studying Exercise Science. She plans to go onto physical therapy school or physicians assistant school after completion of her undergraduate degree. In addition to her studies, Mackenzie is also a part of the diving team at Grove City College. Although this is different from dance, she enjoys diving as it utilizes many of the skills learned through her years of dance and gymnastics.
Will VanSlander
Will was born in Saint Mary's PA where he began dancing at April School of Dance at the age of 9. Growing up, he was a competition dancer until he was eventually accepted into Slippery Rock University. Will is in his senior year at Slippery Rock University where he is pursuing a BFA in Dance with a Focus in Performance and Choreography. He is also entering his 3rd year as a member of the pre professional dance company "Palenque." Will has had choreography showcased in multiple performances both on and off campus, as well as performing in the likes of the "Koresh Artist's Showcase" and "SRU Faculty and Guest Artist Concert." Will's Training lies in the spheres of Tap, Modern, and Hip-Hop, but years of performance have also allowed him to train in Contemporary, Jazz, Ballet, Traditional Colombian, and many more. Dance is, and always has been a large part of Will's life, and sharing that passion at Crossroads Dance Academy is a dream come true.