WPAS Staff
Cole Haugh is the co-owner of the Wilmington Performing Arts Studio. He grew up in Jamestown, Ohio and started dancing at age 15 with the Dance Loft. He taught and trained at Wilmington Performing Arts Studio in its first year. Cole continued his studies in dance at Clark State Community College, the Gary Gies School of Dance and Wright State University where he was featured as a dancer in the concert Rewind. He has performed in many venues including the Schuster Center, Victoria Theatre, and Kings Island. Cole played Friedrich in The Sound of Music at La Comedia. He served as a choreographer and performer in many productions over the past decade with Wilmington College Community Summer Theatre including Cabaret, The Drowsy Chaperone, Mamma Mia, and Company, just to name a few. He recently directed and choreographed Chicago at WCCST. Cole has also choreographed for Wilmington College Theatre Department the past 10 years. He was a choreographer and featured soloist with the University of Dayton Dance Ensemble. He taught dance at Clark State Community College for three years. 17 years ago Cole returned to WPAS and is so happy to call WPAS home. He just finished his Advanced photography certificate and opened his own buisness Cole David Photography and serves as WPAS' photographer. Cole lives in Columbus with his best boy Scout, a yellow lab. You may see him tagging along with Cole at the studio from time to time.
Ami Gallagher-Filip is the co-owner of the Wilmington Performing Arts Studio. She has lived and breathed dance throughout her entire life. She began her dance training at the age of three at the Moving Company School of Dance in Sandusky, Ohio. In addition to her dance training, Ami also performed in several musicals, plays and shows in the Sandusky area. She continued her dance and performance career as a member of the nationally ranked Wright State University Emerald Jazz Dance Team and the University of Dayton Dance Ensemble. Ami has been teaching and choreographing for several years all over the state of Ohio, and used the knowledge gained as a dance competition judge around Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. She spent several years as a dance instructor all around the Dayton region, and spent 4 years as an Adjunct Dance Professor at The University of Dayton. Along with being an Adjunct Professor, Ami was the Rehearsal Director/Assistant Director for The University of Dayton Dance Ensemble, working with UD students, notable guest choreographers, and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company’s Second Company. In recent years, Ami has choreographed for local school and theater programs, including Wilmington High School Theater, Wilmington High School’s Wilmingtones Show Choir, Little Miami High School Theater, and Kids & Company. Ami studied English Education at Wright State University, and likes to read, write, garden, and cook when not in a dance studio. Ami and her husband Dustin love spending their time with the 3 cats and 2 dogs, and will be welcoming their first child, Erik, in the fall of 2023.
Erin Cavender is the founder of the Wilmington Performing Arts Studio. She received a BA in Music Education from Milligan College in 1998. Erin began her dance study at Terrie’s Dance Spectrum with Terrie Chapman & Melissa Chapman-Marting and has studied voice with Liz Haskins, Emily King & Evelyn Thomas. She has also studied piano with Diane Carter and Thomas Stampfli. Erin has performed in numerous community and professional theaters and college productions in Southern Ohio and Northeastern Tennessee. She served as the choral and drama director at Clinton-Massie High School for three years and also placed in the Top Ten at the Miss Ohio Pageant in 2000 with an Italian aria as her talent showcase. She has directed and choreographed numerous high school and community shows throughout her career. Erin Founded WPAS in 2003 with 50 students. The Wilmington Performing Arts Studio now instructs over 150 students in Voice, Piano and Dance. Erin teaches tap, lyrical and competition teams at WPAS. She resides in Sabina with her wonderful husband, Chad, and their beautiful daughters, Claire and Claudia.
Ashley Seewer originates from St. Marys Ohio, and now resides in Wilmington with her husband, Aaron, and their four children Ava, Anslee, Anden and Arlington. Ashley received her Bachelor's Degree in Spanish Education from Bowling Green State University, and she currently teaches Spanish at Clinton-Massie High School. She also serves as the Varsity Football Cheerleading Coach, too. Ashley began dancing at age 5 and spent over 10 years competing. She has training in jazz, lyrical, tap and ballet. Ashley began her teaching career in 2000, and joined WPAS in 2006. Ashley feels that it is such a blessing to see the excitement that the dancers bring to class each week and has loved watching them grow over the years. Ashley will be teaching competition teams and creative movement this year.
Cassie Smith began dancing at age 3 with the Dance Loft. She then began dancing with Wilmington Performing Arts Studio at age 6, in its first year of business. During the next 12 years Cassie studied ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary. She has many years of experience dancing in recreational classes, as well as participating with the competition teams. Throughout her time as a student at WPAS, Cassie also held the roles of assistant teacher and student teacher. She continued her dance career as a dancer on the Miami University Shakerettes Dance Team, before transferring to Wright State University where she received her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Middle Childhood Education. Cassie is now a 4th grade teacher at Lebanon City Schools. She has also participated in many other musical avenues including studies in piano, voice, flute, and piccolo, as well as taking part in musicals, plays, choirs, and bands. Cassie hopes to bring the love of music and dance to the students of Wilmington Performing Arts Studio and is excited for the opportunities that this year holds!
Abby Bowman recently graduated from Ohio University with her Masters degree in Arts Administration with a focus in Community Dance (MAA) in August of 2024, and graduated with her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance Performance and Choreography with a certificate in Social Media in Spring of 2023. Abby grew up in Wilmington, Ohio studying numerous styles of dance at Wilmington Performing Arts Studio. During her 12 years as a student at WPAS, she spent 7 years on the competition team. Abby also danced at Cincinnati Ballet for 4 years. She attended summer intensives throughout the years including the Joffrey Ballet School (Joffrey Spectrum) in NYC, BalletMet, Ballet Tech, and Cincinnati Ballet. Abby has always loved teaching and recently taught at Factory Street Studio and non-major Ballet at Ohio University. During her time at Ohio University, she was cast in works by Anthony Alterio, Dr. Christi Camper Moore, Amy Miller (of Gibney Dance in New York), Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, and numerous student pieces. She performed Dr. Christi Camper Moore’s piece in 2023 for the American College Dance Association’s East Regional Conference. In 2022, she served as the Social Media and Public Relations Chair for the Movement Organization at Ohio University. Abby also has extensive experience in production work in venues including the Shirley Wimmer Dance Theater, Templeton Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium, and the Lancaster Festival.
Hillary LeForge will be teaching Hip Hop 7-9 year olds and 10-12 year olds this year. She attended Wilmington High School and danced at Wilmington Performing Arts Studio for 11 years, graduating in 2023. Hillary now attends Wilmington College, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Sociology. She am very excited to come back to the studio as a teacher this year and share the love she have for dance with students!
Rhonda Wheasler brings many years of experience in piano, voice and theatre to WPAS. She has taught private piano and voice lessons for over 40 years with special emphasis on preparing young and adult performers for special events, auditions, or just to increase their confidence and range in playing or singing. She began her training in piano at the age of 6 and studied with Judy Sargeant, Faye Mahaffey, Clara Speight and Celeste Armintrout. She has served as pianist at several churches in the area, provided music for events, played keyboards for local bands, and accompanied many vocalists and instrumentalists at High School Solo and Ensemble Contest. Rhonda started singing at a young age and was very active in church choirs, school choirs, professional vocal groups, and local/regional theatre productions. She studied voice as a Preparatory student at the University of Cincinnati for three years and continued her studies at Wilmington College graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance. Rhonda believes her immersion into the many styles and influences of music encourages her students to try new composers and expand their own musical knowledge. She feels a student who enjoys what they are playing, or singing, will continue to increase their love of music and practice, practice, practice! Rhonda lives in Wilmington with David, and enjoys designing, decorating, fiber crafts, and watching/reading anything fantasy or science fiction. She also works full-time at Air Transport International as a Training Scheduler for the flight crews.
Gina Sheldon, soprano, has been a voice instructor for over 30 years and currently is teaching at Wilmington Performing Arts Studio, as well as her home studio in Morrow, OH. In addition, she has been teaching private voice lessons to college students at Wilmington College since 2008 and had the opportunity to direct Wilmington College Chorale from 2015-2024. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Education, Music 7-12, vocal and instrumental from Wilmington College where she performed in Wilmington College Chamber Singers, Community Chorus, Chorale and Collegium. Gina discovered her passion for choral conducting when she was appointed to serve as the student conductor of Chorale, and later pursued an M.A. in Performance, Choral Conducting, at Wright State University, where she assisted the directors of Women’s Chorale and Collegiate Chorale on several occasions. In addition to teaching at Wilmington College and 32 years at her private music studio, Gina has been heavily involved with regional and community theatres in Wilmington, Dayton and Cincinnati. Her career spans over 40 years and includes directing, music directing and vocal coaching, as well as acting. Some of her favorite roles are Rosie in Mamma Mia, Princess Fiona in Shrek, Janet van de Graaf in The Drowsy Chaperone, Dot in Sunday in the Park with George, Eva Peron in Evita and Fantine in Les Miserables, just to name a few. Gina has the privilege of sharing the Wilmington College stage with her students from time to time, as well. Gina’s students can expect to learn about vocal technique and vocal health, to be exposed to a wide variety of repertoire, to come to a greater appreciation for the art of music, and to have lots of fun!!
