Distinguished Guest Faculty
Our Distinguished Guest Faculty are nationally recognized educators and choreographers who play an active and ongoing role in the Dance Ink experience. These industry leaders return to our studio regularly throughout the season to set choreography, lead master classes, offer private training, and work closely with our students during intensives and workshops.
Their mentorship, professionalism, and commitment to excellence are an integral part of our faculty team and artistic vision.
Gabriel Ash
Gabriel "KG" Ash is the founder and director of K.G. Dynasty MuvMint Formerly Known as KG Dynasty HipHop & Contemporary Dance Company. Raised in Pittsburgh, PA Gabriel started his dance training at Rogers Middle School for The Creative and Performing Arts as a dance major continued his studies of dance at CAPA High School, where he trained in ballet, jazz, modern, tap, African, praise, swing, lyrical, contemporary, and hip-hop. Gabriel attended college in Philadelphia at The University of The Arts as a Dance Education Major and now travels as a Creative Director, Instructor, and Choreographer doing workshops at different universities and dance studios across the world. Gabriel has trained with companies such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Steps On Broadway, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Pittsburgh Dance Ensemble, and Dance Alloy. He has received several awards for his choreography and teaching and some accomplishments include being a two-time winner of Showtime At The Apollo, being named a Vegas-finalist on FOX Network's TV Show So You Think You Can Dance Season 3," & a semi-finalist on MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew" Season 7 with K.G. Dynasty MuvMint a dance cmpany he formed in his hometown in 2009 which is still going strong to this very day. His recent credits are being signed to Bloc LA, becoming a Motivating Excellence Alumni of Season 4 working with Rhapsody James, an Establish Your Empire Alumni working with Gigi Torres, being featured in Teyana Taylors "Undercover" Music Video, dancing in the movie "Howard High" due for a NetFlix release late 2019, Assistant Choreographer on NBC's World of Dance TV Show. Gabriel currently resides in L.A. as a up and coming industry Creative Director, and teaching for the legendary Millennium Dance Complex in LA , as well as being a Faculty Memeber of IMMASPACE. Some of his credits include Teyana Taylor , Rahmel, Lloyd , Miguel, IMX, Marques Houston, and Wayne Brady.
John Pickup
Mr. John received his early training from Leeanne Rutherford at Ballet Theatre Australia and later with Peter Shortland and Kathryn Hailey at The Studio. As a dancer he performed with The Wiggles, Lithuanian National Ballet, Gelsey Kirkland Studio Company and New York City Children's Theatre. Mr. John began teaching at Essendon Academy of Ballet, Melbourne Australia before teaching at various schools throughout Sydney and Melbourne. During this time he studied the RAD syllabus under Kathryn Hailey.
After relocating to New York, he began training under Gelsey Kirkland and Michael Chernov as both a dancer and teacher. Mr. John was a faculty member of the Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet and taught in the full day, pre professional and after school programs.
As a professional choreographer Mr Pickup has created works for The Wiggles and Circa 21 Dinner Theater.
When not teaching ballet Mr Pickup still performs in Musical Theater and credits include: Lurch in “The Addams Family” (Surflight Theater) Mr Z “An American in Paris” (Surflight) The Wizard of Oz in “Dorothys adventures in Oz” (92nd Street Y) Colonel Mustard in “Clue, The Musical” (Circa 21) to name a few.
Mr Pickup looks forward to sharing his love of classical ballet with the students of Dance Ink!
Hannah Carter
Hannah Carter of England joined Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in 2013 after dancing as a corps de ballet member of the Estonian National Ballet. She graduated with honors from the Royal Ballet School in London and performed in a number of productions, including a tour to Spain, with The Royal Ballet. Hannah was promoted to PBT soloist in 2015 and to principal in 2016. Her repertoire with PBT includes Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room and Nine Sinatra Songs, Jiřà Kylián’s Petit Mort and Sinfonietta, and William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated as well as classics, including Swan Lake, Don Quixote and The Nutcracker. Hannah has also performed leading roles in Le Corsaire, La Bayadère and Romeo and Juliet, among others.
Ernie Tolentino
After being an All-City High School football player and a violinist in the El Paso Texas All-City Orchestra, Ernest Tolentino combined his athletic and music abilities in college. Ernie received a B.M. in Music and Ballet Performance from the University of Texas at El Paso, he danced with Milwaukee Ballet and then the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre for fourteen years rising to rank of soloist. Ernie danced numerous major and principal roles in all Pittsburgh Ballet productions and was featured in classical and contemporary works by Marius Petipa, Patrick Fantz, Ohad Naharin, Domy Reitersoffer, Agnes DeMille, Anthony Tudor and George Balanchine, just to name a few. An audience favorite, Ernie’s athletic ability, dramatic characterizations, sensitive and skillful partnering have won acclaims from critics all over the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Taiwan. In 1992 Ernie founded The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Dancers’ Trust, a career transition fund for retiring PBT dancers and remains the executive director. He is currently on the teaching staff of the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University and Carnegie Mellon University Pre-College Drama.
Ernie is married to former Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre principal Tamar Rachelle, and they have two children.
Karen Prunzik
Karen was the originating role of Anytime Annie in 42nd Street on Broadway and tap legend Paul Draper's protégé. She was also in the movies "Tap" with Gregory Hines and "A Chorus Line." She also originated the Ginger Rodgers role of Anytime Annie in Gower Champions blockbuster Broadway sensation "42nd Street." This was the first audition Karen attended when she arrived in New York City at the age of 22. Karen also owned and operated her own studio in the Pittsburgh area, winning many awards and best director awards from many dance competitions. Karen is now enjoying retired life with her cats and teaching the adults at Dance Ink!
Karen is hailed in the industry as "one of the best tap dancers in the world!" Paul Draper said "You can do anything I can do, only prettier." Gene Kelly said "She is one of the best tap dancers I have ever seen." John Kenley said "No auditions necessary, i know her work. " Gregory Hines said "She's BETTER than Ann Miller!" Ginger Rodgers said "I feel like I've known you all my life." Katherine Hepburn said "That girl has SPARK." Gower Champion said "Honey, you are not a dancer you are an artist." Sammy Davis Jr. said "Haven't seen tapping like that in years!"