Meet Our Instructors
Irina Manukova – Piano
Erinn Exline Casazza – Zumba
Erinn Exline Casazza began dancing at age five when her parents enrolled her in ballet, tap and jazz classes. She was a somewhat serious student of dance for 15 years, but maintains that formal dance training is not needed to enjoy Zumba. Erinn began taking Zumba classes under Gemma Hughes at WVU’s Rec Center in 2006. She was certified by master instructor Erick Santana of Miami in April, 2008. She describes her Zumba classes as fun-filled and laid back and encourages her students to do their own thing. She reminds her students that Zumba is party — not a workout — and her only rule in class is to have fun.
Erinn grew up in Maysel (Clay County), West Virginia, but is a self-proclaimed townie, having lived in Morgantown for over 10 years. She is a three-time graduate of WVU with degrees in Communication and Integrated Marketing. When she is not shakin’ it in Zumba classes she is in Fairmont where she is employed at Northrop Grumman.
Carola Miles – Drawing, Painting
Carola Miles was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and raised in Santiago, Chile. She graduated with a BFA, concentrating in painting at West Virginia University. She is also co-owner of C.A.S, LLC, a Morgantown based company specializing in Illustration and design. She has worked in several commissions in the private and medical field. During her undergraduate years at WVU she received several scholarships and began to teach drawing and painting lessons in the Community Arts Program. Carola’s interests include master techniques and pigments, history of mathematics and optics in drawing, as well as illustration and concept drawings.
Tammy Johnson – Bellydancing
Tammy Johnson began hand drumming in the fall of 2006 at West Virginia State University in Institute, WV. She studied the various styles of traditional drums that the classes had to offer including d'jembe, doumbek, talking drum, conga, and bell. Tammy expanded on her education three months later after learning of a local bellydance troupe with a drum circle that played for them. In addition to the drums she used various handheld percussion instruments like tambourine, shakers, zills and 2 tone wooden agogo under the instruction of the drum leader. Other skills include playing live music on stage for bellydance performances in various places including The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulfer Springs, WV and leading a simple drum circle. She is also known as Asta in drum circles.
Aldona Bird – Photography
Aldona Bird is a photojournalism and digital media student at Point Park University, in Pittsburgh. Raised in West Virginia, she began photographing with her father's old Nikon at a young age. She has worked for Infinite Lens Photography in Morgantown, has taken pictures at several area dance schools, and done portrait and wedding photography. At Point Park University, she edits a photography, arts, and entertainment publication, “To the Point,” which she founded. In the summer of 2010, she interned as a reporter and photojournalist at the Dominion Post in Morgantown. Ms Bird freelances under the name”fotoart by aldona.”
Amy Sardone – Voice, Piano
Amy Sardone grew up in Flower Mound, Texas and at the age of five she began her education in piano and has continued to grow for over 20 years, performing both in churches and in recitals. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Dallas Baptist University in 2006. For the past 4 years, she taught both voice and piano lessons in her private studio in Austin, Texas. Ms. Sardone teaches students of all ages and has had students from ages 3 to 70. She teaches both classical music as well as traditional and musical theater, starting with a good foundation of singing and piano techniques. Ms Sardone’s musical talent won her the role as Bet in Oliver, as well as positions in concert choirs both in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Dallas, Texas. She also had the opportunity to perform the music from The Phantom of the Opera at a benefit for a national nonprofit.
Billy Kaiser – Guitar
Billy Kaiser developed the Musicians Martial Arts Academy over the course of years of individual study and instruction with children, adolescents, and adults. As students progress through skill levels, they are awarded different colored belts, similar to that of traditional martial arts programs.
Kaiser’s formal music training was at the world famous musicians institute in Hollywood, California where he participated in the journeyman certificate program for guitar performance in contemporary styles, focusing on rock, blues, and jazz.
Alexandra Hamilton – Flute
Alexandra Hamilton is a freelance flutist currently living in Morgantown, West Virginia. Ms. Hamilton studied flute at the Manhattan School of Music where she received her Bachelor of Music. She earned a Masters of Music in flute performance from McGill University’s Schulich School of Music in Montreal, Canada, and recently completed a Masters of Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. As a freelance flutist in New York City, she performed with several contemporary classical music ensembles including Camerata Notturna Orchestra, Alarm Will Sound, TACTUS Contemporary Ensemble, Red Light New Music, and Amp Music.
Ms. Hamilton has performed at Carnegie Hall several times with the New York Youth Symphony. She has performed in England, Italy, France, Germany and Canada. She made her solo debut with the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra, and has made appearances at the Aspen Music Festival, Symphony Academy of the Pacific, International Academie of Music in Nice, France, the Darmstadt International New Music Festival in Germany, and Eastern Music Festival.
A winner of the Manhattan School of Music Lilian Fuchs Competition, she was also finalist for several competitions including the National Flute High School soloist competition, the New York Flute Club competition, and the New York Koussevitzky Woodwind and Brass competition. She has played under conductors James Conlon, Kurt Masur, David Zinman, David Robertson, and George Manahan.
Eddie “Spaghetti” Maier – Drawing, Painting, Printing
Eddie Maier was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, but now he calls West Virginia home, in part because it is one of the most beautiful places on earth. "I have spent most of my 35 years dreaming about art and doing something about it," Maier said.
He draws artistic inspiration from the natural beauty of the Mountain State, as well as from the countless wonderful and interesting people he has met here. His gift is seeing the beauty in his surroundings and in the people he encounters and transforming them into visual interpretations that he can share with others.
Maier's work is eclectic. In part, it reflects his extensive travel and broad life experiences. He lived in England for almost four years, and traveled to Ireland, Switzerland, France, Holland and Spain from that base. It's easy to spot themes in his work taken from those rich artistic and cultural traditions he's encountered. Maier also lived a year in Australia, where he studied printmaking and jewelry at Charles Stewart University in Wagga, NSW.
Maier also lived and worked in Africa, and the influences from that experience show in his art. While there, he taught art in a small village in the Volta Region of Ghana. "I view my creations as songs, telling stories of places I’ve traveled," Maier said.
His travels have not been limited to other countries and continents. He has traveled extensively throughout the United States and worked in Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado, as well as taught pottery in Cheboygan, Michigan.
Maier studied art at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania for two years. He also apprenticed with Kathy Martinez, a noted potter in the area. "She taught me life lessons as well, introducing me to the festival circuit and showing me how I could support myself by selling my art," Maier said. He has a BFA in Printmaking and Art Education from West Virginia University.
When he's not in the studio he travels with his family to share art with others. Whenever possible, Maier follows music festivals and arts and crafts fairs. "I love music and often wish I were a musician….but that’s not my thing. So I tell song stories through my art," Maier said. His hope is that his art celebrates the lives of the countless people who have helped him along the way, through happy times and sad. "I am mindful that I would not be able to do the things I do without their support and the contributions they made to make me who and what I am. I still feel connected with all those who have touched my life," Maier said.
Maier works mostly with oil-painted woodblock printing on handmade paper, but his portfolio includes oil paintings, pottery, jewelry and other items. Visit his artwork and meet the people from all over the world he has met: www.pbase.com/eddiespaghettiart.
