Meet the Faculty
Janellen Farmer, Director of Voice
Janellen Farmer, a graduate of the Opera program of the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music, has taught singers of all ages in all genres of music. Her students are heard in performance throughout the Philadelphia area, and in such august venues as Carnegie Hall in New York. They are some of the most popular area soloists in classical and more popular performances.
Ms. Farmer has appeared in opera and concerts throughout the US and abroad, and has also performed with Jazz Trios at Philadelphia's Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons Hotels, and as a Cabaret Artist at the Legendary Cabaret at Odette's in New Hope, PA.
Sarah Vogan, Director of Dance
Ms. Vogan began her training at a young age, studying at various studios in the area. During her years of study, she has made appearances in the WPVI 6 ABC Boscov's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Sunoco Welcome America 4th of July Parades, Sunoco Welcome America 2 Cities 2 States Concert featuring the Ba Ha Men, 4th International World Dragon Boat Races - Opening Ceremonies, Republican National Convention - Opening Ceremonies, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell Inauguration Parade and in 2003, and made her debut dancing at Carnegie Hall in concert with Janellen Farmer.
While acquiring her BA in dance at Mount Holyoke College and the Five College Dance Department, she choreographed an adjudicated piece for ACDFA. In 2007, Ms. Vogan traveled to Ireland to exhibit and teach American tap dance to the students of various schools, while also studying Irish step dance with international champions, Jim Hickey and Justin Walsh. Since graduating from college, she began her teaching career and continues to teach at many dance studios in the greater Philadelphia area. She was recognized with a choreography award in the 2013-2014 competition season for one of her tap numbers. Ms. Vogan has also been choreographing musicals for local schools and community theaters, including the Barn Playhouse and Forge Theater. In addition to teaching and choreographing, she spent two years dancing from 2011-2013 with Opus1 Contemporary Dance Company and is currently in her fourth year with the Lady Hoofers Tap Ensemble, Philadelphia's premier all female professional tap company, now dancing as a first company member.
With the Lady Hoofers, Ms. Vogan has had the opportunity to perform alongside Philadelphia's best in Koresh Dance Company's Come Together Festival at the Suzanne Roberts Theater as well as share the stage with tap greats Brenda Buffalino and Savion Glover at the 25th Anniversary of the NJ Tap Ensemble. She has performed in original works choreographed for the company by guest choreographers: Dolores Sanchez, Caleb Teicher, Michele Dunleavy, Robyn Watson, and Lisa LaTouche. In May of 2019, she was recognized by Camille Bacon-Smith of BroadStreetReview.com as the “star turn” of the Lady Hoofer's annual spring show, On Tap, performing “Booty Swing,” a solo choreographed by artistic director, Kat Richter. Most recently, Ms. Vogan was cast as the “Queen of Versailles” in the Lady Hoofers 2021 and 2022 productions of The Tapcracker, performed at the Suzanne Roberts Theater in Philadelphia.
Photo by Sa'Mantha Sayten,
Courtesy of The Lady Hoofers
Ruthy Freeburg, Dance Faculty
Ruthy graduated with a BA in Dance with a concentration in choreography and performance from Muhlenberg College. During her time there, she performed in many dance concerts, both student and faculty choreographed. She also choreographed in two dance concerts, with one of her pieces being chosen to be performed and adjudicated at an ACDA (American College Dance Association) regional conference. Ruthy’s main focus in the arts through her training has been Modern and Ballet, but she enjoyed her time in Tap technique classes and on her college Tap team. She loves creating and viewing art of all kinds and is very excited to meet and dance with her students this year.
