Amy Hlavaty Belcher has been teaching students locally for 26 years. Ms. Belcher’s extensive dance training began locally, and Amy taught ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and pointe locally for 9 years. During this time, her training expanded to include studies with notable teachers such as Frank Hachett, Jeffery Ferguson, Karen Gayle, Jimmy Kitchler, Sue Samuels, Finis Jung, and Billie Angel.
In 2005, Amy launched Arabesque Academy of Dancing in Elmhurst, PA. At this time, Amy began private ballet training in New York City with Catherine Kingsley, director of the Anglo-American Ballet and former performer with the Royal Ballet. Amy regularly attends teaching seminars conducted by Rhee Gold, and she has contributed to two articles for Dance Studio Life Magazine (a publication for dance teachers and studio owners.) Amy was also a member of Sam Beckford’s Studio Mastermind program for several years. Most recently, Ms. Belcher became a certified Twinkle StarDance teacher – a curriculum for preschool and early school age dancers.
In 2009, Amy attended the inaugural Dance Teacher Web Conference in Las Vegas where she worked with notable teachers and choreographers from across the country. In 2012, she again attended this conference where she trained with leading dance professionals such as Emmy-award winning choreographer, AC Ciulla, Broadway actor, James Patric Moran, and choreographer for Jennifer
Lopez & Madonna, Liz Imperio. Returning in 2013, Amy again took class with Liz Imperio, as well as Ricky Hinds (Associate Director of the Broadway hit Newsies & Associate Choreographer of Come From Away), and Napolean & Tabitha (So You Think You Can Dance Choreographers).
Amy is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Marywood University where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration. She is also a two-time recipient of the Northeast Business Journal’s Top 20 Under 40 Award.
In addition to dancing and teaching, Ms. Belcher spends time serving in the local non-profit community. Amy served as the Event Planning Chairperson for POWER!, planned Scranton’s 2006 Fashion Weekend, and was featured in the September 2007 issue of Happenings Magazine. For several years, Amy served as a Board Member for Dress For Success Lackawanna. During her time with this organization, she was the Chairperson for the Dress For Success 15th Anniversary Luncheon with featured speaker, Dr. Jill Biden. Amy was also the Co-Chair for the Children’s Advocacy Center Crystal Anniversary Celebration. Amy is presently an active member of the Scranton Area Foundation's Scholarship Committee.
Currently, Amy serves as the Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors at United Neighborhood Centers, and she serves as the Chairperson of their Development Committee. At United Neighborhood Centers, Amy has taught dance classes for preschool students, during their Afterschool program, and in their Older Active Adults program. Miss Amy also volunteered her time to the Spotlight Theater group run by this organization, and she produced choreography for the original theater production of “This Is It” (A Michael Jackson Revue) & “The Little Mermaid”.
While under Amy’s direction, the students of Arabesque Academy of Dancing have participated in several regional parades, and the studio is a four-time winner of the Grand Marshall’s Award for their appearance in the Greater Scranton Jaycees Santa Parade. Amy’s dancers have performed at LaFiesta Italiana, the Moscow Country Fair, the Greater Scranton Film Office Summer Film Event, the Harlem Globetrotters Basketball Game, the City of Wilkes-Barre’s Pirouettes in the Park, & the Radisson Hotel’s Princess Tea Party. In the past 20 years, Amy and her staff have also performed at United Neighborhood Center’s Mardi Gras, the Red Cross Dinner Auction, Leadership Lackawanna’s Charity Basketball Game, and the March of Dimes Walk America– all as a gift to the community.
In 2019, Amy’s students traveled to Walt Disney World Resort to perform in a parade down Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom as well as in Epcot. And in 2020, Arabesque Academy of Dancing’s outdoor dance recital held during the pandemic was featured on WNEP. In 2023, students again traveled to Walt Disney World to dance in the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, & Disney Springs.
Miss Amy also assists the Jaditz Famiy with administration of the Anastasia Jaditz Scholarship, and on February 14th, 2020, she established the Lisa Jones Kutra Memorial Scholarship in 2020.
With all of these accolade, Amy's proudest accomplishments are her 2 boys, Jacob & Matthew.
