Dena McKell

Dena McKell is from the Harrisburg region and has been a teacher and choreographer for over 24 years. She began teaching dance instruction at the age of 16 at Harrisburg Dance Conservatory under the guidance of Forrest Gehret. Ms. McKell has also worked as an Artistic Director for Harrisburg Dance Conservatory which transitioned to Harrisburg Ballet Theater. Currently, Ms McKell teaches pre-ballet and tap instruction at Pennsylvania Ballet Academy located in Camp Hill. She is also the Choreographer for Encore! Homeschool Productions for which she has done for over 12 years. Her choreographic works include Suessical the Musical, Meet Me in St. Louis, The Wizard of Oz, The Music Man, Peter Pan, and Beauty and the Beast to name a few. In May 2016, her choreography in Peter Pan received an Apollo Award for Outstanding Dance Number in a musical. She was also awarded an Apollo Award in May 2017 for Outstanding Dance Number for her choreography in Beauty and the Beast. In May 2018, her choreography in Fiddler on the Roof received an Apollo Award for Outstanding Dance Number in a musical. She has also done choreography for East Pennsboro Area Middle School Panther Productions of Guys and Dolls Jr., Beauty and the Beast Jr., Shrek Jr., Little Mermaid Jr., and Willy Wonka Jr. Ms. McKell also done choreography for East Pennsboro Area High School Panther Productions of Grease. Ms. McKell also worked with Harrisburg Christian Performing Arts Center to assistant direct and choreograph Mulan Jr. She has also served as choreographer for Oklahoma and Tarzan. In May 2018, Ms. McKell has also directed Madagascar Jr. at Harrisburg Christian Performing Arts Center. Other choreographic credits include The Lion King - Kids and Seussical - Kids for the Harrisburg Area Jewish Community Center. Lastly, Ms. McKell has also worked with with Hershey Area Playhouse choreographing Children of Eden and Oyster Mill Playhouse Curtains. Ms. McKell is excited to be joining the staff at Pennsylvania Regional Ballet.