Our Team

Sarah received her early training from the Erie Civic Ballet School under the direction of Arlene Ashton Hay, Robert Steele, and Sharon Filone. As a dancer, she performed with the Lake Erie Ballet Company in Classical Symphony, Concerto Barocco, Coppélia, Giselle, Swan Lake, and The Nutcracker. Her choreographic projects include Untitled Baroque, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, It’s Still Rockin’ Roll To Me, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Peter Pan, The Sleeping Beauty, The Wizard of Oz, Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Cinderella, and The Nutcracker. Sarah’s teaching/rehearsal experiences include the Lake Erie Ballet School (9 years), Villa Maria Academy’s Dance Department (16 years), Lakettes Gymnastic Academy (6 years), New Castle Regional Ballet (3 years), and Erie Dance Conservatory, now in its 19th season. In 1994, Ms. Purvis was the only former student chosen to teach at the Lake Erie Ballet School while completing her degree from Mercyhurst College in 2002. Sarah is currently the Artistic Director of the Erie Contemporary Ballet Theatre. Ms. Purvis has held the positions of President-Elect, President, and Past-President of the Erie Dance Consortium, the 2009, 2011, and 2013 Co-Chair of the Erie Festival of Dance, held the position of Treasurer, Vice-President, President of the prestigious Regional Dance America/Northeast, a national organization of dancers, teachers, and choreographers. Ms. Purvis was the 2020 Athena Powerlink recipient, and most recently joined the Regional Dance America National Board of Directors.

Dorie Hartson graduated from Fortis Institute with an associate degree in Paralegal Studies. Dorie has worked as an office manager/administrative assistant for different organizations such as Upwork.com, Ward’s Landscaping, and Camp Notre Dame. She is extremely proficient in writing, administrative skills such as QuickBooks and Database Entry to name a few. After deciding she was ready for a new challenge, she then became the office manager for Erie Dance Conservatory and Erie Contemporary Ballet Theatre. With Ms. Hartson’s diverse background and extraordinary work ethic, she brings professional, multi-level experience to ensure success in our daily and future goals.