Laura Hodge 

Laura Hodge is the Artistic Director and owner of Pittsburgh Dance Arts. At PDA, Laura teaches Ballet, Jazz, Kids' Musical Theatre, Pre-Dance, and Pilates. Prior to PDA, Laura was the owner and director of Helios Arts and Ampersand Dance Theater, Pittsburgh's only Jazz Dance Theater Co. Last year, Laura was the Dance Instructor for the Ellis School.

Laura believes that a dedication to creativity, proper training, and artistic integrity is what sets a higher standard.

Laura studied with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Point Park University, and various companies in New York, San Diego, and Los Angeles. Laura lived in Southern California for seven years, where she performed on stage as well as on screen and television. While in San Diego and L.A., she taught, choreographed, did voice-overs, acted for film and television, toured the West Coast and performed at a variety of venues. She has choreographed for and performed with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, and toured with National Theatre for Children, among many others. She has taught Emotions in Motion classes for severely disabled children with Malashock Dance; she has also taught Dance Theatre to troubled and "at-risk" teens at the Toussant Teen Center in San Diego.

Pittsburgh past and recent credits include Founder, Artistic Director, Producer, and Principal Dancer for Ampersand Dance Theatre. Other credits include Ballet Mistress and Principal Dancer for the Physical Theatre Project; shows at the Children's Museum; and teaching for Point Park University, the Brashear Association, the Jewish Community Center, Sacred Heart Academy, and Master Classes at Pitt. Ampersand Dance Theater was invited to perform her choreography at "Hot Pink," the women's cancers benefit held at the Byham Theater downtown. Pittsburgh Dance Arts performed on "Pittsburgh TODAY Live" in February of 2005. Former companies Helios Arts and Ampersand Dance Theatre were both awarded two years in row as "Best in Pittsburgh" by Pittsburgh Magazine. In 2000, Laura and her husband, Christopher Mattick, were awarded Pittsburgh Magazine's "40 under 40" honor, as movers and shakers in the Pittsburgh business community.

Laura believes that the arts are not only integral to growth and development, but also to life.