Faculty

Mrs. Tauna Hunter, Associate Professor
B.F.A./M.F.A. University of Utah
Ms. Hunter is Dance Director and Associate Professor of the Mercyhurst College Dance Department and acts as the Artistic Director to The Mercyhurst Dancers. She began her dance training with Willam F. Christensen and continued at the University of Utah where she earned B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees in ballet performance and choreography. During her eight-year affiliation with Ballet West, she worked under the guidance of Bruce Marks and Toni Lander and received critical acclaim as one of the company’s leading ballerinas. She toured internationally and danced as a guest artist with numerous regional companies throughout the United States. In 1985 she co-founded DANSOURCE, a national networking and information service that connected dancers and companies for over ten years. As it's Managing Director, she was highlighted in “Megatrends 2000” and featured in “Success” Magazine as a trendsetter in the future of the arts. Ms. Hunter has appeared in all the major roles of the classical repertoire and has taught for companies, universities and private schools throughout the country. She acts as President of the Erie Dance Consortium and as Public Relations and Marketing Chair for the CORPS de Ballet International. She also serves on the Advisory Boards of Ballet Concerto ( Fort Worth , TX) and Lake Erie Ballet.

Christine Marie Hay, Assistant Professor
B.F.A./M.F.A. Texas Christian University
Ms. Hay is Assistant Professor of dance, Ballet Mistress for the Mercyhurst Dancers and teaches ballet, pointe, pedagogy and dance history. She arrived at Mercyhurst College following two years as Ballet Mistress under Fernando Bujones, Artistic Director of The Orlando Ballet. She has danced professionally for Ballet West, Atlanta Ballet, Tampa Ballet, Louisville Ballet, Ballet Concerto and for Casa Manana Summer Musicals in Ft. Worth, TX. Ms. Hay has taught in numerous private studios and for the Ft. Worth Independent School District and has choreographed extensively for ballet and theatrical venues. Ms. Hay acts as advisor to the Mercyhurst College Nu Delta Alpha Honor Society.

C. Noelle Partusch, Assistant Professor
B.F.A. State University of New York, College at Purchase
M.F.A. Ohio State University
Labanotation Teachers Certificate, Dance Notation Bureau
Ms. Partusch is an Assistant Professor of dance and teaches ballet, pointe, dance conditioning and Kinesiology. She comes to Mercyhurst following eleven years as the Associate Artistic Director of Alaska Dance Theatre. Ms. Partusch danced professionally with Atlanta Ballet II, Buffalo Ballet Theatre, Empire State Ballet, Alaska Dance Theatre and the Anchorage Opera. She choreographs for concert dance and opera, has served as adjunct faculty for the University of Alaska Anchorage Department of Theatre and Dance and as Alaska Regional Director of the Sacred Dance Guild. She is a proud member of the International Council of Kinetography Laban (ICKL). Ms. Partusch is currently the acting advisor for the Mercyhurst College Liturgical Dance Ensemble.

Mark Santillano, Assistant Professor
B.F.A. Dance, B.S. Communications, Southern Missouri State University
Mr. Santillano is an Instructor of dance and teaches ballet, modern, jazz, tap, musical theatre dance and choreography. He comes to Mercyhurst College following two years as Artist in Residence at his Alma Mater, Southwest Missouri State University. Originally from St. Louis, he has enjoyed a rich and varied career performing in national tours of The King and I, West Side Story and A Chorus Line, as a featured member of the Indianapolis-based Dance Kaleidoscope and as soloist, dance captain, master class instructor and choreographic collaborator with the internationally acclaimed Pilobolus Dance Theatre. Mr. Santilliano acts as the advisor to the Mercyhurst College Dance Club.

Adjunct Faculty

Michael S. Gleason, B.A. Mercyhurst College, prior to coming to Mercyhurst College Mr. Gleason was the Executive Director of DANSOURCE, an information and referral service that he co-founded in 1985. His professional performing experiences embraced not only ballet, but also modern and jazz. They carried him from one coast to the other and back again, including seasons with The Metropolitan Opera Ballet, The Cleveland Ballet, The San Francisco Opera Ballet and numerous guest appearances with companies throughout the country. He began his training in Los Angeles with Eugene Loring and continued his studies in San Francisco, New York and Seattle. He has been a member of the Interlochen summer dance faculty since 1998 and presented Preparation for Auditioning for the 2005 Pointe Magazine Audition Workshop in NYC. His talents also include visual art, theatrical and costume design and coaching. Mr. Gleason is Production Manager/Resident Designer and teaches ballet technique, pas de deux and production practicum.

Nathaniel Johnson, Director of Erie Bayfront Dance and Company, attended Du Pont Manuel High/Youth Performing Arts School in Louisville, KY. He was granted a four-year scholarship to attend Western Kentucky University where he received his education in Performing Arts with an emphasis in dance. Mr. Johnson relocated to Erie, PA in 1992 and became Head of the Jazz Department at Long’s School of Dance where he served until 2001. He has been an instructor for the SPAVA Dance Association at Central High School and taught master classes in jazz at various private schools and colleges. Mr. Johnson teaches Jazz technique.

Solvieg Santillano, B.F.A. Julliard, M.A. Wesleyan University, comes to Erie, PA via New Milford, CT, via Brooklyn, NY. She is, however, originally from Sioux Falls. SD. She has enjoyed a career of international touring with the innovative (and often outrageous) MOMIX Dance Company with whom she performed as a soloist and acted as choreographic collaborator. She has appeared in Italian television specials and in an IMAX film for the Korean Film Festival. In addition to performing, Ms. Santilliano headed the dance department at Salem State College in Massachusetts, has taught numerous master classes, and served on the faculty at Springfield Ballet, Success Naturally Yoga Center, and the Missouri Fine Arts Academy. She and her husband, Mark, formed SoMar Dance Works in 1999 and have presented numerous new works. The rest and best of her time is spent raising their beautiful daughter, Ella. Ms. Santillano teaches Modern II and Dance Appreciation.