Staff & Faculty

Diane Matthews, Executive Director

Diane Matthews is the Founder and Executive Director of West Chester Dance Works and organization studio, the Diane Matthews School of Dance Arts. She is also the Artistic Director of the Signature/Training and the Annointed dance companies. “Ms. Diane” began her dance training at the Philadelphia School of Dance Arts, where she was awarded a full scholarship to study ballet, modern jazz, tap, and gymnastics. She continued her education at West Chester University and Philadelphia College of the Arts. Diane was one of the founding members of Philadelphia Dance Company (Philadanco!) under the direction of Joan Myers Brown and a featured soloist with the Philadelphia Civic Ballet Company under Alicia Dakerian Craig. Ms. Diane has been teaching, performing, speaking, and choreographing for various schools, universities, churches and organizations including West Chester Dance Works for over 40 years.

Diane is a member of the Second Presbyterian Church of West Chester where she has been a deacon,
bible study leader, youth group coordinator and Sunday School teacher. She is currently a choir
member, bookkeeper and has been a ruling Elder for over 20 years. Diane is currently the co-chair of the
Donegal Presbytery Racial Justice Task Group working toward racial reconciliation and unity in the
church. Diane is also a member of the Chester County Community Foundation’s Idea Council.
She has been married to her husband, Rodney, for over 50 years and has two children, a niece she
helped raise, eight grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.

Candace Matthews-Bass, Artistic Director

Candace Matthews-Bass trained at the Diane  Matthews School of Dance Arts for 16 years, studying ballet, tap, jazz and tumbling. While at Drexel University, Candace was captain of Drexel’s first Dance Team and a member/choreographer with the Drexel University Dance Ensemble. She graduated with a BS in Psychology and went on to complete her MA at Eastern University.  Candace has danced professionally with Body Language Modern Dance Company, Freedom Theatre and West Chester Dance Works as both a corps and principle dancer for over 20 years. Additional performing includes freelance projects and contracted performances at colleges and sports venues throughout metropolitan Philadelphia. “Ms. Candi” is entering her 25th year as director of West Chester Dance Works’ dance team “DM Dance Machine” and serves as the Artistic Coordinator and choreographer for “Expressions of Praise”, the inter-generational dance ministry of Grace Baptist Church of Germantown. Ms. Candi has taught jazz, hip hop and now lyrcial dance styles at DMSODA for over 30 years! In her new role as Artistic Director, she hopes to help steer the development of current and future dancers, community dance engagement and programming that will inspire excellence in technique and unity through the arts.

Ashanti Meaux- Performance Manager                          Stacie Sheer- Office Manager

Shareese Asparagus

Shareese is a 2015 graduate of California University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Gerontology.  She is a West Chester native with strong ties to Diane Matthews School of Dance Arts. She joined the studio in 1996 and throughout the years participated in almost all of the various disciplines therein; ballet, jazz, tap, modern and hip hop.  Shareese was a member of the Junior Performers, DM Dance Machine and Signature/Training Company of the West Chester Dance Works. Among her highlights is as a performer in Rachel Harris; a featured story of a runaway slave, choreographed by Diane Matthews. Dance arts saturated home and church life as she formed a dynamic duo with her sister Aja, dubbed the “Asparagus Sisters”.  In addition  she danced in community based groups known as Joyful Praise, Diamond Girls and projects developed by herself and colleagues.  Miss Asparagus has been a summer assistant and instructor of Diane Matthews students. Dance has had a significant impact in her life, changing it, molding it, while also allowing her to share this passion with the world.

Isabella Brun 

Bella began dancing at West Chester Dance Works when she was three years old and is excited to start her fourteenth year with the studio. Over the years, Bella has enjoyed studying a variety of styles, including ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, lyrical, tap, and hip-hop. Bella has participated in several West Chester Dance Works’ performing groups like the Junior Performers, DM Dance Machines, Anointed Too, and Signature Training. She also worked for two years as a teaching assistant for junior/senior and pre-dance classes. Bella is excited to share her love of dance with her pre-dance students and encourage creativity this year.

Kelly Butterworth-Dhamo

A Long Island native, Kelly graduated from Adelphi University where she studied dance and psychology. She continued to earn her M.A. in Childhood Education with the Advanced Certificate in Special Education. Kelly has been teaching ballet, tap, jazz, modern dance, contemporary, and dance composition at various schools for over 15 years, and obtained her New York State Dance Teaching Certification in 2014. Kelly was a dance educator at her alma mater, Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts (LIHSA), where she worked with gifted and talented students interested in pursuing a career in the arts, as well as coordinated a collaborative program that brought dance to students with special needs. Since 2011, Kelly has had the privilege of dancing professionally with companies including Patricia Kenny Dance Collection, Dance Householder, H.T. Chen and Dancers, and Jamal Jackson Dance Company. Having the opportunity to tour both nationally and internationally has made Kelly a better dancer, teacher, and person. Kelly is currently the instructor/choreographer for the combined youth technique class, as well as the company assistant. She is grateful to have found a home at WCDW, and excited to start her ninth season with the company!

Antoinette M. Coward-Gilmore 

Antoinette M. Coward-Gilmore is the Founder/CEO/Artistic Director of Danse4Nia, a Philadelphia premiere performing arts organization. It serves as the home to project-based professional dance company Phoenix Danse, youth dance company Nia-Next, and award-winning arts education/performing arts training program Danse4Nia Conservatory. Antoinette holds a BFA & MA in Dance Education & Performance from the University of the Arts and New York University Steinhardt School of Education and currently pursuing her PhD in Dance Research & Philosophy from Texas Woman’s University. 

A former founding company member of Eleone Dance Theatre in Philadelphia and dancer with Forces of Nature Dance Theatre Company and Rod Rodgers Dance Company, Antoinette has had an extensive career in concert/commercial dance, theatre, television & film. As an established choreographer and teaching artists, Antoinette has taught & created works with schools and organizations nationally and internationally and maintains active, as well professional memberships with International Association of Blacks In Dance, Pennsylvania Dance Educators Organization, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. 

As an adjunct dance faculty member of Drexel University for 14 years, Antoinette is proud to teach at West Chester Dance Works both to share and grow in the medium of dance as an art and tool of education and cultural exchange. 

Audrey Hammitt

Audrey began her ballet studies at the age of 3, and has been dancing ever since. In addition to ballet, she studied modern, jazz, and hip-hop at the West End Academy of Dance, in Richmond, VA, where she also began to teach and choreograph. Audrey spent her summers at ballet intensives with Richmond Ballet, Carolina Ballet, and Indiana University. Audrey received her BFA in Dance from Belhaven University, and has attended Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s Summer Intensive while working as a Resident Advisor. Audrey is currently First Soloist with Glorify Dance Theatre and seeks to share her love of performing and community in the studios of West Chester Dance Works as well. When she teaches, Audrey strives to cultivate an enjoyment of dance while pursuing excellence in an atmosphere of encouragement, positivity, and passion.

Susanna Lijoi (Picture and Bio coming soon)

Lauren Linder

Mary Lynch

Mary’s love of dance began in 2013 at the Diane Matthews School of Dance Arts where she trained in the principles of ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, and modern. She began teaching at DMSODA in 2018 and has continued to hone her dance skills and develop as a dance instructor ever since. Mary is also a former member of West Chester Dance Works’ DM Dance Machine, Annointed Too, and Signature/Training Company. Mary recently graduated from West Chester University with a bachelors in psychology and a minor in dance. At WCU, Mary was a member of the University Dance Company where she was a five-time student choreographer and served in a leadership capacity as the secretary of the organization for two years. Through her studies at WCU, Mary continued her love of dance and has also further advanced her technique and artistic abilities in modern and contemporary styles. Dance has made a monumental impact on her life and played a significant role in the woman she has become today. Ms. Mary is ecstatic to be teaching this year and can’t wait to share her passion and joy for movement and artistry to all her students.

Adrianna “Nikki” Matthews

Adrianna “Nikki” has dedicated nearly two decades to West Chester Dance Works. She started as a dancer and has progressed to her current role as Director of Annointed Too (WCDW’s youth praise dance group), where she has served for seven years. In addition to this leadership role, she teaches various dance styles within the studio and works as a preschool teacher. Ms. Nikki is currently pursuing a double major in Early Childhood Education and Psychology at Eastern University. Adrianna is a mom of one to a wonderful 5 year old and continues to balance mom life along with her passion for dance and a commitment to educating young minds.

Kacei Womack 

Kacei Womack was born, raised, and resides in Philadelphia, PA. She received her BFA, in Dance, with a concentration in Performance and Choreography, from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Upon receiving her undergraduate degree, Kacei became a dance teacher for the School District of Philadelphia and began mentoring student’s through the arts. Kacei attended Antioch University of New England and graduated with her MA, in Dance/Movement Therapy, with a concentration in Couples and Family Therapy. Kacei’s movement philosophy consists of advocating for individuals on a somatic and psychological level to support justice for the body, mind, soul, and spirit. Kacei chose this path of movement to fulfill her innate love for people. She seeks to bring awareness, collaboration, and liberating movement to each and every dancer she encounters.