Perna, Hedy

Hedy Perna and husband Patrick are celebrating 36 years as owners of the Perna Dance Center in Hazlet, New Jersey. Hedy has created a non-competitive, family owned and operated, community and service business model for her school and continually works to create new and innovative programs and ideas for her students. With her faculty and staff of more than 20, she produces several performance opportunities annually. Hedy is also known for organizing dancers and their families as they journey across the country performing at theme parks, sports arenas, parades, and benefit performances always encouraging students that Dance is a Performing Art – so let’s go out and perform.

Hedy is active in dance organizations that promote the education of teachers and students. She is President Emeritus of Associated Dance Teachers of NJ, and training school certified and lifetime member of Dance Educators of America.

Hedy enjoys networking with fellow dance educators to help studio owners run an efficient and profitable business without sacrificing dance artistry and education. Her creative concepts for recitals, sets and scenery, props, parades, and recital organization have made her a favorite speaker among studio owners. As DanceLady CEO, she has presented at Dance Teacher Summit, The Pulse, DanceLife Teacher Conference, Dance Teachers of NJ, Hollywood Connection, I.D.E.A., Dance the Magic, Dance Teacher Web, United Dance Merchants of America and various other dance groups and organizations.

Hedy’s creative and artistic credits include Creator of the DanceFriendz Zoom Group; Founder of Learn-Train-Dance Teacher Workshop; Coordinator and Choreographer for UDMA Costume Show; Choreographer for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade; Founder of DanceFest for 6Flags Great Adventure; Founder/Director of the Sun&Dance Festival on Carnival Cruise; PDC Choreographer for the QVC Christmas Parade and the Annual Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington DC.

Hedy’s passion remains working in the classrooms of her non-competitive studio with her students. In addition to producing a high energy and creative year end annual production, Hedy works to provide great performance opportunities for her students that also benefit the community and her studio.

However, Hedy’s greatest passion is reserved for spending quality time with her husband Patrick and their daughter, Liza – her finest production and now her right hand at the studio continuing the Perna dance family legacy.