Samantha Fitschen designed the GDS program and began instruction for the Community Center in August 2006. Greenbelters may already know her as the Manager for Camp Encore, Manager of Camp Cabaret, and dance instructor for Parade Camp. Currently she teaches classes in Creative Movement, Jazz, Ballet, Music Theater, Goddess Dance for Women and Barre-robics. She is a music theater actress, choreographer and has taught dance for 20 years.

“Miss Samantha” grew up in Oak Park, Illinois, a community just outside of Chicago, home of The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, childhood home of Ernest Hemingway and the voice of Homer Simpson. She studied French Horn for 10 years under the instruction of a Chicago Symphony Orchestra member. She won a scholarship to study voice at U of I in Champaign-Urbana two summers in a row during middle school.

At The Academy of Movement & Music, she was encouraged as a youngster to develop her choreographic abilities. She performed with the school's professional dance company, MOMENTA!, assisted with Junior MOMENTA!, and co-founded the company's Alumni organization. In her high school dance troupe, ORCHESIS, students learned how to choreograph in groups, and performed throughout the school year at Oak Park River Forest High School.

After getting a BFA in Music Theater at Roosevelt University, Samantha went on to received two prestigious Joseph Jefferson awards for Best Choreography in a Musical for “Grand Hotel” and “Merrily We Roll Along.” She appeared in the American Premiere of the Sondheim musical “Saturday Night,” and got a rave review in the New York Times. She also performed on a cruise ship, performed in countless musicals, and has choreographed for schools, dance studios, dance companies, community theater, universities, opera companies and professional theater.

As a dancer, Samantha has studied at the Lou Conte Studio (home of the Hubbard Street Dancers), Joel Hall Studio, Joseph Holmes Dance Theater, Jump Rhythm Jazz Company, Illinois State Dance Festivals, Casco Bay Movers, Joy of Motion, and completed a summer teacher workshop through the Broadway Dance Center in NYC.

Miss Samantha believes that dance should be fun, that the dance studio can be a sanctuary, and the discipline, artistry, and expressiveness of dance can enrich many aspects of life. Her personal mission is to provide her love of dance to her community, and to give the children of Greenbelt that chance to fall in love with dance for life.