Our Story
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Founded in 2007, the JP Gallery for Performing Arts has been serving the Greater Pittsburgh community in the areas of dance and theatre for the past sixteen years. Starting as a traveling studio, the first brick and mortar location opened on Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill in 2009 as a ballroom and Latin studio.
Eventually relocating to the Northside, founding artistic director Jessica Palitti quickly discovered a lack of extra-curricular performing arts activities for children. With that, she expanded her curriculum to include youth and in 2012 formed the Northside Gallery Players Performance Ensemble. As students began to perform storybook-based children's musicals throughout the year, the program grew rapidly and not too long after an adult ensemble was formed. in 2013, the Performing Arts Preschool was created to serve the youngest of students in both early childhood arts and academics. With much success, the preschool moved from its storefront to a larger facility in Brighton Heights with ample space including not only a classroom, but performance hall with stage, allowing all programs in both the Morning and Evening Arts Academies to be conducted under one roof. Today, the JP Gallery for Performing Arts is home to both youth and adult students who participate throughout the week in dance and theatre training courses. Stronger than ever, the Gallery remains home to The Northside Gallery Players, both Prime and Junior Ensembles, now in their 10th season. Located in the heart of Bellevue, just on the outskirts of the City's Northside, The Gallery occupies a newly remodeled 2,000 sq. ft. space overlooking the bustling business district of Lincoln Avenue. Ready to welcome you at anytime, the JP Gallery's doors are always open to those ready to kick up their heels, harmonize in musical spectacular, or simply just take a curious peek inside at the magical world of performing arts. |
Meet The Artistic DirectorMs. Palitti has been dancing since the age of three. A Beaver County native, Jessica grew up dancing in her local community studying various dance styles in the areas of ballet, jazz, tap, and musical theatre, later on moving into the competitive scene and expanding her studies to both hip hop and contemporary. In 1999 she began studying American style social dancing in both the smooth and rhythm categories, eventually moving on to International Latin and Standard styles where she competed for a period of time and participated in exhibitions around the greater Pittsburgh region.
Ms. Palitti is founder of Hip Hop Holler, a touring summer youth intensive that premiered in 2006. She has served as choreographer to numerous school district musicals such as CURTAINS, PETER PAN, CINDERELLA, SOUND OF MUSIC, and HELLO DOLLY just to name a few. Jessica has been staffed by local gymnastic companies to serve as ballet trainer to their competitive teams. She also works with aerial skill students to assist in technique enhancement. Jessica has served as an early childhood educator for the past nineteen years, both as an arts and academic teacher. She began her teaching at a private preschool and kindergarten in Moon Twp. in 2004 as a teacher's assistant to the threes, fours, and pre-k programs. Later, she was given the opportunity to lead classes in music, dance and acrobatics, until she decided to open the doors to her first brick and mortar studio space in Squirrel Hill in 2009. In 2013, she revisited her love of preschool education and expanded her program into a full academic early childhood center with a concentration in performance arts. She currently sits on the board of advisors for a few local youth centers, assisting in both fundraising and staff education efforts. Jessica holds a certification of small business from Penn Foster University. She attended the then Point Park College for stage management. She is both CPR and First Aid certified, and also trained in Early Childhood Fundamentals through Portland State University, School of Extended Studies Program For Continuing Education. 
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Do you have questions? Want to register?
Email us today to request a copy of our Welcome Guide. In this document you will
find all of the registration information you need including class policies,
required attire,and tuition rates, along with links to our
registration forms. Get your copy today! Click here!
Email us today to request a copy of our Welcome Guide. In this document you will
find all of the registration information you need including class policies,
required attire,and tuition rates, along with links to our
registration forms. Get your copy today! Click here!