Educator

My Approach to Teaching

I believe that a dance education is not limited to what is taught in the studio. In addition to dance steps, my role is also to inspire confidence and lead students to become strong, well rounded individuals. My teaching style is very assertive, with focus on expressing my expectations of what I know my students are capable of achieving.

Under Her Skin - Lysa Douglas, 2017

Student Achievements

My students have won numerous titles, and some have gone on to grow further in the dance world, performing, studying at the collegiate level, and becoming teachers themselves. The following list includes some of their achievements:

EDUCATION
The Ailey School/Fordham University (Dance Program)
Hope College (Dance Program)
Hubbard (Dance Company)
University of Michigan (Dance Program)
SUNY-Buffalo (Dance Program)
Marymount Manhattan College (Dance Program)
Northwest Dance Project (Dance Company)
Wayne State University (Dance Program)
Marygrove College (Dance Program)
Penn State University (Dance Team)
Michigan State University (Dance Team)
Grand Valley State University (Dance Team)
The Joffrey Ballet School (Dance Program)
Bowling Green University (Dance Team)
Eastern Michigan University (Dance Program)

TITLES
Mini Miss Legacy - Kylie Fitch, 2021
Emerging Artist Title, Starquest - Kylie Fitch, 2021
Teen Miss Dance of Michigan, Mackenzie Alyea, 2021
Miss Legacy - Maggie Hartman, Regional 2021
Miss Applause - Lysa Douglas, Regional 2021
Miss Revolution - Lysa Douglas, Regional 2020
Miss KAR - Lysa Douglas, Virtual 2020
Teen Miss KAR - Mackenzie Alyea, Virtual 2020
Dancer of the Year, Rising Star, Nationals Rainbow - Kristina Andes, 2019
Miss KAR, Regional 2019
Miss Rainbow, Regional 2019
Miss Rainbow, Regional 2019
Teen Miss Rainbow, Regional 2019
Jr Miss Rainbow, Regional 2019
Teen Miss Applause, Regional 2018
Miss Bravo, Regional 2017
Teen Miss Bravo, Regional 2017
Senior Jump VIP Winner, JUMP 2017
Senior Female Breakout Artist Winner, Nuvo 2017
Miss Starquest, Regional 2017
Teen Miss Dancer of the Year, 2017 - Rainbow
Miss Dancer of the Year, 2017 - Rainbow
Jr. Mr Dance KAR, 2017
Miss Revolution Talent, Regional, 2016
Miss Wayne County, 2015
Teen Mr. Dance of Michigan, 2015
Miss VIP Dance, National Winner, 2014
Miss Edge Talent, Regional, 2014
Miss Teen Edge Talent, Regional, 2014
Distinguished Young Woman of America, 2013 - Talent Winner
Distinguished Young Woman of America, 2013 - Scholastic Winner
Distinguished Young Woman of Michigan, 2013
Distinguished Young Woman of Plymouth- Canton, 2013
Distinguished Young Woman of Wayne-Westland, 2013
Jr. Mr. Dance of Michigan, 2013
Distinguished Young Woman of Wayne-Westland, 2012
Miss Dance of America 2012, 1st Runner Up
Distinguished Young Woman of Westland, 2011
Miss Dance of Michigan, 2011
Petite Miss Dance of Michigan 2011
Master Dance of Michigan 2011
Distinguished Young Woman of Wayne-Westland, 2009

Daylight - Teen/Senior Apogee Award, 2021

Arbakkinn - Lily Sheppard, 2017

COMPETITION (only 1st overalls or higher awards listed)
1st overall American Teen Solo, HOF - Atonement - Amy Ni 2022
1st overall American Duet, HOF - The Crumbling, 2022
1st overall National Teen Solo, HOF - Reminiscence - Emily Oros, 2022
1st overall Future HOF Large Group - Winter Song, 2022
1st overall Int Teen Solo, Applause - First Time - Natalie Sikora, 2022
1st overall Int Sr Small group, Legacy - Snowing, 2022
1st overall Int Teen Solo, Legacy - First Time - Natalie Sikora, 2022
1st overall Int Sr Solo, Legacy - Ode to a Love Lost - Jada Enrici, 2022
1st overall Int Teen Duet, Legacy - Lay Your Head Down, 2022
1st overall Int Sr Duet, Legacy - Everything Must Change, 2022
1st overall Int Teen Solo, Rainbow - Change is Everything - Claire Judd, 2022
1st overall Int Sr Duet, Rainbow - Everything Must Change, 2022
1st overall Int Teen Solo, Rainbow - American Pie - Abigail Pares, 2022
1st overall Int Sr Solo, Rainbow - For All We Know - Carmen Foster, 2022
13 & over Legacy Award - Piazza Dance Company
12 & under Legacy Award - Piazza Dance Company
1st overall Adv Sr Sm Grp, Legacy - Grief, 2021
1st overall Adv Sr Duet/Trio, Legacy - When the Light Gets In, 2021
1st overall Adv Sr Solo, Legacy - Asphyxia - Lysa Douglas, 2021
1st overall Adv Teen Production, Legacy - Ms Jackson, 2021
1st overall Adv Jr Lg Grp, Legacy - Amen, 2021
1st overall Adv Jr Sm Grp, Legacy - Daylight, 2021
1st overall Int Teen Duet/Trio, Legacy - Black Ships, 2021
1st overall Int Sr Line, Legacy - It's Quiet Uptown, 2021
1st overall Int Sr Sm Group, Legacy - Cornerstone, 2021
1st overall Int Sr Duet/Trio, Legacy - Arbakkinn, 2021
1st overall Int Sr Solo, Legacy - Stupid - Kristina Andes, 2021
1st overall Int Jr Solo, Legacy - As Long As You Love Me - Madison Frazier, 2021
1st overall Int Jr Lg Group, Legacy - Angel by the Wing, 2021
1st overall Int Teen Sm Group, Legacy - Falling, 2021
1st overall Int Teen Lg Group, Legacy - I'll Never Love Again, 2021
1st overall Int Teen Line, Legacy - Is That Alright, 2021
1st overall Mini Solo, Legacy - Fly - Kylie Fitch, 2021
Senior HOF Inductee - Grief, 2021
1st overall Sr Sm Group, HOF - Grief, 2021
1st overall Teen Sm Group, HOF - Daylight, 2021
Future Hall of Famer Sm Grp, HOF - The Rose, 2021
Senior Solo HOF Inductee - Lysa Douglas (Asphyxia and One Night Only), 2021
1st overall Adv Sr Solo, HOF - Asphyxia - Lysa Douglas, 2021
1st overall Adv Jr Solo, HOF - Longing - Amy Ni, 2021
1st overall Int Jr Large Group, HOF - Joy, 2021
Teen/Senior Apogee Award, Starquest - Daylight, 2021 (highest scoring group)
1st overall Adv Teen Sm Group, Starquest - Daylight, 2021
1st overall Adv Teen Large Group, Starquest - Amen, 20121
1st overall Adv Sr Duet/Trio, Starquest - When the Light Gets In, 2021
1st overall Adv Sr Solo, Starquest - Asphyxiz - Lysa Douglas, 2021
1st overall Classic Teen Solo - Breathe - Natalie Sikora, 2021
1st overall Classic Petite Solo - Fly - Kylie Fitch, 2021
1st overall Int Senior Sm Grp, Rainbow - Cornerstone, 2021
1st overall Senior Solo, IDA Virtual - Asphyxia - Lysa Douglas, 2021
1st overall Adv Senior Solo, Applause - Asphyxia - Lysa Douglas 2021
1st overall Adv Senior Solo, Revolution - Indestructible - Lysa Douglas, 2020
1st overall Int Senior Solo, Revolution - Nothing Really Matters - Kristina Andes, 2020
1st overall Int Senior Duet/Trio, Revolution - Hope There's Someone. 2020
1st overall Int Teen Duet/Trio, Revolution - Black Ships, 2020
1st overall Int Teen Solo, Revolution - Maps - Natalie Sikora, 2020
1st overall Senior Solo, KAR Virtual - Indestructible - Lysa Douglas, 2020
1st overall Teen Solo, KAR Virtual - Until the End - Mackenzie Alyea, 2020
12 & over Grand Champion, Virtual Dance - Indestructible - Lysa Douglas, 2020
1st overall Senior Solo, Virtual Dance - Indestructible - Lysa Douglas, 2020
1st overall Senior Solo, Vitality Dance Tour - Indestructible - Lysa Douglas, 2020
1st overall Senior Solo, Starbound Virtual - Indestructible - Lysa Douglas, 2020
1st overall Teen Solo, Starbound Virtual - Until the End - Mackenzie Alyea, 2020
1st overall Senior Large Group, Platinum - Class of 2020, 2020
1st overall Teen Duet, Intrigue - Reliance, 2020
1st overall Intermediate Teen Solo, KAR - Bloom - Nicole Zhong, 2020
1st overall Secondary Junior Solo, KAR - Ave Maria - Amy Ni, 2020
Winner of the Legacy Award - Piazza Dance Co., Legacy Nationals, 2019
Showdown of The Legends Champion, Teen, Legacy Nationals - Snowing, 2019
1st overall Teen Line, Legacy Nationals - Roll Away Your Stone, 2019
Winner of the Top Studio - Robert Lee, Rainbow Nationals, 2019
Showdown Senior Champion, Rising Star - Falling, Rainbow Nationals, 2019
1st overall Sr Lg Group, Rainbow Nationals - Falling, 2019
1st overall Sr Sm Group, Rainbow Nationals - An Evening, 2019
1st overall Sr Duet, Rainbow Nationals - End of Love, 2109
1st overall Sr solo, Rainbow Nationals - Vanishing Act - Kristina Andes, 2019
Studio of the Year - Robert Lee, Rainbow Nationals, 2019
1st overall Sr Sm Group, LOC - An Evening, 2019
1st overall Sr Duet, LOC - End of Love, 2019
1st overall teen Duet, LOC - Everywhere I Go, 2019
1st overall Teen Solo, LOC - Creep - Natalie Sikora, 2019
1st overall Jr Solo, LOC - Bitter Earth - Abigail Raisanen, 2019
1st overall Senior Solo, LOC - Vanishing Act - Kristina Andes, 2019
1st overall Teen Sm Group, Groove - Snowing, 2019
1st overall Production - We're in Heaven, 2019
1st overall Teen Solo, Groove - Black Lake - Lysa Douglas, 2019
1st overall Teen Duet, Groove - Red Violin, 2019
1st overall Teen Large Group, Groove - Roll Away Your Stone, 2019
1st overall Jr Sm Group, Groove - Bridge Over Troubled Water, 2019
1st overall Jr Solo, Groove - Creep, Natalie Sikora, 2019
1st overall Int Mini Sm Group, Groove - Mr. Postman, 2019
Elite Studio of Excellence Winner - KAR, 2109
1st overall Senior Elite Solo, KAR - Black Lake - Lysa Douglas, 2109
1st overall Teen Elite Lg Group, KAR - Roll Away Your Stone, 2109
1st overall Teen Elite Duet, KAR - Red Violin, 2019
1st overall Teen Int Duet, KAR - Departure, 2019
1st overall Teen Sm Group, Legacy - Snowing, 2019
1st overall Junior Sm Group, Legacy - Bridge Over Troubled Water, 2019
1st overall Senior Solo, Bravo - Leave a Light On - Noor Kaffarani, 2019
1st overall Senior Duet, Bravo - Chandelier, 2019
1st overall Senior Sm Group, Bravo - An Evening, 2019
1st overall Senior Solo, Revel - Black Lake - Lysa Douglas, 2019
1st overall Teen Sm Group, HOF - Hanging By a Thread, 2109
HOF Junior Inductee, 2019 - Bridge Over Troubled Water, 2109
1st overall Jr Sm Group, HOF - Bridge Over Troubled Water, 2019
1st overall Teen Production, HOF - We're in Heaven, 2019
1st overall Senior Duet, Rainbow - Chandelier, 2019
1st overall Senior Solo, Rainbow - Vanishing Act - Kristina Andes, 2019
1st overall Teen Solo, Rainbow - Creep - Natalie Sikora, 2019
1st overall Teen Line, Rainbow - What the World Needs, 2019
1st overall Senior Sm Group, Rainbow - An Evening, 2019
1st overall Senior Large Group, Rainbow - Falling, 2109
1st overall Teen Large Group, Rainbow - Not About Angels, 2019
1st overall Jr Large Group, Rainbow - Never Enough, 2019
Solo Showdown Finalist, HOF Nationals VB - Strange Fruit, 2018
Solo Showdown Finalist, HOF Nationals VB - Stone Cold, 2018
World of Series Finalist, HOF Nationals VB - Betrayal, 2018
Duet Showdown Finalist, HOF Nationals VB - Explosions, 2018
Duet Showdown Winner, HOF Nationals Sandusky - All Shook Up, 2018
Duet Showdown Finalist, HOF Nationals Sandusky - Your Day Will Come, 2018
Solo Showdown 1st Runner Up, HOF Nationals Sandusky - Life on Mars, 2018
Solo Showdown 2nd Runner Up, HOF Nationals Sandusky - Ending, 2018
World of Series 1st Runner Up, HOF Nationals VB - Don't Let Me Down, 2018
World of Series Winner, HOF Nationals Sandusky - Next to You, 2018
1st overall Teen Solo, Applause - Strange Fruit - Lysa Douglas, 2018
1st overall Teen Hollywood Solo, VIP - Strange Fruit - Lysa Douglas, 2018
8th VIP Hollywood Top Ten List, VIP - Betrayal, 2018
1st overall Mini Broadway Small Group, VIP - Hallelujah, 2018
7th Broadway Top Ten List, VIP - Hallelujah, 2018
1st overall Rising Senior Solo, LOC - Life on Mars - Lindsey Houck, 2018
1st overall Rising Junior Solo, LOC - Wild Horses - Abigail Pares, 2018
1st overall Rising Senior Duet, LOC - Your Day Will Come, 2018
1st overall Rising Senior Small Group, LOC - Next to You, 2018
1st overall Rising Senior Large Group, LOC - Not the End, 2018
1st overall Teen Broadway Large Group, VIP - Not the End, 2018
1st overall Senior Broadway Small Group, VIP - Next to You, 2018
1st overall Senior Broadway Duet, VIP - Your Day Will Come, 2018
1st overall Teen Broadway Solo, Bravo - Instead - Kristina Andes, 2018
8th Broadway Top Ten List, VIP - All Coming Back, 2018
Standing Ovation Award, Bravo - Not the End, 2018
1st overall Senior Large Group, Bravo - Not the End, 2018
1st overall Senior Small Group, Bravo - Next to You, 2018
1st overall Senior Duet, Bravo - Your Day Will Come, 2018
1st overall Senior Solo, Bravo - Ending - Noor Kaffarani, 2018
Technical Excellence - Hall of Fame - The Hill, Anna Koppin, 2018
Technical Excellence - Hall of Fame - Nights in White Satin, 2018
1st overall Senior Solo, Revolution - Strange Fruit - Lysa Douglas, 2018
1st overall Junior Small Group (Classic), StarQuest - Hallelujah, 2018
1st overall Junior Solo (Classic), StarQuest - Stone Cold - Nicole Zhong, 218
1st overall Junior Duet (Classic), StarQuest - Explosions, 2018
1st overall Teen Small Group (Classic), StarQuest - Don't Let Me Down, 2018
1st overall Senior Solo, Rainbow - Instead - Kristina Andes, 2018
Video of the Year, Rainbow - Hallelujah, 2018
Most Entertaining, Rainbow - Hallelujah, 2018
1st overall Senior Solo, Radix - Arbakkinn - Lily Sheppard, 2017
1st overall Teen Line, LOC - 953K, 2017
1st overall Teen Small Group, LOC - Mamma Knows Best, 2017
1st overall Teen Solo, LOC - Bible Belt - Kristina Andes, 2017
1st overall Senior Duet, LOC - Body Love, 2017
1st overall Senior Solo, Bravo - Arbakkinn - Lily Sheppard, 2017
1st overall Teen Solo, Bravo - Under Her Skin - Lysa Douglas, 2017
1st overall Teen Duet, Bravo - In This Shirt, 2017
1st overall Teen Line, Bravo - The Royal Ball, 2017
1st overall Senior Solo, Starquest - Arbakkinn - Lily Sheppard, 2017
1st overall Teen Solo, Rainbow - Under Her Skin - Lysa Douglas, 2017
1st overall Junior Small Group, Rainbow - Winter, 2017
1st overall Senior Solo, Rainbow - Bitter - Lindsey Houck, 2017
1st overall Senior Solo, Rainbow - Arbakkinn - Lily Sheppard, 2017
1st overall Teen Duet, Showstoppers - Angel Down, 2017
1st overall Senior Solo, Revolution - Someone - Sarah Morgan, 2017
9th VIP Top Ten List, VIP Nationals - Fall for You, 2016
1st overall Senior Solo, VIP Nationals - Viola - Olivia Sedlacek, 2016
1st overall Senior Large Group, League of Champions - Leave, 2016
1st overall Senior Solo, League of Champions - Gardenia - Crystal Pinard, 2016
1st overall Teen Senior Small Group, On Point - Fall for You, 2016
Highest Technique Score, On Point - Fall for You, 2016
1st overall Senior Duet, KAR - Heaven, 2016
1st overall Senior Soloist, KAR - Viola - Olivia Sedlacek, 2016
Highest Scoring Soloist of Weekend, VIP Lake Orion - Awakening - Olivia Sedlacek, 2015
3rd VIP Top Ten List, VIP Lake Orion - How Will I Know, 2015
6th VIP Top Ten List, VIP Lake Orion - Where Are You?, 2015
1st overall Teen Small Group, VIP Lake Orion - How Will I Know, 2015
1st overall Teen Solo, VIP Lake Orion - Awakening - Olivia Sedlacek, 2015
1st overall Teen (sec) KAR - Human - Taylor Arceri, 2015
1st overall Senior Duet, VIP Lake Orion - Medicine, 2015
1st overall Teen Duet, DMM - For What It's Worth, 2015
1st overall Senior Duet, DMM - Medicine, 2015
1st overall Junior Duet, DMM - Requiem, 2015
1st overall Teen Solo, DMM - Awakening - Olivia Sedlacek, 2015
1st overall Teen Small Group, VIP Nationals - Young and Beautiful, 2014
1st overall Teen Large Group, VIP Nationals - The Procession, 2014
3rd VIP Top Ten List, VIP Nationals - Young and Beautiful, 2014
6 VIP Top Ten List, VIP Nationals - The Procession, 2014
1st overall Teen Small Group, VIP Lake Orion - Young and Beautiful, 2014
4th VIP Top Ten List, VIP Lake Orion - Young and Beautiful, 2014
7th VIP Top Ten LIst, VIP Lake Orion - The Procession, 2014
1st overall Senior Large Group, Applause Regional - The Procession, 2014
1st overall Senior Large Group, Edge Talent - The Procession, 2014
1st overall Teen Solo, Edge Talent - This Woman's Work - Bailee Grandberry, 2014
1st overall Teen Duet, Edge Talent - Where the Light Gets In, 2014
Critics Choice Award Winner - The Journey - Olivia Sedlacek, 2014
1st overall Senior Small Group, League of Champions - Turning Page, 2014
1st overall Junior Line, Edge Talent - Cosmic Love, 2014
Industry Dance Awards Finalist, Best Performance - I Do, 2013
1st overall Senior Small Group, Hall of Fame Nationals - Goodbye, 2013
Showdown Winner, Hall of Fame Nationals - Goodbye, 2013
1st overall Teen Large Group, VIP Waterford - This Means War, 2013
5th VIP Top Ten List, VIP Waterford - This Means War, 2013
1st overall Senior Large Group, Applause Regional - This Means War, 2013
1st overall Teen (Int) Solo, KAR Detroit - I Was Here - Sarah Morgan, 2013
1st overall Teen (Sec) Solo, KAR Detroit - Near Light - Olivia Sedlacek, 2013
1st overall Teen Duet, KAR Detroit - Sunday Bloody Sunday, 2013
1st overall Teen Solo, Spotlight Dance Cup - Near Light - Olivia Sedlacek, 2013
1st overall Teen Small Group, Cathy Roe Dance - The Right Man, 2012
Diamond Award Winner, Cathy Roe Dance - Anna Dai, 2012
1st overall Senior Large Group, Applause Regional - Hometown Glory, 2012
Highest Scoring Routine, Applause Regional - Hometown Glory, 2012
FDC Award, Applause Regional - Hometown Glory, 2012
1st overall Senior Large Group, Cathy Roe Dance - Hometown Glory, 2012
1st overall Senior Solo, VIP Lake Orion - This Bitter Earth - Anna Dai, 2012
1st overall Teen Large Group, VIP Lake Orion - Hometown Glory, 2012
1st overall Junior Large Group, VIP Lake Orion - Hallelujah, 2012
1st VIP Top Ten List, VIP Lake Orion - Hometown Glory, 2012
3rd VIP Top Ten List, VIP Lake Orion - Hallelujah, 2012
5th VIP Top Ten List, VIP Lake Orion - Two Steps Away - Bailee Grandberry, 2012
7th VIP Top Ten List, VIP Lake Orion - This Bitter Earth - Anna Dai, 2012
10th VIP Top Ten List, VIP Lake Orion - Someone Like You - Shelby Lazorka, 2012
1st overall Junior Solo, VIP Lake Orion - Two Steps Away, 2012
1st overall Senior Large Group, Hall of Fame - Come Home, 2011
Hall of Fame Inductee, Senior Level - Come Home 2011
1st overall Senior Large Group, Starquest Dance - Come Home
Apogee Award (Highest Scoring of Weekend), Starquest - Come Home, 2011
1st overall Senior Solo, KAR Detroit - It Doesn't Hurt - Stacey Glumm, 2011
1st overall Senior Duet, KAR Detroit - Sisters, 2011
1st overall Senior Large Group, DMM - Come Home, 2011
1st overall Senior Solo, DMM - Time Flies - Dana Yordy, 2011
1st overall Senior Large Group, VIP Walled Lake - Come Home, 2011
1st overall Senior Solo, VIP Walled Lake - Consecration - Stacey Glumm, 2011
1st overall Senior Duet, VIP Walled Lake - Sisters, 2011
2nd VIP Top Ten List, VIP Walled Lake - Come Home, 2011
4th VIP Top Ten List, VIP Walled Lake - The Fabulous 50's, 2011
5th VIP Top Ten List, VIP Walled Lake - Consecration - Stacey Glumm, 2011
10th VIP Top Ten List, VIP Walled Lake - Gold Dust, 2011
1st overall Senior Small Group, KAR Detroit - Crash, 2010
1st overall Senior Small group, Creations - Crash, 2010
1st overall Teen Large Group, On Stage America Detroit - Slow Me Down, 2010
1st overall Senior Solo (Sec), KAR Detroit - Hallelujah, 2008
1st overall Teen Solo, VIP Walled Lake - Superman, 2008
1st overall Teen Duet, VIP Walled Lake - They Weren't There, 2008