Three young School of Eisenhower Dance Detroit students smile while holding hands together in the dance studio. They wear their hair in ballet buns.

MEET OUR FACULTY

Get to know our faculty members at the School of Detroit Metropolitan Dance

SCHOOL OF DETROIT METROPOLITAN DANCE LEADERSHIP

School of Detroit Metropolitan Dance Co-Director, Meghann Hazelton

Meghann Hazelton began dancing at the age of 5, and teaching at age 17. She was born and raised in Shelby Township, Michigan and grew up training with Lynda and Dennis Lambert. Meghann is a graduate of Oakland University with a Bachelor's of Arts in Dance. She has danced with Oakland Dance Theatre, OU Repertory Dance Company, and was a guest dancer with Detroit Metropolitan Dance (formerly Eisenhower Dance Detroit) during their 20th Anniversary Season. Meghann has performed in works by Laurie Eisenhower, Stephanie Pizzo, Thayer Jonutz, and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. In 2010, she was honored with the Distinguished Dance Student "Matilda" award. Meghann has taken classes in choreography, creative dance for children, dance pedagogy and kinesiology. She studied the Cecchetti Method of ballet and successfully passed student examinations 1-6. Meghann became one of the Co-Directors at the School of Detroit Metropolitan Dance in 2018 after being on the teaching staff since 2008.  Meghann looks forward to sharing her love and passion for dance with the next generation of dancers.

School of Detroit Metropolitan Dance Co-Director, Amanda Rea-Burnett

Amanda Rea-Burnett began her dance training at the age of 5 at Encore Dance Academy under the direction of Jennifer Rickard. Through her years of dance, Amanda has had training by many well known choreographers, such as, Gus Giordano, Frank Hatchett, and worked under Dennis Caspary for many years. Amanda was a part of CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts) at Churchill High School for 4 years. She was in numerous musicals and dance concerts through CAPA, and she choreographed for Les Miserable, A Chorus Line and many dance productions. Amanda was a 5 year company member of the Allure Dance Company in St. Claire Shores. Amanda started her teaching career in 2003, and was a Guest Choreographer in Nashville, Tennessee from 2004-2006. Her Choreography has won numerous overall awards and Best Choreography. Amanda started at the School of Detroit Metropolitan Dance in 2011. In 2017, Amanda became the Director for the Detroit Country Day Lower School dance program where she continues to build the program. In 2019 she became a Co-Business Manager and School Co-Director for The School of Detroit Metropolitan Dance. Amanda is honored to share the knowledge, passion and her love for dance with the next generations to come.

Senior Teaching Artist & Special Events Coordinator, Katy Hall

Katy Hall earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Oakland University in 2007. Since graduating, she has choreographed numerous works for Oakland University's resident dance company, Oakland Dance Theatre. A graduate of Churchill High School's Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) Dance Program, Katy has maintained a strong connection to her alma mater by teaching master classes and choreographing for the program since 2003. In 2014, she completed the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum and became an ABT Certified Teacher. Since 2006, Katy has been a faculty member at the School of Detroit Metropolitan Dance, where she teaches ballet, contemporary, jazz, and tap. For more than 13 years, Katy has served as a Student Company Director for the Detroit Metropolitan Dance Youth Company (DMDYC), formerly EDDYE. Throughout her career, she has mentored numerous soloists, with students earning Top 10 placements at prestigious competitions including Youth America Grand Prix and Universal Ballet Competition. In addition to teaching, Katy serves as the school's Special Events Coordinator, DMDYC Competition Director, and Student Ambassador Director. She is passionate about developing technically strong, confident, and artistic dancers while fostering a supportive and inspiring learning environment.

FACULTY

  • Dani Burren (she/her) was born in Houston, Texas. In 2022, she graduated from the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Shortly after, she attended Point Park University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in dance along with an English minor. While at Point Park, she performed works by Roderick George, Akira Uchida, Omar De Jesús, Norbert De La Cruz III, Juel D. Lane, Paul Taylor, Camille A. Brown, and more. Additionally, she received training at programs such as SpringboardX, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and BodyTraffic.

    Dani is delighted to begin her first season with Detroit Metropolitan Dance as a company member. With an interest in choreography and dance education, she is thrilled to begin immersing herself in the Detroit dance scene.

  • From Grand Rapids, MI, Zach Bussert (he/him) is a graduate of Grand Valley State University with a BBA in Dance & Marketing. During his time at GVSU, Zach was a recipient of the Upper Division Dance Scholarship and worked with numerous guest artists including Yoshito Sakuraba, Wallie Wolfgruber, Paul Singh, Brian Enos, Helanius Wilkins, and more. 

    Post graduation, Zach began his professional career with ConteXture Dance Detroit under the direction of Tracy Halloran, before joining St. Louis Dance Theatre (formerly The Big Muddy Dance Company) as a trainee for the 2022/23 season. During his time in St. Louis, he performed works by Norbert De La Cruz III, Joshua L. Peugh, and Kirven Douthit-Boyd, with highlights including Norbert de la Cruz III’s Could 9 at the 2023 Spring to Dance Festival. Working alongside Joshua L. Peugh, Zach received scholarship to participate in Dark Circles Contemporary Dance’s 2023 Arts Lab Desert Peaks in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he performed Peugh’s work SLUMP, This Is Home II, and Critiques of the Morning Song. 

    Previously, Zach danced with WhirlWind Dance Company for three seasons under the direction of Joshua Manculich and Morgan Sandlin. During his time with the company, he has performed throughout the country including the Palm Desert Choreography Festival, Grier School’s Motion Dance Convention, and The Pillow Project in Pittsburgh, PA. He was also part of WhirlWind’s 2024 and 2025 professional residency, which included performing a wide range of repertory by Joshua Manculich, including Come Rain or Shine, Daydream, With Eyes Closed, and Moonlit. During his time with WhirlWind, he was able to work with resident choreographers Terrill Mitchell, John Litzer & Cody Szarko, Jackie Stewart, and Hanna Brictson. Zach was honored to premier as a feature role in Morgan Sandlin’s first evening-length work “Anywhere But Here” and also had the opportunity to create an excerpt of choreography for the show. 

    Zach is excited to join Detroit Met Dance, returning to his home state to continue performing, collaborating, and growing as an artist. In his free time, Zach enjoys working with young dancers and choreographing for competitive dance studios. His work has been showcased across the country and receives many top placements and awards. He is thrilled to help bring dance to the Detroit metropolitan area!

  • Lindsay graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Oakland University and has been deeply involved in the organization since 2012. Training directly under Founder, Laurie Eisenhower and Artistic Director, Stephanie Pizzo, from 2012-2020, Lindsay had the pleasure of touring, teaching, and performing with Detroit Metropolitan Dance (formerly Eisenhower Dance Detroit). Lindsay stays active in the studio space as well and  teaches company class; educating and training current company dancers in DMD movement philosophies and methods. 

    In 2018, through DMD’s Beyond the Stage Initiative, Lindsay was promoted to Company Manager, eventually transitioning to the Director of Operations. Serving in many capacities within the organization, Ms. Chirio-Humenay, now Assistant Executive Director, leads Detroit Metropolitan Dance alongside Artistic Director Stephanie Pizzo. She is proud to guide and develop much of DMD’s programming, including; DMD’s Annual Intensive programs, See and Be Seen, the DMD Next Initiative and the Rising Philanthropist initiative. 

  • Originally from Miami, Florida, Meagan Cubides (she/her) began her formal dance training at the Miami City Ballet School and later attended New World School of the Arts High School. In 2019, she graduated from the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program, where she had the opportunity to perform works by choreographers such as Alvin Ailey, Francesca Harper, Jamar Roberts, Adam Barruch, and Sidra Bell, among others.

    During college, Meagan danced professionally with Ballet Hispánico Dos during their 2017–2018 season. She also trained at renowned summer programs including Arts Umbrella Dance, Bodytraffic, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Ballet Austin. Following graduation, Meagan danced with Visceral Dance Chicago for four seasons. 

    Meagan is currently in her fourth season with Detroit Metropolitan Dance and also serves as Co-Assistant Artistic Director of the Detroit Met Dance Youth Company. In addition to her performance career, Meagan is a certified personal trainer at the Detroit Athletic Club.

  • Andrew Cribbett, originally from Thomasboro, Illinois, received a full scholarship to The Washington Ballet in Washington D.C. He then attended Duke Ellington School of the Arts to finish his senior year of high school. He joined Detroit Metropolitan Dance in 2011 and retired as a company dancer and Rehearsal Director in 2021. While dancing with the company, Andrew toured nationally and internationally both teaching and performing in venues as far as Tel Aviv, Israel. He also had the great pleasure of performing original works by Nicolo Fonte, Gina Patterson, Darrell Grand Moutrie, Edgar Zendejas, Joshua Peugh, Ron De Jesus, among many others. Andrew's choreography has received recognition for Top 12 placement at YAGP for solos, small groups and ensembles. Over the years, Andrew has taught and choreographed for several local studios, including The School of Detroit Metropolitan Dance and also trains Olympians in Junior Ice Dance. Currently Andrew is pursuing a degree in Nursing while assuming the role of Assistant Artistic Director.

    Andrew fosters the fundamentals of DMD training, technical skills, creativity, and a deep appreciation for the art form while prioritizing individual growth and maintaining a positive, inclusive environment. Andrew believes in adapting teaching methods to suit the specific needs of each unique individual and how they may require a different approach to fully grasp and apply the information being taught.

  • Katy Hall earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Oakland University in 2007. Since graduating, she has choreographed numerous works for Oakland University's resident dance company, Oakland Dance Theatre. A graduate of Churchill High School's Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) Dance Program, Katy has maintained a strong connection to her alma mater by teaching master classes and choreographing for the program since 2003. In 2014, she completed the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum and became an ABT Certified Teacher. Since 2006, Katy has been a faculty member at the School of Detroit Metropolitan Dance, where she teaches ballet, contemporary, jazz, and tap. For more than 13 years, Katy has served as a Student Company Director for the Detroit Metropolitan Dance Youth Company (DMDYC), formerly EDDYE. Throughout her career, she has mentored numerous soloists, with students earning Top 10 placements at prestigious competitions including Youth America Grand Prix and Universal Ballet Competition. In addition to teaching, Katy serves as the school's Special Events Coordinator, DMDYC Competition Director, and Student Ambassador Director. She is passionate about developing technically strong, confident, and artistic dancers while fostering a supportive and inspiring learning environment.

  • Meghann Hazelton began dancing at the age of 5, and teaching at age 17. She was born and raised in Shelby Township, Michigan and grew up training with Lynda and Dennis Lambert. Meghann is a graduate of Oakland University with a Bachelor's of Arts in Dance. She has danced with Oakland Dance Theatre, OU Repertory Dance Company, and was a guest dancer with Detroit Metropolitan Dance (formerly Eisenhower Dance Detroit) during their 20th Anniversary Season. Meghann has performed in works by Laurie Eisenhower, Stephanie Pizzo, Thayer Jonutz, and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. In 2010, she was honored with the Distinguished Dance Student "Matilda" award. Meghann has taken classes in choreography, creative dance for children, dance pedagogy and kinesiology. She studied the Cecchetti Method of ballet and successfully passed student examinations 1-6. Meghann became one of the Co-Directors at the School of Detroit Metropolitan Dance in 2018 after being on the teaching staff since 2008.  Meghann looks forward to sharing her love and passion for dance with the next generation of dancers.

  • Lisa Johns began her dance training at age 3. She received her early training from Joanne Zavisa at Joanne’s Dance Extension in Canton, MI. After graduating high school Lisa continued her dance training at Oakland University. While studying at OU, Lisa had the privilege of working with many respected choreographers including Meg Paul, Laurie Eisenhower, Stephanie Pizzo, Ali Woerner and Thayer Jonutz. Lisa was the first student to produce her own independent dance concert, and received her BFA in 2014 after receiving the MaTilDa award in outstanding choreography. After graduation Lisa spent time touring with NUVO Dance convention and has since continued to teach dance throughout all of Metro Detroit, being sought out for her specific teaching skills in acrobatics. She is currently working toward her Master’s of Arts from University of Michigan in nonprofit management.

  • LejlaRaven Martin (she/her) was born and raised in Utica, NY. She furthered her dance training at the Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Massachusetts under the direction of Michael Owen, with many performance opportunities, including The Nutcracker, spring performances at The Joyce Theatre, and student-choreographed works. After high school, she attended Point Park University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2024, earning her BFA in dance. LejlaRaven’s time at Point Park included working with and performing works by Martha Graham, Christopher Huggins, Jess Hendricks, Candace Brown, Julia Erickson, and others.

    LejlaRaven is thrilled to enter her third season with Detroit Metropolitan Dance as a company member. In her time with the company, she performed and worked with Maxine Doyle, Joshua Peugh, Stephanie Pizzo, BAIRA, Yoshito Sakuraba, and Laurie Eisenhower. Along with performing, she also teaches at the School of Detroit Metropolitan Dance and is the Director of the First Company for the Youth Ensemble this year. In addition to teaching at studios in Michigan and Upstate New York, she is expanding her work in choreography.

  • Katlin Merby, known to her students as Ms. Kat, is a passionate rhythm tap dancer, performer, and educator. She also holds comprehensive training across styles, including Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, and Jazz. She began her dance journey at age seven at Juliart Dance Studio in Troy, MI, where she was a company member and teacher’s assistant. She has immersed herself in the tap community by interning at and attending the Motor City Tap Fest each summer since 2017. There, she connected with her primary dance and pedagogical mentor, Denise Caston-Clark, founder of Tap Dance Detroit in Ferndale, MI. Katlin continues to train there and has choreographed pieces showcased at various community outreach performances. In 2021, she joined Tappening, a Detroit-based tap company founded and directed by Heidi Schultz. Her performance credits also feature dynamic live collaborations, including live jazz band improvisation at Detroit’s historic Cliff Bell's. Ms.Kat's performance style and classroom philosophy are heavily shaped by master artists she has studied under, including Michelle Dorrance, Sam Weber, Guillem Alonso, Ray Hesselink, Karen Callaway Williams, and Denise Caston-Clark.

    In the studio, Ms.Kat fosters an encouraging and high-energy atmosphere where students develop clean technique, rhythmic precision, historical appreciation, and the creative freedom of improvisation. 

    Her dedication to continuing education has taken her across the nation and overseas to intensives including:

    • Motor City Tap Fest (Detroit, MI)

    • Stockholm Tap Festival (Stockholm, Sweden)

    • Phoenix Tap Fest (Phoenix, AZ)

    • DC Tap Fest (Washington, D.C.)

    • Tapology Dance Festival (Flint, MI)

    She is thrilled to join the faculty this season!

  • Emily "EmM" Moreira (she/her) is originally from Richmond, Virginia, and is a graduate of James Madison University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. During her time at JMU, she held several leadership roles and worked with renowned artists and companies including Lucinda Childs, Norbert De La Cruz III, DanceWorks Chicago, Ballet Hispánico, and Eisenhower Dance Detroit. She also studied abroad in Madrid, Spain, where she performed a work by Rubén Graciani at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía.

    After graduating, EmM began her professional dance career performing and working with renowned artists such as Stephanie Martinez, Norbert De La Cruz III, and Yusha Sorzano, as well as performing with the Charlottesville Opera.

    EmM is thrilled to return for her second season with Detroit Metropolitan Dance! During her time with the company, she has had the privilege of performing works by Yoshito Sakuraba, Stephanie Pizzo, Christian Denice, and Laurie Eisenhower. In addition to performing as a company member, EmM serves as the company's Administrative Assistant and Intensives Coordinator. She also teaches at the School of Detroit Metropolitan Dance and serves as the Junior Company Director for the Detroit Metropolitan Dance Youth Company.

  • Stephanie Pizzo is the Artistic and Executive Director of Detroit Metropolitan Dance, formerly Eisenhower Dance Detroit, and the Artistic Director of the Detroit Metropolitan Dance Youth Company. A founding company member, she joined the organization in 1991 and has served in numerous leadership roles throughout her career, including Resident Choreographer, Associate Artistic Director, and Co-Artistic Director.

    As the organization enters an exciting new chapter as Detroit Metropolitan Dance, Pizzo is focused on advancing its artistic vision, expanding its presence in Detroit, and strengthening its role as a cultural institution for world-class contemporary dance. She is committed to collaborating with exceptional national and international artists while building meaningful connections throughout metropolitan Detroit through performance, education, and community engagement.

    Under Pizzo’s leadership, the company has continued to expand its regional and national profile and was recently invited to perform on the Leir Stage at Jacob’s Pillow. She believes contemporary dance can offer audiences beautiful, athletic, and engaging repertory while also serving as a powerful vehicle for reflecting on issues of personal and social significance.

    Pizzo’s dance-for-film work, The Five Tangos, inspired by the music of Astor Piazzolla and created in collaboration with the Detroit Institute of Arts and Zazu Creative Studio, received Best Experimental Film at the 2022 Dancecentric Film Festival in Florida. The film was also named a semifinalist at the 2022 Inspired Dance Film Festival in Australia and was featured in Dance Magazine’s online “Friday Film Break.”

    Her choreography has been commissioned, presented, or set at Illinois State University, Texas A&M University, Texas Christian University, Wesleyan University, and Union College. She has also staged numerous works by Laurie Eisenhower on professional companies and university dance programs throughout the United States. Pizzo’s work has been presented internationally in Tel Aviv as part of the company’s production of The Light Show, at international dance festivals in Poland, and at Jacob’s Pillow.

    Education and youth mentorship remain central to Pizzo’s artistic philosophy. Through her leadership of the Detroit Metropolitan Dance Youth Company, she works to develop young artists through rigorous training, performance opportunities, mentorship, and pathways to collegiate and professional dance careers.

    A native of Clinton Township, Michigan, Pizzo holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Oakland University. In 2009, she received the Distinguished Alumni “MaTilDa” Award from Oakland University’s Department of Music, Theatre and Dance. She was also a recipient of the 2023 Birmingham Bloomfield Cultural Arts Award. Pizzo served as a special lecturer in dance at Oakland University for 12 years.

  • Amanda Rea-Burnett began her dance training at the age of 5 at Encore Dance Academy under the direction of Jennifer Rickard. Through her years of dance, Amanda has had training by many well known choreographers, such as, Gus Giordano, Frank Hatchett, and worked under Dennis Caspary for many years. Amanda was a part of CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts) at Churchill High School for 4 years. She was in numerous musicals and dance concerts through CAPA, and she choreographed for Les Miserable, A Chorus Line and many dance productions. Amanda was a 5 year company member of the Allure Dance Company in St. Claire Shores. Amanda started her teaching career in 2003, and was a Guest Choreographer in Nashville, Tennessee from 2004-2006. Her Choreography has won numerous overall awards and Best Choreography. Amanda started at the School of Detroit Metropolitan Dance in 2011. In 2017, Amanda became the Director for the Detroit Country Day Lower School dance program where she continues to build the program. In 2019 she became a Co-Business Manager and School Co-Director for The School of Detroit Metropolitan Dance. Amanda is honored to share the knowledge, passion and her love for dance with the next generations to come.

  • Aliyah Spears is a dance educator and performer from Saginaw, Michigan. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with a certification in Dance Education from Oakland University, where she performed with Oakland Dance Theatre and Repertory Dance Company. During her collegiate career, she performed works by choreographers including Stephanie Pizzo, Laurie Eisenhower, Shannon Gillen, Lauren Anderson, Christa Smutek, Elizabeth Riga, and others. Aliyah was honored as a recipient of the 2025 Keeper of the Dream Scholarship and, upon graduating in 2026, received the Dance Department’s Matilda Award for Distinguished Dance Student.

    Beyond her collegiate training, Aliyah completed a Student Apprenticeship with the professional dance company Take Root and serves as the Undergraduate Representative for the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), reflecting her commitment to continued artistic and educational growth.

    Aliyah’s passion for teaching began at the age of 13 as a student teacher at her home dance studio. She continued to develop as both a dancer and educator at the Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy, where she trained in the dance program from sixth through twelfth grade while also serving as a student teacher. She later began teaching independently as a teenager, and these early experiences inspired her to pursue a career in dance education.

    In addition to joining the School of Detroit Metropolitan Dance faculty, Aliyah is a faculty member at the Flint School of Performing Arts and a Pilates instructor, continuing to expand her work in movement education. She strives to create engaging and supportive learning environments where students build strong technical foundations while developing confidence, creativity, and artistry. Aliyah is excited to share her passion for dance with the School of Detroit Metropolitan Dance community and support the growth of the next generation of dancers.

  • Christina Tasco, BHS, MES, is the CFO for Detroit Metropolitan Dance.  Additionally, Chritina serves as the co-assistant director of the Detroit Metropolitan Dance Youth Company and the director of the Ballet Focus program. Christina danced professionally with the company from 1997-2004 and during her time with DMD has held various positions within the organization. Currently, Christina continues to work for DMD both administratively and as a director, teacher and choreographer.

    Throughout her career, Christina has taught numerous master classes and residencies across the state and country.  She has choreographed for and taught within a variety of studios, school districts, Universities and special events including various fundraisers, musicals and after school programs.

    In addition to her position at Detroit Metropolitan Dance, Christina is a special lecturer at Oakland University where she has been on faculty since 2002.  Christina teaches several technique courses as well as Kinesiology, Dance History and Appreciation and Dance Production.  At the University, Christina received the Most Inspirational Professor award in both 2014 and 2015 and was nominated for a Teaching Excellence Award in 2016.  In 2018, Christina received the Order of the Plume for igniting “inspiration within the students.”

  • Isabella Marina Varon (she/her) is a professional dancer and dance educator based in Detroit, Michigan. She has been a company artist with Detroit Metropolitan Dance, formally Eisenhower Dance Detroit, since 2023, where she has worked closely with and performed works by a diverse range of choreographers, including Maxine Doyle, Tess Voelker, Yoshito Sakuraba, Christian Denice, Tamisha A. Guy, Rauf Yasit and James Gregg, Joshua Peugh, and Norbert De La Cruz III.

    Most recently, Isabella performed lead roles at Detroit Met’s summer tour to Jacob’s Pillow. Isabella has performed principal roles in Rinaldo, directed by Louisa Proske at the Detroit Opera House, as well as works by Sharon Eyal at Springboard Danse and Scott Jennings at the b12 Festival in Berlin. In the fall of 2026, Isabella will be a featured artist in the Detroit Design District’s inaugural In Session series at the Boyer Campbell building. 

    Isabella earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College in 2020, with a concentration in ballet. Her training includes prestigious summer programs with American Ballet Theatre and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. 

    Beyond performance, Isabella is passionate about dance education and mentorship. She regularly teaches ballet and contemporary techniques to pre-professional students across the Metro-Detroit area and provides college preparation guidance for aspiring dance majors. Her teaching experience spans colleges, intensives, and festivals nationwide, and her students have gone on to study dance at NYU Tisch, Marymount Manhattan College, SUNY Purchase, University of Michigan, and Oakland University. Isabella is currently on faculty at Spotlight Dance Works, and the School of Detroit Metropolitan Dance. She was the Associate Artistic Director of Young Dancers Initiative from 2022 to 2025.

DETROIT COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL FACULTY

  • Lenore Brown has been dancing for over 30 years and began teaching in 2011.  She began her competition dance career at age 12, winning numerous solo and group regional titles. Competition inspired her to expand her dance knowledge, and she has taken classes from renowned dance masters such as Brian Friedman, Doug Caldwell, Joel Hall, and Mia Michaels. In 2017, she also began studying partner dance styles, primarily Argentine tango, and has competed and performed across the country.

    Lenore continues to perform in various dance showcases, competitions, and festivals. In 2026, she competed in a prestigious Argentine Tango championship and received numerous awards and placements. Since 2020, she has also served as Head Choreographer for Jackie Paige of WWJ Newsradio 950, performing annually as a back-up dancer in the Celebrity Lip Sync Battle Detroit event for charity.

    In addition to her dance education, Lenore also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with a minor in Marketing from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, a Master of Science degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Eastern Michigan University, and a Certificate in Project Management from Cornell University.

  • Michigan based artist, Lila Hodgin (she/her), holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Contemporary Dance and Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Indiana University. During her time at IU, she performed works by acclaimed choreographers including Camille A. Brown (City of Rain, staged by Mora-Amina Parker), Christa Smutek, Beatrice Capote, Elizabeth Shea, and Stafford C. Berry Jr. Her dedication and excellence in dance have been recognized with the Jane Fox Dance Scholarship, the Maria Svetlova Memorial Scholarship, and the Korinek Chapter Career Award. In 2026, her leadership and involvement at Indiana University were recognized with the Kate Hevner Mueller award. Beyond university training, Lila has expanded her artistry through programs such as Banyan Dance Festival, LINK, Carmel Dance Festival, Dance Italia, and Detroit Metropolitan Dance (formerly Eisenhower Dance Detroit). Through such experiences, she has had the opportunity to perform works by Loni Landon, Babatunji Johnson, Maleek Washington, Sidra Bell, Tamisha A. Guy, Daniel Ojeda, and Sofia Nappi. She has choreographed for the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra and directed & choreographed “Not Now, Not Never”: An Independent Project. Ms. Hodgin is a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to classes spanning Yoga, Contemporary, Ballet, floorwork, partnering, and beyond.

  • Emiley’s love for honoring expression began in her earliest memories. With emotions bigger than her body and energy that electrified her, she found grounding and empowerment in movement, art, and performance. She graduated from Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Science in Dance Professions concentrated in Pre-Dance Movement Therapy, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Her movement background includes: lifetime dance, 6 years of Isshinryu Karate, Pilates, and 9 years of self-taught cross training. Emiley has traveled globally for her craft. Gaining wisdom of the mind, body, and spirit from different cultures and perspectives is webbed into her passion. 


    She’s a Take Root Dance Company employee as an Arts Educator for children ages 5-12, and Dance for Parkinson’s teacher. She performs with Fun Girl Dance Company in Ann Arbor for their 8th season of live and video performances. In 2026 she started a 3 month, all levels welcome, community dance workshop called Dance Realm encompassing technique, collaborative performance, and whole being integration. As a movement artist, she is lit up by mixing other mediums with the human body, artistic directing, and inviting others to embrace their inner-being with: expression, integrity, intention, creation, and innerstanding. She believes all human experience is interconnected and that is how art brings us together.

  • Jessica Zacharias is a Detroit-area dance artist, educator, movement facilitator, and founder of Seaworth Wholeness Sanctuary. Her relationship with dance spans more than two decades, rooted in a deep belief that movement is not only an art form, but a powerful way to connect, communicate, and experience being human. 

    Jessica was a member of the Oakland University Dance Team from 2011–2015, where she continued to develop her performance practice while pursuing her education. Since then, she has cultivated a diverse teaching career, working with dancers of varying ages and experience levels in studio, school, and community settings—including Gotta Dance Studios, The Academy of the Sacred Heart, and the Kaleo dance program. 

    Her work as an educator is grounded in creating spaces where dancers can develop technical skill while also cultivating confidence, individuality, musicality, and a genuine connection to movement. 

    In 2016, Jessica founded Seaworth Wholeness Sanctuary, a movement-centered space exploring the intersection of dance, intuition, ritual, and the human experience. Through Seaworth, she has developed her own approach to movement meditations and continues to create experiences that invite people to reconnect with their bodies and their innate capacity for expression. 

    Whether teaching, performing, choreographing, or facilitating, Jessica brings curiosity, warmth, intention, and a lifelong love of movement into the room.