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
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Lauren Bobo is a freelance dance artist, teacher, and choreographer in metro Detroit. She began her dance training at the age of 14 at Atlanta Ballet’s Center for Dance Education under the direction of Sharon Story and went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography and Biological Sciences from the University of South Carolina. Her passion for ballet and contemporary movement is expressed through her love for teaching and choreography. Her style is heavily influenced by working with and performing works by Maurya Kerr, Brian Arias, Ryley Watts, Alvin Ailey II, Joffrey Ballet School, Jillian Mitchell, Tanya Wydman-Davis and Thaddeus Davis of Wydman-Davis Dance, Madeline Jazz-Harvey, CompanyE, and Arnau Perez, among others. Since moving to Michigan in 2019, Lauren has danced professionally with ArtLab J, ConteXture Dance Detroit, and Detroit Dance Collective. Lauren has a passion for working with students of all ages, striving to help dancers and movers cultivate their own artist voice through dance. Lauren has been teaching with Detroit Metropolitan Dance since 2019 and is looking forward to digging deeper with her students in the 2022-2023 season!
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Director of Operations
Lindsay Chirio-Humenay graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Oakland University and joined the professional internationally touring contemporary dance company, Detroit Metropolitan Dance in 2012. From 2012-2020, Lindsay had the pleasure of touring, teaching, and performing with DMD. Lindsay teaches company class; educating and training current company dancers in DMD movement philosophies and methods. In 2018, through DMD’s Beyond the Stage Initiative, she was promoted to Company Manager. Lindsay is currently serving as DMD’s Director of Operations. Wearing many hats within the organization, she teaches at The School of DMD and directs several of the projects and programming DMD has to offer. Lindsay’s early training includes workshops and intensive training with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Complexions Contemporary Ballet and a ballroom dance apprenticeship at Fred Astaire Bloomfield Hills. She had the honor to perform works by current DMD Artistic Director, Stephanie Pizzo, DMD founder and former Artistic Director, Laurie Eisenhower, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Ron De Jesus, Christian Denice, Edgar Zendajas, Nicolo Fonte, Joshua Manculich and many others. Lindsay has taught master classes and set DMD repertory throughout the country as well as in Israel and Poland.
Lindsay's teaching focuses on the fundamentals of the DMD technique and philosophies while challenging dancers to push past their comfort zones, take risks and hone in on articulation of movement. Lindsay strives to create an inclusive and warm environment where all dancers can feel comfortable in their own skin.
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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.
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Event Coordinator & YAGP Director
Katy Hall graduated from Oakland University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She received the MaTilDa Award for Outstanding Student Service through the Music, Theatre, and Dance program at O.U. She has also choreographed several pieces for O.U.’s dance company, Oakland Dance Theatre. Ms. Hall is a CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts) dance alum and has choreographed many pieces for the dance program at Churchill High School since her graduation in 2003. In 2014, she attended the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum conference where she received her certification. She has been teaching for the School of Detroit Metropolitan Dance since 2006 and also serves as the Special Events Coordinator, Youth America Grand Prix Director, and Student Ambassador Program Director.
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Alex Hlavaty graduated with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Creative Writing from Western Michigan University in May, 2015. He studied in New York City with Gibney Dance and in Montréal with O Vertigo and Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal before joining Deroit Metropolitan Dance. He is currently in his ninth season dancing with DMD, where he has performed and taught master classes nationally and internationally. He has set excerpts of DMD repertory on high school and university students at summer intensives, workshops, and master classes. Mr. Hlavaty is also an avid choreographer and writer. His choreography has been performed in festivals, intensives, and competitions. He has also created two works on DMD’s professional company. His poetry has been published in the literary journal The Laureate, 14th Edition, and he has written for DancePlug online as a resource for dance students, professionals, and educators. He is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) Junior, Senior, and Advanced program, and strives to use PBT fundamentals to bring the best instruction to his students.
Teaching Philosophy:
My aim as an educator is to have my students enter my class with a love of dance, and leave with a love of learning. Training in classical dance forms and movement techniques is not only about conditioning the body, but also about learning to become a better life learner. I challenge my students to find their own unique movement language within a class structure that develops consistency, creativity, and risk-taking skills. My classes foster an environment of safety and acceptance that allows dancers the freedom to make errors and learn without judgement. Each student will move forward with the confidence to mold and adjust in any environment to be successful in whatever artistic endeavors they choose.
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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.
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Abbey Schrade studied at The School of American Ballet, through the Audrey Rose scholarship, from 2008 to 2013. While there, she performed in ballets by George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon and Justin Peck. She also participated in the New York Choreographic Institute, SAB’s Student Choreography Workshop, performances with New York City Ballet, and SAB’s student teacher program. During the summers, Ms. Schrade attended intensives with Joffrey Midwest, Miami City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Ballet Austin. After graduating from SAB, she performed with Ballet Austin's Fellowship Program in Austin, Texas. She also became an ABT Certified Teacher of the American Ballet Theatre’s National Training Curriculum. In 2019, she graduated with her B.A. in Dance and her B.S. in Marketing from Oakland University where she performed with the Repertory Dance Company and received the 2018 MaTilDa Award for Distinguished Dance Student. Ms. Schrade began teaching at The School of Detroit Metropolitan Dance in 2016 and loves to share her passion for ballet with students.
Teaching Philosophy:
At the start of the year I ask my students what their goals in dance are and try to incorporate their interests into each lesson. My ballet classes always emphasize the importance of musicality, clean foot work and expressive upper body movement. I also focus on teaching the fundamentals of Balanchine’s ballet technique.
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Lisa Allai-Stop, originally from the Detroit area, has been a dance educator for over 30 years. She has taught for workshops, colleges, dance festivals and studios locally, nationally, and internationally. Most recently, she has served on the faculty of the Phoenix Tap Festival and the Las Vegas Tap Festival. She is a long time company member of the Detroit Tap Repertory where she performs, choreographs, and serves as the company dance historian. In addition to tap dance, Ms. Allai-Stop has performed with Eartha Kitt and as an extra numerary with ABT’s Detroit production of Romeo and Juliet. She also studies and teaches Polynesian dance and directs a Polynesian performance troupe called The Tropical Wahines.
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Ms. Wenske began her dance training at the age of 3, including her high school training at Detroit Metropolitan Dance as part of the pre-professional program known as the Detroit Metropolitan Dance Youth Ensemble. After graduating summa cum laude in high school, she expressed interest in teaching and entered a student teaching program with the company in 2021, which then transitioned to substitute teaching after successful completion of the program, to officially becoming a Teaching Artist for the school starting 2023. She is currently attending Schoolcraft College, and will be graduating with an Associates in Science in May 2024, with anticipations to transfer for her Bachelors. Kathryn’s love of teaching stems from her deeply-rooted passion for the artform itself, and hopes to ignite that in her students. She designs her classes to invoke creativity and fun in a safe environment for the students to express themselves. Kathryn is looking forward to not only growing herself this year, but with her students in the 2023-2024 season.
DETROIT COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL FACULTY
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Lauren Bobo is a freelance dance artist, teacher, and choreographer in metro Detroit. She began her dance training at the age of 14 at Atlanta Ballet’s Center for Dance Education under the direction of Sharon Story and went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography and Biological Sciences from the University of South Carolina. Her passion for ballet and contemporary movement is expressed through her love for teaching and choreography. Her style is heavily influenced by working with and performing works by Maurya Kerr, Brian Arias, Ryley Watts, Alvin Ailey II, Joffrey Ballet School, Jillian Mitchell, Tanya Wydman-Davis and Thaddeus Davis of Wydman-Davis Dance, Madeline Jazz-Harvey, CompanyE, and Arnau Perez, among others. Since moving to Michigan in 2019, Lauren has danced professionally with ArtLab J, ConteXture Dance Detroit, and Detroit Dance Collective. Lauren has a passion for working with students of all ages, striving to help dancers and movers cultivate their own artist voice through dance. Lauren has been teaching with Detroit Metropolitan Dance since 2019 and is looking forward to digging deeper with her students in the 2022-2023 season!
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Evelyn (Evie) Gaines is a Detroit based dancer and choreographer. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Wayne State University with a BFA in Dance and BA in Public Relations. During her time at WSU she performed in works by Meg Paul, Shaina and Bryan Baira, Stephanie Troyak, Germaul Barnes and other distinguished artists. Post-graduation she worked in arts administration positions with BAIRA MVMNT PHLSOPHY and Detroit Metropolitan Dance. Most recently, she toured with Revive National Dance Convention for two seasons as their Lead Competition Administrator. Currently she works as a certified Pilates instructor and finds great joy in helping others connect with their bodies, growing in strength, coordination and awareness. She is thrilled to be teaching with the School of DMD this year in their partnership with Detroit Country Day School.