Leading Dance Education in Northeast Ohio for 35 Years
Character, Community,
Leadership & Wellness
Beyond The Dance Floor
About The Dance Centre
Located in Rocky River, Ohio, The Dance Centre has been a leader in dance education in Northeast Ohio for more than 3 decades. TDC offers a variety of dance classes for all ages as well as programming that inspires and empowers students to reach their full potential in and outside of the studio.
The Dance Centre Story
Heidi Glynias founded The Dance Centre in 1989, and through its growth and success, TDC has become a highly esteemed dance studio in Northeast Ohio. Heidi’s vision was to create a space for dancers to not only develop and excel, but to become the best they can be, experiencing success, pride and confidence through hard work. Heidi has been a leader in dance education, touching the lives of thousands of students, and has built a legacy that will continue to live on in the years to come under the direction of TDC’s current owner, Kayleigh Feldkircher.
A few words from Heidi, “Knowing Kayleigh for more than a decade, experiencing her incredible work ethic, and seeing how our values align, I am confident that "TDC next-gen" will be filled with great energy, quality instruction, trusted leadership, and continued focus on engaging our students and supporting them to succeed!”
The Dance Centre Difference
As A Leader In Dance Education For More Than Three Decades, We Will Continue to Focus On Development, Character, Leadership, & Integrity That Goes Far Beyond The Studio.
Kayleigh is a seasoned dance choreographer and educator with over a decade of experience. She honed her craft as an alumni of TDC, eventually becoming its Owner & Director in 2022, carrying forward the legacy of its founder, Heidi Glynias.
Giving back to our community will continue to be a part of our programming, and Kayleigh believes this is an important value to instill in our students. In addition to providing quality dance education, Kayleigh is committed to serving TDC students by putting their best interests first and leading with integrity.
Community
TDC GIVES BACK
Community
TDC GIVES BACK
In 2022 We Raised Over
For Prayers From
Maria
In 2023 We Raised Over
For Elle's Enchanted
Forest
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TDC Is A Proud Affiliate of
Girls Geared For Greatness
A nationally recognized program that prepares the girls of today with tools they need to achieve and believe that anything is possible for the betterment of their future.
Girls Geared For Greatness is designed to empower and inspire girls ages 7-18 through meaningful and unique training and development opportunities, workshops, and seminars.
It's not just for dancers! We welcome any and all girls in our community to benefit from this programming.
Girls Geared For Greatness In The Press
Meet Our TDC TEAM
Kayleigh Feldkircher - Owner & Director
Kayleigh is a seasoned dance choreographer and educator with over a decade of experience. She honed her craft as an alumni of TDC, eventually becoming its Owner & Director in 2022, carrying forward the legacy of its founder, Heidi Glynias. With a diverse dance background spanning ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, contemporary, and more, Kayleigh excelled in competitions, earning numerous scholarships and accolades.
During her tenure at The Ohio State University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude, Kayleigh was a member of the prestigious Ohio State Dance Team. She was also a minor in dance and a choreographer with Dance Connection, a student choreography organization. She continued to pursue her passion for dance post-graduation, performing with New Vision Dance Company and showcasing her talent as a soloist.
Beyond her dance endeavors, Kayleigh has an impressive professional acumen. Her passion for sales, marketing, and customer service propelled her to success in property management, earning her the title of 2018 Leasing Professional of the Year in Chicago as well as the National Sales Professional of the Year award in 2021 from Village Green. Upon her return to Cleveland, she seamlessly merged her dual passions, balancing her role in sales management with her dedication to teaching dance at TDC.
Kayleigh's leadership style is defined by her unwavering work ethic, meticulous attention to detail, and positive energy. In the studio, she not only teaches dance but also inspires and empowers her students, particularly through initiatives like Girls Geared for Greatness. Her commitment to nurturing the potential of young girls underscores her dedication to shaping not just skilled dancers but also confident individuals ready to conquer the world.
Heidi Glynias - Founder
Heidi Glynias has a distinguished career spanning over 40 years as a dance instructor, choreographer, and Owner & Director of TDC. Certified through esteemed organizations like Dance Masters of America, Acrobatic Arts, and Progressing Ballet Technique, she has continuously honed her expertise through training schools at Kent State University and The Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, alongside regular participation in workshops.
For 33 years, Heidi helmed The Dance Centre, where she imparted her knowledge across all dance styles and led award-winning competition dancers. Her choreography has garnered accolades including best choreography, best direction, and more, with TDC recognized as one of North America's top studios by DANCE SPIRIT MAGAZINE. Heidi has earned three "Dance Educator of the Year" awards for nurturing versatile performers.
Heidi's impact extends beyond the studio, with her students earning prestigious scholarships and professional opportunities in LA, NYC, and on Broadway. Her own performance credits include RED HOT BROADWAY, Cleveland Cavaliers Dance Team, and collaborations with renowned artists like Sister Sledge and 98 Degrees. She has choreographed for high-profile events including NBA All Star Weekend, NFL Brown’s Countdown Show, and Cleveland's televised "Lighting of the Square" showcasing her versatility and creativity.
In addition to her work in entertainment, Heidi has choreographed and adjudicated for various organizations and events from Show Choir Camps of America and Playhouse Square's Dazzle Awards to musicals, dance teams and show choirs at universities and high schools. She has also shared her expertise as an adjunct professor at Baldwin Wallace University and through guest instruction and master classes at institutions like LCCC and Dance Masters of Ohio & Pennsylvania, leaving an indelible mark on the dance community nationwide.
Kelsey Wilkins
Kelsey Wilkins began her dance career studying at TDC and she was one of TDC’s original Company Dancers! Kelsey also performed at such venues as Back to School Jam with Smooth Approach, CAVS halftime performances, WNBA Rockers inaugural season opener, Jr Jammers Dance Team for the Rockers, American Advertisers’ Association Convention, Beaute’ Craft Hair Show in Detroit, Tri-C Jazzfest, Nutcracker performances, Cleveland Botanical Gardens and more.
Kelsey was also a choreographer / performer with Metamorphosis Dance Company, she worked on halftime performances for the Cleveland Browns with local high school cheerleaders, and she has choreographed for the Lake Erie Monsters Dance Team. She spent two years in Los Angeles as an undergraduate at Loyola Marymount University while also frequently visiting the Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood to attend master classes in jazz and hip hop taught by several of the top choreographers in the dance industry. Kelsey graduated from John Carroll University with a degree in business and she is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique. Kelsey has been coaching and choreographing for the Cleveland Cavaliers Dance Team for 5 years and was recently promoted to Manager of Dance, Entertainment & Events. This is Kelsey’s 19th season as a TDC instructor!
Jennifer Glowe
Jennifer Glowe was born and raised in Buffalo, NY, where she studied dance, acrobatics, and theater/music. There, she performed in numerous regional & industrial shows including Miss Buffalo & Jr Miss Buffalo pageants. Along with coaching & choreography for cheerleading, she achieved awards including NCA All-American Cheerleader & dance scholarships. Jennifer then spent the next 7 years in Mexico, Canada, Europe, Australia & 47 U.S. states with various national & international tours, playing venues including NYC’s Madison Square Garden & Detroit’s Fox Theater. She toured with Sesame Street Live and Care Bears Live as an AEA performer, performance director & assistant director/choreographer. She has also appeared in performances & interviews on NBC’s Today Show, CNN, and Fox & Friends. Jennifer has performed & choreographed musical theater and other various events in the Cleveland/Akron area at venues such as the Paul Cassidy Theater, the Beck Center, Weathervane Playhouse, and Huntington Playhouse. This is her 17th year teaching at The Dance Centre where she is thrilled to be part of this incredible studio.
Emily Nester
Emily began dancing at the age of 6, right here at The Dance Centre. Throughout her 12 years at the studio, she trained in a variety of styles, including jazz, ballet, tap, contemporary, hip hop, and acro, and worked with several prestigious choreographers. She was also a member of the TDC Company competition team for 8 years. Following graduation from Magnificat High School, Emily attended Miami University and graduated with a degree in Marketing, and minor in Sports Leadership and Management. While at Miami, she was a member of the Miami University Dance Team from 2017-2021. In addition to performing at football and basketball games, she competed at the collegiate level at NDA Nationals, and was selected as an NDA All American Dancer in 2018. Aside from being a teacher & choreographer at TDC, Emily is currently a full time Project Manager at The SpyGlass Group, LLC in Westlake. Emily is extremely excited to be going into her 4th year teaching at TDC, and 1st year choreographing for Club TDC!
Sabrina Lindhout
Sabrina began dancing at the age of 4, and was accepted as a member of the pre-professional program, Ashland Regional Ballet, when she was 12. She studied at summer programs with Magnus (Joffrey) Midwest, Orlando Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, and BalletMet in Columbus, OH. She performed as a guest dancer in Ohio Dance Theatre’s and Ohio Contemporary Ballet’s (formerly Verb Ballets) first collaborative production of The Nutcracker and was a guest dancer with Ohio Contemporary Ballet for their Heinz Poll repertoire for their 2015-16 season. She then joined Ohio Contemporary Ballet as a trainee for their 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. Sabrina is now a company member with Inlet Dance Theatre- known for their modern dance technique and non-traditional partnering style.
Becky Speicher
Becky Speicher grew up in Northeast Ohio and currently resides in Avon with her husband, Kyle, and their two children. Becky started dancing as a student at The Dance Centre when she was five years old and is very proud to have danced there through high school graduation. During her beginning years at The Dance Centre, she competed with the studio for eight years, was a class assistant, and taught classes at TDC for three years as well. Becky went to the University of Dayton for undergraduate school and John Carroll University for graduate school, earning her Masters in Education for School Counseling. She has been a full time school counselor for over ten years and provides counseling to clients of all ages at a local private practice as well. What Becky loves most about her role as a counselor is getting to help children and families grow every day.
During Becky's time at the University of Dayton, she performed with their Performing Arts School's Dance Ensemble. She also ran one of the largest student organizations, a student-led dance group called Life Itself Dance. Becky taught the tap, jazz, and contemporary classes for this group and coordinated all of the organizations' performances and events. Becky coached the Avon High School dance team for three years, choreographing their pregame and halftime performances. Becky has trained as a dancer and instructor all across the country including New York, California, and most recently Connecticut at the Dance Life Teacher Conference. She is also proud to be a certified Ready Set Dance and Ready Set Move instructor! Becky is extremely passionate about dance and feels honored to be able to have the role of instructor at The Dance Centre. She loves working with our dancers and their families and helping her students gain confidence and passion in addition to dance technique!
Cassidy Speicher
Cassidy is very proud to be a TDC Alum! She began dancing at the age of 4 and danced at The Dance Centre for 10 years, all the way through her senior year. Cassidy also served as a student teaching assistant for a number of years. She was a member of TDC’s competition team for 8 years, competing in a variety of dance styles. She also participated in dance conventions where she earned numerous scholarships throughout the years. Following graduation from Westlake High School, she attended The Ohio State University to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She continued to dance throughout her time at OSU and was also a substitute teacher for TDC during her years at school. Cassidy has experience working with a variety of age groups and has taught classes in several dance styles. Today, Cassidy is a Registered Behavior Technician working with children with Autism at Building Blocks Therapy in Avon. She is extremely excited to be involved with the studio that she grew up at and can’t wait to be a member of TDC’s teaching team for a second year in the 2023-2024 season!
Ashley Cooper
Ashley Cooper is a dancer, aerialist, and personal trainer from Cleveland, Ohio. After dancing from the age of 2, Ashley trained in New York and Los Angeles at the AMDA College and Conservatory of the Arts and graduated in 2017. Following graduation, Ashley joined Norwegian Cruise Lines as a Production Dancer and Aerialist, traveling and dancing all over the world. Given the opportunities to work with international choreographers and training on both the East and West Coast, Ashley is trained in a wide variety of dance forms and acting techniques, as well as a NASM Personal Trainer and certified Acrobatic Arts Instructor. Having over 7 years of dance teaching experience Ashley has won various choreography awards and loves to tell stories through dance as well as helping her students grow, not only as dancers but kind, hardworking humans. Ashley is new to the Rocky River area, but you can find Ashley coaching at Orangetheory Rocky River, and may even be able to spot her in some commercials, such as Nike, Intel, and others. Ashley is thrilled to join TDC and start this new chapter in Rocky River!
Hayleigh Bacome
Hayleigh Bacome has 23 years of dance experience. 17 of those years, training in various styles of dance with her family owned studio. She then went on to dance for the University of Kentucky where she competed Hip-Hip and Game Day at UDA College Dance Team Nationals. She then transferred to the University of Cincinnati, where she was a member of their dance team for her remaining 3 years of college. She performed at UDA College Nationals for all three years with UC competing in D1A Pom and Hip-Hop. She was a finalist for The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders in 2023, and is currently going on her second season with the Cleveland Cavaliers as an NBA Dancer!
Annie Walton
Annie Walton started her dance career in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She began her training at the age of three and started competing by age 8, falling in love with the stage! She is an alumni of Intensity Dance Academy, training in many different styles, such as tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, contemporary, lyrical, hip-hop, heels, and focusing heavily on technique. Throughout high school, she was involved in various dance roles such as Captain of the Seneca Valley Pom-Poms, lead role and featured dancer in musicals, the school’s dance program.
Annie was a member of the prestigious University of Kentucky Dance Team from 2019-2023, dancing at football and basketball games, ProAction Dance, and competing at UDA Nationals. She is proud to have graduated Summa Cum Laude, maintaining a 4.0 GPA through her studies in Family Sciences and psychology. She holds a Child Life Certificate, working her way to becoming a Certified Child Life Specialist in the hospital. Annie would say her biggest accomplishment is dancing professionally for the Cleveland Cavaliers with the Cavs Dance Team, and she is eager to start her second year on the team! She is overjoyed to begin teaching at TDC and hopes to give back all that dance has given to her thus far!
Mason Alexander
Mason Alexander grew up dancing at several Cleveland-area studios with a focus in ballet. In addition to his studio time with Cleveland City Dance, the Ana Lobé Ballet Academy, and Ohio Contemporary Ballet, Mason spent summers training with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Miami City Ballet, and Cincinnati Ballet. Mason has spent the majority of his professional dance career thus far in the modern and contemporary dance world, largely at Inlet Dance Theatre, while also guesting with emerging choreographers and in ballet productions such as the Nutcracker. Throughout his time with Inlet, Mason toured nationally with the company, collaborated on the creation of several new works, and independently choreographed on students and professionals. He also held teaching artist positions through Inlet classes for youth & adults and through residencies at several Cleveland schools.
TDC Support Team
Laurie Masters - Administration
Laurie Masters, who is Miss Kayleigh's mother, worked for KeyBank for 23 years prior to Joining TDC. She started her career at Key in the marketing organization and worked her way up through the ranks to become the Chief Administrative Officer for Key's Commercial Bank.
In her current role, Laurie oversees various administrative and support functions for TDC. A few of her major tasks include billing, family communications, costume coordination, event planning, and volunteer management for the Season Finale.
Laurie graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. She is the proud mother and grandmother of four. When she’s not working for TDC, Laurie enjoys spending time with her family, playing pickleball, practicing yoga, and reading.
Drue Murman - Costuming
Drue Murman is proud to be a part of TDC for 25 years. Her formal education includes the Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland State University and her MA from Case Western Reserve. Her freelance company, DBDdesignbydrue has been in existence for the last 35 years. Her career as an artist/designer and teacher, includes: ten years on the faculty of Virginia Marti College of Fashion, Art and Design; fine art; commercial design; stage and costume design. Local design credits include: Playhouse Square; Independent Films; The Dance Centre; North Coast Dance Collective; Metamorphosis Dance Co., and several community theaters. New York City: Playwrights Horizons / Peter J. Sharp theater; Soho Rep and Letea. New Orleans: Paper Crane and Pendulum and Le Pain. Her greatest artistic endeavors to date are her two very talented daughters, (also TDC alum), Meryl and Eryn.
Guest Teachers & Choreographers
Chelsea Michener
Chelsea started dancing at the age of 3 in Colorado. By the time she was 17 she was accepted to the Edge Performing Arts Center Scholarship Program in Los Angeles. She is well versed in tap, jazz, jazz funk, ballet, hip hop, lyrical, theatre, and contemporary. She has been seen on stage many times working for choreographers such as Tessandra Chavez, Malaya, Joelle Martinec, Sakinah LeStage, Adam Parson, Scott Hislop, and Tabitha and Napoleon D’Umo to name a few. Some of her previous work includes The Sing Off (Season 3), Cold Case, Dance Plug, the NAACP Awards, O’Spada, Alex Kogan, Heartour, El Capitan Theatre, Disneyland and Christina Grimmie. She has traveled to New Zealand, Sweden and Australia to assist some of the above choreographers. She is also a member of Commonality Dance Company under the direction of Adam Parson. You can catch her class on Phoenix Dance Convention in New Zealand, at OneDanceEpic In- Studio Workshops all over the U.S. She also taught at the world renowned Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles until it closed in 2021. Chelsea now teaches at DanceLine in L.A.
Jimmy Locust
Jimmy Locus has shared his talents internationally, working with superstars Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul, Quincy Jones and Debbie Allen. He has appeared in music videos and films and has performed at the Academy Awards, Grammy Awards and MTV Video Music Awards. Mr. Locust was one of the head choreographers for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 1996 Olympics and was nominated for an American Choreography Award in 2001 for his work on Warner Brothers’ show Nikki. Locust worked on the Justin Bieber Tour in 2010 and recently as choreographer for the CW T.V. Network’s The Next with hosts John Rich, Joe Jonas, Nelly and Gloria Estefan. Locally, Jimmy choreographed for the Stamford Symphony's Gala and Concert in 2011 and designed and wrote dance education curricula for Domus, Chester-Addision Community Center and the Stamford Family YMCA. Locust has been a studio owner, master teacher and choreographer in the Fairfield County area since 2003. He is also Founder and Director of Harmony Nation (formerly known as No Hate but Harmony), an anti-bullying educational program that performs at area schools. Locust’s multi-faceted lifestyle is chronicled in the reality show Locust Under 5’. Jimmy’s most recent project is as co-Creative Director/Choreographer for Taja Sevelle’s upcoming music video Little Diva, which is being shot in New York City.
Gev Manoukian
Born into a family of professional figure skaters, Gev has a natural ability for performing. After learning to skate himself, he discovered a new passion for dance. He began dancing at the age of 16 in Salt Lake City, Utah. His professional dance career began when he was cast as a featured dancer in “High School Musical 2”. He then became a principal dancer in the movie “American Mall”. In 2008 Gev was one of the finalists on the Fox reality hit TV show “So You Think You Can Dance”, where he was one of the top 10 dancers.
Gev’s versatility has given him the opportunity to travel all over the world choreographing, teaching and performing. He has worked with various artists, such as Whitney Houston, Ludacris, Ellen Degeneres and LeAnn Rhymes to name a few. Gev can also be seen in National commercials, music videos, Nickelodeon’s “Fresh Beat Band”, “Big Time Rush”, ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars”, NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”, and AMA with Pink.
TDC has brought Gev to TDC to teach and choreograph since 2012!
Blake Angier
Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, Blake Angier went on to train extensively on scholarship with the Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood, California. He has worked with artists such as Beyonce, Rihanna, Ricky Martin, Miley Cyrus as “Hanna Montana” and Latin superstar, Chayanne. You may have seen Blake as a dancer for the Apple Ipod campaign, Old Navy, Cingular Wireless and as a feature on “Bring It On – All or Nothing”. He has been a guest choreographer and Master Class teacher for conventions across the USA, Canada, New Zealand and the Congreso Internacional de Danza in Mexico. You may have also seen Blake in the original “So You Think You Can Dance” ad campaign. Blake currently owns “Dance Barre”, the largest dance studio in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Training dancers on a daily basis, he knows the importance of great class structure. His goal is not only to inspire and motivate each dancer, but to challenge and educate as well. Blake's hope is that each dancer will leave his classes excited and ready to get back into the classroom for more!
In Memory of Gregg Russell
Gregg was an Emmy nominated choreographer and worked with such stars as: Bette Midler, Gene Kelly, The Nicholas Brothers, Michael Jackson, Gregory Hines, and Kenny Ortega. He directed a commercial for Carvel Ice Cream, and also performed with numerous music artists: Reba McEntire, Sugar Ray, The B-52‘s, Jason Mraz. Gregg danced in a Volkswagon national commercial portraying Donald O’conner, and performed on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars." He was also featured and choreographed on the TV shows “Mobbed," “America’s Got Talent," and “Live to Dance” hosted by Paula Abdul. He tapped at Madison Square Garden’s home opener for the New York Knicks, choreographed for Derek and Julianne Hough on their “Move” live tour, and danced on the 2014 Latin Grammy Awards. Gregg also hosted and produced “Tap Into the Network” intensives, channeling 10 different cities throughout the U.S. (TDC being one of the locations); directed his tap company Tap Sounds Underground into their 16th season; and traveled with ASH and Hollywood Dance Jamz conventions. Sadly, Gregg passed away in 2020, but his legacy lives on as a passionate, energetic, and memorable master teacher.
Drew Burgess
An Ohio native, Drew Burgess made his industry debut on Live with Regis during Amazing Kids Week. Upon relocating to California, he trained at L.A.’s best studios including EDGE, Millennium, Fusion, and the PAC Annex. Drew is highly sought after as a performer, choreographer, master teacher, dance supervisor & dance captain. He has also been a guest teacher at the Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood. Drew judges Regional, National & International competitions for NexStar, Headliners, American Dance Awards, Dance Masters of America, & Dance Educators of America. A former competitor himself, Drew’s titles include Jr. Mr. Dance of America 2002 & Mr. Dance of America 2007. Drew is certified by test to teach Ballet, Tap, Jazz, & Acrobatics through DMA & DEA. Drew’s passion for dance circles the globe with master classes, performances, & choreography year-round. His corporate and live entertainment credits include: GMC, Nestlé, Reebok, CitiGroup, Toyota, & American Greetings with Taylor Swift. Drew’s students have accolades including: Teen Miss Dance of Arizona, Male Dancer of the Year, Miss Dance of Ohio, Mr. Dance of Ohio, & Mr. Dance of America. His national choreography merits include the Sherry Gold Memorial Choreography Award at DMA & Best Group Choreography at NexStar. Drew also tours worldwide with Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys of Dance.
Angela Carter
Angela is an award-winning choreographer, studio owner and highly sought out master teacher. She travels all over the world choreographing, dancing and teaching. Angela is the owner of Tap’d Out Studio, a private rental dance, fitness and event space in Los Angeles, Ca. She is on staff with Hollywood Vibe Convention, and a Co-Director of Tap Into the Network, along with Ryan Lohoff. She has also worked for various conventions, studios and organizations (Dance Challenge – Guatemala, CoDance, Metropolitan School of the Arts, N-House Dance Productions, 3D Dance Network, Dance Olympus, Dance Masters of America, VIP National Competition, etc.). She has performed and choreographed for opening acts for artists such as Mary J. Blige. Her tap sounds were used in Disney’s Princess and the Frog and Al Gilbert’s Grade 9 Technique. She has been featured in many live shows, short films, and can be seen in commercials for Carvel Ice Cream. She can be seen in music videos for Brittany Murphy. Angela has choreographed and performed for the Miss Kansas Pageant, Choreographers Carnival, LA Tap Festival, Motor City Tap Festival and Tri-Tappin’ Festival. She has also worked with Tyce D’iorio on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, and performed on Mobbed with Tabitha and Napoleon D’umo on FOX! Angela has choreographed for and performed with many professional Los Angeles companies including Tapsounds Underground, the LaLas, and Chloe Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies. She has also worked as an award winning company director at Dance Connection Performing Arts Center in Concord, CA.
Ryan Lohoff
Ryan is a master tap instructor and national award winning choreographer. He has trained in tap for 30+ years and has developed a style of his own that is unique and exciting to watch. He is currently on faculty with HollywoodVibe Conventions touring & instructing thousands of students nationwide.
Ryan is co-director of Tap Into The Network intensives along with Angela Carter. Additionally, Ryan and his wife Brigid Lohoff have been owners and directors of Simi Dance Center in Southern California since 2012. Recently, Ryan became founder, choreographer and director of a professional tap dance company based out of Los Angeles called Rithem Dance Company. With this company, Ryan further expands his talents and skills by directing and creating tap choreography for film.
Some of Ryan's industry credits include: being a finalist on "Live to Dance" with Paula Abdul, FOX's "30 Seconds to Fame", "Mobbed" with Howie Mandell, Disney's "The Princess and The Frog", "Star Search" with Arsenio Hall, industrials for Adidas and Nike, Carvel Ice Cream, an alumni and founding member of Gregg Russell's Tap Sounds Underground, the Buddy Epson Tribute Show in Los Angeles, Tampa Bay Tap Festival, the Jerry Lewis Telethon in Las Vegas, and performing at Broadway Dance Center in New York.
Ryan is also creator and CEO of Neo Rythmo, Inc., a designer tap manufacturing company. Using his Bachelors in VisualCommunication, he has designed the worlds FIRST and ONLY color taps.
Liz Imperio
Liz Imperio has established herself as a major director and choreographer in the entertainment industry. Some of her credits include the staging and choreography for Jennifer Lopez’s most recent world tour Dance Again; director/choreographer of Gloria Estefan’s last 3 world concert tours; and two world tours for Madonna – the Re-invention Tour and the Confessions Tour.
A proud Cuban-American, Liz was born and raised in Hollywood, California. Her work caught the eye of famed choreographer Kenny Ortega at a young age. Liz Became Kenny’s Associate Choreographer for 6 years before breaking out on her own. Her credits make her one of the most sought after choreographers in the business, including most recently: The 10th Anniversary opening performance for Premio Juventud featuring Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull; multiple episodes for Dancing With The Stars featuring Sheila E. and Corbin Bleu; American Idol; The Latin Grammys (last 3 years); American Music Awards featuring Cher; United We Stand with Michael Jackson; ABC’s 50th Anniversary Celebration; Disney Channel’s Gotta Kick It Up; James L. Brook’s feature film Spanglish, CBS TV series Dirty Dancing and commercials for Jack In The Box, L'oreal, and Sheba Cat Commercial featuring Eva Longoria amongst many others.
Liz was recently named Honorary Artistic Director and was commissioned to set new works to celebrate Giordano's Jazz Dance Chicago celebrating their 50th Anniversary. La Bellaza de Cuba premiered to rave reviews this past spring and has been touring throughout Europe this summer. Liz is also known for her masterful skills as a motivator and master teacher of dance throughout the world; K-Broadway from Japan; Dance Life Studio in Stockholm, Sweden; Harmonic Studios in Paris, France among many others.
Liz has been teaching on the convention circuits for over 24 years including; West Coast Dance Explosion; Tremaine Dance Convention; Co. Dance; Break the Floor Productions; Liz is currently Artistic Director for Hollywood Vibe Dance Convention as well as numerous European companies from Italy to England. Liz Imperio is very proud to be a partner and founder of her own Los Angeles-based production company Liz Imperio Productions.
Eryn Murman
Eryn Murman is a TDC alumna and one of the original TDC Company Dancers. Eryn is a musical theater performance graduate of Sheridan College in Toronto where she was able to study classical and contemporary acting, perform her own cabaret, write music, choreograph dance/ theater pieces and perform a variety of roles, including, Anita in West Side Story and Celia in As You Like It. Upon graduation, she was the recipient of its prestigious "Triple Threat Award".
Following graduation, Eryn moved to NYC and began auditioning. Within a month, she landed the part of Anna in the Tony award winning musical Spring Awakening on Broadway. During her 18 month stay, she performed every female part in the show numerous times, including the lead, Wendla, and became Springs' Dance Captain.
Eryn staged her own New York production "Caught in the Threshold" at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater on theater row. The production was conceived, directed and choreographed by Eryn, with proceeds benefiting Invisible Children, Inc. Later that year she returned to Spring Awakening at the San Jose Rep Theater. It was exciting and inspiring to play Wendla in a new interpretation, and work with director Rick Lombardo and choreographer Sonya Tayeh from So You Think You Can Dance. This San Jose Rep production received 11 nominations from the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle, including best actress in a leading role. She returned to San Jose Rep last Christmas to play Gerda in the World Premiere of "The Snow Queen" a new pop-rock musical. It was a wonderful opportunity to be part of a new work from the beginning and help create and develop her character. The Snow Queen had its New York premiere this summer at The New York Music Theater Festival.
In this last couple years, Eryn has become a singer/songwriter and has performed throughout the city with her band 5j Barrow. Recently they were chosen as the "Number 1" band in Manhattan by winning the Battle of the Boroughs at The Greene Space sponsored by WNYC and then went on to win the Ultimate Battle of the Boroughs taking the title of the Best Band in NYC!
Meryl Murman
Meryl Murman is a TDC alumna and one of TDC Company's original dancers. She is a New Orleans based interdisciplinary artist creating dance, film and performance since 2004. Her work has been seen in NYC, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Cleveland, Bangor, and Austin. Internationally she has been blessed with the opportunity to create and collaborate with artists in Johannesburg South Africa. Recently, her dance film, le Pain, had its world premier in the south of France, and it's UK premier at East End Film Festival in London. In New Orleans she co-founded Broken Wings Productions, a production company dedicated to creating dance film, and was the recipient of a year-long choreographic residency at Dancing Grounds. Murman received her BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and her MFA in Choreography and Integrated Media at California Institute for the Arts.
Tabitha & Napoleon D'umo
Tabitha and Napoleon are Emmy Award-winning married choreographers who are often credited with developing lyrical hip-hop. They are best known for their choreography on the television show So You Think You Can Dance and for being supervising choreographers and executive producers of America's Best Dance Crew. They own Nappytabs urban dancewear and have been working in the dance industry since 1996.
Their work was introduced to mainstream audiences in 2008 when they became supervising choreographers on America's Best Dance Crew and resident choreographers on So You Think You Can Dance. It was on the later show that their lyrical hip-hop choreography style gained exposure. The pair's career progressed to providing creative direction for tours and live events, where they worked with Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin, Celine Dion, and Jennifer Lopez. They continued to develop their dancewear line by breaking out of its previously online-only presence and opening a physical store location in 2010.
From television and concerts, their move into theater occurred gradually. In 2010, they directed the JabbaWockeeZ's MÜS.I.C. stage show and began to work with Cirque du Soleil; they choreographed Viva Elvis and were contributing choreographers for Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour. In 2012, they continued to establish themselves in television as choreographers for Madonna's Super Bowl halftime performance. They also choreographed several music videos including two for K-pop artists TVXQ and BoA.
Aside from their choreography, creative direction, and dancewear line, Tabitha and Napoleon continue to teach hip-hop classes on the convention circuit. They have also been involved with charity work for organizations that support the arts.
Sarah Reich
Sarah Reich (Performer, Choreographer, Instructor) has emerged as one of the new leaders in the Art Form of Tap Dance. At the young age of 15, this Los Angeles native was featured in Dance Spirit Magazine’s article, “20 Hot Tappers Under 20” and was named one of the “25 To Watch” in the 2009 Dance Magazine article. Ever since, Sarah has been sought after to perform, choreograph, and teach in over 40 countries.
Sarah is currently on tour with Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox as the featured tap dancer. Previously she was seen on FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance with Chloe Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies. With her own company, Tap Music Project, she has choreographed and performed at the Ford Amphitheatre, UCLA’s JazzReggae Festival, Blue Whale, and the LA County Holiday Celebration. Sarah was also a performer at Madison Square Garden for the opening of the NY Knicks 2013-2014 season.
In addition to her vast international travels and countless television appearances, Sarah has had the honor to perform at some of the most prestigious venues back home in Los Angeles such as The Hollywood Bowl, the Ford Amphitheatre, the Greek Theater with Mexican Pop-Star, Cristian Castro and the Kodak Theater with the great Herbie Hancock.
Sarah is developing new exciting works with her company, Tap Music Project and Sole Sisters – a collaboration with Melinda Sullivan. Sarah produces a weekly class/tap jam for the Los Angeles tap community, Monday Night Tap Experience.
Kris Terry
Kris Terry, an alumnus of Ariana Grande’s “Dangerous Woman” and “ Sweetener” World Tours, began his professional dance career in 2014 and has taken off ever since. As a graduate of Ohio University with a BFA in dance performance and choreography, Kris spent his pre-professional years studying Ballet, Jazz, and Contemporary. Eager to learn everything he could, he quickly became proficient in
Hip hop and Jazz funk choreography after moving to LA.
Outside of his work with Ariana Grande , Kris has also been seen touring with Demi Lovato and Kelly Rowland and has also shared award show stages with Jennifer Lopez, Megan Thee Stallion
and many others. He has been featured on the screen in works such as “The Bobby Brown Story”, where he is a principle dancer, on The Ellen Show and in commercials for Toyota and Samsung, just to name a few. When he’s not busy performing, you can find him teaching his eclectic style at studios and workshops both in the US and around the world. Kris is an experienced dancer, choreographer and teacher who will continue to share his talents and passion for dance and life for years to come.
FLYYA
Esita "Flyya" Calhoun, a 25-year-old Bgirl from Dayton, Ohio, boasts an impressive 12-year journey in the world of Hip-Hop and Breaking. Her dance journey has taken her to extraordinary heights. She earned her recognition as the #21 Bgirl in the world in 2020. In 2023, she ranked Top 16 at Red Bull BC One USA National Finals. Most recently, she toured the country in the ‘23-‘24 Off Broadway production of The Hip Hop Nutcracker alongside Hiphop Pioneer MC Kurtis Blow. Her electrifying performances have graced stages alongside industry giants like Migos, DJ Khaled, LL Cool J, Mary Mary's Erica Campbell, DJ KOOL, Salt-n-Pepa, Naughty by Nature, and Dayton sensation Yello Pain. Esita's dedication to the art extends beyond the stage.
She is currently a member of the world renowned Ladies Of Hiphop Collective and 10k Movement Elite team. She spent four years as a vital member and two years as the Captain of the globally acclaimed Cleveland Cavaliers Scream Team. Her captivating performances left an indelible mark on fans. With over 5 years of teaching experience in Breaking, Tumbling, competition, and recreational dance, Esita is committed to nurturing the next generation of dancers. Her mission is to share her love for hip-hop dance across the United States and around the world. Esita's journey is a testament to her passion and perseverance, all while being a proud mother to her daughter, Karmen.
Ahna Bonnette
Ahna Bonnette (she/her) grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona where she trained, taught and choreographed solos at Dance Connection Scottsdale. At the age of 18, she was accepted into SUNY Purchase to pursue a BFA in dance. After a year there she left to explore concert dance firsthand. In 2021, Ahna traveled with choreographer Peter Chu, répétiteur Roger Van der Poel and Jenni Gordon to aid in setting repertoire and hosting dance intensives at competition dance studios in Texas, Florida, and California. Then she spent 5 weeks assisting Chu and Van der Poel in Germany as they set an evening length work on Augsburg Ballet. Following that Ahna became a company dancer and social media assistant for GroundWorks DanceTheater here in Cleveland where she is currently finishing her second season. Along with her love for performing, Ahna over her career, has also found a passion for creating with, and teaching young artists.
SaraMarie
SaraMarie is a passionate & dynamic dancer with over 20 years of teaching experience. Formally trained in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, & Hip Hop she brings a versatile experience to the classroom. Her focus extends beyond dance and educates students on goal setting, creativity, mindfulness, and safe technical training. In alignment with her art studio, See Feel Heal, SaraMarie creates a classroom experience of exploration, connection, and artistic expression. With a background in personal development, community planning, finance and branding, she has become a mentor to students launching their dance careers.
As a young dancer SaraMarie was recognized for her powerful energy & captivating performance and received scholarships to train in NYC Broadway Dance Center & LA Edge Performing Arts & PAC. Before graduating high school SaraMarie was hired for her first “big gig” in LA, at just 17 years old. After making the tough decision to return home to care for her family, SaraMarie dedicated her life to training young dancers to create the opportunity to pursue their dreams. SaraMarie has continued her training and attends annual dance conventions furthering her education, knowledge, and approach in the classroom. SaraMarie is excited to share her gifts and grateful for the opportunity to serve the community through dance!
Megan Schmidt
Megan began dance at the age of 3 and competed at national competitions from ages 9-18 with All That Dance in Southern Ohio. From there she made The Ohio State University Dance Team where she was a part of 4 national championing winning routines and 4 running up routines. With Ohio State she was also able to travel to the Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and multiple men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. After college she moved to Cleveland for work and joined the Powerhouse Dance Team in 2022. She then made a second season with the Cavs organization as part of the Cavaliers Dance Team. Most recently, she has taken the job as the Cavs Dance Team Head Coach!
Abbey Spiro
Abbey Spiro is a yoga teacher at Inner Bliss Yoga Studio, where she is part of a small team of teachers who teach yoga to multiple professional sports teams in Cleveland. She is also a dual-certified Health and Life coach, and co-author of the children’s book “The Inside Squad”. Abbey has a rich background in competitive athletics herself, she spent 15 years as a competitive gymnast, eventually competing at the Division 1 level in college. She went on to spend nearly a decade working as an athletic trainer, helping athletes thrive at both the collegiate and high school level. Her unique blend of experiences has shaped her belief in yoga as a transformative tool for athletes, enhancing their performance, resilience, recovery, and mental clarity. Abbey is passionate about helping athletes find ease in mind, body, and spirit while unlocking their fullest potential in their sport.
Gabby Kariotakis
With 10 years of USA swim coaching experience, Gabby specializes in youth athlete training. Gabby's ideal client is anyone who likes to set challenges and goals for themselves (no matter what they are) and aren’t afraid to push themselves to meet those goals. Gabby's favorite coaching moment is when a client hits a goal they have been working towards. She especially gets excited when women and girls want to get strong and start to see progress in their strength and abilities.
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About TDC
For over three decades, The Dance Centre has provided the highest quality dance education, impacting thousands of students in Northeast Ohio. Through top-notch & age-appropriate instruction, a supportive and positive community, and versatile programming, TDC cultivates long term development of character and wellness that encourages dancers to grow in discipline, self-motivation, leadership, teamwork, and confidence!
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