Meettheteachers

Lisa Arnett:

Lisa started taking dance lessons at Maybelle Van Dance Studio at the age of two. She continued her studies at Dale Ann School of Dance where she started teaching in 1980. Lisa competed in several dance and baton competitions and has won over 150 trophies and several state and regional titles for baton twirling. She is listed in the 1983 edition of Who's Who In Baton Twirling. Lisa is a former member of the Maybelle Van Drum & Baton Corp, the Blue Waterettes Baton Corp, and she founded the Crimson Stars Pom-Pon and Baton Team. In 1989, these teams won several regional titles and came in third place in the nationals at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana. Lisa founded and managed Main Street Dance Connection from 1992 until 1998, when she joined the Dance Company. She has also choreographed many productions for PH Civic Theater.

Karen Bowers:

Karen Bowers studied dance, music, and acting in New York City. She studied ballet with Vladimir Dokoudovsky at the New York Conservatory of Dance under his tutelage she learned the Preobragenska style comprised of Pepita, Maryinsky, & Cerchetti lineages. In addition, she studied with Amelia Gilmore, Nina Stroganova, Vera Nemtchinova, and Margo Carpenter. Ms. Bowers is an accomplished vocalist, voice teacher, and coach. She recieved college credits for her experience in the performing arts, culminating in a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Media studies and Photography from Forham University at Lincoln Center, New York City. Ms. Bowers has taught ballet, creative movement, and music at the Jerri LeRoy Studios and Guild Rehersal Studios in New York. She was also a teacher in the toddler division of the Diller-Quaille School of Music on Manhattan's Upper East Side. There she was schooled in the unique Diller-Quaille method of pedagogy. Other studies include: Jazz-ballet arts with David Harris and Steps with Victorio Korjahn. Classical Spanish and Flamenco with Jose Molina, Ramon Ramos, Maria Alba, and Marquita Flores. Neoclassical Spanish with Victoria Korjahn. Lancashire Tap with Amelia Gilmore, Modern with Alvin Ailey: Gram Technique at the Martha Graham School, Eurythmics at the Dalcroze School of Eurythmics.

Jan Britz:

Ms. Jan has over 30 years dance experience. She has been with the Dance Company since 1997. Her competetive classes have won several awards. Her propr experience includes teaching special needs children for the ARC and the St. Clair County Community College through the Adult Education Department and the Port Huron Area School District continuing education department. Jan formed her own group known as "Jan's Sweethears" and was a choreographer for Johnny B. Goods as well as a founding member of the P.H. Northern North Stars and the P.H. Northern Color Guard. She was an advisor for the P.H.H.S. Cherokettes. Jan has won several state chamopionships in baton and dance teams as a participant and teacher.

Bethany Fagan:

Bethany started taking dance lessons at the Dale Ann School of Dance at the age of 3. She studied ballet, jazz, baton, tap, and riverdance. Miss Fagan also took dance lessons from the Main Street Dance Connection, where her studies were mainly focused on tap. She was on the competetive cheerleading team at Port Huron Northern High School. She has also had experience in coaching soccer ans cheerleading. She is a graduate of Saginaw Valley State University with a Bachelor's degree in Education.

Mary Mervich:

Mary started dancing when she was 8 years old. She trained at the Covillo-Parker School of Ballet in Denver, Colorado. She danced professionally with the Colorado Concert Ballet Company for 6 years and had performed in Nutcracker, Giselle, Cinderella, Firebird, and many summer concerts. Mary is certified in C.P.R. and has been a certified aerobics instructor. Mrs. Mervich is a weight trainer and is working on a Personal Training Certificate. Mary is also working toward a degree in Education.

Marnie Rossow:

Marnie has a specialization in dance from Michigan State University. She has been dancing for 22 years. She grew up as the first student at the Dance Company Conservatory. Befor pursuing a Master's Degree in Speech-language pathology and dance, she was a dancer with the International Ballet Theater for 6 years. She then went on to college where she performed with the Michigan State University Repertory Dance Company. Mrs. Rossow enjoys teachin all disciplines.

Jennifer Seaman:

Jennifer has 22 yyears of dance and baton experience. She has been with the Dance Company as a teacher since 1991. She has competed nationally in baton and pon-pon at Notre Dame University and regionally in Illinois and New York. She has recently studied at Broadway Dance Center in New York. She has attended seminars at Lansing Community Colled dance facilities, Jammnation, and Hoctor Record Company's Dance Caravan.

Heidi Sturdevant:

Heidi is a graduate of Port Huron Northern. She has been dancing with the Dance Company since 1989. She was the Captain of Port Huron Northern Northstars Dance Team. She has attended dance camps at Western Michigan University, University of Michigan, and Centeral Michigan University for four years. She also attended Blue Lakes Fine Arts Camp and the Al Gilbert Dance Seminars.