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Contributors to Dance Studio
Life Online
July
2007
Virginia Dunn, MA, MFT,
based in San Rafael, CA, has been a family therapist and
regular and special education teacher for almost 20 years. She
is a graduate of St. Joseph’s College for Women, Dominican
University, Sonoma State University, and the University of San
Francisco. She is the parent of two adult girls, one of whom
has special needs.
Susan Mendoza Friedman
has more than 35 years of experience as a choreographer,
dancer, teacher, and businessperson. She received a BS in
early childhood education from Wheelock College in 1975. A
dance teacher since 1985 and a former regional director for
National Dance Week, Friedman coordinates NDW events in
southeastern Massachusetts. She teaches creative movement,
ballet, jazz, and tap at her Hyannis-based studio, Dance
Designs.
Dance Studio Life
publisher Rhee Gold grew up in dance studios and later
operated his own. He has performed and choreographed
professionally, owned a leading dance competition, presided
over national dance teaching organizations, and founded
Project Motivate to reinvigorate dance teachers. His book,
The Complete Guide to Teaching Dance, is in its second
printing.
Jenny Griffes
is the dance director at the University City YMCA in
Charlotte, NC, which has grown from 30 to 325 students in 10
years. She studied dance in private studios during college and
holds degrees in journalism and German from Michigan State
University. A member of Dance Masters of America/Carolina
Chapter #15, she is also a licensed Kindermusik educator.
Tonya Kraner
has danced since age 3 and holds a master’s in mental health
social work and a minor in dance from Ohio State University. A
dancer with the Columbus Tap Project, she also choreographs
for musicals and local dance and theater companies. She
directs TNT Dance Team at Susan’s Tap-n-Toe Studio in
Lancaster, OH, where she lives with her husband and daughter.
Deborah Lamontagne
started dancing at her sister’s studio when she was 2 years
old. She trained in ballet, tap, and jazz and has owned her
school, North Andover School of Dance, Inc., for 31 years. She
received the first annual Project Motivate Award of Excellence
in 2006. Debbie married her dance partner, Leo; they reside in
Massachusetts and have two adult sons.
Dance Studio Life
editor in chief Cheryl Ossola is a former Dance
Magazine associate editor and freelance writer and editor.
She first worked with Rhee as the editor of his monthly column
for Dance Magazine, then as editor of his book, The
Complete Guide to Teaching Dance. She holds a BA in
theater from The College of William and Mary and has trained
in ballet, modern/ jazz, Lindy, and Balboa-swing.
Ericka Osswald
began dancing at age 4, studying with local studios and
performing in musical theater productions. A dance teacher
since 1994, she opened Center Stage Dance Studio in 1999,
after obtaining an associate degree in business
administration. Her competition students have earned numerous
judges’ awards, top overall placements, and the Footloose
Studio Spirit Award. She lives in New Bedford, MA, with her
husband and 5-year-old son.
Jennifer Shiplet,
director of Dance Arts Center, LLC, in Albuquerque, NM, has
been teaching for 17 years. She received a BA in dance from
the University of Nevada–Las Vegas and did graduate studies at
the University of Arizona. She has danced with the New Mexico
Ballet and Erick Hawkins Dance Companies.
New York native Julie Smith-Corbett has operated Strut
Your Stuff performing arts studio in College Point, NY, since
1990 and recently opened a second location in Plainview. A
graduate of Queens College with a BA in theater and dance, she
has taught and choreographed for various East Coast studios
and the Christopher Dance Teacher Seminars. She is the mother
of two children, Bryanna and Ryan.
Beverly Smithey,
CEO and director of Stage I Dance Academy in Greenwood, IN,
began teaching at age 16. She produced her first recital in
1962 and opened her studio in 1977. A certified teacher and
regional chairman of Dance Educators of America, she has
produced and directed shows for Stage I Performing Dance
Company in Australia, Italy, Hawaii, and on numerous cruise
ship tours.
Lisa Traiger
has been a dance critic and journalist specializing in the
performing arts since 1985. Her work has appeared in many
publications, including The Washington Post, Dance
Magazine, Stagebill, The Sondheim Review, Washington Jewish
Week, The Washington Times, Moment magazine, Asian
Week, Boston Jewish Advocate, Intermission, and
Washington Review. She is currently co-chair of the Dance
Critics Association,
www.dancecritics.org.
Maria Usher
has been teaching dance since 1986 and preparing students for
competition since 1989. She opened Maria’s School of Dance in
Fowlerville, MI, in 1995. She continues her own training in
New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. In addition to her
work at her studio, she has choreographed, assisted on, and
co-directed many musicals for a local community theater group.
Katrina Wallace
is the owner of Kennett School of Performing Arts in Kennett,
MO. Her love for dance and theater began more than 20 years
ago; after college and a career in finance management, she
left the corporate world behind to follow her dream. In 2005
she opened her studio, which has 85 students and is growing
every day.
Debbie Werbrouck, MDE,
has directed three Indiana locations of Debbie Werbrouck’s
School of Dance for 38 years and is the founder and director
of Patchwork Dance Company. A former faculty member of St.
Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN, and a past president of
Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, Werbrouck is
currently co-chair of the dance coalition UNITY.
Iowa native Carla Wilson began her dance training at
age 4. She began teaching at age 15, assisting at many
workshops, primarily with Chicago National Association of
Dance Masters. She opened her first studio in Villisca, IA, in
1975. She has owned and operated Northwest Missouri Academy of
Dance, now in Cameron, MO, since 1994.
Nancy Wozny
was an NEA fellow at the Institute for Dance Criticism at the
American Dance Festival and a 2004 recipient of the Gary Parks
Memorial Award for Emerging Dance Critics. Her work has
appeared in Dance Magazine, The Houston Chronicle,
Artshouston, and several other publications. She is also a
guild-certified practitioner of the Feldenkrais Method®.
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