Michigan Dance Company has been in business since 2013 and has already made great feats in the dance world... Recognized by the ADCC as a National Studio of Excellence, voted Best of the Best, honored with multiple national titles and is home to several award winning choreographers!
MDC was created to provide an economical way for the community to pursue the art of dance. As a child, the owner was not able to do all that she wanted with dance and athletics due to financial hardships. Because of this, she does everything in her power to work with parents on a budget! MDC is very reasonably priced and offers many discounts, payment plans and fundraising opportunities!
Meet Our Highly Qualified Dance Instructors!
Ms. Natasha Nivison-Colwell
Owner/Artistic Director/Head Company Instructor
Ms. Natasha has over 20 years of cheer and dance experience. She started her career in California at the age of 7 and continued her education in dance through the University of Michigan. She has cheered and danced for several teams, including at the collegiate level. Ms. Natasha is an award winning choreographer and has several routines that have won at the national level. She has been a studio instructor since 2009 and has opened Michigan Dance Company in 2013. Ms. Natasha also coached cheerleading for 10 years. For most of this time, she was the head varsity cheerleading coach for Davison High School, a division 1 school, where she led her teams to push boundaries and break school records. She consistently is bettering her ability to teach by attending master classes and workshops geared towards teaching student athletics. Ms. Natasha also has a teaching degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis on mathematics and language arts. Ms. Natasha has devoted every aspect of her life to serving children and young adults. It is her ambition to make a lasting impact on the lives of every person she meets and to provide a positive role model for each and every one of her students. She is not afraid to push the limits to help students to reach their full potential. Ms. Natasha is also First Aid trained & CPR certified.
Why her students love her: "Ms. Natasha is enthusiastic and loving. She makes every student feel at home in the studio. She also does an amazing job organizing competition routines where each girls strengths are highlighted!"
Why her students love her: "Ms. Natasha is enthusiastic and loving. She makes every student feel at home in the studio. She also does an amazing job organizing competition routines where each girls strengths are highlighted!"
Ms. Chelsea Zappella
Hip Hop, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary & Company Instructor
Chelsey Zappella is a passionate dancer, teacher, and choreographer. She has been dancing for 19 years and choreographing for 6 years. Chelsey recently graduated from the University of Michigan Flint with her bachelors in Dance and a minor in Theatre. Chelsey is trained in, Modern, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop, Ballet and Tap. Chelsey has attended the American College Dance Association (ACDA) three times while in college. While at ACDA she took many different styles of dances from professors all over the east coast. She is so blessed for all the amazing opportunities her professors gave her in college. Chelsey had the opportunity to perform with one of her dance professors, Emma Davis at the Capital Theatre back in 2018. Chelsey’s passion for dance will never die. She loves to pass her love for dance onto each student she teaches. Chelsey loves to bring structure to her classes. She thrives on the energy and commitment from her students while in class. In Chelsey classes she really enjoys focusing on technique, movement quality, and pushing her dancers to be the best performer they can be. Chelsey believes that each dancer can bring something special to her choreography and she strives to pull that out of each student. In the future Chelsey plans to continue teaching and choreographing on committed dancers of all ages.
Ms. Barbara Zaleski
Ballet & Company Instructor
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Barbara Zaleski was raised in Macomb, MI where she began her early training with Renee Wood, Stephanie Pizzo and Christina Tasco. After graduating from high school, Barbara attended the trainee program at the Conservatory of Fort Wayne Ballet under the direction of Karen Gibbons-Brown. In 2008, she entered Fort Wayne Ballet as a Corps de Ballet member and later became a Soloist. Ms. Zaleski has performed in many ballets including, Cinderella, Giselle, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, La Sylphide and The Nutcracker. While at Fort Wayne Ballet, she studied Dance Pedagogy, Kinesiology, Choreography Composition and Music Theory. In 2010, Barbara moved back to Michigan to perform with Eisenhower Dance for two seasons and began teaching at Eisenhower Dance Center. Along with teaching dance, she is also a Physical Therapist Assistant. Barbara is excited to be teaching at Michigan Dance Company and to share the knowledge she has learned over her professional career and many years teaching.
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Hannah Boyl
Company Instructor
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Hannah was raised in Michigan's thumb! She started dancing at age 3 and was on a competition team by age 10. Over the years, Hannah received many top place awards including, judge’s choice awards and having solos place within the top 10 of her age division. Hannah has also received scholarships to attend national competitions. She has been teaching since 2008, in styles such as jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, ballet, and tap, to students ages 3 to adult. She has been a guest choreographer for school dance teams and multiple Michigan dance studios. After 6 years of teaching, Hannah took on the opportunity to perform again and began working as a DETROIT PISTON'S DANCER for the 2014-2015 season. Over the years, she has performed with artists including Kid Rock, Sebastian Bach, George Clinton, Alien Ant Farm, Bret Michaels, Ray J, B.O.B., Sean Kingston, Stevie B, and Gloria Gaynor. Hannah appeared in an independent horror film Pitchfork as a dancer and an extra. Hannah feels there is a great importance in continued education and continues to take advantage of conventions and classes in the area. Hannah has completed her bachelor’s degree in exercise science and master’s degree in dietetics. She is pursuing a career in sports nutrition!
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Ms. Morgan Nichols
Ballet/Pointe
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Morgan started her dance training at age four with Paavola’s School of Dance and continued her training through the Flint School of Performing Arts with the Flint Youth Ballet up and though 2018. Throughout those years she has intricately studied ballet, modern, contemporary, and jazz dance techniques. She has also had many great performances, choreography, and dance education opportunities. With the Flint Youth Ballet, she had the opportunity to Perform in NBC’s Flint’s annual Nutcracker Ballet from 2013-2017. She also has had the great experience of learning and working with choreographers such as Darrrell Grand Moultrie and performing in the opening of Serenade with the Flint Youth Ballet through the Balanchine Trust Fund. She has also performed twice at Michigan’s Youth Arts Festival, one of those times being in their opening ceremony with a Darrell Grand Moultrie piece. As a member of the Flint Youth Ballet’s Emerging Choreographers program she got to create, choreograph, and showcase her choreography and vision on other FYB dancers as well as choreographed a music video for the band called Slow Talk. Morgan has also been able to work side by side with professional dance companies through Collage Dance Collectives, Complexion’s Contemporary Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet, and Eisenhower’s Contemporary Ballet summer intensives. Here she worked with well-known and influential artists such as Desmond Richardson. Along with the performance and choreography opportunities, she has assistant taught children’s dance at the Flint School of Performing Arts and taught musical flute lessons to middle school concert band students through the Clio Area School of Performing Arts. Morgan also had a very rewarding arts education experience working with the Clio Area School of Preforming Arts Mustang Marching Band through taking position as their choreographer, visual coordinator, dance instructor, and assistant director. For she was able to teach young students the importance of responsibility, leadership, and a strong work ethic. Her most recent dance adventures and pursuits consist of expanding on her dance education career as well as being able to experience some new and inspiring performance opportunities. She recently performed at The American Collegiate Dance Association Conference with a guest piece choreographed by artist Amy Cova. As a dance educator, she started teaching ballet through Project Plie and choreographing for the choir at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Flint. She also works with high school theater programs teaching dance technique, movement fundamentals, performance workshops, as well as choreographing musicals. Being able to teach the next generation of dancers and artists alike gives her great purpose. She finds great joy in teaching dance because educating others about dance allows for her to connect with people on a very personable and genuine level which subsequently allows her to be a positive and encouraging influence in their lives. She is also gaining professional dance performance work experience as a trainee with the Vertical Ambition Dance Company of Flint, Michigan. Morgan is currently studying for her Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a minor in photography at University of Michigan Flint with plans to pursue a Maters in Arts Administration. She strives to use her degrees to make a difference by pursuing a career in support of the arts through arts administration and arts and dance education. Knowing and understanding the great impact her dance teachers and mentors have had on her, she hopes one day to use her educator and people skills, dance knowledge and experience to make a positive impact on her students. Morgan aims to provide support and promotion of arts education as well as to inspire the next generation of innovative artists and people who think outside the box.
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Ms. Caitlyn Cramer
Toddler Classes
Ms. Caitlyn is a very nurturing woman who loves helping children to grow. She has been involved with cheer and tumbling for 12 years, coaching for the most recent 4. Ms. Caitlyn also nannies for two young children, and has a deep understanding of childhood development. She is totally focused on fostering the growth of the child as a whole by promoting creativity through movement. Ms. Caitlyn is very excited to become a role model for MDC's littlest dancers!
Ms. Tamara Mudge
Adult Workout/Stretch
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Tamara (Tami) has been involved in fitness for the past several years. She started her fitness journey in order to shed some unwanted pounds which then turned into a lifestyle/obsession. Since then, she has consistently worked on becoming stronger and healthier, not only physically, but also mentally. Tami has recently coached cardio classes at a local gym and has also taken courses in personal training and nutrition through ISSA. She is currently trained in First Aid and CPR.
Tamara is also a second grade teacher with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education along with a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. |
Ms. Linda Ramirez
Vocalist Instructor
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Ms. Linda is a vocal coach from England and has been teaching singing and performance professionally for over 7 years. She studied at Thames Valley University in London for performing arts and graduated with a degree in performance and performance vocals. Ms. Linda has extensive training in musical theater and pop and is accredited and certified with diplomas from the Associated Board Royal School of Music. Before moving to the US, Ms. Linda had a successful base in England, with over 40 students of all ages, from beginner to advanced. She teaches to a very high standard... many of her students went into top theater schools, played main characters in big shows like Annie, or were helped to start a budding pop career. Ms. Linda is also first aid certified and has an enhanced CRB.
Why her students love her: "Ms. Linda is an amazing coach. She is very thorough and dedicated. I feel that with her, I will truly progress to my full potential and I am so happy to have her as my coach!" |
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Ms. Aurora Lewis
Substitute
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Ms. Aurora has been dancing since she was nine years old, at several different studios in Michigan and in various styles. She attended Grand Valley and graduated with a degree in dance, as well as psychology. She has also trained in New York at the Broadway Dance Center and the Joffrey Ballet School. Ms. Aurora was a member of the professional dance company Vertical Ambition Dance Company for three years and now performs professionally with Velocity Dance Company. She also tours nationally as a backup dancer and has judged at VIP Dance Competitions.
Why her students love her: "Miss Aurora is well disciplined and gives tough love to her students to help push them to be better!" |
Ms. Michelle Holt
Substitute
Ms. Michelle has over 12 years of dance and gymnastics experience. She has done excellent choreography for over 8 years. Miss Michelle is very patient and does an excellent job with our littlest dancers. She also has a lot of fun with the adult groups. She loves working with her students to not only help them improve in their technique, but to also gain confidence and grow as a dancer and person. She is a full time student at Baker College where she is pursuing a masters degree in Occupational Therapy.
Why her students love her: "Ms. Michelle makes every minute of practice fun and helps to build her students!"
Why her students love her: "Ms. Michelle makes every minute of practice fun and helps to build her students!"
Ms. Alexandra Wesley
Substitute
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Ms. Ally started training as a pre professional ballerina in the dance division at the Flint School of Performing Arts at the age of 5. She’s worked along side professional ballet companies including Dance Theatre of Harlem and Collage Dance Collective and professional choreographers such as Darrel Moultrie. She danced in “The Nutcracker” at the Whiting auditorium for 10 years. When she was an advanced company member of Flint Youth Ballet, she participated in the emerging choreographers program where one of her many pieces went to Michigan Youth Arts festival at Western Michigan University. Her choreography was honored by being selected to be performed in the opening gala at Miller Auditorium. She also was on her high school’s varsity dance team. She is currently working on her Bachelors Degree in the science of nursing and plans to continue on in anesthesia. Helping and teaching others are her passion.
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Ms. Jordan Broecker
Substitute
Ms. Jordan is very patient and loves working with children. She has been involved with cheer and tumbling for 7 years. She made the varsity cheer team as a freshman and continued to pursue her passion by coaching the youth cheer program in Imlay City. She currently coaches the JV cheer team in Davison and is going to school to become a sonographer. Ms. Jordan is a mother to a 2 year old boy, so knows exactly what our little dancers need! Her goal is to provide a fun learning environment for our toddlers!
The Studio Space!
Our studio consists of two large dance rooms, a spacious lobby with parent viewing windows and a fully furnished student lounge and study area. Our dance rooms are lined with mirrors and have beautiful, professional marley flooring suitable for all styles of dance. We have stationary ballet barres, as well as portable barres that come in various sizes. We also have an inflatable tumble track, a kip bar, incline mat, octagon mat, wheel mat, and folding tumbling mats for our gymnastics/tumbling and acrobatics classes. Come in and check us out!
