Faculty & Staff

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Faculty & Staff

About the Director…

Michele Ackermann, Owner/Director, is nationally accredited to teach all disciplines of dancing by Dance Masters of America, Inc and Dance Educators of America, Inc. She is happy to be entering her thirty-eighth year as a professional teacher. A native of Miami, Mrs. Ackermnn has trained with such noted educators as Judy Bassing, Janice Barringer, Daryl Retter, and the internationally known master of Tap, the late Mr. Al Gilbert.

A prolific choreographer, Michele Ackermann’s musical theatre work has been seen on the stages of Tallahassee Community College, Tallahassee Little Theatre, Young Actor’s Theatre, and Quincy Music Theatre. Some of her many show credits
include ,“Phantom”, “Follies”,“Me and My Girl”, “La Cage AuFolles", “Gypsy”, “1776”, “The Who’s Tommy”, “Peter Pan, the Musical”, “Scrooge”, “Ragtime”, and the nationally recognized, “Nine", to name just a few. Mrs. Ackermann has been the Dance Director for the award-winning, Theatre A la Carte since 1993. She was the first resident choreographer at Young Actors Theatre in the late ‘70s and early 80’s. Mrs. Ackermann has enjoyed staging several Leon High School/TCC’s summer musicals well as productions for other Leon County Schools. In addition, Mrs. Ackermann was twice honored to have her tap choreography selected to be showcased in the “Winter Dance Fest Invitational Concert” held at Flagler College in Saint Augustine, Florida.

Mrs. Ackermann designed unique, educational, and entertaining music/movement programs for several area pre-schools, including FSU’s Educational Research Center for Child Development, The Creative Pre-School, and Annsworth Academy. In the 1990's, she presented workshops at early Childhood Conferences on the local, state, and regional level in the area of pre-school music and movement. As the director of the award winning, “THE DANCE STUDIO COMPANY”, Mrs. Ackermann and her staff directed and staged thirty- minute dance concerts at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom and Downtown Disney in 1998, 2002, and 2006, and 2010, after successfully auditioning for this honor. She is thrilled to be among the group of studio directors whose students have achieved National Title Championship several times. She is enormously proud that many of her former students and cast members work professionally as both teachers and performers. As a member of the Board of Directors for Florida State University's Friends of Dance, Mrs. Ackermann is very happy to be able to share her life’s work with others who have a passion for dance. She is listed in “Who’s Who in American Women”, and was honored in 2007 by the faculty of DanceMakers, Inc. with the "Marjorie Perry Spirit Award" for her dedication and standard of excellence in Dance Education.

Michele Ackermann feels blessed to be wife to John for nearly thirty-six years, mother to Brandon and Joey, and “Nonnie” to nine-year old granddaughter, Philomena.

Nancy Carroll Abbey, Ballet Mistress and Instructor, was primarily trained in the Cecchetti method. She holds eleven examination certificates, and is familiar with Russian, English, and Danish styles as well. A faculty member of The Dance Studio since the mid 1990’s, Nancy has taught in private studios in Michigan and Florida, as well as in colleges and universities (The University of Michigan, William Smith College, and Tallahassee Community College). She has a special interest in dance injury prevention. To this end, she has completed classes in the prevention and care of sports injuries and also worked with orthopedic physicians. She was Artistic Director of the Tallahassee Ballet during the 1970s and early 1980s. In addition to performing for many years both in Michigan and Florida, she has choreographed more than two dozen ballets and staged many others. Nancy spent six years in Sacremento, California as a faculty member of the Sacremento Academy of Dance teaching all levels of ballet technique, Pointe, and repertory to children and adults. A number of her former students have gone on to successful professional careers as performers, teachers, and choreographers.

Sarah Harkness, Instructor, Senior Modern/Contemporary is in her third and final year as an MFA candidate in the School of Dance at FSU. She moved here from LA, where she earned her BA in Theatre Arts from Loyola Marymount University and she worked as assistant to Sherry Lansing, former CEO of Paramount Pictures. In LA, she founded her contemporary ballet company; Meh-tropolis Dance Theatre, and served as the company’s artistic director for six years. Miss Harkness performed with Oberlin Dance Company in San Francisco and also performed with Martine Sheen, Stockard Channing, and other West Wing cast in, “Raising Our Voices”, a Los Angeles production. Additionally, she has directed and choreographed such productions as A Chorus Line and Brigadoon for the Theatre and dance departments of Loyola Marymount and Pepperdine Universities, and “The Velveteen Rabbit" for FSU. Internationally, Miss Harkness has also studied and performed with the Oxford, England School of Drama, Montpellier, France World Dance Festival, and most recently in Valencia, Spain at the Conservitorio de Danza.

Karen Kent, Office Manager, grew up an Air Force brat and traveled all over the world. Perhaps her love of dance and musical theatre was fostered when she was fortunate to see a production of "Hello Dolly" in Okinawa, Japan, starring the incomparable Mary Martin! She is a regular backstage fixture stage managing our annual concert, as well as productions for Theatre a La Carte and Quincy Music Theatre. Mrs. Kent holds a degree in Child Developement from FSU. She and Tommy have been married for thirty-seven years and are the proud parents of Skye, Thom, and Rusty, who are all grown up. Oh yes- the Director is happy to have taught all three of the "Kent Kids" to dance!

Sonia Livingston, Senior Tap, Musical Theatre Workshops, Sonya started her professional dance career at the age of sixteen with the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, where her career spanned twenty one years. During that time she toured and performed with such stars as Peter Allen,Liberace, Chita Rivera, Ann Margaret, Tommy Tune, Liza Minnelli, Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Maurice Hines, Gregory Hines, Loretta Divine, Dick Van Dyke, Ben Vereen, Ginger Rogers, Sandy Duncan and others. Sonya has appeared in numerous television special such as “Night of 100 Stars”, “Comic Relief”, David Letterman, Anniversary Specials, Super Bowl halftime Shows, The Today Show, Good Morning America and many appearance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She also appeared in National commercials for Diet Coke, L’eggs pantyhose and Television movie ,“Legs” starring Gwen Verdon.With extensive experience in theatre and dance on the professional level, as well as being a master teacher and Choreographer for Dance Caravan, Sonya has gained a unique insight into the direction, choreography, and instruction of students from children to adults as well as professionals.

Amy Muterilli, Ballet and Jazz Instructor, hails from Ocala, Florida, where she trained with Jeane Benson- Smith and performed with the Marion Ballet Company. She earned her BA in Special Education from Auburn University. Amy was guest faculty at the 2009 Southeast Region American College Dance Festival Association (ACDFA), Suzanne Farrell Young Dancer Workshop, and a counselor/mentor for the FSU 2009 Summer Dance Intensive. Miss Muterilli also served as faculty at the United Dance Association (UDA) summer dance camps. She continues to advance her training with The Orlando Baller, Washington School of Ballet, and Nederlands Dans Theatre. She choreographed works for the FSU Days of Dance in 2008 and 2009, and has performed with the Dance Reperatory Theatre at FSU. She will receive her Masters of Fine Arts degree in Dance this Fall after completing her Master’s Thesis Concert in October.

Bonnie McCluskey, Acting Instructor, became a member of the staff in 1996 and remained so even with a commute from Jacksonville! A graduate of Florida State University with a Bachelor’s degree in English, Bonnie’s unique and positive approach will continue serve as an opportunity for our dancers to be better performers through the techniques of pantomime, improvisation, and character development. In addition to the acting/voice classes to elementary through adult students, Bonnie will rotate throughout the year guest teaching acting in several dance classes. A former faculty member of the Young Actor’s Theatre where she served as Junior Company Director for many years, Bonnie is an accomplished professional television and film actress and mime. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre from the University of Tampa. She and Tom have two talented sons, Dan and Bill.

Becky Miller, Beginning Ballet Instructor for Children and Adults, hails from Cincinnati, Ohio and received her degree in elementary education from Ohio State University. After she and her husband Dan relocated to Tallahassee in the 70's, Becky taught in our public schools system for 4 years. As a young mother, she returned to her other love - dance performance - by becoming a founding member of the Tallahassee Ballet Company, under the direction of Helen Salter. Mother of three and grandmother of five future ballerinas, she recently retired after teaching twenty-five years of both Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten at Annsworth Academy. Our Miss Becky has taught ballet at The Dance Studio for a number of years, specializing in beginning students of all ages. She is a member of "The TipTopTappers" and still takes several classes a week at The Dance Studio. Much beloved by her peers, Becky was the first recipient of The Damien Bright Light Award in 2007.

Michael Norris, Piano & Vocal Instructor, is an old friend of The Dance Studio and the Director, as both a studio parent and Mrs. Ackermann's esteemed colleague with Theatre A La Carte. Mike is equally at home conducting choral and instrumental programs with children, college students, and adults. He has been featured conductor at Carnegie Hall and The National Cathedral in Washington D.C. Mike is Music Director for several organizations including Theatre A La Carte, Theatre TCC, Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and Tallahassee Little Theatre. We are thrilled to have Mike on our faculty teaching vocal classes to our Musical Theatre students as well as private voice and piano lessons.

Katrina Reid, Jazz, Modern, Hip-Hop Instructor, began her dance training in Lilburn, GA and continued at Valdosta State University where she received her BFA in Dance. At Valdosta, she was a member of the VSU Reperatory Dancers, where she performed works by Eric Nielson, Sarah McCallister, and Catherine Schaeffer. Ms Reid also performed and choreographed for the American College Dance Festival in Florida, Tennessee, and New York. Additionally, Ms Reid instructed students at the university dance club and a local studio. Upon graduation, she was honored with the College of Visual Arts Research and Creativity Award. Ms Reid now attends the Graduate program at Florida State University School Dance.

Gloria Wallace , Office and Travel Professional, began her association in 1998 with The Dance Studio as a beginning dancer in Adult Tap One. She has gone on to achieve national standing as a member of our acclaimed Company, "The TipTopTappers", and continues her training in four weekly classes. By day, Gloria is the manager for Sun World Travel. Wife to Don and mother of two, Gloria is Grandma to four grandchildren. Gloria was honored by our students in 2008 as the recipient of The Damien Bright Light Award. "Miss Gloria" is proving to be invaluable to the director for her expertise in travel and for over twenty years of professional business experience.

The Dance Studio ~ Through Discipline and Passion Comes Excellence
3840 -201 North Monroe Street • Tallahassee, Florida 32303 • 850-562-9556

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