Directors

Susan Buck Heinz has her undergraduate and Masters Degree in Ballet from Indiana University. Her early training was with Marjorie Randazzo, numerous Cecchetti Conferences, the University of Michigan, and she attended high school at the National Academy of Arts in Champaign, Illinois. Sue has completed her Cecchetti Ballet Exams highly commended, and completed the Vaganova Teacher's Training. She danced professionally with the Texas Ballet in Houston and was a guest artist with many Ballet companies throughout the U.S. She has danced roles as diverse as leads in Othello, Trojan Women, Pacquita, Cinderella, Don Quixote, Giselle, and The Nutcracker. She has studied with Bill Martin-Viscount, Jean Pierre Bonnefoux, Gwen Ashton, and Michael Maule among others. Her high energy teaching, nurturing of young children, and outstanding ballet technique have given her quite a following in the Grand Traverse Area.

Betsy Carr was named "Michigan Dance Teacher of the Year" for 2001. She has a Masters in Dance Performance/Choreography from the University of Michigan, an Undergraduate Degree in Dance from Eastern Michigan University, and has served on the teaching faculties at both institutions. She is the current President of the Northern Michigan Dance Council, and a member of the Cecchetti Council of America. Betsy has completed her Cecchetti Ballet Exams, and also the Vaganova Teacher's Training. While living in New York City, Carr was on scholarship at Steps on Broadway, and served as an assistant manager there. She has taught for the Michigan Youth Arts Festival, Cecchetti Summer Workshops at Michigan State University, Hope College, and Cleveland Ballet, Detroit Windsor Dance Company, South Dayton Dance Theater, Macomb Arts Festival, Badgerette Dance - Milwaukee, and Performing Arts Dance Theater.

Faculty ~

DAA would like to welcome our new Kindermusik teacher, Jaema Talbot.  We are very excited to have her on our faculty.  Jaema moved to Traverse City two years ago from suburban Chicago.  She became a licensed Kindermusik Instructor six years ago after participating in Kindermusik with each of her three children.  With a lifelong involvement in and love of music (both vocal and instrumental), as well as a background in classical ballet, she is a firm believer in the importance of the integration of music into the life of a child as part of their overall development.

Melinda Baker has spent 25 years performing and teaching thoughout the U.S. and abroad. Her training includes The Baker School, Washington School of the Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. She has appeared with Chicago Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, Eglevsky Ballet, BalletMet/Columbus, Deutche Oper am Rhein in Dusseldorf, and is a founding member of Columbus Dance Theatre. She appeared in the role of "Coquotte", in the Ruth Page production of "Die Fledermaus," filmed for PBS. She has taught for the pre-professional programs at BalletMet and Columbus Dance Theatre, at Kenyon College and Fairleigh Dickinson University, and was the Ballet Mistress for Garden State Ballet. Melinda founded the Lancaster Ballet in 1986, and Melinda Baker and Company in 1993. Her choreographic work has been presented each year at the nationally recognized Lancaster Festival, since it's inception. Her performance work now includes dance with spoken text, incorporating her own writing, which has appeared in numerous journals including The Midwest Quarterly, and the Dunes Review. We are so happy to have Melinda in Northern Michigan!!

Marjorie Randazzo - We are thrilled to welcome Marjorie Randazzo to our teaching faculty. Marjorie has trained countless Professional Ballet dancers, including: Anthony Randazzo, former Principal with San Fransisco Ballet and The National Ballet of Canada, current Ballet Master at Boston Ballet, Elizabeth Olds, former Principal with Royal Winnepeg Ballet, currently on the artistic staff at The Alberta Ballet, as well as DAA co-owners Susan Heinz and Betsy Carr. Mrs. Randazzo has been the President of the Cecchetti Council, and is an Executive Board Member, as well as an examinar in that organization. She has spent the last several years training and coaching ballet teachers and advanced dancers throughout lower Michigan. Her relocation to this area will enable us to send our talented ballet students through their Cecchetti Ballet Examinations. We are very fortunate to have her on our faculty.

Jessica Brutlag has her Associate's Degree in Dance Education from Lansing Community College. She received her early training at the Bohaty's School, was a regional and national competition winner, and has also trained with the Milwaukee Ballet. She has taught at various studios in Wisconsin and Michigan for the past 6 years. She is an Associate Director of Company Dance Traverse and is known for her wonderful award winning choreography and delightful classes for all ages.

Melissa Maury received her early training in Ludington, and later at Dance Arts Academy. She has her Associates Degree from Northwestern Michigan College. She danced professionally in Chicago, and trained at the Lou Conte Dance Center there. This is her seventh year teaching at Dance Arts Academy. She is also an Associate Director of Company Dance Traverse. Her choreography has won the highest honor in competition - "Critics Choice", among other honors. She is a former CDT dancer of the year, Northern Michigan Dance Council Scholarship Winner, and DAA Distinguished Student Scholarship Winner. Melissa is the first dancer to be inducted into the Company Dance Traverse Hall of Fame.

Sahra Singer is a native of Australia where she was a serious ballet student for 16 plus years. Sahra performed with the Australian Ballet Company before moving to the Northwest. In addition to her training in Australia, Sahra has also studied with Susan Heinz and Betsy Carr. She has been teaching at DAA for 6 years, her students are known for their lovely training, and fun, yet disciplined work ethic. We are thrilled with all that Sahra has to offer our dancers!

Julie Rice former co-owner of Dance Arts Academy has spent the last 25 years teaching and performing in Northern Michigan. She has studied dance at Michigan State University, Interlochen Arts Academy, Steps New York, and with a variety of well known teachers. Julie does choreography for pageants, and also teaches children's dance in Cadillac, MI.

Karen McCarthy trained at the prestigious Kathleen Mulkerin School of Irish Dance in Connecticut, and she is a two-time medalist from the Connecticut State Feis. She coordinates Irish music and dance events in the community, and is a member of Traverse City's own professional Irish dance troupe, the Claddagh Dancers. At Dance Arts Academy, Karen teaches Irish céilí dancing (social dancing done with a partner) and Riverdance-style step dancing for children and adults.

Tina Curran's early dance education was at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Academy. She majored in Dance at The Julliard School, and also studied at Steps On Broadway while living in New York City. Tina has her Master's in Performance and Choreography from Southern Methodist University, where she was a member of the faculty. She currently travels internationally teaching and choreographing for various companies and schools. Tina was also a former Miss North Dakota and Top Ten Miss America Finalist.

Additional DAA faculty include Rachel James, Jaema Berry, Karen Mueller, Tiffany Nerem, and accompanist John DeKorne.

Other Dance Arts Academy Staff includes Office Manager Diann West, and office staff Jean Morris, Denise Perry, Barbara Baker, Barb Krueger, Kelly Lively, Mary Woods, and Suzanne Buck.