Laurie Stoianowski,
Owner/President,
Instructor
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Laurie Stoianowski - Owner/President, Instructor
Laurie is a veteran dancer and instructor of 63 years. She is a former dancer with Randazzo Dance Studio and the Ypsilanti Area Dancers, studying solely under Marjorie Randazzo. At the age of 17, she was recruited by the Southwest Ballet Company in Austin, Texas. She has owned the studio for 35 years. Laurie manages the studio, along with the competition team. She enjoys working with and sharing her love of Ballet with the Ballet and Pointe dancers. |
Sophia Bullard, Instructor
Sophia Bullard - Instructor
Sophia started gymnastics at four years old at Michigan Academy of Gymnastics and competed through her freshman year of college. She also taught recreational classes at MAG in summers. In college, she joined the MSU ballroom dance team and became the curriculum chair her senior year. She also performed in her first Ballet show this year. She has continued to dance since graduation and is excited to combine her love of both sports by teaching Acro Dance at Dance Steps!
Sophia started gymnastics at four years old at Michigan Academy of Gymnastics and competed through her freshman year of college. She also taught recreational classes at MAG in summers. In college, she joined the MSU ballroom dance team and became the curriculum chair her senior year. She also performed in her first Ballet show this year. She has continued to dance since graduation and is excited to combine her love of both sports by teaching Acro Dance at Dance Steps!
Marissa Relitz, Instructor
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Marissa Relitz - Instructor
Miss Marissa started dancing at age six in Ann Arbor, She started competing at age ten in Tap and Jazz and eventually competed in Lyrical and Pointe as well. She graduated from Alma college with a BA in dance where she performed in many classical Ballets and Modern pieces, as well as in many Jazz and Tap numbers. She choreographed Tap and Modern pieces for the student choreography shows each year. After college she joined Third Coast Dance Company and has been teaching and dancing professionally around the state of Michigan. |
Molly McMillan, Instructor
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Molly McMillan - Instructor
Miss Molly is a Michigan native with a love for all things dance and dance instruction; the highlight of her week is seeing a student light up or reach a new milestone. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with honors from Wayne State. She relocated to Chicago after graduation, where she danced professionally and honed her teaching skills further at studios, park districts, and athletic clubs. She was cast for Carnival Cruise Lines as a Playlist Dancer/Singer and spent over 10 contracts performing shows (as Dance Captain) and teaching classes to guests of all ages on various ships around the US. Since getting her land legs back, she has enjoyed opportunities to share her passion for movement to dancers of all ages locally. She looks forward to joining the talented team at Dance Steps, meeting all the great dancers, and having an amazing season! |
 Ashlyn Payer, Instructor
Ashlyn Payer, Instructor Ashlyn Payer began dancing at the age of two at Dance Steps Studio, Inc. She began competing at the age of ten and participated in a pre-professional contemporary dance program in her high school years. Throughout college she has been active in Orchesis dance company through MSU and is now studying dance and art education at Eastern Michigan University. Following her high school graduation she taught and choreographed pieces for Dance Steps Studio and is absolutely thrilled to be back with her dance family!  Grace Morris, Instructor
Grace Morris, Instructor Miss Grace has been dancing for over 20 years, beginning with training in Cecchetti Ballet technique with Eleanore Brown, Dance Center. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Accounting and Dance-Studio Management. During her college career, she performed alongside fellow DSS teachers in numerous works ranging from classical ballet, modern, to jazz. Additionally, she performed nationally and internationally with the Blue Lake Fine Arts Ballet Ensemble, as well as the Radio City Rockettes Summer Intensive in New York. Grace has a passion for teaching dance, and how the things learned in class can be applied to every aspect of life. She is excited to be back at DSS after her hiatus! |
Nicole Berrong, Instructor
Nicole Berrong, Instructor
Nicole has been dancing since age six, substitute teaching by thirteen, and a full time instructor at the age of fourteen. Nicole's lifelong passion for Performance and Dance has taken her from her roots in small town Michigan and propelled her into a lifelong pursuit of excellence in the world of Performing Arts. Nicole has studied and taught for over 25 years in New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Thailand and Chicago. Her background is extensive and includes a wide variety of styles, including Dance Meditation, Jazz, Hip Hop, Ballet, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, with the ever-constant desire to learn and grow as an artist and an instructor. Nicole can be seen on stage and on the big screen in many productions, along with a number of music videos, commercials, plays independent films and other art-filled endeavors. We enthusiastically welcome Ms. Nicole to the Dance Steps Studio dance family!