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Our faculty members, trained in both dance and education, are devoted to
their students. They join our director and founder in their dedication to
making each dance year a happy and productive experience. Although each
brings a personal spark of enthusiasm and talent to our studios, we all work
together as a team, developing a curriculum that provides growth and
excitement. HERE'S OUR
DANCE MAGIC FACULTY!
We've got
the hardest working team in show business!
SUSIE (ANANIA) HUNTER has an excellent ability to work with children, in addition to an outstanding academic preparation in education. A magna cum laude graduate from St. Mary's of Notre Dame, Susie has a bachelor's degree in elementary education and teaches at Edmunds Fine Arts Academy where she founded the Starlight Dancers. A graduate of the Betty Hill Studios, Susie was Betty Hill's assistant at our South Des Moines Studio. As captain of our first performing group, Susie and our dancers performed and taught disco dancing, were featured on a local television show, and in Las Vegas performed with our dancers the opening number of Hoctor Dance Caravan's first national student showcase. An outstanding educator and a loyal Betty Hill "treasure," Susie's been with us since she was age three.
CHRISTY (HARRIS) GIBLIN, a Betty Hill graduate, has a degree in elementary education from the University of Iowa. Christy began dancing with us when she was three, developing into an outstanding performer in high school and a member of our performing group, "The Betty Hill Crew." Christy also was a competitive-level baton twirler, teaching baton in our studio while still in high school. Since returning from college Christy has taught for us for several years, teaching and choreographing jazz classes, children's classes, juniors, seniors, and private lessons. A professional educator, Christy taught for several years at Cowles Early Education Center, and she now teaches junior high school in the Des Moines Public Schools.
CHRISTY (NICHOLSON) CHRISTENSEN, a Betty Hill graduate, attended Lincoln High School, where she was cheerleading captain and a member of Show Choir, receiving the outstanding choreographer award. A graduate of Creighton University, Christy was a cheerleader for four years, also serving as captain. Christy toured the United States with the National Cheerleading Association, teaching cheerleading, stunts, and dance at summer camps for high school and college students. Since graduating from college Christy has been a member of our faculty, teaching children, acrobatics, partnering, and private lessons. Christy has also coached high school cheerleaders and drill teams. As choreographer for the Lincoln High School Drill Team she has won choreography awards in regional competition. A popular teacher, Christy is a valuable member of our faculty.
MELRITA (MUELLER) HAMILTON teaches lyrical classes and pointe at our Windsor Studio, choreographing lyrical, pointe, and private lesson dances. A student of Rose Lorenz and Betty Hill, Melrita developed a love for ballet and classical dance early in her training. By the time Melrita was in high school, she was teaching ballet and pointe, as well as choreographing dances. Melrita returned to our studio several years ago, and has taught children's classes, as well as lyrical, pointe, classical and private lessons. Her newest area of expertise is lyrical dance, combining her vast technical knowledge with the grace she exemplifies. Melrita is works for the Iowa State Education Association, is a talented and kind teacher, and is a tremendous asset to our studio.
STACEY (BLACKFORD) ENLOE has a degree in education from Drake University and is a certified professional educator. A graduate of our studios, Stacey began dancing at our studios when she was three, developing into an excellent teacher at an early age. While a student at Lincoln High School, Stacey was captain of the drill team for three years, choreographing local, state, and regional competition dances. After graduation from high school, Stacey began teaching children's classes at our studios and changed her major from pharmacy to education. A Drake University graduate, Stacey now teaches elementary education in the Des Moines Schools. Stacey also continues to teach combination and jazz classes at our Windsor studio. We are pleased to have Stacey as part of our team, with her dedication to excellence and her loving, happy spirit.
GIGI OERTER, former Ballet Mistress of the Des Moines Ballet Company, brings a wealth of technical training and expertise to our studios. We have been fortunate to have Gigi teaching classical ballet and pointe for several years, and she continues to grow more dear to us as an adopted member of our dance family. In addition to teaching our junior and senior classical ballet and advanced pointe students, Gigi coaches many of our private lesson and competition dancers. Gigi has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet from the North Carolina School of Arts, has traveled extensively performing in the United States and Europe, and teaches many of the advanced dances in the spectacular Iowa State Center production of The Nutcracker Ballet. We are honored to have Gigi with us, sharing her extensive professional background and technical expertise.
KATHY
(DAUGHENBAUGH) NARAYAN, a
Betty Hill graduate, has been a part of our faculty
for many years. One of our most
versatile performers, Kathy excelled in all dance forms as our student,
including acrobatics and pointe. Kathy
teaches children's combination classes, as well as all levels of
acrobatics. We’re happy to have her with us!
DONNA ( FINESTEAD VORM), a valuable member of our teaching team, has taught combination classes at our Windsor Studio for several years. Donna took dance throughout childhood in northeast Des Moines and began her association with our studio in high school when Donna and her local teacher studied choreography and performance dances with Debbie. Donna began teaching for us after her teacher retired, and has been a part of our dance family ever since. Donna has been Debbie's assistant for our State Fair and Christmas shows for many years. Her outstanding organizational skills are a tremendous asset in our preparations for our spring Civic Center performance, and she is an excellent and loving teacher for our students. Donna has a Bachelor's Degree in business, and is a trusted and vital member of our team.
KAREN (MURANO) SISSEL, a Betty Hill graduate, teaches and choreographs for jazz and juniors. A college graduate in theatre and education, Karen teaches middle school in Des Moines and brings the expertise of the dramatic arts to our classes. Karen teaches at our Windsor studio and teaches our Junior and Senior Dance Camps. A great dancer and teacher, we’re glad she’s with us!
MICHELLE
(HARRIS) PECINOVSKY brings her
talent in competitive gymnastics and acrobatics to our students, as well as her
experience as a Betty Hill Dancer. Michelle
teaches children’s and junior-senior acrobatics at our
JESSICA
BROWN,
an excellent performer and graduate of our studios, has taught children’s and
jazz classes at our
KELLY
CONROY uses her love of
children by teaching jazz and children’s classes at our
LYNDSAY
GOLD, a
Betty Hill graduate, continues teaching children’s and jazz classes at our
SHARI
BERGMAN, a recent Betty Hill
graduate, has taught many of our classes, and now specializes in our upper-level
jazz and combination classes for juniors and seniors. In recent years she
has progressed as a talented choreographer and now choreographs several of our
private lessons and jazz dances. Her
technical expertise, grace, and classical training make a valuable contribution
to our students, and her creativity and artistic ability are an asset to our
studios.
ANGELA
(FINESTEAD) FISHER,
a Betty Hill graduate, is an elementary education graduate of University of Iowa and teaches
elementary school in Johnston
. A
singer, as well as a dancer, Angela loves both contemporary and theatrical
dance, and teaches our combination classes for upper-elementary students at our
West Des Moines studio. Angela also teaches Intermediate Dance Camp, works
with our Iowa State Fair performers, and is an outstanding classroom teacher.
SARAH (HAMILTON) WITT, a Betty Hill dancer, is has returned to our studio to teach children's combination and jazz classes. An excellent dancer and student leader, Sarah studied many dance styles at our studios, and was especially accomplished in lyrical, classical, and pointe. A popular student leader with our teachers and students, we are thrilled to have Sarah back at our studios!
AMANDA BROWN, a graduate of our studios, has returned to us to teach children's combination and jazz classes. A cheerleader, acrobat, and partner, Amanda was a versatile dancer and popular student leader at our studios when she was in high school, and we are pleased that Amanda will be teaching at our South Des Moines studio!
LINDSEY CRAWFORD
BRYANNE HENSLEY
SUSAN
SHUCK VANDE VENTER
has continued to substitute for a variety of our classes at our three
locations. All of these teachers and associates enhance our program in
countless ways, and we’re grateful for their continued support of our
studios. We
couldn’t be prouder to have them sharing their talent, training, and love of
children with our dancers and families.
To contact us . . .
Email us at: info@bettyhilldance.com
Phone us at: (515) 277-8333
Mail us at: 1233 73rd Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50311
Fill out our information request form.
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