Our Instructors

Bailey Ahles began her dance training at Dance Theatre Studio under the direction of John Durbin with her training focusing on Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Eastern Michigan University in 2011 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Dance Performance and Minor in Arts Management. While at EMU, Bailey served as the President of EMU’s Dance Forum and was selected Senior Dance Major of the year by faculty. Bailey also had the opportunity to represent EMU as the student choreographer at the American College Dance Festival. Bailey holds a choreography certification from Dance New Amsterdam in New York City. While in NYC, Bailey had the opportunity to work with Rebecca Stenn (Pilobolus) Nicole Wolcott (Keigwan & Co.) and Faye Driscoll. Bailey continues her training any chance she can and has spent the past four years as a company member of Ann Arbor Ballet Theatre under the direction of Carol Radovic. Bailey has been teaching at Dance Theatre Studio since 2007 and enjoys working with every age and level. She choreographs solo and group dances for Dance Theatre Studios Youth Company. Bailey is also a certified yoga instructor.


Jayme Crabtree began her training at Dance Theatre Studio. As a youngster, Jayme passed her Cecchetti exams, attended the Bates Dance Festival Professional Training Program and the Rockette Summer Intensive. Jayme went on to earn a B.S. in Contemporary Dance with a Fitness Minor from Indiana University. As a part of the dance program Jayme took different kinesiology classes, which had a great impact on her dancing and teaching. Additionally while at IU she had the opportunity to perform choreography by Martha Graham, David Parsons and Anna Sokolow. Jayme is ACE Personal Training, ACE Group Exercise and Pilates certified.


Kenny Crabtree holds a Bachelors of Science in Physical Education with a focus in strength and conditioning from Eastern Michigan University. Kenny has been an ACE certified personal trainer since 2008. He holds additional certifications as a TRX Instructor, TRX Level 2 Sports medicine/musculoskeletal injury and prevention, Cancer Exercise Specialist, and Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program Instructor. Kenny is also First Aid, CPR and AED certified through the American Red Cross.


Sara Fox is from Chicago, Illinois. Sara trained at Extensions Dance Company under the technical training of Lizzie Mackenzie. She has recently traveled to Israel to attend the Batsheva dance intensive with the company dancers and Ohad Naharin, the creator of Batsheva and the dance style Gaga. Sara is trained in Ballet, Contemporary, Modern, and Hip hop. She is very excited to start teaching at Dance Theatre Studio in the fall.


Amy Fulton has been dancing for 23 years and teaching ballet for 10 years. Amy was named Montana’s Junior Miss and competed nationally in Mobile, Alabama in America’s Junior Miss 2002 and has assisted with Utah’s Distinguished Young Women program in past years. She received her BFA in Ballet Performance at the University of Utah in 2006, as well as an Honors BA degree in English Literature. While enrolled in the U of U’s prestigious ballet program, Amy studied under professors Attila Ficzere, Sharee Lane, Conrad Ludlow, Barbara Hamblin, Carol Iwasaki, Richard Wacko, Jane Wood, Bene Arnold, and Maureen Laird. In 2008 Amy completed her Master’s in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah. Although classical ballet and pointe is her passion, she has training in modern, jazz, and tap. Amy has also completed her 200 hour yoga teaching certification. Amy has been teaching ballet and pointe classes in Utah since 2005. She recently moved to Michigan to pursue her PhD in Higher Education at the University of Michigan.


Kyla Hyatt has been dancing since age three and began training at Dance Theatre Studio at age five. She has studied ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, modern, and ballroom, and is certified in Cecchetti grades one through three. Beginning in fifth grade, she competed at various dance competitions each year with A2DT and attended conventions throughout middle and high school such as KAR, Dance Olympus, and Michigan Dance Festival. Kyla began assisting in classes at DTS in sixth grade and has had a passion for teaching ever since. In the years 2014-2016, she was a dance teacher and co-choreographer for the Haisley Elementary School Players. She is attending the University of Michigan as a Movement Science major with a minor in dance. Kyla loves working with children and is excited to share her passion and help them grow as dancers!


Dammy Ikwe started dancing at a young age studying contemporary and modern. While studying psychology at the University of Michigan he danced with a branch of the International dance company Dance 2XS, eventually becoming one of the branches Co-Artistic Directors. This year he became the Creative Director of Next Level Dance Company, a youth and adult hip-hop dance company based in Detroit. Level Up competes across the mid-west region and took 3rd place at Word of Dance Chicago, earning an invitation to compete at World of Dance International Finals L.A. in 2015. Dammy loves working with both adults and children and is always looking to push dancers to think outside of their box and find their personal style.


Miranda Lum started dancing at the age of 3 at the Movement Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. There she studied tap, ballet, jazz, contemporary and musical theatre. She also danced ballet with Punahou Dance School. Miranda started teaching other young dancers at the age of 14, and her passion to share her love for dance only continued to grow. While completing her degree at the University of Michigan, Miranda continued to dance in performance club organizations through the University. She started attending classes at Dance Theatre Studio in 2016 and is excited to become more involved with the DTS community.


Michelle Millard has been dancing since age five and received her training at Annette and Company School of Dance in Farmington Hills, Michigan. While at Annette and Company, Michelle excelled at ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop. She spent the first part of her dance career competing in dance competitions throughout the Midwest and nationally. Michelle worked at Star Trax as a "Flight Crew" dancer where she traveled the country for corporate events. She has taken Master Classes at The Edge in Los Angeles and at Broadway Dance Center in New York City. Michelle trained under Joshua Bergasse, a NYC based teacher and choreographer of the NBC series "SMASH". At the age of 15, Michelle taught her first dance class and that is when the second part of her dance career began. In 2001, she became a full-time instructor at Dance Theatre Studio. While completing her degree from Eastern Michigan University, Michelle instructed both youth and adult students and developed her love for choreography. In 2009, Michelle became a choreographer of Ann Arbor Dance Theatre dance company. Her choreography has been featured at various dance competitions throughout Metro Detroit and during the Detroit Pistons halftime shows. She has choreographed for up and coming musical artist Fatima (ESPN) and singer/songwriters "Ariel, Zoey, & Eli, too."


Katherine Mousel is a Movement Science major with a dance minor starting her junior year at the University of Michigan in Fall 2018. She has been dancing since she was 4 years old with particular interest in ballet and tap. However, Katherine has trained in jazz, ballroom, contemporary, modern and lyrical. She is a Cecchetti Level 5 ballerina having studied under Grand Rapids Ballet retired principle ballerina Dawnell Draja-Black at Academy of Dance Arts. She currently studies under UM professors such as Judy Rice and Missy Beck. She loves being a Dance minor at UM and the opportunities it provides - like the chance to dance on the field during halftime at football games and at the East-Central ACDA conference. Katherine has a love for musical theatre and has both performed in and been choreographer for many musicals. Katherine has a strength in leadership and she looks forward to sharing her passion for dance at Dance Theater Studio.


Shannon Nulf is currently a second year dance major at the University of Michigan, where she is pursuing a BFA in dance and a double minor in Performing Arts Management and Movement Science. She first began studying ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, belly dance, and lyrical dance at her hometown studio, the Superior School of Dance, in Hancock, MI, waaaay up in the U.P. Since being at the University of Michigan, she has performed as a cast member in two dance MFA thesis concerts and performed in their annual Power Center Concert, Dancing Globally. She is also a cast member of the SMTD dance and music collaboration, "An evening of Doris Humphrey and J.S. Bach." Shannon loves working with dance students and getting to see them grow, learn, and fall in love with dance.


Carly Ornstein grew up in Baltimore, Maryland where she studied ballet and modern dance. She graduated from the University of Maryland College Park with a BA in dance and taught ballet for many years in Maryland. She also chaperoned the Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell summer intensive in Washington, DC for four years, where she was able to observe Ms. Farrell's teaching. She went on to receive or masters degree in public health from the George Washington University and currently works for the American Lung Association. Carly is also a massage therapist and certified Pilates instructor.


Kelly Schmidt has been dancing for over 12 years. Her training includes tap, jazz, modern, contemporary, musical theater, and ballroom. She graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2014 earning a Bachelor’s degree in Dance Education. During her time at BGSU, Kelly danced and choreographed for the University Dance Alliance which held showcases every semester. She also danced for the University’s performance company, Dance Repertory Ensemble, and performed each year in their January Concert. Kelly has previously taught at Julie’s Dance Studio in Bowling Green, OH, Viva Dance Company Sylvania location and recently choreographed The Sound of Music for Lake High School. Kelly loves teaching young kids and sharing her love of dance!