Dianne Cole Johnson School of Dance
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Dianne Cole Johnson School of Dance
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Instructor Bios: Dianne Cole Johnson Melissa Johnson Sarah Rich Rebecca Robinson Erin Hull Morgan Eisenhauer
Dianne Cole Johnson is owner and director of Dianne Cole Johnson School of Dance. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance Performance from the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University. Dianne has trained with Martha Graham, Luigi, Alvin Ailey, Arthur Mitchell, Karen Kriete of Harkness Ballet, Nikita Talin of Ballet Rusee de Monte Carlo, Toni Beck and others. The school was opened in 1976 upon graduation from SMU and Ms. Johnson then founded the school’s non profit ballet company, Repertory Dance Theatre of Texas, in 1985. She is also the director and choreographer for the National Award winning competition team, The Divas. Ms. Johnson has produced, staged, and choreographed “Cinderella”, “Sleeping Beauty”, La Boutique Fantasque”, "The FourSeasons”, “Coppelia”, “Fanfare”,”The Nutcracker”, “Hansel & Gretel”, “Swan Lake, “The Stone Flower” and “The Night Before Christmas”, as well as many original works. Ms. Johnson is the choreographer for the Miss Texas Scholarship Pageant and the Miss Texas Dance Troupe. Her students have performed in professional industrials as well as The Superbowl; had works presented at The Kennedy Center in New York, selected to perform in Twyla Tharp's choreography at ACDF, and won Overall Talent at Miss Teen Texas 2011. The studio was selected "Best of Big D - D Family Magazine, Best Dance Classes, voted "Best Dance Studio" by Dallas Morning News Neighbors.go, and ranked #1 studio in Texas by Dancer Magazine. In addition, she has received "Best of the Best Technique" award by Cathy Roe Productions for four straight years: 2008-2011, received the "Class Act Award" twice from New York City Dance Alliance, and received National Champions award from Starbound Talent Competition three straight years: 2009-2011. Melissa Johnson holds a Bachelor of Science in Dance Education from Texas Woman’s University. In addition to her role as an instructor and choreographor, Melissa currently dances as a member of elledanceworks, a professional modern company in the Dallas area and was the previous Fine Arts Chair and Dance Department Head at Newman Smith High School. Ms. Johnson teaches modern, lyrical, jazz, ballet, and tap and choreographs for the winning "Diva Competition Team" and is the Board President for Repertory Dance Theatre of Texas. Courtney Sturgis has been dancing since the age of 3 and has loved every minute of it. She grew up dancing competitively receiving numerous regional and national awards, and was a member of the Dallas Repertoire Ballet. At age 18, she received a talent scholarship from Oklahoma City University where she studied dance under the direction of Jo Rowan. While attending OCU She was a member of The American Spirit Dance touring company and performed in several shows including Oklahoma, The Yuletide Magic Christmas Spectacular with the Philharmonic Orchestra, OCU Centennial Celebration, annual student choreography and spring shows, as well as cheering on the basketball team as a pep dancer. In 2005, Courtney graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Performing Arts Degree . Upon graduation from OCU she danced for Holland America Cruise Lines aboard the Ryndam and Westerdam where she traveled the Caribbean, Mexico, and Europe. Courtney also danced in Branson, Mo for the Shoji Tabuchi Show and for the world famous Andy Williams Variety and Christmas Shows. Courtney teaches ballet, jazz, lyrical, pointe, and tap and also choreographs for the award winning Diva competition team! Courtney is looking forward to a wonderful year with DCJ School of Dance. Lisa Frizzell holds a Bachelor of Science from Tarleton State University with a teacher’s certification for Secondary Dance Instruction. She is a certified judge for Dance/Drill Team Directors of America and a certified coach for American Sport Education Program. She has over 15 years experience in dance and drill team. She teaches creative movement, ballet, tap, jazz, and drill team. Sarah Rich was born and raised in Fort Worth and began dancing at the age of 2. She was a member of the competition team at Caron Moore Dance Productions ( now Footworks Performing Arts) and studied tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical and hip hop. At age 16, she made her first professional appearance as a part of the dance ensemble in Casa Manana's production of '42nd Street' at The Bass Performance Hall in downtown Fort Worth. She went on to perform in SEVERAL musicals and plays around the metroplex and in Oklahoma over the course of the last 12 years. She is a graduate of Oklahoma City University where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theater Performance, Triple Threat and was a member of Alpha Phi sorority, along with Miss Courtney, Miss Jordan and Miss Colette. Sarah lived in Los Angeles, California following her 2005 graduation and was a featured dancer in 'Block Party Bash' at Disneyland California, an actor and dancer in several music videos and tv spots, and had a lead role in a small budget film titled 'Elimination'. She moved back to the area in 2009 and immediately began teaching. This is her 3rd year at DCJ-SOD and her 2nd year at Dallas Children's Theater Company. She is thrilled to be a part of this amazing dance family! Sarah's goals as a teacher are to provide children with knowledge of dance, music and acting-- all while having fun! She will work hard to provide an outlet for your child's own imagination and talent, help them build character and confidence, and encourage them to develop a passion and love for the arts. She is excited for another great year! On a personal note, Sarah will be getting married on May 5th, 2012 and couldnt be more thrilled!
Colette Spirer
Colette Spirer grew up in Dallas,
TX where she trained and performed at Chamberlain Ballet, a pre-professional
Ballet School. From there, Colette went on to study at the prestigious Oklahoma
City University, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance performance
with an emphasis in musical theatre. She attended OCU on dance scholarship and
was a member of the American Spirit Dance Company. Colette then moved to
Orlando, FL to follow her lifelong dream of working at Disney World. While at
Disney, Colette performed in shows, parades and was a Disney princess. Colette
has Morgan Eisenhauer began her professional dance training at the Augusta Ballet, in Augusta Georgia, where she served as an apprentice training under NYC Prima Ballerina, Zann Colton. She continued her pre-professional training at the Augusta Dance Theatre where she was a full company member training under ballet icon, Ron Jones. Prior and during her college training, she studied at Julliard, Ballet Arts Manhattan, American Ballet Theatre, and Columbia City Ballet. She attended Brenau University in Gainesville, GA and obtained a B.F.A. in dance performance and education. While in college, Morgan served as a company member and soloist at the Gainesville Ballet Company. After college, Morgan performed and taught at the Atlanta Ballet and Georgia Ballet. Her choreography has been showcased at the South Eastern Regional Ballet Conference and Ballet Festival Atlanta. Morgan is currently obtaining her M.F.A. in dance performance and education at Texas Women's University and has future goals to become a professor and start a professional contemporary ballet company. Rebecca Robinson is a graduate of Texas A&M University, and is currently pursuing her Masters in Spanish at the University of North Texas. She danced with the Dance Arts Society at A&M and was selected to be a member of the Aggie Dance Team. She tapped her way to the title of Miss Texas 2008, winning a preliminary talent award. Rebecca also won Miss Teen Texas 2000 and was voted Miss Congeniality at the 2009 Miss America Pageant. Rebecca has trained under Disney professionals in lyrical partnering as well as ballroom professionals. In college she studied tap under Broadway choreographer Shea Sullivan in New York. Most recently she served as head choreographer for the Lone Star Princess program at the Miss Texas Pageant.
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Dianne Cole Johnson
School of Dance |
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1025 W. Hebron Pkwy, #118