Our Staff

Our quality instructors have many years of coaching experience and truly care for their students. All tumbling coaches are safety certified. We have a high teacher-to-student ratio in all our classes.

DIRECTORS

Anne Kramer
Owner, Artistic Director
Anne has been a dancer for 34 years, and a teacher for 26 years. She was a full scholarship student with Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, and danced professionally in a variety of theater productions. Anne has received numerous choreography and teacher awards at both regional and national levels, including "Teacher of the Year" from Rainbow Connection in 2003, "Top Choreograper" from StarQuest International in 2003, "Best Choreography" from Cathy Roe Productions in 2006, the "Rising Star Award" from Rising Star Productions in 2006, and "Teacher of the Year" from Kids Artistic Revue in 2007. In 1998 she received the Founders Gold Medal for her achievement of the arts in her community, and in 2007 was voted for Small Business of the Year. She has been a dance and talent judge for beauty pageants as well as Kids Artistic Revue. She helped write an article for Dance Teacher Magazine about incorporating boys into competitive dance and most recently about how to costume and choreograph for competition. Before opening her studio in the mid 1990's, Anne was involved in the fitness industry, becoming a personal trainer, aerobics instructor, health club program director, aerobics competitor and workshop presenter.
Email Anne Kramer

Catherine Dresbach
Director of Tumbling - Catherine received a BFA in dance from Ohio University. She began her dance training in Grove City, PA and majored in dance at Ohio University. Growing up she had a strong competition background, and holds a BFA with honors in dance, choreography, and dance education. She has experience in teaching all ages in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip-hop, acro, and creative dance. She taught at many institutions including McGill's School of Dance, Lake Erie Ballet, Ohio University and Dance Etc. Her competition teams consistently place in the top 5 at regional and national competitions. She loves dogs, owning four of her own and volunteering at the animal shelter several times a week. "I believe a teacher should create a very fun and open atmosphere while presenting a challenge to her students."
Email Catherine Dresbach

Christy Smith
Assistant Director, Tumbling Program - Christy Smith is a graduate from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Electronic Media. She is currently attending Xavier University to pursue her Masters of Education and teaching license. She has been dancing and tumbling since the age of 6. Throughout her years as a student she studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theater, and Hip Hop. Her dancing talents led her to become a member of the competition team of the studio she attended. She competed in competitions around the country and attended workshops including LA Dance Force, Access Broadway, and Dance Masters of America. She has been teaching dance and tumbling for over 7 years and is a member of Dance Masters of America where she is certified in Acrobatics. She is working to be certified in jazz, ballet, and tap. Christy is looking forward to sharing her love of dance and tumbling with the students at Dance Etc.
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SENIOR STAFF

Christin Berry- holds a bachelors degree in Arts and Science from the University of Toledo with her concentration being in Photography. Christin was varsity cheerleader for her high school and was a collegiate cheerleading in Pittsburgh, PA before moving back to her hometown of Toledo, Ohio to finish her degree. While attending college, she taught a series of tumbling classes that ranged from beginner to advanced skills at a local gym and coached private tumbling/cheer classes. After college, Christin began her career as a professional photographer for a local Toledo studio and also a national retailer before moving to Cincinnati in the summer of 2008. From the move, she started her own photography company and was able to start training and teaching tumbling again here at Dance Etc.
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Megan Blow is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis with a Master’s Degree in Deaf Education. She recently moved to Cincinnati to pursue her teaching career at Ohio Valley Voices. A native of Wheeling, WV, Megan has a combined 22 years of experience in cheer, dance, and gymnastics. Beginning at the age of 5, Megan participated in numerous dance shows, gymnastics meets, and cheerleading competitions. During high school, she was on a state championship cheerleading squad, participated in a variety of cheerleading camps for all ages and abilities, and received training in tumbling from three experienced coaches who own gyms in Wheeling, WV, Bridgeport, OH, and Wellsburg, WV. While Megan was pursuing her undergraduate degree at West Virginia University, she continued to help her hometown elementary and middle school squads with competition routines, focusing on cheer, dance, tumbling, and building. Megan looks forward to sharing her passion for cheerleading, dance, and gymnastics with the students at Dance Etc. Email Megan Blow

Amy Eggemeyer has a bachelors degree in business and an elementary teaching certification. She has been dancing for over 30 years and teaching dance for over 20 years. She recently moved to Ohio from Illinois with her husband and 2 boys, Cade (8) and Blake (11). Besides dancing, Amy performed on a competitive cheerleading squad in high school and coached Jr. High cheerleading in Illinois. She has also taught 1st grade school and home tutored for over 8 years. Amy has over 20 years experience teaching jazz, tap, ballet, tumbling and planning recitals. She has taken several dance teams to competitions in the Midwest (Chicago, St. Louis, etc.), earning many 1st place finishes. “I believe that dance (recreational or competitive), is truly an art that involves and develops discipline, confidence, physical fitness, and most of all, fun and friendships!” Email Amy Eggemeyer

Jay Goodlett is the Associate Artistic Director for The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati. He attended the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati for 9 years, studied at the School of American Ballet for several seasons, then joined The Cincinnati Ballet Company in 1992. Mr. Goodlett has performed in many Cincinnati Ballet productions including The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Carmina Burana, Giselle, Blue until June, The Four Temperaments, and Fingerprints, among others. As a choreographer, Mr. Goodlett made his professional debut collaborating with Victoria Morgan on Graceland in March 2002. In April 2005, his work Sing It Franklin had its world premiere at Beyond Ballet. Mr. Goodlett was invited by Opera Theatre of St. Louis to choreograph two operas in their 2005 season, Romeo and Juliet and Rigoletto. When he is not involved with dance, he enjoys spending time with his wife Jenny Leinberger Goodlett (former CB Dancer) and his children, Megan, Nathan, and Mia.

A native of St. Petersburg, Russia, Sergey Pakharev trained at the Academy of Russian Ballet and The School of the Kirov Ballet. Upon graduation, he danced as a Soloist at the Maryinsky Theater. He has had an exciting career, receiving diplomas at both the International Ballet Competition of Rudolf Nureyev in Budapest, Hungary and the International Ballet Competition of Maya Plisetskaya in St. Petersburg, Russia. Since coming to the United States, Mr. Pakharev danced as a Soloist with the Fort Worth/Dallas Ballet. Mr. Pakharev was with Cincinnati Ballet in 2003-2008 and has performed lead roles in Coppelia, Swan Lake, Balanchine's Who Cares, and Prodigal Son and the Tchaikovsky pas de deux. Sergy recently finished dancing with Rebecca Davis Dance Company in Philadelphia and has returned to Cincinnati to pursue teaching.

Kelly Lorenz has studied ballet and tap since she was three years old. Kelly received her BFA in Theatre, with an emphasis in Acting and Directing from Northern Kentucky University. She has performed with The Cincinnati Children’s Theatre, Commonwealth Dinner Theatre and Downtown Theater Classics. Kelly has been teaching Ballet, Jazz and Tap for several years at different studios and day care centers around Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati. When not teaching, Kelly stays busy with her four children Benjamin, Eylie, Nicholas and Natalie. Email Kelly Lorenz

Ricky Mesina is a graduate of Ball State University where he received a Bachelors Degree in Advertising. Ricky has been dancing since he could walk, and learned how to dance by imitating Michael Jackson videos and performances. Rickys style of dance is influenced by freestyle movements and musicality. During college he was a member of a hip-hop dance team called "Outlet", which provided him with the opportunity to perform and compete in many dance competitions. After graduating from college, he moved to Cincinnati and continued his passion for dance by teaching hip-hop workshops and classes at numerous studios in the area. Ricky is constantly learning and improving his craft by participating in dance conventions and staying up to date on the latest moves and trends. He is excited for the opportunity to spread his love for dance, music and creativity to Dance Etc. Email Ricky Mesina

Kaitlyn Frankenfield

Sean Popp

Olivia Policicchio is a native of Toronto, Canada however she considers Cincinnati, Ohio her home. She played the role of Tiger Lily in Peter Pan, and the role of Consuela in West Side Story, at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. She has also performed with Music Theatre of Wichita where she appeared in Cats (Victoria-the white cat), Hairspray (Tammy), White Christmas, and Damn Yankees (The Nerd). She received her BPA in Dance Performance from Oklahoma City University where she was a 4 year member of the American Spirit Dance Company. Other credits include: Graveyard Shift and Dick Foster's Spellbound at Paramount's King's Island and Dare to Be Soul Dance Co. with director Destini Rogers from the first season of So You Think You Can Dance. She is a faculty member of EV3 Dance Convention with directors Nick Drago(from Bravo's "Step it up and Dance") and Grant Chenok. Currently she judges for Platinum National Dance Competitions, Talent On Parade, and Encore. She teaches and choreographs for many studios all over the Cincinnati area. She hopes to instill the love of dance in all of her students through her passion for the art of choreography. Email Olivia Policicchio

Debbie Snyder has been dancing for over 30 years. She grew up in Connecticut, where she performed and studied at school and with her local studio’s performing company, and through a Wesleyan University summer arts program. She taught summer classes for children as well. Debbie received her undergraduate degree in Comparative Literature at Columbia College where she took dance classes and performed in dance and musical theater. While in New York, she also took dance classes at Steps and Broadway Dance Center. She received her law degree from Boston University and her Masters in Public Health from Harvard University. While in Boston, she studied at the Jeanette Neill dance studio and choreographed and performed in Boston University Law School’s Legal Follies. In Cincinnati, she has worked directly and indirectly with children through her positions as a Director at Child Focus, Inc., work as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, and volunteer work as a Parents Association Grade Representative, class Room Parent, and pre-school Sunday school teacher. Debbie has 2 daughters. She is delighted to be part of the Dance Etc. community and looks forward to sharing the joy of dancing with her students. Email Debbie Snyder

David Frautschi

JUNIOR STAFF

Kayla Vertner is Senior at Milford High School. She has been a member of the Dance Etc. family since age 5. She started with basic tumbling, then cheerleading, then dance. She cheered for the Milford Football Club, Milford Jr. High and then, Dance Etc.’s "Outlaw All-Stars" which took National Champions at the 2005 competition in Chicago. She also participated in Hip Hop, Lyrical and Jazz under Ms. Anne’s direction, joining competition teams in 2007. During the summers, Kayla works for Miami Township Recreational Department directing camps, including D.A.R.E camps, kindergarten safety camps, and more. She loves teaching, and has experience working with children from ages 3 to teen. She plans to attend college and become a medical engineer. “I try and work with my students to teach them about themselves and new, fun ways to make friends. I love children and cannot wait until I see them in class!”

Christian Pfister is a junior in high school and is a teacher in training. She took her first dance class at five years old and has danced and tumbled ever since. She now has over 10 years of training with Dance Etc. and 3 years of teaching experience. She especially enjoys working with young children - she comes from a large family of 12! “It is great to be able to pass my love for dance and gymnastics on to others!”

Tiera Martinelli is a Freshman in highschool and has been home schooled all her life. She took tumbling classes at Dance Etc. when starting at age 3. Now she is a level 7 gymnast at Cincinnati Gymnastics Accademy and has been in competitive gymnastics for 5 years. She loves working with kids and teaching them to tumble.

Elizabeth Johnson is a senior at Milford High School. She started taking tumbling classes at Dance Etc when she was 7. When she was 7 and 8 years old, she was a cheerleader for Milford Youth Football. She started competition teams at the age of 9, starting with acro/tumbling. In the years to follow, she competed on acro, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and lyrical teams. She is currently on The Company, a highly trained group of only 7 dancers who compete together in ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, etc. She started dancing with Milford High School Dance team her junior year. She is currently on Milford’s High School dance team again this year. Elizabeth loves to teach children her love for gymnastics and dance. She plans on attending the University of Cincinnati for a degree in Education.

GUEST INSTRUCTORS

Rene Micheo was born in Guatemala City. He is a former Principal Dancer with Cincinnati Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Houston Ballet, Santiago Ballet and Guatemala National Ballet. He choreographed for Cincinnati Ballet and re-staged full length Ballets for the Company. After retiring, Mr. Micheo picked up a camera for dance photography. His works are published by Dance Magazine, Point Magazine, Newspapers and Dance websites of major dancers, choreographers and critics. He has taught at the Cincinnati Ballet, Otto M. Budig Academy, School for Creative and Performing Arts, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Lexington Ballet, Lafayette Ballet Theater, Ballet Tech Ohio, DeLa Arts Place and others. Currently, he the Director of Zero 2 Hero Studios located downtown Cincinnati.

Marlayna Locklear hails from Milwaukee,WI. She is currently a member of Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. She began her training at the age of 12 and graduated from Milwaukee High School of the Arts and University of the Arts In Philadelphia, PA with a BFA in dance. Marlayna was one of the founding members of The Milwaukee Dance Connection and has gone on to dance with Eleone Dance Theatre, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Dallas Black Dance Theatre II and DCDC. She has performed works by Christopher Huggins, Dwight Rhoden, Ron Brown, Donald Byrd, Diane McIntyre to name a few. She also has worked with members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Momix, Martha Graham Company, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Milwaukee Ballet, Deka Dance, Nation Ballet of Slovenia, Philadanco.

Kristi Capps, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Kristi began dancing at the age of nine. Her ballet training includes the School of American Ballet, Harid Conservatory and North Carolina School of the Arts. While at NCSA, she was chosen to study and perform with the Hungarian State Ballet School in Budapest, Hungary. Upon graduation, Kristi was a member of Atlanta Ballet for three seasons. She joined Cincinnati Ballet in 1996. Rising quickly through the ranks, Ms. Capps delighted audiences in many lead roles including Swanhilda in Coppélia, Kitri in Don Quixote, Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Giselle in Giselle, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, and Diamond pas de deux in George Balanchine's Jewels. In 2002, Kristi danced the role of The Sleepwalker in the recreation of George Balanchine's La Sonnambula under the direction of Frederic Franklin CBE, for the Balanchine Trust Archives. As a guest artist, she has performed with many ballet companies and galas such as the International Ballet Festival of Miami, Florida, Stars of American Ballet in Spain and the International Dance Festival in Vail, Colorado. Ms. Capps also danced as a principal with the Chautauqua Ballet Company in New York under the direction of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux. Locally, Kristi has been featured with the Cincinnati Pops and the Cincinnati Opera, and she'll also perform this September in New York City at Columbia University's Miller Theater in Iannis Xenakis' monumental Oresteia, under the direction of choreographer Luca Veggetti.

Kelly Yankle began studying ballet at the School of Canton Ballet at the age of ten. Ms. Yankle has received scholarships to Pacific Northwest Ballet, Chautauqua Institution, where she spent three summers, and two at the School of American Ballet and Central Youth Ballet. Ms. Yankle also participated in a professional workshop with Alonzo King in the summer of 2006. Recently she won first place at the Regional Society of Arts and Letters competition and fifth place at the National Competition in Jacksonville, Florida. She was chosen by Jiang Qi to be the featured American performer in the Hopestar performance tour in Beijing, China in 2004. Ms. Yankle is currently on a scholarship majoring in ballet with a minor in Spanish at the College-Conservatory Music at the University of Cincinnati. She has performed many featured roles.

Viky Andreatta Smith, originally from South Africa, has R.A.D. and Cecchetti ballet training (elementary through advanced, with honors). The studied with the Boca Ballet in Florida on scholarship, with the Cecchetti Winter School in South America on scholarship, and in South America as well as London with the R.A.D. Summer Workshops. A retired professional dancer, Viky jas performed professionally in South Africa, Swaziland, and USA, in “Romeo and Juliet” (Boca Ballet Theater), “The Promise” and “The Nutcracker” (International Ballet Co.), “Cinderella” (S. Broward Ballet Co.), “Giselle” (South African Ballet Co.), and others. She teaches ballet, jazz and lyrical full-time in South Florida at the Dancers Gallery and Dance Academy of North Lauderdale, Florida. She also taught full-time for one year at Dance Etc., working with competition teams as well as recreational classes, and returning once a year as a guest instructor.

Kelli Barton attends the University of Cincinnati and is studying pre-physical therapy. She is a member of U.C.'s Varsity Dance Team, being the only Freshman to be accepted onto the Varsity team. The team won the 2009 National Hip-Hop Championships, and in addition, her team represented the United States to win the first world dance team competition. Kelli has been dancing since she was four years old. She competed at Dance Etc. for 7 years and won many regional and national competitions. She is trained and has competed in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, hip-hop, and partnering. In 2007, Kelli won Top Elite Solo at KAR, Top Senior Solo at Showstoppers, Top Senior Solo at Rainbow Connection, and Top Elite Duet at Nationals in Chicago, which was also featured on the national video. Also, she was a finalist and scholarship winner in the Cincinnati Arts Association's Overture Awards. "I love working with kids; I love to see them have fun as they learn to dance."

Jaron Joiner is a professional b-boy performer, instructor, and choreographer. He's the president of a b-boying crew called “B-Boy Unlimited” and also models acts, raps and sings. Jaron has been in local magazines as a model and won Top 10 Body and Best Dancer Awards in Millie Lewis Talent Competition. Jaron studied biomechanics, anatomy, and physiology as a personal trainer. Jaron has performed in China , California and Florida , judges the Jamfest Dance Competitions and has done workshops for dance teams, belly dancers, lyrical, tap, salsa and freestyle dancers. Jaron explains, "My unique style of teaching embraces individuality, personality and character." He also currently is working on his own commercials and dance TV network to continue to bring positivity and spread the love through hip-hop, dance and life.

Tori Patrice has been training in dance since she was 3 years old and has taught/assisted at Dance Etc. for 8 years. She is currently attending Point Park University in Pittsburg, majoring in jazz dance. Point Park's undergraduate dance program has been rated among the best in the United States. She grew up at Dance Etc., competing solos, duets and in groups in ballet, lyrical, tap, jazz, hip-hop, pointe, modern and adagio (partnering/lifts). She has attended national competitions in Chicago, Branson, Myrtle Beach, Panama City, and Las Vegas. She has trained with instructors from the Cincinnati Ballet Company, Don Mirault, Becky Erhart of the Washington DC Ballet, and other professional dancers, including extensive partnering work. She choreographed a musical program for the 5th and 6th graders at Charles L. Seipelt Elementary School in Milford. She was chosen as "Belle" for Milford High School's production of "Beauty and The Best." She has also choreographed and taught hip-hop numbers for bridal shows for Skeffington's Formalwear. She has also performed at nursing homes, churches and other community events. The first year she was eligible, she was chosen to be on Show Choir (a singing/dancing performing group) at Milford High School.

Anthony Krutzkamp is a native of Alexandria, Kentucky, and is a principal dancer with the Cincinnati Ballet for his 10 th season. Since joining the Company in 2001 as a new dancer, he has been promoted every season. Mr. Krutzkamp is a proud graduate of The Virginia School of the Arts where he studied on full scholarship under the direction of Petrus Bosman and David Keener. He furthered his training during summers at Houston Ballet and Boston Ballet. Before coming to Cincinnati Ballet, Mr. Krutzkamp danced with Kansas City Ballet for one season. During that season, he was an intricate part of the reconstruction of Balanchine's Renard, restaged by Todd Bolender , as The Cat. His favorite roles at Cincinnati Ballet include Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, the Tchaikovsky pas de deux, The God in Léonide Massine's Seventh Symphony, the pas de deux in Balanchine's Concerto Barocco, and the Prince in Cinderella. He has also performed in contemporary works, including Adam Hougland's Beyond, and Trey McIntyre's Blue until June and Chasing Squirrel.

Daryl Bjoza is the Co-Director of School of Creative and Performing Arts Dance Ensemble (SCPA). His training includes San Francisco Ballet School, San Diego State University, Western State College of Colorado, and many others. His professional expericne includes 9 years as a soloist in the Cincinnati Ballet Company, as well as work with the San Francisco Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Cleveland Ballet, Theatre-Ballet Canadians, Feld Ballet (NYC), Ballet de Santiago (Chile), Lines Contemporary Dance Company (San Francisco), Ballet Hawaii and others. He is known for his excellent and creative choreography. "My choreography allows the youth and professionals I work with to move in a variety of styles, with depth of character, utilizing strong technical training. This is where they get their varied experience of movement skills, enhancing their marketability not jut as ballet dancers but as musical theatre dancers, modern dance movers, jazz movers and ethnic character dancers."

Jill Marlow - Member of the Cincinnati Ballet Company. Born in Rochester, New York, Jill Marlow trained at Draper Studio of Dance under Timothy Draper. She continued her dance education at American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive and Boston Ballet’s Summer Dance Program. Ms. Marlow received a scholarship to attend Indiana University ’s Ballet Department, where she was coached by the renowned ballerina, Violette Verdy. Ms. Marlow most recently was a corps de ballet member with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre during their 2003-2004 season. She has performed soloist roles, including Summer Fairy in Victoria Morgan’s Cinderella, Hermia in Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Moyna in Giselle, Big Swans in Swan Lake and featured roles in Matjash Mrozewski’s Straight Life, Lynne Taylor-Corbett’s Ballad of You and Me, and Trey McIntyre’s Chasing Squirrel.

Becky Reid has been an instructor at Dance Etc. since 1996. She began her dance training in St. Louis where she was a junior member of the St. Louis Ballet, and performed with the St. Louis Municipal Opera. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance at Stephens College. After graduation, she performed with Dance Miami and toured with the Bob Hope Show. Becky owned and directed a dance studio in St. Louis for over a decade, offering classes and competition teams in ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, acrobatics and more. Upon moving to Ohio, Becky changed her career focus from dance education to academic education, and is currently the Principal of Risen Christ Lutheran School in Springfield, Ohio. She resides with her husband and three daughters.

Heather Walter, MS, A.T.C., is our injury prevention specialist. She grew up in Northern VA, moving to Cincinnati in January 2008. She draws her dance knowledge from personal experience. She has danced for 21 years and for a brief time was a dance major at Towson University until an injury caused her to concentrate on athletic training. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in athletic training from James Madison University in 2005. In 2007, she graduated from Indiana University with a Master of Science degree in Kinesiology with a specialization in athletic training. During her time at IU, Heather worked with the ballet majors, cheerleaders, and dance team as their athletic trainer. Through her work in a physical therapy clinic she has gained much experience in using Pilates for rehabilitation and conditioning.

Jacqui Haas, A.T.C., teaches Pilates and injury prevention at Dance Etc. on a regular basis. She is a former ballet dancer and trained at The School of American Ballet, the Boston ballet and the Cleveland Ballet. As a professional, she danced with the Southern Ballet Theater, Tampa Ballet, New Orleans City Ballet, the Cincinnati Ballet and Ballet Artists Cincinnati. A member of the faculty of the School of the Cincinnati Ballet, Haas earned her bachelor's degree in dance form the University of South Florida' and her Athletic Training Certification from UC. Jacqui cares for dancers and other performers in all their health matters as director of Performing Arts Medicine at Christ Hospital. Haas has extended her reach into the community as the athletic trainer of the Cincinnati Ballet, the School of Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati, the Arnoff Center for Performing Arts and the University of Cincinnati (UC) dance department and as a frequent guest lecturer at UC.