About M&M Dance Academy
M&M Dance Academy is a family-friendly, values-driven dance studio that encourages growth, passion, and creativity in all its students. Check out our vision, mission, and values, as well as our teacher bios, to learn more about how we make dance an educational and fun experience!
Vision
Our goal is to cultivate a passion for dance in students of every age, background, and skill level. Ultimately, we aim to exemplify and instill the belief that dance is about having fun and discovering a lifelong love of dance.
Mission
M&M Dance Academy is committed to offering dancers of all ages a well-rounded, technique-based education focused not only on proper technique but also on performance quality. We strive to maintain a welcoming family environment and provide every student a complete, accurate, and cutting-edge dance education, whether they dance recreationally or competitively.
Values
Vision
Our goal is to cultivate a passion for dance in students of every age, background, and skill level. Ultimately, we aim to exemplify and instill the belief that dance is about having fun and discovering a lifelong love of dance.
Mission
M&M Dance Academy is committed to offering dancers of all ages a well-rounded, technique-based education focused not only on proper technique but also on performance quality. We strive to maintain a welcoming family environment and provide every student a complete, accurate, and cutting-edge dance education, whether they dance recreationally or competitively.
Values
- Pursuit of creative passion
- Dedication to continuous improvement
- Attention to quality and professionalism
- Commitment to community engagement
- Selection of age-appropriate music and costumes
Miss Megan - Director
Miss Megan is a proud native of St. Louis, MO. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance and a Bachelor of Science in mass communications from Stephens College in Columbia, MO. While there, she studied with accomplished teachers and choreographers, including those from The Joffrey Ballet, National Ballet of China, the Martha Graham Co., Broadway, and beyond.
After graduation, Megan moved to New York City where she spent three years studying with renowned dancers and choreographers at Broadway Dance Center, Peridance, and Steps On Broadway. She also traveled the country and performed various tasks while working with StarQuest Dance Competition. This experience taught her the inner workings of the competitions, from how they are run to what the judges are looking for to how to succeed. In addition, Miss Megan spent a year in Milwaukee, WI teaching and choreographing for Studio One Dance Company, as well as working with their competition lines.
Megan also has an extensive musical theatre background performing at the MUNY and other venues in shows such as Annie, A Chorus Line, Will Rogers Follies, Cabaret, George M!, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, among others.
Today, Megan is excited to offer ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical, and musical theatre classes at M&M Dance Academy for ages three to adult. She is also proud to manage a competitive company that continues to grow in technical prowess and passion each year. Miss Megan can't wait to get into the classroom to start this exciting and fun year of dance! If you have any questions, feel free to email her at megan@mandmdance.com.
After graduation, Megan moved to New York City where she spent three years studying with renowned dancers and choreographers at Broadway Dance Center, Peridance, and Steps On Broadway. She also traveled the country and performed various tasks while working with StarQuest Dance Competition. This experience taught her the inner workings of the competitions, from how they are run to what the judges are looking for to how to succeed. In addition, Miss Megan spent a year in Milwaukee, WI teaching and choreographing for Studio One Dance Company, as well as working with their competition lines.
Megan also has an extensive musical theatre background performing at the MUNY and other venues in shows such as Annie, A Chorus Line, Will Rogers Follies, Cabaret, George M!, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, among others.
Today, Megan is excited to offer ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical, and musical theatre classes at M&M Dance Academy for ages three to adult. She is also proud to manage a competitive company that continues to grow in technical prowess and passion each year. Miss Megan can't wait to get into the classroom to start this exciting and fun year of dance! If you have any questions, feel free to email her at megan@mandmdance.com.
Miss Lydia - Ballet, Pointe, Competition Team, Lyrical, Jazz
Miss Lydia received her early training at the Lynchburg Fine Arts Center in Lynchburg, Virginia. She is a graduate of the Virginia School of the Arts, where she also began teaching creative movement and ballet. During her time there, she received the Dame Margot Fonteyn Award and the Jan Petrus Bosman Award. Lydia began her professional career with the Richmond Ballet, where she performed in The Nutcracker, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Cinderella from 2007 to 2009.
In 2009, Lydia moved to St. Louis, Missouri, to further pursue her professional career with Missouri Ballet Theatre (2009–2017), where she performed leading roles: the Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, the title role in Cinderella, Mina Harker in Dracula, the title role of Ariel in The Little Mermaid, and Juliet in Romeo & Juliet Pas de Deux.
Miss Lydia joined the M&M Dance Academy team in 2012. She now teaches all styles, ages, and skill levels. In the winter of 2017, she created her own version of the beloved holiday show The Nutcracker. MMDA dancers continue to perform and share her love of this ballet year after year. Miss Lydia also works closely with the competition team, choreographing solos, duet/trios, and group dances each season.
Miss Lydia is excited to continue sharing her artistry and love of dance with the MMDA family.
In 2009, Lydia moved to St. Louis, Missouri, to further pursue her professional career with Missouri Ballet Theatre (2009–2017), where she performed leading roles: the Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, the title role in Cinderella, Mina Harker in Dracula, the title role of Ariel in The Little Mermaid, and Juliet in Romeo & Juliet Pas de Deux.
Miss Lydia joined the M&M Dance Academy team in 2012. She now teaches all styles, ages, and skill levels. In the winter of 2017, she created her own version of the beloved holiday show The Nutcracker. MMDA dancers continue to perform and share her love of this ballet year after year. Miss Lydia also works closely with the competition team, choreographing solos, duet/trios, and group dances each season.
Miss Lydia is excited to continue sharing her artistry and love of dance with the MMDA family.
Miss Jen - Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop
Miss Jen is a Midwest native with over 20 years of dance experience. She began dancing at age 3 in Fort Wayne, IN at LA Dance, followed by Tiffany and Company Studio of Dance. She has trained in jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, modern/contemporary, and lyrical. While at Tiffany and Company, Jen was a member of the Master Company competition team. She was also given the opportunity to assist the studio’s head instructors and the owner of the studio in their classes for the younger and recreational companies. When Jen was in High School she was given some of her own classes to teach focusing on technique and strengthening. Jen was also a member of her high school’s Hip Hop only dance team where she served as Captain her senior year. Jen then attended the University of Notre Dame. While in college she was a member of the Notre Dame Pom Squad, the school’s dance team, where she was able to continue dancing and choreographing for pep rallies, basketball games, and more.
After college, Jen found her way to Springfield, MO to pursue her Master’s degree at Missouri State University. While in Springfield Jen joined the team of teachers at Dance Canvas Performing Arts Center for 2.5 years. She taught all ages and styles and choreographed for the studio’s competition team. In 2019 Jen moved to St. Louis with her now husband, Matt. She joined the M&M Dance Academy team in the summer of 2020 and teaches all ages and skill levels. Miss Jen works heavily with the competition team at MMDA choreographing several solos, duet/trios, and group pieces each season. She loves getting to spend time with all of our dancers, big and small, and help them grow their love of dance.
After college, Jen found her way to Springfield, MO to pursue her Master’s degree at Missouri State University. While in Springfield Jen joined the team of teachers at Dance Canvas Performing Arts Center for 2.5 years. She taught all ages and styles and choreographed for the studio’s competition team. In 2019 Jen moved to St. Louis with her now husband, Matt. She joined the M&M Dance Academy team in the summer of 2020 and teaches all ages and skill levels. Miss Jen works heavily with the competition team at MMDA choreographing several solos, duet/trios, and group pieces each season. She loves getting to spend time with all of our dancers, big and small, and help them grow their love of dance.
Miss Keli - Ballet, Jazz, & Lyrical
Keli Brook Hermes is originally from Dallas, Texas. She graduated with distinction from the University of Oklahoma in 2006 with a BFA. in Modern Dance Performance. Upon graduation, Keli began dancing with Modern American Dance Company (MADCO) touring nationally and performing in concert performances including a feature role in ‘Chimera’ by Todd Weeks. She also performed works by Robert Battle, Michael Foley, Jon Beasant III, and Cecil Slaughter. In 2009, Keli was hired as a teaching mentor for St. Louis Artworks and was also a guest artist with the University of Missouri-St. Louis dance program. Additionally, her choreography has been shown at 60×60 Dance, Cottey College, Lindenwood University, National Dance Week, Principia College, and Creekview High School. Keli has been a dancer and choreographer with Leverage Dance Theater since 2013 where she has performed in seven full length concerts, toured regionally, and performed as a lead character in the company's elementary school educational programs. She was promoted to assistant director of Leverage Dance Theater in 2017. Keli is excited for the opportunity to teach at MMDA!
Miss Paige- Ballet, Jazz, & Contemporary
Miss Paige is originally from St. Louis, Missouri and began her training at Arts in Motion School of Dance. She graduated from Webster University in 2019 with a BFA in Modern Dance and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship. Her training outside of Webster University includes Nashville Ballet, The Big Muddy Dance Company, MADCO, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. In addition to performing as a part of the Webster University Dance Ensemble, she has also performed at the American College Dance Association Regional Conference for three consecutive years. She also had the opportunity to perform in Geneva, Switzerland while studying abroad with Webster University. She is currently dancing with Leverage Dance Theater in St. Louis and looks forward to continuing her movement research in the community.
Miss Barbara - Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Musical Theater
Barbara Daniszewski received her early ballet training with Lucille Hood at Rockville School of Ballet, a feeder school for the Washington Ballet. Other teachers she trained with included: Oleg Tupine and Tatiana Rousseau (Ballet Russe), Colin Worth (Royal Ballet), Sylvia Worth (National Ballet of Canada) and Val Salnikov (Kirov Ballet). She performed with Austin Ballet and Lynchburg Regional Ballet Theater in over 30 full length ballet productions. Some of her favorite parts include Giselle in “Giselle”, Swanhilda in “Coppelia”, as well as the Sugarplum, Snowqueen, lead Arabian and Mrs. Stahlbaum in the “Nutcracker”. She has taught ballet for a total of 27 years at: the Lynchburg Fine Arts Center, Virginia School of the Arts Community School, Dance Lynchburg and now M&M Dance Academy. She is versed in Cecchetti, Vaganova and RAD training methods. She also was a licensed general and special education teacher and taught elementary school for 17 years. She is so excited to be a member of the fabulous staff at M&M Dance Academy.
Miss Cheryl - Acro, Tap, Ballet, Progessing Ballet TEchnique
Bio information coming soon.
Mr. Tyrus - Hip Hop
Tyrus has led choreography for local hip hop events including performances and music videos for local music artists. He has been featured on local news channels, and he also has performed in a number of TV commercials. Tyrus has viral YouTube videos, was featured on World of Dance, and showcased on The TedX (TedTalks) stage performing his signature dance style. His most memorable moment has to be when he was featured on the popular dance show So You Think You Can Dance (Season 12) where he was in the final 25 out of 220 competitors!
At 30 years old he is still adventuring in new dance projects, and his #1 goal is to inspire all and grow dancers.
At 30 years old he is still adventuring in new dance projects, and his #1 goal is to inspire all and grow dancers.
Mr. Fred - BreakDance
Fred ("Shoulders") is a co-founder of the Unofficials Crew, which has been seen battling across the nation. He has also won Bboy (breakdancer) of the Year 2015 and S.L.U.M. Fest (St. Louis Underground Music Festival) 1v1 BreakDance Battle 2013.
Fred has been teaching at M&M Dance Academy for a few years now. His BreakDance class started out as just a summer class, but its popularity has made it a year-round offering! Fred teaches many technical steps, including top rock, 6 step, windmills, and many more. He especially enjoys freestyle and in-class battles!
Fred has been teaching at M&M Dance Academy for a few years now. His BreakDance class started out as just a summer class, but its popularity has made it a year-round offering! Fred teaches many technical steps, including top rock, 6 step, windmills, and many more. He especially enjoys freestyle and in-class battles!
MEet Our FRont Desk Team
Sam Murrell
|
Emma Coverdale
|