- 4050 Hunsaker Dr. Suite 2, East Lansing, MI 48823
Our Instructors
Ms. Ashley & Ms. Alyssa
STUDIO OWNERS
Owners, Ms Ashley & Ms Alyssa, bring over 25 years of experience to their students. Together they have a proven track record of competitive excellence. Their work has won numerous choreography awards and has achieved both Regional & National Overall High Scores for multiple routines across many genres. Through their instruction, dancers have qualified for National competitions, won scholarships and have brought home Nationals Titles. Ms Ashley and Alyssa opened Premier Dance Company to bring exemplary instruction to their students.
Ms. Ruthie
Ms Ruthie is from Southern California where she graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance and Business. Growing up Ms Ruthie was always active with Volleyball, Softball, Cheer, Drill Team, Jazz, and Ballet. Ms Ruthie danced through High School and College and attended Lines Ballet and Academy of Ballet in San Francisco. Ms Ruthie has been teaching for over 10 years and her passion has always been for Ballet and it’s discipline.
MS. Liz
Ms Liz An East Lansing MI native. Elizabeth Williams began her ballet training at the age of three with Theda Assiff. Ms. Assiff sent her to Interlochen Music Arts Camp, master classes and auditions for local companies. Upon graduation Miss Liz went to Hartford Ballet to train for her dance teacher certificate. From there she started teaching localled, sll the while performing with the Lansing Ballet Co. In 1992 Miss Liz opened her own school “Elizabeth Williams School of Dance” in Williamston Mi. Her students attended many professional workshops and received scholarships. Some have opened their own schools or went on to a professional career.
Miss Bella
Miss Bella is an alum of PDC and is currently studying Law at LCC, planning to transfer to MSU next year. Miss Bella has been dancing since she was 4 years and competed since she was 9. During her time at PDC Miss Bella often assisted classes and trained in multiple styles. Her passion is Tap & Hip Hop and she cannot wait to work with the PDC dancers!
Ms. Megan
Ms Megan is a graduate of Michigan State University where she received a degree in Kinesiology with a specialty in Health Promotions. She is the proud owner of our local dance shop, Dancy Pantz Boutique, and has taught at several local Mid-Michigan studios for over 10 years. Ms Megan grew up in Hudsonville, Michigan and has been dancing since she was three years old. She grew up dancing at Body Language Dance Company as a competitive dancer, and since then has put together numerous routines which have competed both regionally and nationally, Ms Megan’s routines has won several choreography awards and top 10 placements since she started teaching, and she can’t wait to be a part of Premier Dance Company’s competitive team. In addition to dance, Ms Megan has also obtained certifications in Barre, PiYo Live!, POUND fitness, and as a ACSM Personal trainer to help launch the fitness side of dance.
Ms. Jessica
Ms Jessica is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist and utilizes her extensive training in biomechanics and kinesiology to teach technique and facilitate safe spotting in Acro. Ms Jessica trained at Bohaty’s School of Dance in Acro, Ballet, Tap & Jazz! Ms Jessica is a certified Acrobatic Arts instructor and is passionate about helping our dancers achieve their goals safely!
Miss Emerson
Miss Emerson is PDC Alum and has danced at PDC since the very beginning! She has competed regionally, nationally, and also attended many conventions. Miss Emerson is currently studying Marketing at Michigan State University in hopes to go into sales through Michigan State’s Eli Broad School of Business. Miss Emerson is so grateful to be at PDC!
Miss mIA
Miss Mia has danced for 14 years, and began training at Premier Dance her freshman year of high school. She is currently studying Elementary Education at Michigan State University. She was a long standing assistant at Premier and in 2021 she took over the PDC Hip Hop Program, where she has led the teams to top scores and runner up at HOF Nationals.
Ms. Olivia
Ms Olivia has been teaching with PDC since the very beginning. Ms Olivia danced at Performer’s Edge Dance Theatre in Carmel, IN for 12 years training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, and Musical Theater among other styles. She graduated from MSU in 2017 with her degree in Mechanical Engineering. While attending MSU, Ms Olivia was a member of and Ballet teacher for MSU’s dance performance group. Ms Olivia is currently on leave from the studio, while she is working aboard in Japan!
Miss Maeve
Miss Maeve is a PDC Alum and has danced with Premier since our start in 2015. Miss Maeve has competed throughout her dance career and as won many top spots and National Titles. Most recently, her Duet was named the 2023 Groove National Champion. She is also certified to teach PBT- Progressive Ballet Technique (a revolutionary program for ballet teachers and students). Miss Maeve specializes in Technique, Contemporary, Jazz and Lyrical.
Miss Hanna
Miss Hanna has been dancing for 20 years and has competed for 18 years at both a regional and national level. During her college career she was a four-year varsity letter winner on the Michigan State University Dance Team. Throughout her four years, Miss Hanna had the ability to travel around the country to cheer and support Michigan State University Athletics. Miss Hanna also attended UDA camps and competitions, and was a captain of the 2015-2016 UDA Jazz National Team.
Miss Hanna is trained in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop and Acrobatics. Miss Hanna has taken classes at various prestigious institutions, including the Debbie Allen Dance Academy and Millennium Dance Complex in Los Angeles California. Miss Hanna graduated with from The Michigan State University College of Law and practices locally here in East Lansing!
Miss Emerson
Miss Emerson is a current member of the Michigan State Dance Team, entering her fourth season this upcoming year. She grew up in Shelby Twp, MI while dancing at Linsey’s Cheer and Dance Center and spent four years in the Eisenhower High School Dance Team program. Miss Emerson has background both dancing and teaching various styles including jazz, lyrical, contemporary, pom, and hip hop. She has a passion for sharing her love for dance with students!
Miss Kendall
Miss Kendall is currently studying Marketing at the Eli Broad College of a Business at Michigan State University and also minoring in Dance. Her passion for dance started when she was just 6 years old and she competitively danced for 11 years at Adagio Dance Company in Rochester Hills, Michigan. She is a two-time national solo champion at Hall of Fame Dance Nationals and carries many other titles and group winnings. She loves teaching dance just as much as dancing herself, and specializes in Technique and Contemporary. She loves building relationships with each and every dancer and to help them become the best dancer they can be!
mISS aLAYNA
Miss Alayna is from Clarkston Michigan. She is currently a second year student at Michigan State University, majoring in business. Miss Alayna danced at The Dance Shoppe, where she was a proud member of their competitive team and pre-professional program! Miss Alayna danced across multiple styles and will be working our Tween dancers, as well as helping us bring back our Musical Theatre program!
mS. LAURA
Ms Laura Barrons PT, DPT, MPH
Ms Laura earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Columbia University and is currently a physical therapist in outpatient rehab at U of M Health-Sparrow, where she has over a decade of experience focusing on orthopedic manual therapy. She was a dancer for 11 years of her childhood, with a heavy focus on ballet, as well as tap and jazz. She was also a Division 1 runner at the University of Michigan, competing in indoor and outdoor track, as well as cross country from 2003-2008. Ms Laura is passionate about proper form and strength as keys to prevent injury and keep you enjoying your sport for years to come! Ms Laura will be teaching injury prevention, PBT and working with our dancers to help them become the strongest, safest artists AND athletes that they can be!
mR. JESSE
Mr. Jesse is currently the Artistic Director of CBT and shares his time with us at Premier Dance. Mr. Jesse graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor of Arts in dance. While at school, Mr. Jesse choreographed and lead a non-profit dance organization called Momentum. Before GVSU, Jesse danced for eight years with Children’s Ballet Theatre of Michigan (CBT). After graduation, Jesse danced two seasons with Inaside Chicago Dance as a Performing Apprentice. As well, he danced the Nutcracker with Schaumburg Dance Ensemble for two seasons, danced in Thodos’ New Dances Series, and performed with Alliance Dance Company. In New York, Jesse worked with Shawn Bible Dance Co, Arch Contemporary Ballet, Jonathan Lassiter Co, and Judi Jaekel & Dancers. Jesse taught and trained with students both in Chicago at several different studios and in New York at Art’s House School of Dance & Fine Arts.
mISS ANNA
Miss Anna is a PDC Alum that is currently attending Michigan State University. As a member of the MSU Elite Dance Team she performs at various events on campus and will be joining the team for nationals this season. Outside of dance, Miss Anna is pursuing her degree in Creative Advertising, which she already has her hand in helping with PDC’s social media! This season, Miss Anna is assisting with our competition Hip Hop programs, as well as working with our Tweens.
mS. AINSLEY
Growing up Miss Ainsley was an All Star dancer where she obtained numerous UDA All Star titles, as well as three gold medals at The USASF Dance Worlds! While in High School, Miss Ainsley attended Dakota High School and while on Dakota Dance she received a gold medal in Varsity Pom at DTU nationals as well as a silver medal in Varsity Jazz. Miss Ainsley is a current member of the Michigan State Dance Team, entering her second year with the program!! She is currently a student a Michigan State University. Having grown up dancing competitively, she loves sharing this passion with PDC!!
Miss Emily
MISS KELSEE
Miss Kelsee, grew up dancing competitively and developed a love for teaching at the age of 14. Miss Kelsee has extensive training in all styles of dance including Tap, Jazz, Gymnastics, Cecchetti Ballet, Lyrical, Hip Hop, and Clogging and just finished her 8th year as a dance instructor and choreographer. She is a winning National Choreographer and dancers under her instruction took top places at their National events, as well as won precision awards at the National level. Outside of the studio, Miss Kelsee is an MSU graduate and works with high achieving Middle and High School students in Shiawassee County. Miss Kelsee is so excited to be added to the PDC team to continue to share her love of dance with students.
MISS CAROLINE
Miss Caroline grew up dancing in Metro Detroit, training at Gayles Dance Phase and Drive Dance Co., and spending four years on the nationally ranked Northville High School Dance Team. She is currently a Junior at Michigan State University, where she is studying Advertising Management while serving as third-year member and captain of the MSU Elite Dance Team. Miss Caroline has a passion for teaching dance and has been teaching her own classes since the age of 15. She is thrilled to have found a supportive community here at PDC and cannot wait to share her love of dance with the PDC dancers!
This past year with Premier Dance Company has been such an incredible year. My Dancer has been loved, supported, welcomed, challenged, and embraced by every single teacher and family. PDC is truly the most genuine and incredible place and we wish we could have found them sooner. – DANCE PARENT
