About Us
Who We Are: |
Lake Michigan Dance Academy is an up-and-coming dance studio located in the heart of Allendale, Michigan, less than a half hour outside of Grand Rapids and just three hours outside of Chicago. We pride ourselves on developing the whole dancer - creatively, technically, and artistically. Lake Michigan Dance Academy will provide students with expert instruction by professional and pre-professional dancers, while fostering a safe and encouraging environment for our students to grow and mature in their art form.
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Our Mission: |
Our dance studio’s mission is to provide students with the opportunity to achieve their highest level of success while enriching their lives through dance by developing and edifying qualities such as discipline, perseverance, and confidence.
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About the Faculty: |
Alissa Tollefson
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Alissa graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hope College in December 2010 where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Special Education and Dance Education. While at Hope, Alissa received the Distinguished Artist Award as well as the DeLong Dance Award for outstanding achievement in dance. Upon graduation, Alissa moved to Chicago to pursue her professional dance career. She apprenticed for River North Dance Chicago for two summers and participated in the Scholarship Program at Lou Conte Dance Studio before becoming a full-company member at Thodos Dance Chicago, a contemporary dance company. While dancing professionally, Alissa continued to pursue her passion for educating children in the art form, and spent five years teaching and choreographing for children and adolescents ages 3-25 at various studios and intensives throughout the Chicagoland area. Alissa spent four seasons with Thodos Dance Chicago, before moving to Allendale, Michigan. Alissa worked as a Part-Time Professor at Grand Valley State University for the 2015-2016 school year. She taught Modern and Jazz technique classes and choreographed pieces for the Fall and Spring Dance Concerts.
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Jayma Carney
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Jayma grew up in Ortonville, Michigan where she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brandon High School in 2015. She spent the majority of her childhood at Creative Dance Center training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary and Hip Hop. In addition to training, she assisted instructors in classes for younger kids, worked as a substitute instructor, and performed administrative tasks for her home studio. Jayma attended Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp during the summers of 2011-2013, and performed in cities across Western Europe while touring with Blue Lake International Ballet during the summer of 2012. Jayma is currently a Sophomore at Grand Valley State University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training.
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