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.

Our Mission

Lake Michigan Dance Academy is dedicated to providing students with quality dance instruction, and instilling in them a passion for the art form that we share with our community.

Our Team

Alissa Tollefson
Founder, Director

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.

Caleb Tollefson
Founder, CFO

Caleb Tollefson graduated Summa Cum Laude from Grand Valley State University in December 2009 where he received his Bachelor of Business Administration. While at Grand Valley, Caleb interned at Herman Miller and assisted with preparing their quarterly financial statements. Upon graduation, Caleb worked in the assurance practice at Ernst and Young where he supervised audit teams, assisted clients with financial reporting, and ensured clients maintained adequate internal controls. During the time Caleb was at EY, he also served as Treasurer at Water of Life Community Church. As the Treasurer, Caleb created and implemented policies and procedures to promote the safeguarding of financial contributions. Caleb is currently a Manager at Baker Tilly where he splits his time between the assurance and advisory practices. He assists clients in a wide array of areas ranging from financial reporting to providing recommendations on how to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of processes within their companies.

Jayma Carney
Class Instructor, Administrative Assistant

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.

Sarah Byington
Class Instructor

Sarah Byington is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science at Grand Valley State University. She is studying Ballet, Pointe, Partnering, Modern, Jazz, and Contemporary technique with Samantha Shelton, Lara Fauche, Carrie Morris, Alissa Tollefson, and Hannah Seidel. Sarah also extensively studied Tap, Hip Hop, and Musical Theater at Dance Grosse Ile with Gina Urso Dudash as well as The Joffrey Ballet School in Manhattan. She danced lead roles in full-length Ballets with the South Eastern Michigan Classical Ballet including, The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Giselle. Her teaching experience includes dance classes in a variety of different styles. She has also choreographed solo and group dances for dance competitions and recitals at Dance Grosse Ile.