OWNER/DIRECTOR/INSTRUCTOR

Rachel started her journey at the age of three at Annette and Company school of dance. A flame was ignited when she first stepped out on the floor and she fell in love with the art of dance. Growing up at the studio, she took classes and assisted daily to begin teaching on her own at the age of sixteen. Rachel has extensive training in tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, lyrical and musical theatre. She has received top awards from prestigious conventions and competitions across the country. Many of her pieces have taken best in show and overall prizes at renowned competitions across the U.S. including Tremaine, New York City Dance Alliance, West Coast Dance Explosion, LA Dance Magic, LA Dance Force and Dupree. Some of her industrial work includes the Detroit Pistons pre-game show, Polaris Activewear, Michigan State Fair, Woodward Dream Cruise, Step up Revolution Flash Mob, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Pediatric Aids Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes and Kids Kicking Cancer. In 2004, Rachel was the artistic director at Precision Dance Academy and ran the competition program for two years. Rachel came back to her home studio in 2007 and has been educating dancers in Farmington Hills ever since. Her students have won numerous awards and scholarships. Rachel is absolutely ecstatic to be opening Gravity Dance Center and looking forward to igniting the flame in future students and building bonds with each and every one of them.

OWNER & INSTRUCTOR

Shane is a musician, singer, songwriter, dancer, actor, martial artist and fitness instructor. He plays guitar, drums and piano and has years of experience writing songs and performing in musical theatre productions. He is an IFA certified personal trainer and a Satori Alliance certified martial arts instructor. For the past two years, Shane has been teaching at True Martial Arts—voted Channel 4 News Detroit’s Best martial arts school. Shane is dedicated to the internal arts and has been teaching tai chi and meditation. Shane is a high energy, fun-filled, out-of-the-box (but still structured) teacher. His method is to get you excited about what you’re doing and provide a place to be yourself and unleash the spirit inside. He looks forward to being a part of the GDC family and watching students soar to new heights.

ADMINISTRATIVE/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & INSTRUCTOR

Lizz LeClerc is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and a graduate of Wayne State University, having completed their Bachelor’s of Science in Dance, as well as a K-12 Teaching Certificate in Dance Education. Lizz is our Artistic & Administrative Director here at GDC, as well as the Director of Redford Dance. They specialize in ballet, contemporary/lyrical & acro dance, in addition to teaching jazz, musical theater, hip hop & tap! They were a member of the professional modern dance company DDCdances from 2018-2022; having completed their apprenticeship in 2019, then becoming a full company member, and taking on the role of Assistant Director for the company’s 42nd season. Lizz's choreography has been featured at FunGirl’s Ypsi Dance Swap, ArtLabJ’s Detroit Dance Race, Kristi Faulkner’s Women’s Work Showcase, DDCdances’s Collage Concert, Collective Sweat Detroit’s Online Birthday Performance, DDCdance’s Spring 2022 Concert, and the 2023 Collage Dance Festival. Lizz has worked with numerous dance artists including Barbara Selinger, Bill Evans, Lisa LaMarre, Jeanne Mam-Luft, Adesola Akinleye, Karen Prall, Eva Powers, and Nick Cave. Lizz loves being a part of the GDC family and inspiring students of all ages!

INSTRUCTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER

Taylor began dancing at the age of 3. A childhood hobby became a passion and at 16 she began teaching at Annette & Co school of dance. After graduation from Mercy High School she went on to study business at Western Michigan University. Taylor is looking forward to returning to her passion on Tuesday evenings at GDC!!

INSTRUCTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER

Katie grew up outside of Detroit where she began dancing at the age of 3. She went on to earn her BFA in dance from Western Michigan University where she specialized in commercial dance. Katie has danced with the Cincinnati Ballet in their performance of the Nutcracker and the Eisenhower Dance Company. She has also toured with Tremaine Dance Conventions and spent many summers dancing on the Disney stage. She is very excited to be joining the GDC family!

INSTRUCTOR/WARDROBE MANAGER

Andrea Szumanski has over 25 years of experience dancing and performing. She is an alumni of the Eastern Michigan University Dance Program, with a concentration in Performance. While at university, she performed in musical productions as well as with the dance program and dance team. After earning her degree, she quickly found a passion for teaching. Andrea has earned numerous judges’ awards, as well as nationally recognized titles for her choreography. She’s so happy to be a part of the GDC family.

TAP INSTRUCTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER

“At age 35 my mother started tap dancing and suggested I try too; I’ve been tapping ever since.” Heidi has been teaching tap for more than 30 years and hopes to follow in her mother's footsteps and tap for decades to come.

Heidi started her tap journey in the 1980s at Annette & Co. School of Dance in Michigan and eventually ended up teaching and performing in Washington, D.C. for over 20 years. Before moving back to Detroit in 2016, Heidi taught tappers of all levels—from absolute beginners to professionals—at the Joy of Motion Dance Center in Washington, D.C.. Heidi is the founder, director, and choreographer of the rhythm tap company Tappening that has, since 2000, created pieces to a wide range of music such as R&B, electronica, reggae, hip hop, bluegrass, classical, jazz, and rock and performed at several D.C. venues including the Kennedy Center. In 2010, she started another rhythm tap company, Tappenstance, for adult tappers. In 2008, she made her Broadway debut at Lincoln Center as part of a tap chorus with the New York Philharmonic. Heidi was also an adjunct dance professor at American University for several years.

Heidi has studied, performed, and jammed with finest tap dancers across the U.S. Her tap family includes such greats as Chloe Arnold, Maud Arnold, Michelle Dorrance, Jason Holley, Jason Janas, Quynn Johnson, Toni Lombre, Joseph Webb, and Baakari Wilder.

INSTRUCTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER

Aly has been dancing for 15 years, and performed competitively for 11 years. After graduating from Farmington High School in 2023, she began teaching at her childhood studio and has loved every minute of it! Aly will be attending college to study psychology & criminology. She is very excited to join the GDC family and see what the future holds!

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