Our Story

Ashley had danced for 18 years with the Above the Barre dance company before becoming an instructor. She has won many awards as a performer and choreographer throughout her years. Ashley was accepted into the Broadway dance center professional semester in New York where she trained. She prides herself on encouraging dancers to be the best they can be in a positive way. aside from dance Ashley attends Lorain County Community College to pursue a career in graphic design. She loves the arts and incorporates a fun creative learning environment for her students.

Brittany started at Above the Barre in 2016. Previously, she taught preschool for 7 years. She has a passion for teaching and helping children progress. Brittany is certified in CPR and First Aid, amongst many other Early Childhood trainings. Brittany has received certifications from the OCALI Autism Certification Center in both Early Childhood and School-Aged ranges. A well-rounded coach, she is excited to share her passion with every student and can’t wait to see them succeed.

Cora has been working with Above the Barre in varying degrees since the doors opened in 2003. She has enjoyed taking part in creating graphics, marketing and even altering costumes for the Dance Company. Her four daughters have all grown up at ATB dancing or taking Ninja classes. She and her husband Tom live in North Ridgeville and enjoy camping and spending time with family and friends.

Bio coming soon!

Jeff has spent over 30 years in this building and has been a coach here since 2008. He was a college gymnast at the University of Illinois in Chicago and has been coaching since 1997. Jeff loves this sport and everything it does for children’s strength, confidence and most importantly, having fun. He is USAG Safety Certified and is actually a registered professional disc golfer. In his free time, he loves to snowboard and throw Frisbees.

Jessica is a native of Cleveland Ohio. She comes from a dancing family and is an alumnus of Above the Barre. At a young age, she trained in dance and gymnastics winning many state and national titles including Miss Dance of Ohio 2013. Jessica has studied at Broadway Dance Center in New York City under the direction of Bonnie Erickson getting to perform on the Alvin Ailey Stage. She has worked professionally for Norwegian Cruise Lines as and dancer and aerialist through the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Jessica has a huge passion for choreography and training. Her choreography has been recognized on the regional and national level.

Lisa is Above the Barre's Customer Service Manager. She joined our staff with over 25 years of customer service experience including over 4 years of office management experience in the customer service industry.

Nicole is a familiar face with Above The Barre since she is a Thome-Ohio Gymnastics Alumni and started coaching here at the age of 15. Throughout her 16 years of coaching, she has traveled around and gained knowledge throughout different programs! Currently she is our Compulsory Team Director who also enjoys being on our Marketing Team. Nicole graduated from Baldwin Wallace University in 2015 with a Liberal Arts Degree, Majoring in Public Relations and Minoring in Business Management. The sport of gymnastics and children have always been her passion, as she enjoys waking up everyday doing exactly what she loves to do in life! If she is not at the gym you can find her spending time with her family. She just had her first baby girl on January 24th, 2024. She hopes her daughter will love the sport of gymnastics as much as she does!

Taylor has been a part of Above the Barre most of their life. Starting gymnastics in Preschool and continued both as an athlete and an employee through high school and college. This past spring Taylor graduated from Lorain County Community College(LCCC) with an Associate of Arts. Through LCCC Taylor found a passion for ceramics and even had pieces featured in the school’s art show.  With a deep connection to Above the Barre and a passion for creativity, Taylor strives to make the gym a fun and comfortable space that helps foster children’s skills and confidence. 

Aaron Blizzard’s entire life has revolved around the world of performance arts. With a dance background that spans over 18 years, Aarons savvy holds no limit to the dance genre, avenue, or creative outlet—including a repertoire of Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Contemporary, and Musical Theatre. His concert dancing background stems from his pre professional and intensive apprenticeship training with both Early Mosely’s Institute of the Arts and Connecticut Dance Theatre (Artistic Director Donna Bonasera). Today, Aaron is devoted to perfecting the art of Ballroom Dance as a professional DanceSport athlete. As a ballroom instructor, Aaron is certified through Full Silver in the American Style Rhythm, American Style Smooth, Alternate and Club Style Dances, and Exhibition. He also holds in-depth expertise of Partnering Lifts and Tricks coming from an extensive Ballet training. As a complement to his dance background, Aaron's knowledge extends into physical fitness as a former personal trainer, specializing in strength and conditioning, corrective exercise techniques and flexibility. Aaron is driven to link his diverse knowledge of physical training to create a more comprehensible Dance curriculum—installing into his students what it means and takes to be both a dancer and an artist. He challenges his students to realize what limitless potential they hold from the first time they walk into the studio. With a deep passion for straight-forward teaching combined with an inalienable humour, Aaron loves to work with students of all ages, levels, goals, interests, and backgrounds.

Amanda was born and raised right here in the Cleveland area and now resides in Avon, Ohio. Amanda has been with Above the Barre since 2005 and has 30 plus years’ experience and training under her belt in dance. Amanda attended both Kent State and University of Toledo where she studied and majored in Dance. She was a member of KSU Dance Flash Force and Captain of the Toledo Rockettes and is currently a proud member of DMA Chapter #16 and Ohio Dance Masters. She also studied and assisted at Broadway Dance Center in New York City and at The Edge in LA. Amanda has performed as a dancer, singer and a magician’s assistant throughout the U.S. and abroad; also spending six summers and 8 fall seasons performing at Cedar Point Amusement Park. You can see her cutting edge, award-winning work in theaters, amusement parks and local studios throughout North America. Her teaching accolades include numerous regional and nation competitive Choreography & Technique Awards. Just some of her many awards for her performances include “Best Female Performer” IAPPA 2005-2007 and “Best Actress in a Musical” by The Scene. All of Amanda’s students are taught to practice what you perform, be confident, be committed, and of course have fun.

Ashley had danced for 18 years with the Above the Barre dance company before becoming an instructor. She has won many awards as a performer and choreographer throughout her years. Ashley was accepted into the Broadway dance center professional semester in New York which she trained. She prides herself on encouraging dancers to be the best they can in a positive way. aside from dance Ashley attends Lorain County Community College to pursue a career in graphic design. She loves the arts and incorporates a fun creative learning environment for her students.

Carla joined us here at Above the Barre in 2015 teaching Jazz Lyrical Ballet and Acro. Carla started dancing when she was just three years old and has over 25 years of experience with competitive dance and performing. While attending Point Park College, she earned her degree in Dance with a concentration on Ballet and Jazz. Carla was also a member of the Pittsburgh Tap Ensemble and performed in multiple shows including “The Nutcracker” with the Ohio Ballet Theater and “The Jazz Nutcracker” with PoPC and spring showcases. Due to her love of dance and commitment, she has been awarded numerous scholarships and awards for dance and choreography. Here at ATB, Carla fell in love with teaching due to watching her students grow and excel all while having a smile on their faces, “I love watching that lightbulb go off when they get something right; and then to watch them live their dreams while dancing on cruise-lines, college dance teams and even going pro.” Not only is Carla a great asset here at ATB as a dance instructor, but she is also a talented hair stylist in Bay Village, OH. When she’s not at the dance studio or salon, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children who live in Westlake.

Above the Barre’s Hip Hop, Boy’s Next, and Adult Hip Hop classes has the pleasure of having Carlin be the instructor since 2014. Carlin has achieved many accomplishments working with different organizations, the performing arts and helping others. At Berea Mid Park High School, he was a part of the Theater program, Concert Choir, Key Club, program director for the Annual Black History Celebration and the peer mediation program. In just his first year of college at Write State University, Carlin became Vice President of his freshman class for the Black Student Union and led many events throughout the year including a suicide prevention event. He was a part of an award-winning dance group and was voted to be Chaplian for two Christian organizations on campus, one being a Gospel choir. At his home church, and many other in Cleveland, Carlin has choreographed and coordinated dance ministries, including his own Team Victory and for the guys Dance Too Program with the Cleveland Ballet. With life lessons and excellent dance moves, his teaching style is very inspiring to those in his class and is “honored to be part of the ATB family.”

Bio coming soon!

Christina is a professional dancer who loves working with Above the Barre. Christina was accepted into the Broadway Dance Center Professional Semester in New York City when she graduated high school. Christina has been spotted in multiple music videos, countless dance magazines, and numerous YouTube videos. She was with Tokyo Disney performing in King Triton’s Concert 2017-2018. Christina loves to inspire children to live their dreams and push themselves to be their best version.

Claudia Gulan grew up dancing at Above the Barre for a total of twelve years while also competing with their Dance Company. She taught dancenastics for two years while in high school and dancing at the studio. She will be graduating from Ohio University in December 2023 with a degree in Early Childhood Education, while also teaching school age dance and Acro! 

Diana Horvath is on the board of directors for the Ohio Chapter of Dance Masters of America and manages Ohio Dance Masters’ yearly scholarship competition.  Diana also choreographed Tap pieces for Dance Project Seasons 6 & 7 and teaches at Medina Centre for Dance Art.  Diana was a dance studio owner for over 25 years and a dance instructor in all genres for over 40.  As such, Diana has choreographed countless recitals, and competitive routines as well as judged auditions and competitions.  

Diana is certified to teach Tap, Jazz, Ballet, and Acrobatics from Dance Masters of America. She has studied dance since the age of three and has over 40 years of teaching experience.  Throughout the years she has taken Master classes with Sandman Sims, Savion Glover, Stepp Stewart, Steven Boyd, Bob Rizzo, and Rennie Davis.  She also attended the Dance Masters of America Teachers Training School at Kent State University. 

Diana has a BA degree in Business from Cleveland State University and rounded out her dance training while earning her degree.

Denise Bryant has over 42 years of teaching experience. Denise has danced both on stage and on television. For 24 years she owned and operated the Denise Bryant Studio of Dance in Tallmadge. Denise is now happy to be sharing her knowledge of dance with several students in various locations. She is currently serving as President of Ohio Dance Masters and is also a member of Dance Masters of America, and the Cecchetti Council of America (where she serves as Scholarship Chairperson). Denise choreographed Bye, Bye Birdie for Tallmadge High School and Fiddler On the Roof, Oliver, My Fair Lady and The Wizard of Oz for The Dynamics, an intergenerational theater group in Tallmadge. Denise has taught Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Pointe, Acro, Modern and Lyrical. She participates in workshops and master classes to continue learning about this living art we call Dance.

My passion for ballet was shaped by my struggles with injuries and the perseverance and strength training required to overcome them. I pursued a ballet career after high school and became a trainee with Nashville Ballet. I then moved to the West Coast to dance with companies there, but a spinal injury cut my career short. When I returned to teaching ballet, I discovered that my unique perspective and approach to technique - focused on strength, consistency, and humor - resonated with my students. I believe that anyone can achieve their dream of becoming a dancer, regardless of their natural abilities. With the right guidance, knowledge, and body awareness, you can transform your ballet technique and your life. My mission is to put a new spin on ballet and create an engaging, motivating environment for dancers of all levels.

Our Dance Manager Eri is a well-trained and experienced dance teacher from the Youngstown, Ohio area. In addition to over twenty years of dance training, Ms. Eri has studied extensively at the collegiate level, receiving both a B.A. and B.S from Youngstown State University, as well as being both CPR and Concussion Safety Certified. As an active member of Ohio Dance Masters and Dance Masters of America, she continues to share the art of dance in local high schools, state universities, and private studios. Teaching since 2003, Ms. Eri joined the Above the Barre family in 2013, and now works with the teachers and staff at ATB to create the best customer experience for you!

Grace Kelly is an award-winning choreographer and dancer. Before attending Kent State to earn her bachelor's degree in business and marketing, she danced with Above the Barre for 15 years. Since then, Grace has continued to teach and choreograph throughout Northeast Ohio, while also pursuing further training in all styles of dance. Her passion remains strong as she inspires her students to become confident and skilled dancers and individuals.

Miss Holly has training in a variety of styles of dance, but her true passion is west coast style jazz. She has studied coast to coast over the years and is certified through Dance Educators of America and Acrobatic Arts. After owning her own studio, judging and master teaching for numerous competitions and conventions, her teaching experience is now 30 plus years. Many of her students have gone on professionally and are currently operating their own dance companies. Her pride and joy are her two children. Her son, Tanner, will be a senior this year at Amherst Steele High School and Rylie will be an upcoming freshman and also is one of our own as an elite ATB dance company member. Miss Holly is thrilled to have found a home at Above the Barre and is honored to be a part of your children's dance journeys this season and years to come.

Jennifer is a professional aerialist and production assistant in the touring sector of the entertainment industry. She works and tours will well-known Rock Acts around the world such as Cheap Trick, Night Ranger, Lita Ford, Linnard Skinnard, and Ace Fraley. She is about to head into the arena level of this industry and we are so excited to have her as part of our staff!

Jessica is a native of Cleveland Ohio. She comes from a dancing family and an Alumni of Above the Barre. At a young age she trained in dance and gymnastics winning many state and national titles including Miss Dance of Ohio 2013. Jessica has studied at Broadway Dance Center in New York City under the direction of Bonnie Erickson getting to preform on the Alvin Ailey Stage. She has worked professionally for Norwegian Cruise Lines as and dancer and aerialist through the mediterranean and caribbean. Jessica has a huge passion for choreography and training. Her choreography has been recognized on the regional and national level.

Joellen began her dance training with Sylvia Hamer, FISTD, in the Cecchetti Method of Ballet, passing student examinations in grades 1-Intermediate. Ms. Joellen furthered her studies at Texas Christian University with the Nordan Fine Arts Scholarship and received her BFA in Ballet. Her performing experiences include the Ann Arbor Civic Ballet, the TCU Dance Ensemble, Ballet Concerto, Allegro Dance Theatre, Chattanooga Ballet, Fort Wayne Ballet, and touring Europe with the Contemporary Dance Company. She has been a guest performing artist with the Lancaster Ballet in Lancaster, Ohio, with Keith Lee and his Newworldance Experience at Centre College in Kentucky, and the Orange Grove Dancers in Chattanooga, TN. Joellen’s performance experience includes Odette from Swan Lake, Giselle and Myrtha from Act II, Giselle, Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker, Blue Bird pas de deux from Act III, Sleeping Beauty, Helena from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Eve from Frank Hay’s Creation, and many other classical and original ballet, modern, and jazz works. Most recently, Ms. Joellen joins us from Chattanooga Ballet where she served as School, Outreach, and School Ensemble Director. Prior to that position, she served on faculty for Chattanooga Ballet, Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts, Fort Wayne Dance Collective, Fort Wayne Ballet, and Allegro Dance Theatre. She has also choreographed for Chattanooga Ballet, Chattanooga Ballet School Ensemble, CB Children’s Company & Junior Corps, Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts, The Baylor School, Orange Grove Dancers, Fort Wayne Ballet, and directed the Fort Wayne Ballet Youth Company & Youth Company too. Ms. Joellen has also taught various master classes and workshops for the University of Mississippi for Women, Middle Tennessee State University, Ballet Arts, En Pointe Dance Studio in Celina, OH., Sylvia Studio of Dance, and several other schools/organizations. Ms. Joellen is an associate teacher member of Cecchetti Council of America and has passed grades 1 through Elementary teacher examinations. In 2012, she received her Master of Arts in Education/Adult Education and Training from University of Phoenix. And, is a licensed provider of Fletcher Pilates Towelwork®, Floorwork® and BarreworkTM

Julie started taking aerial classes at Above the Barre with her daughter 5 years ago.  She began teaching in the Spring of 2022.  She worked as a respiratory therapist at Metrohealth for 19 years before earning her degree in dental hygiene in 2017.  She currently practices in Westlake.  She lives in Bay Village with her daughter Maizie and her son Tommy.

Justin M Lewis, a native of the Washington D.C area has been dancing since the age of 5. Mr. Lewis began by watching the movie “Tap” with Gregory Hines. Lewis then began to study dance at Knock On Wood Tap Studio in Silver Spring Maryland where he later became a member of the Pre-Professional Company, Tappers With Attitude (TWA). Under TWA Mr. Lewis danced on many famous stages including, Lincoln Theatre, Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap, Blues Alley, The Smithsonian, National Corcoran Gallery, The Apollo Theatre in New York City and many more. Lewis was then accepted into a top Arts College in Chicago IL. He attended Columbia College Chicago from 2007-2009, where he majored in Performing Arts Management. 

He had the honor of becoming a principal dancer on a new Tap Dance show at Universal Studios in Hollywood California entitled “Tap Worx”. Mr. Lewis is currently a dancer for Rhythmic Circus’ “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now.” He has performed on many stages across the country and has toured in Scotland for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as well as performed at Super Bowl 52. 

Lewis is also a Master Tap Choreographer and Artistic Director at Studio Bleu Dance Center in Ashburn Virginia. He currently runs the tap program as well as continues to choreograph for over 45 studios around the country on a yearly basis.

While teaching at Studio Bleu, Lewis has had the honor and pleasure to be the teacher of Mr. Luke Spring (Ellen DeGeneres Show/ A Christmas Story on Broadway) where Lewis and his student Spring teamed up to perform on many occasions. Lewis and Spring are an internet sensation with one of their videos reaching over 65 million views on Facebook and YouTube. 

Lewis has won many awards for his choreography, nominated for “Best Tap Routine of the Year” in 2014. He was also awarded the honor to have his choreography performed at the “Young Choreographers Festival”, in 2015.  He has been a recipient of the prestigious “ACE Awards” in New York City with his company The JaM Project. The company has also reached viral video credibility from the legendary Doobie Brothers on their “Long Train Runnin” concept video. Along with the JaM project, he is also a cast member of the NBC hit television show “World of Dance Season 2”. Lewis also performed for YouTube’s Annual Broadcast at Radio City Music Hall in NYC. 

Justin M. Lewis was honored with choreographing his first musical theatre production of Hot Shoe Shuffle at the Wick Theatre in Boca Raton Florida. 

Lewis has taught for many conventions. Some include WILD dance Intensive, West Coast Dance Explosion, and The In10sive (by In10sity). He has instructed at many tap festivals around the country as well which include, RIFF in Dallas, Little Rock Tap Festival, DC Tap Festival, and Tap Into a Cure in Canada. 

Mr. Justin Lewis plans to continue spreading the love and joy for tap dance in effort to make it a stronger, more innovative art form. 

Laney danced since 7th grade with ATB! She has been an Aerial instructor for about 3 years and also taught preschool gymnastics classes. Laney graduated from Olmsted Falls High School where she had attended for all 12 years of schooling. Laney plans to attend Loyola University in Chicago to study Anthropology and hopefully get her Masters and PHD.

Lexi, an Ohio native, is a dancer, instructor, and choreographer. Lexi graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, along with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a Business Cognate from The University of Akron in 2022. While there, she received a 2019 and 2020 Dance Award, completed a grant writing internship with The National Center for Choreography (NCCA), and served as the Vice President of Terpsichore Dance Club. 

Lexi previously worked as a dancer for Rock The House Entertainment Group, traveling throughout the Midwest for events. More recently, she has been involved in performances with Monica Bill Barnes & Company, The University of Akron Dance Company, at Fenway Park, and in the Grand Carnivale at Carowinds. 

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She currently teaches K-5 dance education for Lorain City School District while continuing to choreograph and instruct for local studios. 

Monica, known to the Above the Barre family as “Miss Mo” has been teaching dance for over 40 years and has been with us at ATB since 2007. With training in tap, ballet, jazz and ethnic dancing, Miss Mo has been choreographing musicals for all ages from preschool to high school in professional theatres for over 30 years. She also studied in New York with Wayne Ciliento, Onna White, Tommy Tune, Alvin Ailey and Graziela Daniele; also including the study of African movement and dance while in Zimbabwe, Africa while performing for the Harare International Arts Festival. She also choreographed the Olympic Diving and Acrobatic show at Sea World. This award winning performer continues to choreograph and direct theatre right here in Ohio. Miss Mo keeps busy and is a voice-over artist for American Greetings and Little Tyke Toys. When Miss Mo isn’t dancing or directing, she loves to spend time with her grandchildren, “They are the reason I was born.”

Bio coming soon!

Rachel Leheney grew up dancing at the age of 2.5 years old at a studio in Sagamore Hills and followed her favorite teacher, who opened up a studio in her hometown, Broadview Heights, in 2009. For the past 20 years, she has trained in various styles of dance including jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, lyrical, ballet, modern, pointe, tap & acrobatics. She has been to conventions including Hollywood Vibe, Velocity & Cle Grooves, New York City multiple summers, and several more amazing opportunities.

 Rachel spent all of 2019-2023 training with Cleveland Dance Project company as a company member. Throughout Rachel’s time on company she has gotten opportunities to perform in several CDP shows, multiple video projects, the Israel Festival, the gathering place, the NFL draft, fashion shows, multiple photo/video shoots and so much more. Rachel has also been involved with the Cleveland Guardians organization as a Cleveland striker from 2022-2023, which consists of performing for large crowds, entertainment, modeling, mascoting and so much more. Rachel has taught various styles of dance to dancers ages 3-35 and has also worked with the special needs adaptive program over the past several years. 

Rachel enjoys teaching several award-winning competitive teams, recreational technique, conditioning, total body, tap, hip hop, and preschool/school-age combos.

Rachel loves teaching and helping dancers become their best selves in and outside of the classroom! She is excited to continue training and learning during her time on staff!

Bio coming soon!