Sarah began her training at Trenton School of Dance where she remained until she graduated high school. Her training was focused primarily in ballet, tap, jazz, and contemporary. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Dance and a minor in Theatre Management from Wayne State University in 2020. At Wayne State, she studied heavily in Modern Technique. Sarah is a certified teacher with Dance Masters of America and Acrobatic Arts. She is continuing to progress in her training and is constantly learning new methods and techniques that she likes to implement in her classes. In 2021 she took over ownership of Trenton School of Dance and is enjoying her new journey as a studio owner.
Lisa Walker started her training at Julie Andrews School of Dance. She has over 25 years of performance and teaching experience. During her formative years, Lisa was selected for a summer internship at Broadway Dance Center in New York City, where she served as an assistant to renowned choreographers including Chio, Kat Wildish, Frank Hatchett, Sheila Barker, Michelle Barber, and Traci Stanfield. She later studied dance at Arizona State University. As a teacher in North Carolina and all over Southeast Michigan, her competitive choreography has received Overall High Placements and Judge’s Choice honors. Her dance specialities are Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop and Lyrical with knowledge in many other styles. Miss Lisa has two adorable kids, Cillian and Willow, and works full time at Ford Motor Company as a Facility Engineer.
Miss Maria Haralambis. M.Ed., NASM CES is a Dance Science, Somatics, and Pilates Educator. She holds a B.S. in Dance (with Honors), a M.Ed. in Kinesiology (with Honors) and she is a current Ph.D student studying Health & Human Performance. She holds certifications in Stott Pilates, Acrobatic Arts, Cecchetti, Rock Tape, NASM Corrective Exercise, and First Aid. She is an active member of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science, National Dance Education Organization, National Academy of Sports Medicine, Doctors for Dancers, National Strength & Conditioning Association, Dance Science & Somatics Educators, American College of Sports Medicine, Danse Medica, and the National Society of Leadership & Success. She currently serves on the Advisory Board for Doctors for Dancers and has attended numerous workshops, webinars, trainings, and conferences from these organizations, in addition to Harkness Center & Eric Franklin. For her Masters Thesis, she conducted her own Dance Science research study in a lab that analyzed dancers’ balance skills on a computerized forceplate known as the Balance Master (and Miss Sarah was her assistant during this process!) As a Dance Science Educator, she integrates Biomechanics, Kinesiology, Psychology, Nutrition, Motor Learning, Cardiovascular Fitness, Somatic practices, and more to achieve a multi-disciplinary approach for enhancing dancers’ performance. She is passionate about integrating the latest Dance Science research & anatomical principles into her instruction to help students dance safer and stronger, ultimately helping them foster a deeper sense of kinesthetic awareness. Miss Maria is known for having a very detailed eye and a mechanical way of visualizing the body. In fact, you may see her incorporating the use of a skeleton model during class. She loves reflecting on her pedagogical methods and continuously evolving as an educator.
Christa has been a dancer and dance educator for 20 years. She began dancing when she was 3 years old and trained in Ballet, Jazz, and Tap. When she was 11 years old, she began her training at Trenton School of Dance, primarily under the instruction of Meredith Shamanski. Here, she expanded her training to Lyrical, Pointe, Contemporary, and started to study the Cecchetti ballet method. Christa has 5 years of competitive dance experience, along with experience training with Wayne State University faculty. She has also trained with companies such as ArtLab J and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Along with teaching, Christa has about 7 years of experience performing musical theatre. When she is not at the studio, she is working at her local library or cuddling with her cat, Leo. She is very excited for the new season and looking forward to meeting all of the dancers!
Mackenzie grew up dancing at TSD until she graduated in 2022. She is currently attending Eastern Michigan University as a dance major. Ms. Kenzie grew up training under Meredith Shamanski, Maria Haralambis and Sarah Renko in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary and Acro. She was on the competition team for many years and currently serves as the director of our Mini and Petite Competition teams!
Stephanie, a licentiate member of the Cecchetti Council of America, holds a B.A. in English and Dance from the University of North Texas. She is a member of the Executive Board of the Cecchetti Council of America, a national organization, which trains examines and offers certification for teachers and students in classical ballet. She is also a member of the Summer School Committee of the CCA and serves as the Membership Chair for the organization.
Stephanie has performed with many modern and ballet companies in Texas and has also performed in many industrials. She now focuses on teaching and sharing her love of dance to the upcoming generation. She is a frequent guest teacher for student workshops and intensives, sharing her love of Pilates, ballet, lyrical, and modern. She has successfully presented students and teachers for certification in the Cecchetti Method. Many of Stephanie’s former students can be found performing and teaching throughout the world.
Catherine Zochowski started her training at the age of four at the River Raisin Center for the Arts in Monroe, MI. At the RRCA, her studies focused on ballet, while also performing in many of their productions including the Nutcracker Ballet for fifteen years. Catherine holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Arts and Entertainment Management from Eastern Michigan University. At EMU she focused on ballet and modern, training under Sherry Jerome Wilkinson. There she also performed in pieces by Holly Hobbs, Chloé Gray, and Wendi DuBois. She also has choreographed for numerous studios and recently presented her original choreography at the American College Dance Association at the University of Michigan in 2024. Catherine hopes to always continue dancing while also advocating for the arts as much as possible. Growing up with the arts in her life and now pursuing a career, Catherine continues to learn more each day about how crucial it is for art to be shared.