Faculty
Elise Hanson Assistant Director/Instructor
Elise Hanson recently graduated from Bowling Green State University with a B.S. in Education with a Dance Major. While studying at BGSU, she was a two-year member of the University
Performing Dancers, studying and performing modern, tap, ballet, jazz, Balinese, and Korean dance. She has extensive background as a competitive dancer with the former Dance Reach studio in Columbus, OH, having received numerous titles and overall placements as a soloist in tap, pointe, and lyrical, as well as group dances in tap, jazz, pointe, and lyrical. Elise has performed in the American College Dance Festival at Western Michigan University and Ohio University, and had the privelege to dance in the gala performance honored to be selected for at the OU Festival. Elise is currently employed as a professional dancer in Tammy Metz Starr's Open Window Dance Company, a modern dance ensemble that premiered its first full length concert, "Coloring Pages", at the Cleveland Public Theatre in May 2009. She teaches tap, ballet, and lyrical for The Beat and also is employed as a tap instructor at the Bedford Dance Academy.
Performing Dancers, studying and performing modern, tap, ballet, jazz, Balinese, and Korean dance. She has extensive background as a competitive dancer with the former Dance Reach studio in Columbus, OH, having received numerous titles and overall placements as a soloist in tap, pointe, and lyrical, as well as group dances in tap, jazz, pointe, and lyrical. Elise has performed in the American College Dance Festival at Western Michigan University and Ohio University, and had the privelege to dance in the gala performance honored to be selected for at the OU Festival. Elise is currently employed as a professional dancer in Tammy Metz Starr's Open Window Dance Company, a modern dance ensemble that premiered its first full length concert, "Coloring Pages", at the Cleveland Public Theatre in May 2009. She teaches tap, ballet, and lyrical for The Beat and also is employed as a tap instructor at the Bedford Dance Academy.Nikki Makley Instructor
Bio coming soon...
Megan Murphy Instructor
Megan Murphy is entering her junior year at Bowling Green State University, majoring in Recreation with a minor in Environmental Education. Megan has been dancing since the age of three, with specific focus on tap and jazz. She has spent numerous years in the dance competition circuit, having won several platinum ratings and overall awards. As a student at BGSU, Megan has performed in several Dance Program concerts, and recently performed at the American College Dance Festival at Western Michigan University. Megan has worked as a dance teacher's assistant and also has teaching and choreography experience with children in tap and jazz.
Shannon Murphy Instructor
Shannon Murphy is an Early Childhood Education major/Dance minor at Bowling Green State University. Shannon has been dancing since age three, focusing primarily on tap and jazz. She has competed across the country from solo to production works, earning multiple platinum ratings and overall awards. She recently performed at the American College Dance Festival at Western Michigan. Shannon is a new member of BGSU's student dance company, the University Performing Dancers (UPD). As a member of UPD, Shannon will expand her training to include modern dance. Shannon has instructed and choreographed for children in jazz and hip hop.
Torrance Nowden InstructorTorrance Nowden is entering his junior year at Bowling Green State University, majoring in Marketing with a Dance minor. As a student at BGSU, Torrance has experience as a performer, choreographer, and teacher with the dance team, University Dance Alliance, and the University Performing Dancers. He has been studying, performing, and choreographing hip hop, and has also studied jazz, modern, and lyrical dance. We are excited to have Torrance joining The Beat staff as our hip hop instructor. His positive personality shines through in his teaching and dancing, and we're sure that his classes will be very popular amongst our students.
Sammy Stafford Instructor
Sammy Stafford has been dancing since the age of 3,
having trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and contemporary. She has extensive choreography experience and has received numerous overall awards at regional and national dance competitions for her work. Sammy was a part of the first LA Dance Magic Company. She was a performer in their California show in the 2006-07 dance season, and then went on to tour as an assistant from 2007-08. She also was invited to take part in Tap into the Network 4 in California during the summer of 2008.
Lexi Stilianos Instructor
Lexi Stilianos is a junior dance major/art minor at BGSU and has been dancing since the age of three. She has studied ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical, modern, improvisational dance and various hip hop styles. In grade school she competed in regional and national dance competitions in all styles and received many accolades including a scholarship to The Chicago Dance Directive in July 2007. As a student at BGSU, she is currently a member and student choreographer for the University Performing Dancers (UPD). She received a tuition scholarship for Excellence in Dance Artistry in spring of 2008. As a member of UPD she performed at the American College Dance Festival Gala in 2007. Lexi teaches at the Sylvania Academy of Dance and is a current substitute instructor at The Beat. She has taught all styles of dance but is most fluent and passionate in the contemporary modern realm and has a keenness for innovative, physical choreography.Jessica Wilkins Instructor
Bio coming soon...
