FLEX POINT - Key Persons
Adam Early began his dance training in Northern Michigan 18 years ago. Dancing at the competitive studio Superior Motion Dance Company where he was an award-winning soloist and company member. Adam then went on and earned a scholarship to Interlochen Arts Academy to continue his training in Ballet and Modern dance. After Interlochen, Adam began his professional career in New York City training at Broadway Dance Center and working with various choreographers, theaters, and dance projects throughout the city. After spending some time in New York, Adam was given the opportunity to dance with the company Think/Dance Collective, dancing in ground-breaking pieces such as "Open Heart Surgery" and "The Bone Marrow Transplant." Adam studied dance at Central Michigan University and was a member of the school's dance company Orchesis Dance Theatre. He was not only a valued member of the company but a choreographer as well. As a choreographer, Adam has worked with the Les Cheneaux Arts Council choreographing many theater productions including My Fair Lady, The Music Man, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Adam started training some of Mt. Pleasant's young dancers working at Vision Studio and Performing Arts Center. It was here that Adam found his love for working with children and helping them reach for their dreams and goals. Since then, Adam has worked with many dance studios all around the Metro-Detroit area bringing his love of dance, excellent training, and award-winning choreography.
Becca Grden, a Detroit native, has over 15 years of teaching experience. She received her higher education at Western Michigan University concentrating on Business Management and Dance. During her time at Western Becca was also a member of the nationally- ranked Bronco Dance Team. Becca has won many prestigious awards for her choreography including Choreographer of the Year at the Youth American Grand Prix (2018), Top Choreographer at World Art Ballet Competition (2018) and several top nationally-ranked choreography awards at national competitions such as Velocity and VIP Dance. Her students have been accepted to prestigious universities such as Marymount, Point Park, Pace, Wayne State, Western Michigan University, & more. Her work most recently was invited to perform at YAGP finals in 2020.
Mr. Devon is known professionally as "Uri Mercury" and has been an active Michigan dancer/choreographer/instructor for the past nine years. He got his start in high school, dancing for a team started by he, and his bestfriend Brandon Burton also known as "Skilz" under the schools newspaper committee called "Unpredictably Krazy". Post highschool, Uri auditioned for his first Agency which was called "Toni's Dance Company" Which was ran By Toni Webb Washington. Uri danced with TDC's hip hop division, "The Detroit All Stars" for almost 2 yrs before the company disbanded after the ABDC season 2 audition, leaving him to his own independent pursuits. While in TDC, Uri was heavily trained by his mentors and Choreographers: Brandyn Thomas, Jennifer Webb Peeples, Khalil Lamar, and Logan Bledsoe in more intricate styles of hip hop, breaking, street jazz, gymnastics, and a touch of modern dance. Post TDC, Uri's most notable work includes being a featured dancer on "Screamtour 2012" with Mindless Behavior, OMG Girls, and Diggy Simmons, opening for Lil Wayne, backup dancer for The Shop Boyz, R&B singer Princeton, R&B Songstress Loreal, Female MC B. Focus, R&B/Pop singer Rodney Howard, R&B Singer Ryan Allen, impersonators Ric Key, Kourtney Breeze, Melanie VonKruz, and singer Rocko.
Emily Moser began her studies at the Ballet Iowa, a Vaganova-based school and company, under the direction of former Bolshoi Ballet dancer Konstantin Uralsky. At Ballet Iowa, she studied with teachers Irina Vassileni and Laura Zambrano. As a conservatory student, she was invited to perform and tour with Ballet Iowa. She finished her early training at Vine Street Ballet with Susan Snider and Julie Grooters. Ms. Moser went on to study with Randall Newsom at Northern Illinois University where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance. At NIU, she performed principal and soloist roles in classical works such as The Nutcracker, Les Slyphides, Giselle, Don Quixote, Coppelia and Paquita. She performed contemporary works by Karen Williamson, ,Judith Chitwood and Paula Fraz as well as in guest artist Luis Montero's Bolero. Upon graduation, Ms. Moser performed professionally with The Chicago Ballet, Momenta, The Schaumburg Dance Ensemble, Tyego Dance Project, The Connecticut Ballet and Ballet Long Island. She has built a career teaching at some of the Chicago area's best dance schools. She has taught in Oak Park, at The Academy of Movement Music and at The Joffrey Academy in downtown Chicago. She was on faculty at Salt Creek Ballet for 14 years, working under the artistic direction of Sergey Kozadayev and school direction of Eddy Ocampo. While at Salt Creek, she gained experience studying the Vaganova Syllabus under the mentorship of Zhanna Dubrovskaya. Emily served as rehearsal director for Salt Creek's productions of The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Harlequinade and The Sleeping Beauty. She has also coached and guided several SCB dancers through Youth American Grand Prix.
After watching some "big kids" doing back handsprings on their front lawn in Detroit, Jeff decided he wanted to try. So, in Jr. High, he joined a club where he learned the basics of men's gymnastics. This took him to High School, where he made the men's team at North Farmington High. He still holds the school record there for Floor Exercise, Parallel Bars, and All Around. (Should we mention at this point, that men's gymnastics was phased out after his Senior year, so no one was ever able to challenge his record?!) His work ethic and solid gymnastics skills landed him on the team at Western Michigan University, where he competed for 4 years.
As soon as he stopped competing, Jeff began coaching. He started as an Assistant Coach at North Farmington High School in 1987, and then Head Coach of the Tri-Farmington Gymnastics team in 1994. He continues today as the Head Coach of the Farmington Unified Gymnastics team. He has coached 3 State Champion teams, 1 State Runner-Up team, and many more teams that landed in the top 5 in the State. He was the MHSGJCA Coach of the year in 1999 and the Observerland Coach of the Year for the past 3 years.
He is well respected by gymnasts, parents, fellow coaches, and judges - for good reason! He doesn't start and stop coaching with the High School season. While coaching the High School girls, he also developed an off-season program that is widely respected and still going strong. High School girls from many different school districts sign up to work with him. He also helped to establish the annual Farmington Invitational Meet, where he makes it a point to award as many girls as possible fortheir accomplishments.
Mr. Jeff's team has won back-to-back state titles!
Kim has been dancing since the age of five. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor's degree in Dance and Health Education. She was very active in the dance program and choreographed and performed throughout her college career. Kim was the founder and owner of The Dance Force Studio for ten years, along with ownership she was responsible for staff management, competition groups, choreography and instruction, recital production, and all business functions. Most of all, the experience with all the dancers and staff was extraordinary. She has taught at many different studio's and dance program's to include guest instructor at Eastern Michigan University, and has helped students in the dance program with Dance Studio Management. She is dedicated to the art of performing, teaching, and inspiring students to reach their full potential. Kim also believes that dance builds a strong foundation in all aspects of life.
Madison Varney is a dancer and choreographer that has always loved the art of dance. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brigham Young University Idaho in modern dance with an emphasis in choreography and performance. While her training is in ballet, jazz, and modern dance, she has also studied areas in kinesiology and pilates where she has learned and applied the knowledge of anatomy to her movement and teaching. Madison's undergraduate training includes, but is not limited to: Bartenieff, Laban, Alexander, and Gaga techniques. She has also had the opportunity to direct and choreograph for the BYU-Idaho collegiate team aside from performing in many shows as a dancer. Madison was also a part of Dance Alliance, BYU-Idaho's touring dance company. Aside from her dance training, Madison is a certified yoga instructor through Yoga Alliance. In the future, Madison would like to continue her education by earning a master's degree in dance. Madison is grateful for the value that dance has brought into her life through the important lessons she has learned, the opportunities she has had, and the wonderful people she has met.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director
- Owner / Director )
Nicole is an award-winning dancer and choreographer. She has been dancing since she was 3 years old and she has been teaching at studios and camps since she was 16. She was the co-director of Burn The Floor...with the Doerr's Performing Arts Camp, an annual camp that took place in Fenton, MI every summer. Nicole developed a love for dance growing up in her mother's studio, Sally Doerr Dance Studio. She has won many top awards at regional and national competitions, including the title of Miss Dance. She was a member of the Detroit Pistons Dance Team: Automotion. During her time with Automotion she was chosen by Brian Friedman to perform in the opening number of ESPN's PRODANCE along with many other great opportunities. Nicole was one of the honorary selected judges for the Miss Oakland County Pageant 2012. Nicole has performed at a Superbowl XL event in Detroit and was a back-up dancer for singer Tiffany Queen to promote Britney Spears' perfume line, Curious. She graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor, and was a member of Impact Dance Theater on campus. Nicole has traveled all over the United States through her dancing, and she also toured in Australia performing. Nicole has won numerous scholarships to performing arts centers in New York and Los Angeles, including the Edge, Tremaine, Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, Peridance Center of New York, Paula Abdul's Company Dance and more. She has performed in 3 promotional commercials for Jammnation/Lansing Community College. She has also modeled in numerous editions of Starmaker Designs Costume Catalog. Nicole has trained with the Joffrey Ballet of New York and many professional choreographers and instructors including Cameron English of the movie "A Chorus Line", R.J. Durell of Movin' Out, Joseph
Alexander of the Morgan Scott Ballet Company, Keith Clifton, Emmy-Nominated Brian Thomas, Glen Douglas Packard, and more. She was also accepted into the National Ballet of Canada School. Nicole currently is a regional and national judge for Hall of Fame Dance Challenge. League of Champions, BravO! National Dance and Talent Competition, REVEL Dance Convention, Kids Artistic Revue, and Rainbow Dance Competition . She has had students perform in several Broadway shows and Cirque de Soleil. Although performing is one of her favorite activities, her teaching experiences have brought her many rewards. She can currently be seen teaching on the staff of KAR Convention, throughout the US and Canada. Nicole is looking forward to being able to share her experiences, knowledge, and love for dance with all her students!
Sally has been training dancers for the past 40 years. Sally was the owner of the Sally Doerr Dance Studio in Cass City, Michigan for many years. She was the co-director of Burn The Floor...with the Doerr's Performing Arts Camp for 10 years, an annual camp that took place in Fenton, MI every summer. She loves working with children and adults and is a firm believer in positive dance training. Sally is also a staff judge for a national competition company based out of Los Angeles, where she was also hired to teach
elite master workshops in Las Vegas. She was the co-choreographer, along with Cameron English of the movie "A Chorus Line", for "Hooray for Hollywood", a benefit to raise money for the Michigan Diabetes Foundation. Her students have won many prestigious awards and titles, and have enjoyed many scholarships to places like Blue Lakes Fine Arts Camp, the Edge, Tremaine, Broadway Dance Center, Gregg Russell's Tap Into The Network and more. Many have gone on to enjoy professional careers. Sally's students have toured in Russia, Australia, and Europe. Some have toured with "A Chorus Line", "Mamma Mia", and in Disney's new Broadway show "Tarzan" in New York City. Former students have been on scholarship to the Chicago Performing Arts School, have been
attending the Juilliard School in New York City and one student was a principal dancer for the National Ballet of Canada and the Royal Ballet of London. They have also performed on Live! with Regis and Kelly and On Air with Ryan Seacrest and onstage with the Rolling Stones kick off concert in NYC. Other students have been back-up dancers for Walt Disney's singing sensation Myra. Many former students have also become dance instructors. It is important to Sally that her students achieve self-confidence, a love for dance, poise, a respect for themselves and others, and an opportunity for challenge and growth. Sally is an enthusiastic instructor who wants to create a positive and inspiring atmosphere for her students. Sally's positive attitude and love for teaching dance, opens up many styles and fun experiences for her dancers. Sally loves to teach tap, lyrical, musical theatre, and jazz and is looking forward to inspiring her dancers for many years to come.