Pre-Ballet I&II, Pointe, Beginning Ballet, Elementary I&II Ballet, Adult ballet

Sue's journey in dance began at age 5 when her mother, who was enamored with Shirley Temple, took her to her first tap class. A bout with polio at age 7 caused muscular problems in her right leg, and ballet was introduced as therapy. Ballet quickly became her first love.

She studied with Jorg Fasting, a Ballet Russe member who settled in Columbus, Ohio and started his own school and company, The Capital City Ballet. She danced leading roles in Swan Lake and Cinderella. Sue graduated from Ohio State University with a BS in education. There, she became a member of the Ohio State dance Troup under Helen Alkire. She spent the summers in New York City studying ballet with Vlademir Dokovsky and Nina Strogonova. She studied jazz with Lenny Dale at the June Taylor School.

When Sue moved to Indianapolis in 1962, she studied with Jack Copeland and Karl Kaufman. She became a member of their dance companies. She then studied with Lynnette Schisla and danced in many Footlight productions and also the Sheraton dinner theatre. She appeared in the musicals, Sweet Charity, Anything Goes, Annie Get Your Gun, Most Happy Fella, and Kismet. She also danced with the Indianapolis Opera Company in Carmen. Since then, she has shared her passion for dance through her teaching.

Ballet, Pointe, Ballet Variations

Julie began her childhood training at Jordan Academy of Dance studying under Collette Kaufman and Jack Copeland. Julie continued her training at the Dance Center with Lynette Schisla. During her senior year, she studied at Butler University as part of an independent study program. Julie graduated with a BFA in dance from the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati.  She studied the Horton technique under James Truitte and ballet under Denise Limoli, David Blackburn and Oleg Sabline. After college, Julie spent three seasons as a  solosit with the Lexington Ballet Company under the direction of Kirt Hathaway and Karl Kaufman. She has also danced independently with the Ruth Page foundations Nutcracker under the direction of Larry Long, with Civic Theatre of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Opera and the Cincinnati Opera.  Upon moving back to Indianapolis in 1994, Julie started dancing with the Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre. She was able to tour with them on two occations to Latvia. At that time, Julie  started teaching for her mother  Sue and has been teaching ever since. Julie now resides in Jamestown, Indiana with her husband and three children Jacob, Grace and Amelia. Her two daughters take at the studio. Julie would like to thank Laurie and Sean for carrying on the studio  so that her children will be able to experience such a positive and loving  place to dance.

 

Ballroom Dance Instruction.

Dean's Bio coming soon!

Ballet, pointe, Jazz, Modern, Modern Repertoire, Lyrical, Leaps and Turns

Rebecca Jones received her B.F.A from Butler University. She has performed with Dance Kaleidoscope, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, American Repertory Ballet Company, and Princeton Ballet. Rebecca has taught professional workshops and classes in various forms of dance. She has experience in Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Jazz, Contemporary, Broadway, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, and Liturgical. She is married to her husband Shawn and has an adorable little boy, Elijah and a new baby girl, Naomi. It is a joy for Rebecca to be teaching at ADA.

Tap, Adult jazz

Sue began dancing and age 5, and her love of dance has continued for 40+ years. She has been an instructor for ADA since 1999, and loves sharing her passion with others. Sue has performed in many productions at the Indianapolis Civic Theatre. Her favorites roles include, Carmen; Sweet Charity, Minnie Faye; Hello Dolly, and Phyllis; 42nd Street. This year she was thrilled to make her debut at the American Cabaret Theatre in Victor/Victoria. Sue has also performed in many opening ceremonies, including the Pan Am Games, the World Gymnastics Championships, and Indiana Special Olympics. As a member of the All-Star Professional dance team, The Indy Blues, she had the honor of performing her own choreography in the 2004 Indiana "Circle of Lights Ceremonies." Sue and her husband, Lyle, live in Carmel with their 3 children; Christopher, Caroline and Claire.

Preschool Creative, Pre-ballet, Beginner Ballet

Hali has been dancing since she was two years old.  The majority of her training was at Jordan College Academy of Dance. Hali was on the Hamilton Southeastern Dance Team for four years while serving as captain her senior year. She studied dance at Columbia College Chicago and IUPUI.  Hali was also on the Dance Team at IUPUI.  She was one of the founders of the Noblesville Middle School Dance Team and is their coach/choreographer.  Some performance highlights include dancing in Butler University's Nutcracker, Petrushka and Sleeping Beauty, the Opening Ceremonies for the World Police  and Fireman Games and dancing in the New Year's Eve/Day Parade in Paris, France.  Hali has taken master classes from Pilobolus, Radio City Rockettes, Project Dance NYC, Ad Deum Dance Company, Marcel Marceau School of Mime, Hosanna Sacred Arts, Dance Kaleidoscope and many others.  She is experienced in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern, Tap, Hip Hop, Flamenco, Variations, Character, Lyrical, Greek Folk and Dance Team styles.  Hali and her husband Chuck live in Indianapolis with their son Nicholas and yorkie Breck.  She is more than honored to be a part of the ADA faculty.

 

Intermediate/AdvancedBallet and pointe, Hip Hop

Jamie Ripsky has been teaching dance in the Indianapolis area for the last year.  She is a company member with Indianapolis' premier professional dance company, Dance Kaleidoscope.  Miss Ripsky acquired her B.F.A. (in dance) from Butler University May 2010.  In the last 6 years, Jamie has been studying at American Ballet Theatre, Illinois Ballet Theatre, Ballet Austin, Butler University, and the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance.  In Butler Ballet's 2009 season, Jamie performed the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker.  She performed an edgier improvisational collaboration in Indianapolis' Oranje Festival, and performed with Butler Chamber Dance at the annual Spirit and Place festival.  Jamie's original work, "Appalachian Thing," which she choreographed on Butler Ballet, was performed on tour in China this May.  Growing up, Jamie studied hip hop and tap dance with Sam Renzetti, founder and director of the highly broadcasted troupe Xtreme Dance Force.

Since dropping her pre-med major at Butler University one year ago, Jamie's dance career has taken off.  She shares her artistry with anyone who wants to learn more.  Jamie is also for-hire as a pianist/accompanist and freelance choreographer.

 

 

Preschool Creative, Pre-ballet, Beginner I & II Ballet, Beginning Teen Ballet, Beginner & Elementary Jazz, Beginner, Intermediate, and Teen/Adult Hip Hop

Courtney has been dancing since she was 3 years old.  She has been with the Academy of Dance Arts for a total of 14 years and has experience in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, and Tap.  At age 15 Courtney began demonstrating for various classes at ADA and at 16 she began teaching Hip Hop.  She danced with the Gregory Hancock Dance Theater from 1998-2008 participating in the student production of The Nutcracker as well as numerous other GHDT productions.  She is currently a Nursing student at IUPUI and will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in December of 2013.  Courtney has a passion for both teaching and dance and hopes it will always be a part of her life

 

 

Beginner & Intermediate Hip Hop

Jessie's love for dance began at the young age of seven. In her hometown of Mishawaka, Indiana she performed and won national awards in tap, modern, jazz, and hip-hop. In order to expand her dance experience she began teaching as well as still performing at the age of fifteen. She has taught various tap, modern, jazz and poms team, but specializes mainly in hip-hop dance. She currently is a student at Ball State University where she is studying telecommunication as well as dance. For the the past three years Jessie has had the privilege of being a NFL cheerleader for out Indianapolis Colts! Along with performing and teaching dance, Jessie also travels worldwide to choreograph gymnastics, cheer, and dance routines. For the past six summers she has had the honor of being choreographer and head dance teacher for Bela Karolyi's summer camp. Jessie looks forward to teaching with a wonderful family owned dance studio.

Preschool Creative, Pre-Ballet, Demi-Pointe

Katie walked into her first ballet class with Miss Sue when she was six years old and has not left the dance studio since. In 1994 she became a teacher's assistant helping with the preschool creative and pre-ballet classes, and by 1998 she was teaching. She danced with the Gregory Hancock Dance Theater from 1996 - 2002 and was involved in the annual student production of The Nutcracker. She graduated from Indiana University in 2007 with a B.S.P.H in Health Administration and a minor in Dance. She has experience in Ballet, Pointe, Modern, and Jazz. Katie could not imagine her life without dance, and could not imagine teaching anywhere else!