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2024-2025 Studio Calendar DI Goes Nuts Groove: 2025 Student Showcase Company
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Updating dance education in a changing world.

Technology. Education. Artistry.
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At Dance Innovations, we believe education and artistry aren’t confined to the walls of a traditional studio. With passion, heart, and a little bit of technology, we are updating dance education in a changing world.

 
 

We believe…

We believe dance is for everyone, full stop. We commit ourselves to providing excellent dance education regardless of physical distance.

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Our ethics…

We believe one-size-fits-all does not fit anyone. We are passionate about forging personal connections with our students and helping them grow as artists and technicians.

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We value…

We value safety and health. We value comprehensive, technique-based training over flashy tricks and trends. We nurture and strengthen our students bodies and minds.

 

Meet the staff

Liz Pike
Founder/Co-Owner
Ballet, Lyrical, Primary, Creative Movement, Company

Miss Liz has been teaching for 17 years. She trained at Performer’s Edge and danced competitively as well as with the musical theatre company. She was also a member of G2, the student company of Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre. From there she continued her studies in Ball State University’s Theatre and Dance program. Since college, she has obtained certifications in the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum (Pre-Primary through Level 5) and Progressing Ballet Technique. She still performs and choreographs locally. Her choreography has recently been seen on the stages of the Belfry (Little Women, 2016 and The Sound of Music, 2022) , Hamilton Southeastern High School (Mamma Mia!, 2019; Annie, 2020; Freaky Friday, 2021; Spongebob Squarepants, 2022; Matilda, 2023; and Guys and Dolls, 2024), and Westfield Middle School (The Addams Family jr., 2022). She has been seen on stage with Civic Theatre (Mary Poppins, Fiddler on the Roof, Annie, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) and with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in their annual Yuletide Celebration.

Lorenda Carr Founder/Co-Owner Tap, Jazz, Primary, Creative Movement, CompanyLorenda June Carr is owner and executive director of Circle City Dance Productions, LLC, Circle City Tap Festival, Circle City Tap Company, and co-founder of Midwest Open Rh…

Lorenda Carr
Founder/Co-Owner
Tap, Jazz, Primary, Creative Movement, Company

Lorenda June Carr is owner and executive director of Circle City Dance Productions, LLC, Circle City Tap Festival, Circle City Tap Company, and co-founder of Midwest Open Rhythm Exchange (M.O.R.E.). Born and raised in Indianapolis, she began dancing at age 3, was a dance performance major at Ball State University, and has been a dance teacher/choreographer for over 30 years specializing in tap. Lorenda has taught competitive and non-competitive classes to all ages, levels and styles. She has been judging dance competitions for 20 years and has even been seen on TV judging for “Dance Moms” numerous times. Other credits include choreographing for numerous high school show choirs and musicals, performing in Tap 24/7’s “In the Pocket,” producer for the Meals on Wheels annual fundraising event “Dancing with Our Stars,” and of course performing with her company, Circle City Tap Company, since 2012.

Shawna Graves BalletShawna did her early training at various studios around the Indianapolis area, including Jordan College Academy of Dance out of Butler University. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Dance Performance from Ball State University. She has been teaching and doing choreography in Central Indiana since her graduation. Shawna has also been a judge for the Indiana High School Dance Team Association for over 20 years.

Shawna Graves
Ballet

Shawna did her early training at various studios around the Indianapolis area, including Jordan College Academy of Dance out of Butler University. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Dance Performance from Ball State University. She has been teaching and doing choreography in Central Indiana since her graduation. Shawna has also been a judge for the Indiana High School Dance Team Association for over 20 years.

Melissa Mellinger
Creative Movement, Ballet/Tap Combo, Primary A, Primary B

Miss Melissa has been dancing since she was three years old! She started her training at the Oak Lawn Park District in Oak Lawn, Illinois before moving to Carmel, Indiana and training under Ron Morgan, Lorenda Carr, and others at Performer’s Edge. She then continued her dance education as a Dance Minor at IU and competed on their Ballroom Dance Team at the Bronze and Silver level. Since graduating in 2011, she has been seen onstage in numerous productions around Indianapolis including at Footlite Musicals, Zach and Zack Productions, and Civic Theatre. Her choreography has also been seen onstage in Carmel Community Player’s productions of Suessical the Musical and Oliver and Carmel Reparatory Theatre’s Little Shop of Horrors.

Michele Amos
Office Manager

I never imagined that dance would become a part of my life, but I'm thrilled that it did. I'm not a dancer myself; I'm a proud dance mom. I started working at Dance Innovations after my daughter had been a student at DI for three years. In that time, I had made some wonderful friends and felt like I found my people. Working at the studio has brought me so much joy and has given me a special opportunity to bond with my daughter through dance even more. Before working at this amazing studio, I was a successful pastry chef for over 20 years. I have a passion for baking and art. In my free time, I enjoy baking, creating art, and, of course, spending time with my wonderful family.


Lauren Ulm
Ballet, Primary, A Contemporary/Lyrical

Lauren Ulm started ballet at a small studio in Westfield, IN and furthered her training at En Pointe Indiana Ballet under the artistic direction of Robert Moore and Pollyana Ribeiro. She has performed several roles including Swanhilda in Coppelia, Kitri’s friends in Don Quixote, and Snow Queen and  Arabian Coffee in the Nutcracker. She attended Joffrey Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet’s intensives on scholarship, and has taken classes with teachers like Edward Ellison, Patrick Armand, Suki Schorer, and Franco de Vita. Lauren went on to dance as a Trainee at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, before returning home to focus on her education and to pursue a career in Social Work and Teaching. She is excited to teach a Dance Innovations and can’t wait to see what the future holds!

Jenna Winters-Freeborn
Lil’ Sparkz, DI-Namite

Jenna was born and raised in Naperville IL, and began her dance journey at a young age while attending the School of Performing Arts. 

She stayed active in multiple dance avenues in highschool, including performing on her school's dance team, and leading as President of the Orchesis Dance Club her Senior year. 

Upon graduation, she attended Anderson University and would go on to earn her degree in Dance Business. During her years studying at AU, she had the opportunity to work with Gregory Hancock, and received first place in the Allen choreography contest her junior year.  

Jenna began teaching dance classes immediately upon graduation, and watching her students grow in their dance technique and confidence is one of her greatest joys! She was invited to dance alongside multiple companies in the Indy area including Flourish, Ballet INitiative, Crossroads Dance Indy, and Relevations Dance Company. More recently Jenna was asked to choreograph a Frozen Jr. Musical for the Tipton Community Theatre, and Mary Poppins for Kokomo Curtain Call. 

Outside of her dance life, Jenna works as the lead teacher at Pure Barre Noblesville. She loves spending any free time with her husband Tommy, and (old) puppy, Rosie! 

Robin Moser Office ManagerRobin’s dance career began roughly 27 years ago when Elizabeth (Miss Liz to you) started her dance experience as a preschool dancer. It’s not that she didn’t have the opportunity to dance as a young girl, she chose swimming…

Robin Moser
Front Desk

I am not a dancer, unless you count synchronized swimming which has been called water ballet. I enjoyed competitive swimming for the majority of my childhood through High school and even gave it a go in college. Then came Elizabeth, (Miss Liz to you) and I became a mom, and about 3 years later a Dance Mom. What a fun ride that was and is. Some of my most cherished times with Elizabeth revolved around dance. Having the opportunity to watch your child do something she loves and is passionate about is a gift. Fast forward to today and my girl is still in love with what she does. She doesn't need me to drive her to class, competitions or performances any more so we had to find a new way for me to support her dreams. So here I am, sitting at the front desk, answering phones, talking to dance moms and dads and simply trying to make Dance Innovations the happiest place on earth. (Aside from Disney that is, )

Maryclaire Fisher
Marketing

Maryclaire- more commonly known by her nickname "Marv"- is currently a student at Indiana University Bloomington, studying Arts Management. Back in the 2000's Maryclaire had a very short dance career through the YMCA. She realized, though, after her first dance recital (where she stood very still and cried the whole time) that she was not very fond of being in the spotlight. Although participating in dance is not Maryclaire's thing, she has in fact seen all of "Dance Moms," loves musicals that star Zac Efron, and can imitate certain K-Pop dances.

Paige Strickland
Ballet, Jazz, Tap

Paige started her dance training at 3 years old at a small ballet studio in Sun Prairie, WI, before finding her way to Interactive Academy in Zionsville, IN. With a background in gymnastics, Paige trained under various teachers in Tap, Ballet, Jazz, and Acro styles. She first started competing around age 10 with Lorenda Carr and Liz Pike as her primary coaches through the rest of her training, following them to Dance Innovations PAC in 2020 and completing her pre-professional training there in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, Modern, and Musical Theater styles

During her time at Dance Innovations, Paige became a brand ambassador for The Pointe Shop in 2021, modeled for Revolution Dancewear, won multiple regional competitions, and performed as both the Sugarplum Fairy and Dewdrop in DI Goes Nuts! productions.

In addition to standard competition dance, Paige also partook in Irish Dance, becoming nationally ranked and world-qualified before her retirement in 2023. Along with her work at DI, Paige is also actively affiliated with Activate Your Artistry Dance Convention as a professional TRIBE member and Circle City Tap Company as a professional dancer. She is also active with Butler University’s dance club, performing as the March Hare in Alice in Wonderland and taking on a choreography position in the fall. Paige has also received certification through Acrobatic Arts and is super excited to add Acro to DI’s class offerings!

Ben has been dancing since the age of five. He has been teaching, performing, and competing for The Breaking Program for the past 5 years in Chicago, and when he’s not in Chicago he’s breaking for the Pacers Hype Crew and teaching with 31svn Street Dance Academy.

Erin Strickland
Front Desk

I truly never thought I would be a DANCE MOM! I was a swimmer all my life and only knew life at the pool. I have a degree as a Kindergarten teacher from Nebraska University, but haven't used that in years. I only got involved with dance because of my daughter Paige. Starting when she was just 3, I sat in many studio waiting areas, a variety of size rehearsals rooms, countless backstages, and many hours traveling in the car, to and from dance classes, recitals, and rehearsals. I learned the art of hair and makeup, and eventually tailoring costumes. Whatever was needed from a dance mom, I was there to do it and get it. I eventually graduated to Veteran Dance Mom as we moved into a new studio, and became Dance Innovations. I was always happy to help in any way I could and started with costume alterations and flower fundraisers. This fall 2022, Paige was headed off to college at Butler and I wanted to stay connected to this great family that we started and found a new way to get involved. I started working the front desk and continue to make the costume alterations. I am so happy to still be involved with the great studio and that Liz and Lorenda continue to have me around. I love working with all these great families and showing more people our little happy place.