Summer Intensive
July 17th-21st
Ages 7-10 Junior- $300
Ages 11-13 Preteen/Teen- $330
Ages 14+ Teen/Senior- $350
*single class/drop in rate available, please email info@relevedanceacademy.com to schedule a drop in.
scroll to see this year's faculty
MASTER STAFF
Lisa Geger has been with the Columbia Performing Arts Centre, in Columbia, MO since its inception in 1998. Lisa oversees the recreational ballet program syllabus, has taught modern and Swing, and has choreographed over 60 ballets and a few competition pieces throughout the years.
Lisa graduated from Stephens College in 1992 with a BFA in Dance. She then attended Harvard Summer Dance Workshop and studied dance in London with the London Contemporary Dance Theatre and in Holland with the Rotterdam Dance Theatre. Lisa performed with Webster Dance Theatre and MADCO in St. Louis and then moved to New York City where she became an apprentice for the Merce Cunningham Dance Company and represented the Cunningham Studio in the Princess Grace Foundation Awards. In 1996 Lisa moved back to Missouri and founded Repertory Arts Movement, a 501 C3 organization formed to promote the performing arts. From 2004-2006 Lisa was proud to be the Associate Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer of Cedar Lake II. In 2007, in order to spend more time with her family and homeschool her children, Lisa donated her 501 C3 organization to Karen Mareck Grundy who renamed it to Missouri Contemporary Ballet. From 2017-2020, Lisa was an adjunct dance instructor at Stephens College teaching ballet, modern, choreography, pedagogy as well as a guest choreographer for their faculty spring dance concerts.
Lisa is the current president of the Missouri Dance Organization whose mission is to connect the Missouri dance community and to support all the incredible dance artists of Missouri. She is also on the Executive Board of Missouri Alliance for Arts Education. Lisa is a certified teacher of Progressing Ballet Technique and looking forward to expanding that to the Progressing Contemporary Technique.
Manual "Lukky" Harvey began as a street dancer and freestyler in the styles of popping, breaking, house and krumping and now his main focus is hiphop influenced choreography. His style is very unique and based mainly off of grooving and expression. He is apart of immaBEAST the company, under the direction of WilldaBeast Adams, also signed with LA based talent agency, Clear Talent Group. He travels and trains often at Millennium Dance Complex, Debbie Reynolds and Movement Life studios in LA. He has trained under industry professionals such as Nappy Tabs, Willdabeast Adams, Brian Friedman, Laura Edwards, Bobby Newberry, Janelle Ginestra, Tony Bellissimo, Jaja Vankova, Cris Judd, Dave Scott, Tricia Miranda and several others.
A few of Manual's credits include iPush "theCOMMUNITY", Three Blind Saints (the movie), Blood Money (stageplay), Ginuwine, Tech N9ne, Jordan Fisher, MacKenzie Nicole, Krizz Kaliko, immaBEAST, TeRance Golden, Sauce Remix, Brisk Iced Tea, Stevie Stone and more.
Mira Hills is a dance choreographer, instructor, and a Talent Casting Coordinator for Live Entertainment for Walt Disney World. She gained these skills while studying at Arizona State University (ASU), receiving a BFA in Dance and a certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation as a Barrett Honors student. She has been training, performing, and creating movement for 21 years with mentors such as Liz Lerman, Keith Thompson, and Kristin Sudeikis. Mira’s goal as an arts entrepreneur and educator is to create a supportive and educational environment that will foster creativity within each mover through art. She has performed and choreographed for the Arizona State Dancing Devils and her choreography was selected to represent ASU at the American College Dance Association Conference. Mira continues to create work that reflects her values of commitment, effective creativity, and vulnerability. Mira’s dream is to continue shaping lives of movers as an instructor, choreographer, and casting director of dance performance.
Nathan Crewe-Kluge hails from Chicago IL, where he received formal dance training from Hubbard Street Dance Chicago/Lou Conte Dance Studios, Jofferey Ballet Academy, and Dance Center of La Grange. He received additional training from Alonzo King LINES Ballet, DanceWorks Chicago, River North Dance Chicago, Giordano Dance Chicago, and more. In 2019 Nathan had the privilege to study classical ballet abroad at Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts. He most recently trained in college at SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance on scholarship under the direction of Nelly van Bommel and will receive his BFA in Dance Performance and Composition in January. Nathan has performed works by prestigious choreographers including Jerome Robbins, Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham, José Limón, Helder Seabra, Rena Butler, Gregory Dawson, and Leigh Warren. Additionally, Nathan has guested with Chicago Repertory Ballet, Winifred Haun & Dancers, and Three Rivers Dance. Currently, Nathan resides in Columbia, MO and dances for Mareck Center for Dance (formerly Missouri Contemporary Ballet).
Sarah Murphy grew up dancing in Northern California, and is thrilled to be returning to Mareck Center for Dance for her third season. She has previously danced as a company member with BalletNext under the direction of Michele Wiles, performing at New York Live Arts, The New Victory Theater, and Kaatsbaan; a company member with the South Valley Ballet in California; a second company member with NWA Ballet Theatre in Arkansas; and an ensemble member in Wilder Production’s NU·TOPIA in Aspen, CO. She has also developed a love of teaching during her time as a professional dancer, and taught various levels of ballet, conditioning, and creative movement for the Jones Center in Arkansas and the South Valley Ballet School.
Sarah earned her BFA in Ballet from the University of Utah, where she completed academic courses in pedagogy, kinesiology, music theory, choreography, dance history, dance criticism, and nutrition, in addition to varied studio and performance courses. While at the U, she became curious about studying both somatic practices and kinesiological concepts and learning to incorporate them into her approach to dance and wellness: it is something that she continues to be passionate about exploring, and infuses into her teaching.
Makenna Blough, originally from Osage Beach, Missouri, is currently a Junior at
Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. She is working to achieve her BFA in
Contemporary Dance. Makenna has a background in contemporary, ballet, improv, jazz, hip hop, and ballroom dance. Besides being a student, she is a choreographer for Relevé Dance Academy’s Performance Company. Makenna has had the opportunity to perform in Lindenwood University Dance Programs Fall, Winter and Spring concerts, while working with various choreographers. After receiving her BFA, Makenna plans to dance professionally and choreograph for studios and companies.
Peter and Amy Hernandez are the owners of La Roca Dance Club in Osage Beach, where they offer classes in ballroom, Latin, and swing dancing. Peter is from "The Dotte" in Kansas City where he began his dance career more than 20 years ago. His training started while working for a man he greatly respected, the late Tom Champman at TC Dance International. He attributes much of his success to the valuable knowledge he has received from some of the many coaches he has worked with including Terry Irwin, David Kloss, Ahmed Hussein, and Bob Powers. Amy was born and raised on the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks where she currently resides with her husband, Peter, and two amazing children, Victor and Cicylia. She attended the University of Missouri in Columbia. As a child Amy began her dancing career in jazz, modern, and ballet. At first, ballroom and Latin dancing was just a hobby. It didn’t take long for her to leave years of working in the corporate world to make dance her new career. Today, Amy’s love of dance has led her to integrate it in to her life day-in and day-out. Peter Hernandez has won various Top Teacher awards at 5-7 NDCA Competitions each year since 2005. La Roca Club has been awarded the TOP Studio award 10 times in the last 14 years. La Roca Club has also been recognized in its achievements as a Lake Community endorsing business as well as being supportive of the Alzheimer's Association for over 12 years.
Madison Diehl is originally from Lake Ozark Missouri. She began dancing at the age of two at Relevé Dance Academy. Madison started teaching at the age of 15 while still a student at Releve. She is currently attending Southeast Missouri State University as a dance major. She has had the opportunity to work with several amazing choreographers and teachers during her time there and has gained so much knowledge through choreography and excellent training. She has continued to teach and choreograph through her college career. Madison is excited to be back and share the things she has learned.
Mary DeMichele is a theater professional and certified teacher, who has been performing, training, and teaching acting, improv, and more in a multitude of settings for almost three decades. Originally from the New York City area, Mary, after earning her MSSC, completed a two-year conservatory program in the dramatic arts, achieved advanced certification in stage combat from the Society of American Fight Directors; founded a professional improv troupe that is still performing two decades later, founded and directed an award winning, high school performing arts program, and founded and directed a competitive swing dance team based in NYC.
In addition to stage, film, TV and commercial work, Mary’s work and ground breaking neurobiological research in applying improv to help those suffering the effects of trauma has been featured in Psychology Today, Forbesand in the documentary, “Act Social-Using YES AND to Save the World from Within,” starring Collin Mochrie of the television show “Whose Line Is It Anyway”.
Mary enjoys creating safe and supportive experiences so friends and strangers may experience a sense of shared joy, laughter and connection throughout the Lake; at community Improv Jams, performances as the pirate Mayhem Marnie at Jolly Rogers, Wonderland Camp and at events and workshops throughout the area. A certified academic and special needs teacher, DeMichele is the author of books, published research, articles, and her blog and courses at OneRuleImprov.com. DeMichele has her master’s degree from Syracuse University.
Stephanie Ryder grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is so excited to be a guest teacher during this years summer intensive at Releve. Stephanie earned a BFA in Dance with a ballet concentration from Point Park University. During her time there she studied ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, hip hop, tap, pas de deux, kinesiology, pedagogy and many other dance related courses. While at Point Park she had the privilege of studying under and attending master classes from a host of well known dancers and choreographers. After graduation she taught for several years at studios around Pittsburgh. Stephanie is married to Jordan and they have 4 children: Gideon (9) Canaan (8) Leo (6) and Jetta (1) They moved to the Lake in 2020 and have absolutely loved it!