The Forest Dance Academy Staff

Directors
	Karen Palmer Karen has been involved in the dance industry for more than twenty years. Growing up at Forest Dance Academy in Forest, Virginia, Karen began her instruction at age four under Pam York and Sue Dail. Karen is the Co-Owner of Forest Dance Academy and the Co-Director and choreographer for the award winning Performance Company. She has been an instructor with Forest Dance Academy since 1999.  Karen is a member of Dance Teachers Association of Virginia and Dance Masters of America, and is certified by examination from DTA of VA and DMA to teach jazz and tap. She is experienced in teaching tap, jazz, mini-jazz, hip hop, musical theatre, contemporary, lyrical and mini-acro. Karen is both an accomplished dancer and teacher, who has been awarded convention scholarships and numerous overall awards on both the regional and national competition levels. Her choreography has been recognized on the competition circuit, winning numerous choreography awards. Karen's choreography has been requested by renowned choreographer Michael Schwandt, for recording artist Imogen Heap, who he is currently working with. Her routines have won several first overall placements at both regional and national competitions and her students have received many outstanding competition accolades. Under Karen's direction, her students have gone on to attend prestigious universities dance programs, appear in dance shows and perform in various scholarship shows. She has had Petite, Junior, Teen and Miss Dance titleholders in both North Carolina and Virginia, as well as award winning Greater Lynchburg's Junior Miss contestants. Karen has received the Presidential Citation award given by the Virginia's Governor's School for Humanities and Visual & Performing Arts for having a positive influence on the educational development of gifted and talented students, and for mentoring, advising, and inspiring the youth of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Karen has been trained in all disciplines of dance and has studied under some of the most notable names in the dance industry. She continues to further her dance training through travels to New York City and by attending conventions and taking master classes from nationally known teachers and award winning choreographers. Karen has judged for British Association of Teachers of Dancing competitions in Toronto, Canada as well as for various high school and college dance teams. Karen brings her love and passion of dance to her students and encourages them to always give more than 100%, have fun, and dance outside of their comfort zone.
	Michelle Thomas Michelle is a native of Michigan and the founding director of the Forest Dance Academy Performance Company, she is a member of Dances Masters of Michigan, Carolina Dance Masters, Dance Teachers Association of Virginia and Dance Masters of America. Michelle has served on the board of directors of Dance Masters of Michigan, and is certified by examination from D.M.M., C.D.M. and D.M.A. to teach jazz and tap. She is also certified through examination by the Cecchetti Council of America as a student, as well as a teacher of Ballet. She is experienced in teaching ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, musical theatre, lyrical, tiny tots, acrobatics, and hip hop. Michelle has over thirty years of experience in the dance and arts industry, eighteen of those years she has spent as a dance educator. Michelle was the state director of the Teen Miss and Mr. Dance of Michigan solo titled competition. Her students have represented Michigan, North Carolina, and Virginia as Dance Masters title holders. Her title holders have gone on to place in the top ten on a national level. Michelle is also an experienced judge for both dance competitions and ballet companies. Her professional stage career includes dancing for Universal Studios and Walt Disney World. She has had starring roles in "Gypsy", "Anything Goes", and "Annie Get Your Gun" to name a few. Her experience goes beyond dance to include voice, drama, and industrial commercial work. Michelle has maintained a successful teaching career. Her students have received numerous competition accolades, and have won several national dance championships. She has had students perform on "Star Search", and has former students that currently work in the industry.  Michelle was awarded the Presidential Citation for Outstanding Educator by the Governor's School for Humanities and Visual & Performing Arts at the University of Richmond for the impact she has made towards the educational advancement of her students. As a choreographer, Michelle has achieved numerous choreography awards both regional and nationally to her name. She has had many award winning Lynchburg's Junior Miss contestants, as well as Virginia's Junior Miss 2002. She has choreographed many Broadway Musicals including "Kiss Me Kate" and "Anything Goes". Her dance training includes: Bohoty's School of Dance, On Stage Dance Studio, and The Flint Ballet Company, STEPS on Broadway, Luigi Jazz Centre, Broadway Dance Center, and the EDGE Performing Arts Center. Michelle still continues her dance education through conventions, and master classes. She is extremely grateful to share her love of dance with her students, and truly believes her work inspiring young dancers to be very rewarding, her number one passion in life is her family: husband, Jason, and two beautiful daughters, Hunter Elizabeth and Riley Anne.
Faculty
	Kay Brockwell
	Shelagh Connolly
	Jennifer Foust
	LeAnn Glass
	Leila Grandemange
	Kindra Johnson
	Lauren McKee
	Joan Palmer
	Caitlin Pugh
	Hanna Simmers
	Mary VanDuyne
	Dominique Angel
	Isabel Schleeter
	Nancy McKee - Administrative Assistant
	Melissa Jones - Receptionist