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The Forest Dance Academy Staff
| Directors |
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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.
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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. |
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| Faculty |
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Kay Brockwell |
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Shelagh Connolly |
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Jennifer Foust |
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LeAnn Glass |
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Leila Grandemange |
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Kindra Johnson |
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Lauren McKee |
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Joan Palmer |
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Caitlin Pugh |
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Hanna Simmers |
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Mary VanDuyne |
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Dominique Angel |
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Isabel Schleeter |
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Nancy McKee -
Administrative Assistant |
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Melissa Jones -
Receptionist |
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