Ballet | Contemporary

Andrew Cribbett, originally from Thomasboro, Illinois, received a full scholarship to The Washington Ballet in Washington D.C. He then attended Duke Ellington School of the Arts to finish his senior year of high school. He joined Eisenhower Dance Detroit in 2011 and retired as a company dancer and Rehearsal Director in 2021. While dancing with the company, Mr. Cribbett toured nationally and internationally both teaching and performing in venues as far as Tel Aviv, Israel. He also had the great pleasure of performing original works by Nicolo Fonte, Gina Patterson, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Edgar Zendejas, Joshua Peugh, Ron De Jesus, among many others. His choreography has received recognition for Top 12 placement at YAGP for solos, small groups, and ensembles. Over the years, Mr. Cribbett has taught and choreographed for several local studios including The School of Eisenhower Dance Detroit and also trains elite level figure skaters in Junior Ice Dance. He is also pursuing a degree in Nursing concurrent with his role of Assistant Artistic Director. 

Ballroom

Ashley Kalchik has 27 years of classical ballet training. She is a two-time National Vice Champion for Argentine Tango in the USA. Ms. Kalchik holds a BFA in Dance from Wayne State University and has performed in numerous professional productions, including prestigious venues such as the Detroit Opera House, Fox Theatre, and The Fillmore Detroit. Additionally, Ashley has showcased her talent in commercials for Ford and Chrysler.

Ballet

Jonathan Carter began his ballet training at age 3 and joined Northwest Florida Ballet Academie at 9, training under Todd Eric Allen and Dorothy Lister. His professional career includes dancing with Atlanta Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, and Alabama Ballet, where he performed roles such as The Cavalier in Balanchine’s Nutcracker and Prince Désiré in The Sleeping Beauty. In 2020, he joined Northwest Arkansas Ballet Theatre, performing principal roles including Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and later danced with Dayton Ballet, where he starred as Peter Pan, the Cavalier in The Nutcracker, and in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Limoncello. As a Guest Artist, Jonathan has performed principal roles with companies across the U.S., including Cuban Classical Ballet, A&A Ballet, and Macomb Ballet Theatre. He has taught at Atlanta Ballet, Alabama Ballet, and others, and served as an adjudicator for the National Arts and Letters competition. In 2022, he joined the board for the Dorothy D. Lister Memorial Scholarship, helping young dancers access national summer intensives.

Jazz Funk | Hip Hop

Kacie Collins was born and raised in the Detroit area. She began her training at the age of 3 at Gotta Dance Studios. Throughout the years Kacie was part of the Detroit Pistons Entertainment team on the Motor City Minis from 2017-2019. She joined Hollywood Connection’s The Teen Company in 2018 working closely with the faculty, specifically the artistic directors over the years Mitchel Federan, Kristin McQuaid, and Aaron Czuprenski. Her third year on the company Kacie was given the title of company captain. From 2019-2023, she spent her summers choreographing and performing with the USPBL Dance Crew, working closely alongside Lesley Kay. During her summers off, she loves to teach and choreograph across the state of Michigan. Teaching hip hop, contemporary fusion, and improv classes, in addition to, choreographing competition and halftime pieces for dance teams and studios. Currently, Kacie is preparing to graduate from Chapman University in Orange, California as a Dance BFA in May 2025. She is in her fourth and final year as a member of the University’s hip-hop club Team Shaka, as President. At Chapman, Kacie is furthering her artistic knowledge and preparing for her future career in the dance industry. 

Jazz | Hip Hop | Contemporary

Lisa Carducci-Deringor a Choreographer and Master teacher. Originally from Detroit MI, Lisa studied classical ballet and holds grades I-VII from The Cecchetti Council of America. Lisa has performed lead roles in The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Coppelia. At the age of 19, Lisa moved to Los Angeles, where she received a dance scholarship to Tremaine Dance Center. She has studied many disciplines under some of the industries top teachers and choreographers. Following scholarship, she began working as a professional dancer and choreographer. She has performed on the MTV Video Music Awards, Billboard Awards, HBO Comedy Awards, tours, videos, film and commercials. Lisa has worked with several artists including Brittany Spears, N'Sync, Lenny Kravitz, Taking Back Sunday, James Blunt. She has worked with companies such as HBO, Pepsi, Disney, Adidas, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls. Lisa resides in Williamsburg, VA where she is the Artistic Director of The Movement Dance Company as well as a teacher at The Institute for Dance. She also travels the country as a Master Teacher and Choreographer.

Contemporary

Becca Grden, based out of Detroit Michigan, Becca Grden has been a full time movement educator, choreographer, and dance adjudicator for the past 12 years. She most recently won top choreography at World Art Ballet Competition in 2024 and 2023 and choreogeapher of the year multiple times at YAGP. Becca most recently had the honor of choreographing the gala number at the world ballet Grand Prix nationals. She has instructed at several conventions and festivals: such as CNADM, Brighton Dance Festival, Eisenhower new dance works where she premiered a new work titled, cognizant perception. Becca enjoys working across many facets of the industry and has previously coached a high school dance team and creates for high school and college athletes. She has been a competition judge for the past 8 seasons, always learning and growing. Becca is also a certified fitness professional in barre and yoga. She has developed a specific conditioning, syllabus for dancers and is very passionate about answers health and wellness.

Ballet

Sarah (Boik) Komara is a distinguished educator and performer with a lifelong dedication to dance. A dance scholarship recipient at Oakland University, she performed with Oakland Dance Theatre and Repertoire companies. She holds the Enrico Cecchetti Diploma (DFCCA), the highest certification from the Cecchetti Council of America, where she serves as an examiner, Recording Secretary, and Social Media Director.

A former principal dancer with the Macomb Ballet Company, Mrs. Komara later served as Co-Director, Assistant Artistic Director (2007–2022), and now sits on the advisory panel. She was also Assistant Director at the Ann Parsley School of Dance (2017–2022) and taught there since 2003. Her mentorship has helped students earn scholarships and careers in collegiate and professional dance.

She has trained with Joffrey Ballet, ABT, and ACDFA, is certified in Progressive Ballet Technique, and has guest taught at multiple Michigan universities and studios across the Midwest.