Carolyn Goodman, Business Manager of LaShelle’s School of Dance and Tennessee native, is a proud educator, wife and “dance mom”.  She graduated from Lane College in Jackson, TN with a Bachelors in Education and from Wayne State University with a Masters of Business Administration. As a child growing up in a small town, she did not have access to attend a dance studio or take dance classes. However, when she moved to Detroit, got married and started a family, she always knew she wanted her children to receive a dance education.  Alongside her husband, Willie James Goodman, Carolyn exposed her daughters (Miss LaShelle & Miss Carollette) to many years of dance training, master classes, competitions and performance opportunities on local, national and international levels. A teacher  of Accounting and Business Math for the Detroit Public School System for 40 years,  and a dance mom for over 30 years, “Mrs. Goodman” makes for quite the Business Manager.

Angela Austin began her training at the celebrated Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts where she had the privilege of working with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Opera House, Fox Theatre, Fisher Theatre, and the historic Dance Theatre of Harlem. Ms. Angela continued her training on scholarship at Oakland University where she earned her BA in Dance, and later received her Masters of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Michigan. She also studied at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York City and the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company in Ohio as a Maggie Allesee Summer Study Scholarship recipient. In 2005 she was the recipient of the Jacob Decker Dance Award for Outstanding Dance Performance. Ms. Angela has performed with Oakland Dance Theatre, OU Repertory Dance Company and has appeared as guest dancer with the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, Patterson Rhythm Pace Dance Company, Gladdys Knight, Deborah Gibson, Billy Porter and Kaddy Adams. She has performed works by choreographers including Sean Curran, Martha Graham, Rennie Harris, Amy Marshall, Laurie Eisenhower, Leyya Tawil, and Li Chao Ping, among others. She is currently the dance teacher at the Marvin L. Winans Academy of Performing Arts.

Chanita Dunham enjoyed dancing as a young child. Choreographing dance routines with family and friends were a favorite pass time.  She pursued dance in a more structured atmosphere in 1996 when she joined the praise dance ministry at her church in which she has been active for the past 16 years. Her passionate and energetic expressions of dance led her into the position of Dance Leader and Choreographer at New Bethel Christian Church in Lansing, MI for two years and Greater Apostolic Church in Detroit, MI for the last six years.  There, Chanita started a youth hip hop ministry and sign language ministry working with individuals of various ages.  Her church dance ministry “Dynamic Dancers of Praise” has performed at numerous services locally and has recently had the opportunity to open for the local stage play “A House Divided” in 2011.  Chanita has participated in the National Liturgical Dance Network and the Detroit/Lansing Chapter Dance Workshop “Calling, Commitment, and Discipline” in April 2006. She has also furthered her training by taking the Praise/Modern Dance class at LaShelle’s School of Dance in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons and attending the Dance Masters of America Teachers’ Training School in July 2012 and 2013. Chanita enjoys spending time with family and friends and continuing her love of sports. She believes that a leader should also be a mentor and an example to those whom he/she leads.

Tiffany Glenn is an Administrative Assistant at LaShelles. While taking time off to raise her family, she began working with the studio and has been there for 3 years. Tiffany has a background in administration and finance, and she has worked with a local bank for over 9 years.  Currently, she works at the school her children attend and she loves it.  Tiffany began working at the studio because she loves to be around kids.  She believes the love for kids came from being an only child, and helping take care of younger cousins.  When not at the studio, Tiffany enjoys being with her husband, her children and traveling. 

Ashia Lee is currently a student at Wayne State University, majoring in Pre-Med (Biology) pursuing a Bachelors degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences. She is currently working as a Patient Attendant for the Detroit Medical Center in hopes of one day becoming an Obstetrician, Physician Assistant, or a Paramedic. As a child, she had a passion for cheerleading, stepping, and dancing, but her main focus was on academics. Ashia was an over achiever throughout grade school, graduating from Heart Academy High School as class valedictorian in June of 2007. In her spare time she loves creating step routines and choreographing dance routines. She is currently working with the Detroit Youth Choir & Performing Arts Company as a dance choreographer. Though her passion and main focus is on getting to medical school, Ashia loves to dance as a hobby, attending classes at LaShelle’s School of Dance from 2006-present and currently working as an Administrative Assistant.  Ashia believes in being a well-rounded individual and striving for excellence in everything that you do!

Susan Clayton -  DDCdances company member and company ballet teacher proud to be dancing her 24th season 2013/2014. Past company work includes MoreDances Contemporary Dance Company, Harbinger Dance Company, Ballet Michigan, MI, Opus Dance Ensemble, NV, Dance & Company, Il,  review shows in FL, NV, PA, as well in Japan and Italy. Sue has danced with Sigfried & Roy at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas, NV, and with Carlton and Company as a featured act in Jubilee in Las Vegas, NV. Sue toured the Caribbean as dancer, dance captain and company manager of the Norwegian Cruise Lines, Fl.  Sue is an experienced teacher and has directed her own school, been on staff at many local studios, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Oakland Community College, and Oakland University. Susan has studied Vaganova Ballet through teacher's course work at Lake Michigan College, MI and at Nutmeg Ballet, CT.  Comprehensive study in creative movement at Wayne State University, MI. Full Dance Merit Scholarship (one year) at Giordano Dance Center, IL. After becoming interested in more injury prevention work, Susan completed and is a certified registered RYT 200 yoga therapist through Yoga Medics in spine care, and Sun Moon Yoga.  In 2013 Susan completed course work in Pedagogy For Different Learning Styles through NDEO, and Ballet Based Biomechanics and Orthopedic Analysis Level 1 through the Humanitarian Resource Institute.  Other related studies have been in nutrition and anatomy, always trying to learn more to protect dancers from injury.

Cathy Taister grew up in California, where she trained at Orange County Dance Center which is an award winning studio. For college, Mrs. Taister moved to Washington DC where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance from George Washington University. She is certified as a performing arts teacher for public schools by the District of Columbia. Cathy has been teaching dance for eighteen years. She is trained in acro, ballet, tap, jazz, and modern.  As a teacher, Cathy enjoys using her background in a variety of movement arts to create exciting programs to help her students learn and grow.  Mrs. Taister has enjoyed a colorful career as a performing artist. She has performed with Saint Mark’s Dance Company, Atlas Moving Company, World Dance Focus, and Avadance. She also ran her own dance company, called Cathy and Company for seven years. The most memorable performances include performing for the Kennedy Center’s open house and performing with Figment in New York City.

Alanna Phillips is currently a Senior at  Renaissance High School and an honor student. While maintaining a 3.5 G.P.A., she participates in Renaissance's Dance Workshop, is a LaShelle’s Company Training Program member, and is a part of the staff at LaShelle's.  Starting dance at the age of 7, Alanna has come a long way and loves to dance. She is proficient in all genres including Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern and Lyrical dance and recently passed her Cecchetti Grade II Student Examination.  Also she is a past recipient of the LaShelle’s Scholarship for Excellence in Dance and has received numerous awards as a competitive dancer at the State, Regional and National levels.  Her most recent victories took place with the Tremaine Regional and National Dance Conventions in St. Louis, MO and Orlando, FL. As a student Alanna has had the opportunity to train with Dance Master’s of America, the Cecchetti Council of America, the Michigan Youth Arts Festival, the Broadway Dance Center , the Alvin Ailey Dance Center in New York City and the International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference.  As an instructor Alanna has worked with students of all ages and has had a great impact as a peer mentor and youth leader.