Meet the Staff

Andrea ‘Director”

Has been the owner and director of Andrea Redman Dance Academy since August of 2005

She has been teaching all disciplines of dance for 17 years and dancing for over 33 years.  Ms. Redman holds a B.A. in Dance from Oakland University.  She has been on the faculty of the famed Steps on Broadway in NYC, Rebecca Kelly Kids Co-Motion (NYC), and many other schools in NY, NJ, and CT.  In Michigan, she taught at Spotlight Dance Works, Tina Marie’s School of Dance, Dance Dynamics, Rochester School of Dance, The Pointe Academy and Mt. Zion School of Dance to name a few.  Ms. Redman danced professionally in NYC with the Eglevsky Ballet, Tatiana Cabaret Show and Notara Dance Theatre and also with the Richmond Ballet, Ballet Theatre Pennsylvania and the Russian Ballet Theatre of Delaware.  She also toured nationally.

Andrea has been the rehearsal director of the children’s cast for the Nutcracker with the Moscow Ballet at the Fox Theatre, Fisher Theatre and at the Masonic Temple.  Her students have been accepted to and received scholarships to many prestigious programs including the Juilliard School, American Ballet Theatre, SAB (New York City Ballet School), Pacific Northwest Ballet School, Univ. of Michigan, Wayne State University, Oakland Univ., Alvin Ailey, Steps on Broadway and many others. 

She won several choreography awards and her students have placed in the finals at the Youth America Grand Prix and at many other high-level competitions.  Her students have danced with Radio City, Cruise Lines, American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Ballet Internationale and the Moscow Ballet.

Ms. Redman trained with many master teachers including Nancy Bielski, Suzi Taylor, Joe Lanteri and Jason Parsons.  She also trained with master teachers at the Kirov Ballet School in Russia.  In her teaching methods she stresses proper technique and body alignment, as well as striving for your personal best in an encouraging atmosphere.

Deborah   

Has been teaching dance since 1979 and dancing for over 35 years.  She trained with Sheila Reilly at Marquette University and at the Dance Department of Wisconsin-Madison.  She holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a M.S. in Statistics.  Ms. Alrutz was the Ballet Mistress for the Esther Moody Eastside Ballet Company in Milwaukee, WI.  She also taught at Geiger Classic Ballet Academy in Bloomfield Hills and at several other schools in Wisconsin and Ontario.

Kris

Has been teaching all disciplines of dance for 11 years.  She holds a B.A. in Political Science and is a Certified Electroneurodiagnostic Technician.  Miss Gajos won many choreography awards and her students have won several overall awards at Nexstar, Hall of Fame, Starpower, NYCDA, Showbiz and Access Broadway competitions.  She competed in many dance competitions and studied with master teachers from NYC and LA.  Kris was also awarded Miss Shelby Township Millenium.

Ashley

Has been teaching for five years and dancing for 17 years.  She trained at Broadway Dance Center and Alvin Ailey in NYC and is currently pursuing a marketing degree in college. Her students have won several overall awards at Nexstar, Hall of Fame and other notable competitions  Miss Gajos earned numerous awards including NYCDA Outstanding Dancer Runner-up, scholarships at L.A. Dance Magic, Shock and West Coast Dance Explosion to name a few.  Ashley performed in the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade, in the United Way Thanksgiving Day Halftime Show featuring Mariah Carey and in “Concert for a Cure” at the Gem Theatre.

Shannon  

Has been teaching for 12 years.  She teaches all disciplines of dance.  Miss Murphy holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance from Butler University.  She performed in the Nutcracker with the Butler Ballet Company and danced professionally with Jean Ann Ryan Productions where she performed in several shows including, “Runnin’ Wild”, “Sea Legs Cirque”, “Hey! Mr. Producer”, and “Carousel”.  Shannon also studied and danced with American Ballet Theatre, Ballet Internationale and Ann Reinking’s Broadway Theatre Project.

Brittany

Has been teaching all dance styles for five years and dancing for 11 years. Brittany is a member of Automotion, the professional dance team for the Detroit Pistons. She is currently pursuing her dance and education degrees at Oakland University and also studied at Marygrove College.  Brittany also studied with master teachers in L.A. She has done professional choreography for local rap starts including Tearve Mari, Lady T., and Chris Newland and traveled around the world.  Brittany toured with the Teens of Comedy with Brandon T. Jackson and Lil’ JJ and also performed in the Super Bowl in Detroit.  Miss Harris danced and trained with Oakland Dance Theatre, Images Dance Team, Ballet Renaissance, Motor City Dance Factory and Inner City Dance Scope.  

Amanda

Has been teaching all styles of dance for five years and dancing for 21 years.
She is pursuing a business law degree at Wayne State University.  Amanda performed with AAA Entertainment as a back-up dancer with the Black Eyed Peas and in two Super Bowls.  She has also done several radio commercials for 96.3 WDVD, performed at Ground Zero at the one year remembrance of 9/11 and danced with
Dance America /Dance Olympus.  Miss Poole performed as Roxie Hart in “Chicago” and Rizzo in “Grease” at Macomb Community College.  She studied at American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Program and at Alvin Ailey in New York City.  She also holds a grade 6 Cecchetti certificate and is finishing her jazz and tap certifications through Dance Masters.  

Desiree 

Has been teaching dance and choreographing for the past 29 years.  She received her M.F.A. in Dance from the University of Michigan and her B.F.A. in Dance from Marygrove College.  She has danced professionally with the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, Harbinger, Ann Arbor Dance Works, Dance Detroit, and the Severo Ballet Company.  She toured nationally and internationally throughout Japan, France, and the U.S.A.  Ms. Brengman performed in music videos, commercials, movies, and in the Auto Show Circuit.  She has been on the faculty of Interlochen Arts Academy, Oakland Univ.,Wayne State Univ., and the University of Michigan.  Ms. Brengman taught at several dance studios, and has privately coached many figure skaters.

Lisa  

Has been teaching all disciplines of dance for 18 years.  She holds a B.S. in Human Resources and Communications from Oakland University.  Miss Krantz traveled with the Auto Show Circuit for 7 years and trained with many master teachers in NYC.  Her students have have won awards at regional and national competitions.