Lori Dunn Lori Dunn Dancing has been the love of my life for 38 years.  Taking from several Fort Wayne schools, I ended up teaching at Fort Wayne School of Dance when I was 16.  I also danced in the Dance Company there under the direction of Mr. Bob Adams.   Our Dance Company traveled to Spain and New Orleans.  In 1988 I opened my own Fort Wayne studio which I directed for 8 years.  Our dance company “The Dream Team” competed often and traveled to Italy to dance. Because my family moved to Albion, it was necessary to give up the daily travel to Fort Wayne.  Not being ready to walk away from dance, I opened a studio in Albion.  Thankfully, in 2002, I sold it to the director of Center Stage Dance Studio, Audrey Husk.  I am now able to simply focus on my love for dance and the students that come our way every year.  It is my privilege to teach them the joy of tap, jazz, and hip hop.  My goal is to not only help them achieve their greatest dance ability, but to help guide them into becoming great human beings. Ian Truelove  Tracy Stratman Erin Cole  Mia Bendele Alexandra Husk Bio Coming Soon I have been dancing since the age of 3.  I have been trained in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Poms, Cheerleading, Tumbling, and Hawaiian.  I began attending dance competitions with Northeast School of Dance at the age of 6.  Along with myself I have had many dancers ranked at the local, regional, and national levels of dance.  I have had many opportunities over the years to be taught by some of the countries leading choreographers.  These choreographers have worked on Broadway, music videos, movies, theme parks, and have traveled with major dance competitions.  I am currently teaching at 2 local dance studios. I teach both recreational and competition classes. I truly look forward to working with all of the students and be able to pass my love of dance on! Miss Erin’s dance instruction began when she was 9 years old but her love of dance started long before she even began classes. When she was nine she was permitted, because her parents couldn't get her to stop dancing, to take a liturgical class under the instruction of Miranda Heitz, which allowed her to express her faith through dance.   This began her interest in formal dance training and from then on she has been enrolled in many dance classes. During her eighth grade year, her family moved to Argentina and she was able to study the dance style Flamenco under a very prestigious instructor. After Miss Erin returned home she joined the Center Stage Elite with whom she has competed in many competitions and conventions, often bringing home awards. She has had dance instruction from many prominent and famous teachers. She is now taking several classes at Center Stage including; Jazz, Tap, Ballet, and Lyrical, which is her favorite. In 2010, she began teaching and enjoys seeing her students progress and grow to love dance as she does. Miss Alex's love of dancing began when she was four years old where she began dancing at Tina Marie's School of Dance in Michigan.  When she was seven she began to dance at Dreams II Dance studio (Now CSDA), where she trained in all styles of dance under Mrs. Lori Dunn.  She then began intensive training at Tri-County Dance Academy where she was a competetive dancer in their Company and an assistant teacher.  After Center Stage's conception in 2001, Miss Alex returned to CSDA as a dancer and soon thereafter became an instructor.  Alex has taught numerous high-point winning awards and her dances have been awarded many specialty awards for precision, entertainment, costuming, and technique.  She has trained under Beth McLeish, the founder and director of New American Youth Ballet, Miranda Heitz, founding member and company dancer at Tampa Bay Ballet, Christine Rash, owner and director of TC dance, and many other world renowned instructors.  In 2000, Alex was chosen as a semi-finalist for Dancer of the Year through Dance Olympus Competitions.  Alex is the Director of the Center Stage "Elite" competition group and teaches technique, tap, jazz, and lyrical at CSDA. Mia is originally from Fort Wayne Indiana and while she started as a modern dancer, her formal ballet training is with Fort Wayne Ballet.  She has performed in "Temple of the Heart," "The Nutcracker," "The Sleeping Beauty," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Coppellia," "Child of the Promise," and many more.  She has had the honor of studying under Jeremy Blanton, Laura Alonzo, Brandi Coleman, Laura Morton, and many other nationally renowned teachers at summer intensive programs.  Her training with Karen Gibbons-Brown, Elenora Pokhitonova Hartun, Radmilla Teodorovic Novosel, Derek Reid, and Stephan Zubal at Fort Wayne Ballet laid the foundation for her teaching methods.  However, Mia continues to take courses and learn more to become a stronger teacher year after year.  This past year Mrs. Bendele had the honor of teaching for New American Youth Ballet and Conservatory, En Croix Studio, Dance til' You Drop, and choreographing for a Christmas Musical "Starlight."  She also has choreographed for Leo High Schools Spring Musical "Aida," and "Jekyll and Hyde" and South Side High School's "South Pacific."  She is married to Joey Bendele and is now the proud mommy to a beautiful baby girl! Lisa Oswald  Scott Smith I am originally from Albion, Indiana.  I started dancing late in life and quickly found a passion.  I trained at Ball State University. My main studies were in Social Work and Dance.  I had the privilege to train for three years under the instruction of a variety of incredible artists, including Audra Sokol, Sarah Mangelsdorf, Susan Koper, Christie Zimmerman and Greg Lund.  I currently reside in Fort Wayne and work building an online business with successful entrepreneurs. I am very appreciative of the opportunity to work with Center Stage Dance and look forward to learning, living, and giving.  I have been involved in the Martial Arts since my sophomore year of high school. My interest in Karate began with the movies on television.  I told my parents that I would like to do this and eventually found a school in Columbia City.  My family is very supportive of me, and family is the first step in anything.  I have trained at different schools over the years and returned to my original school, Grand Master Coverstone, where I was granted my Black Belt.  The style that I teach is Sam Hamke Sa Do. It is an American Martial Art with a strong Korean influence of traditional Tang Soo Do. I have taught Martial Arts for the last 5 years at the Churubusco Elementary for the learning fair. I am married to a very supportive wife and have two wonderful children that also train and have trained with me over the years. I have grown up in the Churubusco are and lived here nearly all of my life.  I am also employed by Churubusco Auto Electric as a custom audio/video installer.  Tim and Lisa Fensler Tim and Lisa Fensler are the Owners/Directors of Center Stage Dance Academy.  Purchasing the business in January 2012, they are no strangers here.  Their children have been dancing at Center Stage since 2007.  The Fensler’s love the opportunity to encourage youth in the art of dance.  We are one big family here at Center Stage.