2025 Fall Convention Faculty 

 

Jamie Marino

Jamie Marino’s love for movement began as a little girl when she begged her mom to put her in a dance class. She grew up dancing at The Dance Shoppe under the direction of Terri Newman, where her passion for the art form flourished. That dedication eventually led to a full scholarship at the prestigious Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles at just 18 years old.

Jamie went on to work as a professional dancer, performing in Detroit, Los Angeles, New York City, and Philadelphia. Her career includes appearances in local and national commercials, including a national Coca-Cola spot, as well as work with the modern company Opus One and an Off-Broadway show in NYC. She has also danced and sung in musicals such as Gypsy and Annie, and her print work has appeared both locally and nationally.

With over 30 years of teaching experience, Jamie has inspired and trained generations of dancers. Many of her students have gone on to perform with professional ballet companies and in concert, theater, and commercial dance. Her choreography has been recognized with multiple awards at both regional and national competitions.

In addition to her dance background, Jamie is a fully certified comprehensive Classical Pilates instructor, trained through the internationally recognized Power Pilates program. She is passionate about the synergy between Pilates and dance, and how both disciplines foster strength, artistry, and resilience.

When she’s not in the studio, Jamie cherishes time with her husband, their four sons, and their golden doodle, Sammy.

 

 

Megan Stuart

Originally from Taylor, Michigan, Megan Coleman Stuart began her training with Ballet Americana. She continued her training at The David Howard Summer Intensive, The Bolshoiat Vail, American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Midwest, and on scholarship with BalletMet. While studying on a dance scholarship at Eastern Michigan University, she won The National Society of Arts and Letters Career Award for ballet and represented Michigan at the nationals. She performed one season with Detroit Opera House Civic Ensemble before beginning her professional career with Ballet Theatre of Ohio. Megan had the opportunity to dance the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, Wicked Witch of the West in the premiere of The Wizard of Oz, Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, and contemporary works in the Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival. Mrs. Stuart was invited to perform with Verb Ballets for their 2009 winter season before moving to KY to dance for the Lexington Ballet Company. Her repertoire with LBC included Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen, Dew Drop, Don Quixote Pas de deux, Fairy Doll, Swanilda in Coppelia, The title role in Cinderella, Evil Witch in Snow White, The Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, and many original works.  Megan freelanced for several years throughout the Midwest appearing as a guest artist Sugar Plum Fairy for several companies' performances of The Nutcracker as well as the title roles in BTO's Cinderella and for the premiere performance of The Little Mermaid. Megan has had the pleasure of guest teaching for The University of Michigan's Musical Theatre Department, Eastern Michigan University, Cecchetti Council's Eastern Michigan Committee, among others and has been on faculty for Lexington Ballet School and Toledo Ballet, along with many schools nationally. She has been invited for choreographic residencies at Eastern Michigan University and Hillsdale College. Mrs. Stuart holds a BA in Dance from Eastern Michigan University. In July of 2024, Megan became the Executive Artistic Director of Northeast Ohio Dance in Wadsworth, OH. Megan Coleman Stuart is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. 

 

 

Michael Wittmers

Mike Wittmers is originally from Cupertino, California and has been dancing for 43 years. He is the owner and Artistic Director of Adaptive Force Performing Arts in Scottsdale, Arizona. Mike is a former cast member of Tap Dogs, where he played the role of THE RAT. Some of Mike’s other professional musical theater credits range from “A Chorus Line” to “Crazy for You.” Mike has been a tap teacher in Los Angeles and on staff at EDGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, Millennium Dance Complex, Tremaine, and Debbie Reynold’s Studio, as well as taught at the world-renown Broadway Dance Center in New York. Industrial and commercial credits include, SONY, ABSOLUT VODKA, COMPAQ, TOSHIBA, KIRIN BEER, TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL, CASINO ARIZONA, SONIC, GoDaddy.com and various printwork. Mike’s choreography has been seen everywhere from conventions across North America and Disneyland theme parks, to dance competitions in Australia. Mike also choreographed the videos “Snap Story” and “Too Sophisticated” for pop/rock artist JoAnna Michelle. Aside from dance, Mike enjoys playing hockey, guitar and the drums. Television and film credits include, The Tonight Show, “Maneater” on the Lifetime Network, The Jerry Lewis Telethon, as well as the widely acclaimed short films, Tap Heat and Generation: LOST. Mike’s production company, Double Bass Productions, has released two instructional tap DVDs entitled “The World Is My Drum Vols. 1 & 2”, as well as produced its full theater debut of the rock and blues tap show, “Scuff’d Up!” Mike has taught on convention for Tremaine, Co. Dance, Dance League, Hollywood Dance Jamz, Reinforce Dance Experience, Dance Masters of America, Dance Olympus, Hoctor’s, The Teacher Workshop at The Pulse, Rhee Gold’s Dance Life Teacher Conference, One Rhythm and Triple Threat Dance Convention. He has also judged for many dance competitions including Dance Masters of America, V.I.P., Encore, StarQuest, and Thunderstruck to name a few.

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Eilleen Mallary

Eilleen Mallary is the Executive Director of Culture Shock® Chicago and has been a company dancer for 19 years. She trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and performed with Clear Lake Metropolitan Ballet in The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Dracula, and Coppélia. She assisted prima ballerina Janie Parker, the first American to win gold at the USA IBC. She has toured the U.S. and Canada with Culture Shock and together produced the first all-hip-hop showcase at Chicago's prestigious Harris Theater. Her commercial credits include flash mobs and commercials for Bacardi, The Thrillist, and Fresh Thyme, plus performances for Adidas-Lollapalooza, Coca-Cola, and Nike’s “Let’s Move” campaign with Michelle Obama. She also appeared in a Pillsbury flash mob with gospel duo Mary Mary. A passionate teacher, judge and choreographer, her students and choreography have won national titles and gone on to a multitude of careers in the performing arts.