Beginning her dance studies in metro-Detroit, Michelle has led a versatile and illustrious dance
career.  She began her professional career as a touring company member of the iconic Garth Fagan Dance Company (choreographer of The Lion King), Toronto's Ballet Creole, a guest artist with The National Dance Theatre Company in Kingston, Jamaica and was a lead soloist with Dallas Black Dance Theatre for 7 years. 

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Michelle has utilized her skills and knowledge acquired through her professional work to create a nurturing environment for her pre-professional students and dance enthusiasts of all levels to thrive.  She previously directed the Junior and Senior Performing Ensembles at DBDT, as well as taught for DBDT, DBDT Summer Enrichment, Dallas Independent School District (DISD) Summer Intensive, Spyceland Dancers Summer Intensive in Grenada for seven years, National Cultural Foundation in Barbados, Edna Manley Summer Dance Intensive in Jamaica and for Dance Alive in Gainesville, Florida.  She has also taught Ballet and Modern to the Junior, Teen and Senior Companies at Kitty Carter Dance Factory.  In addition to her own scholarship studies at Jacob's Pillow, her students have followed in her footsteps to dance at Jacob's Pillow, Juilliard, Point Park University, Fordham, New York University, Purchase College, University of Southern California and University of Texas to name a few.  Several of her students have gone on to perform in touring companies as well like Hubbard Street, Metropolitan Opera, Gibney Dance, Dance Kaleidoscope, Dallas Black Dance Theatre and the National Tour of Lion King. 

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Michelle continues to expand her somatic practice by teaching Horton, Ballet, Pilates, Yoga, Modern and Jazz.  In 2019, She moved to Los Angeles and founded, Shifting Bodies, a company that works to bring all modalities of movement doing workshops, privates and pop up classes for children and adults.  She has taught Horton at California State University at Fullerton, as well as K-8 for Gabriella Charter Schools in Los Angeles, CA.  She is certified in Pilates and Yoga and currently teaches at Equinox, White House Pilates and Beach Life Fitness.  She lives in Redondo Beach, CA with her husband, Jarryd and their three children, Londyn, Leon and Celine.

 

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