Michael Cusumano grew up in Long Island New York. He began dancing at the age of 6. At the age of 14 he won the bronze medal at the International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria, the youngest male dancer to medal in the competition’s history till then. That same year he went on to win the special Jury Prize at the Prix de Paris 1994.
 
Michael then joined American Ballet Theater at age 15, the youngest male dancer in the company’s history. With ABT Michael danced in all the full length classics as well as works by Twyla Tharp, John Neumeier, Agnes DeMille, and Lar Lubovich to name a few. After ABT Michael danced as a principal with Alabama Ballet, then as a soloist with the Boston Ballet.
 
He went on to perform in the original cast of “All Shook Up” on Broadway and then to star as “the jury” in the smash hit “Chicago” the musical on Broadway. Michael won the title of Mr.Broadway 2011. Other credits include “The Most Happy Fella” at New York State Theater, “On the Town” at Encores, “Live with Regis and Kelly”, “The Today’s Show”, “ABT Now for PBS”, “Le Corsaire for PBS”, feature film “Center Stage”, "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert", “SNL.” Michael’s alter ego Madame Olga was featured on an episode of “Joan and Melissa Joan knows Best” dancing the Black Swan coda for WE TV. Madame Olga is currently a highly sought out teacher nationally and internationally. IG @madameolgav and Madameolgatv.com . As a singer Michael performed as the lead in the BBC up-fronts performing David Bowie’s “Changes.” He appeared in the original production of "An American in Paris" on Broadway.
 
Most recently Michael is the subject of the award winning short documentary “When I’m Her” for PBS which has been the #1 short doc since it’s release. He is currently on faculty in the Pace University Commercial Dance Department where he has taught for ten years, the Joffrey Ballet School NYC, and also teaches at world renowned institutions including Broadway Dance Center, Peridance, and Ballet Arts at City Center. Michael is an ABT certified teacher levels pre-primary thru level 3. 

 









 
Marielle Standridge is a professional dancer originally from Dallas, Tx! Dancing since she was 2, she trained under Suzan Taylor until she moved to Los Angeles when she was 18. She has assisted alongside many choreographers across the country including; Kelsey Landers, Erica Klein, Seth Robinson, Sloan Taylor-Rabinor, and more. Recently seen on tour with iLuminate and in the original cast of Awakening at Wynn Las Vegas. She has had the opportunity to work under many world renowned choreographers including; Mandy Moore, Lisa Eaton, Makenzie Dustman, Phillip Chbeeb, Tracy Phillips, Nolan Padilla and more! She brings a piece of everyone she’s learned from into her teaching and choreography. Mari is always committed to evolving and growing herself and her dancing, she carries a piece of everyone she’s learned from in the past with her and cannot wait to share her knowledge and passion with you! 

My name is Kai Smith! I am 26 years of age and come from a military family so I have lived all over. I currently reside in Las Vegas, Nevada. I have 10 years of dance experience, specializing in Hip-Hop choreography and freestyle. My credits include Wu-Tang Clan, iLuminate, Latin GRAMMYs, KANGDANIEL and more. I believe in respecting the history and culture, but also in evolving it and propelling it forward. Ultimately, dance is an art form, so it is uniquely yours. Be yourself at all times! I am very excited to share with you all!

Stephanie danced with the Moving Company in Omaha, Nebraska for over a decade. In addition to performing with the Moving Company, Stephanie was a guest teacher and choreographer for the Moving Company as well as the Jewish Community Center Dance Company. Stephanie co-founded the Dance program at the Performing Arts Magnet in Omaha and was a founding member of TBD Dance Collective choreographing several pieces for the Collective. In Dallas, Stephanie performed with Truth in Comedy an innovative creative collaboration between narrative storytelling, comedy and art, and has been a teaching artist for
Big Thought and Chamberlain Ballet’s Relevé program. She is a Dance Movement Therapist in private practice and finds inspiration in nature and exploring connections in her creative work as a Dance Artist and Dance Therapist. Stephanie is forever grateful for the love and support of her children Nate, Mia, and Ben.

 
 
 
 
Zach Law Ingram is from Miami, Florida where he graduated from New World School of the Arts. He is a National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts (NFAA) Gold medalist and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts. Ingram trained with The Ailey School, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Miami City Ballet, to name a few. Ingram went on to join Alvin Ailey’s second company (Ailey ll), and soon became a founding member of Space T.U. Embrace project. Ingram has danced with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Armitage Gone!, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Lion King Las Vegas, Lion King on Broadway, and Walt Disney World’s Festival of the Lion King. He has performed works by Alvin Ailey, Dwight Rhoden, Alonzo King, Martha Graham, Judith Jamison, Twyla Tharp, Karole Armitage, Earl Mosley, Troy Powell and Peter London.
 
An innovator and choreographer, Zach has set works on Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Lion King Las Vegas, Ballet Noir, Dance Black Dance Theatre ll, and numerous dance studios throughout the nation. He began his own company, 6 o'Clock Dance Theatre , non -for profit organization,were he serves as founding and Artistic Director  of 6DT, since in January of 2014- present, based in the heart Dallas,Tx.
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During the 2021-2022 academic year Zach will be teaching dance classes at Southern Methodist University, including men's class, partnering and advanced ballet. He will also be setting a new work on the students there in Spring 2022.

Margaret (Malgorzata) Kochan has been teaching ballroom dancing since 1991. In Poland, she received her training from the Academy of Physical Education in Krakow, and the School of Arts and Culture, in Warsaw. In the US, she earned an Advanced Ballroom Teaching Certification from Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Inc. Margaret specializes in all American and International Ballroom styles as well as Argentine Tango, West Coast Swing, Carolina Shag, Country & Western and Cardio Ballroom.
 
With a teaching experience of over 25 years, Margaret and her team of instructors are committed to sharing their passion for dancing with everyone. She and her students have performed at events throughout the greater Rockwall and Dallas/Fort Worth area. Among others, Margaret has performed with the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra, "Angels of Dance" Annual Gala benefiting the Susan G Komen Dancing for the Cure, Children’s Health System, and Women In Need, Inc.
 
Margaret’s entrepreneurial spirit and passion for dancing led her to establish A Dance to Remember studio in Rockwall, Texas in 2008. As the premier studio in the greater Rockwall area, A Dance to Remember, "Where memories are created," provides a friendly and comfortable environment for everyone to learn, enjoy, and experience the wonderful world of dancing.

Vikas is a performer and choreographer from Seattle specializing in tap, contemporary, and various forms of Indian dance. He is the first South Asian to be sponsored by the dancewear giant Capezio, to receive a residency at the historic American Tap Dance Foundation, and to perform in the worldwide sensation STOMP. He has performed on TV with Good Morning America, NBC’s New Amsterdam, and So You Think You Can Dance, in commercials for J. Crew and Vogue, and on stage for 50,000 people at the Houston Texans stadium for the President of the United States. His company, Project Convergence, is known for uniting tap dance with Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian percussive dance form. They have performed at Lincoln Center and Alvin Ailey while being featured in The New York Times and The Hindu. Vikas is a guest instructor at Broadway Dance Center and Columbia University and is sought after around the world for his ability to challenge and inspire his students.

Mariah Spears is a professional dancer, choreographer, and educator based in Los Angeles. She recently completed a 54-show international tour with the Latin pop group Rebelde, performing across the U.S., Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico. She also danced in an upcoming movie starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell, set to release this year. She taught jazz at Chapman University, where she earned her BFA in Dance Performance in 2016.

Mariah’s commercial dance career includes featured roles in campaigns for Marshalls (with The Voice contestants), Allstate, Sonos, Hollister, SoFi, and Fuji-film. She has danced for artists such as Kelly Clarkson and appeared on TV shows like Schooled. In 2013, she was a top 16 finalist on So You Think You Can Dance (Season 10).

As a choreographer, Mariah has worked with artists like Warren G and Snoop Dogg. Her choreography is featured in the movie G-Funk and the musical Teddy’s Café. She has also created work for brands like Mercedes, Nike, and the Oscars.

Mariah is the founder of Artist Only, an in-studio convention that bridges the gap between dance studios and the professional world by offering students on-set experience. She continues to teach internationally, having taught in Australia, Paris, Shanghai, South Africa, and across the U.S.