We believe the success of academy is largely due to its culture and the individuals who cultivate it. That is why are associate with where our academy is today with the people who have lead the way. See our instructors and all of their professional experience below!
Jenell Krites
Founder of Center Stage
Jenell Krites has been dancing since the age of eight, taking instruction in ballet, tap, jazz and pointe. At the age of 22, she opened Jenell’s School of Dance in St, Mary’s Ohio and in three years grew the studio to 200 students. In the summer of 1989, Jenell sold the business and moved to Nurnberg, Germany where she continued teaching and taking instruction. While in Germany, Jenell also became a certified fitness instructor. Upon returning to the states, Jenell became an instructor at M Dance Centre in Wapakoneta, Ohio until she moved to Troy, Ohio in 1993. In 1997, Jenell opened Center Stage Dance Company with 75 students and has grown the studio to 300 students, ages three though adult. Throughout the years, she has studied under such dance greats as Doug Caldwell, Joe Tremaine, Desiree Robbins and Marty Dew…just to name a few. Ms. Jenell also enjoys assisting in local school productions. Past achievements include, 42nd Street, spring productions for Cookson and Heywood Elementary Schools and also Troy High School Show Choir. In addition, Ms. Jenell also served for three years as the Western Ohio Regional Director for National Dance Week.
Aliya Alspaugh
Studio Owner
Ms. Aliya danced as a student at Center Stage Academy (CSA) for 14 years and has been teaching since 2015. While in high school she also studied at the Dayton Ballet for ballet and pointe. Ms. Aliya spread her love of dance to an acrobatic duo team and choreographed their dance for the Acrobatics Nationals Competition. She currently teaches ballet, pointe, jazz, and contemporary. Ms. Aliya resides in Tipp City with her husband Nick, their daughter Willow and their son Oliver. Under Ms. Jenell's mentorship, she has been involved in managing Center Stage for the past 2 years. Ms. Aliya is excited to continue sharing her passion of dance while taking on the ownership of Center Stage!
Belle Axton
Instructor
Ms. Belle taught various classes at Center Stage from 1998 to 2013, including Kinder Combo and all levels of Hip Hop. Her daughter, Miss Lotte, who is also an instructor was one of the first students at Center Stage. Miss Belle returns this year after a 10 year hiatus teaching French in Cincinnati. She is excited to be back home with the studio.
LeeAnn Black
Instructor
Ms. LeeAnn began her dancing career at the age of 6. After dancing all the way to her senior year, she went off to the University of Dayton where she took various dance classes while receiving her teaching degree. She has choreographed different school musicals as well as participating in dance exhibitions in Dayton through Sinclair Community College. She currently is teaching chemistry and physics at Brookville High School. This is her first year returning to CSA!
Danny Choi
Instructor
Danial "Danny" has been with Center Stage for five years. He has self taught himself how to breakdance with other fellow breakdancers, and has been dancing on and off for 11 plus years, training at his church and throughout college.
Lora Current
Instructor
Ms. Lora started dancing at CSA when she was three years old. Growing up through the studio, she took took Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Pointe, and Lyrical. Lora has used the skills she gain at CSA to win the title of Miss Ohio 2021 with a tap routine. She then performed on the national stage of Miss America with a Jazz number. Now, as a masters student at Harvard University and pro-life advocate, she has returned home to CSA to teach in the dance styles she loves so much
Sydney Gerdeman
Instructor
Ms. Sydney has been dancing since she was in kindergarten. She began dancing at The Dance Center in Ottawa, Ohio. She continued to dance throughout high school, studying ballet, tap, jazz, and pointe. While there, she also taught several classes. In college, Ms. Sydney became a member of the Adrian College Dance Team (ACDT), which performed at football and basketball games, as well as competitions. ACDT performed a variety of jazz, hip hop, pom, sideline, and team routines. Sydney was a three-year captain at ACDT, and continued her involvement as a student assistant during her final semester of school. This is her sixth year teaching at Center Stage. She currently resides in the Tipp City area and teaches high school math.
Mindy Hampshire
Instructor
Ms. Mindy has been dancing since she was three years old. She grew up near Toledo, Ohio where she began dancing and then teaching at her mother's dance studio. She loves working with children and has a bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education from Bowling Green State University (BGSU). While attending BGSU, she was a member of the University Dance Alliance, which held performances each semester. Ms. Mindy is the building substitute teacher at Piqua Central Intermediate School. She has two sons and a daughter. She has been teaching at Center Stage for 14 years and loves being a part of the CSA family!
Chloe Howell
Instructor
Ms. Chloe danced at Center Stage for 15 years this is her 3rd year teaching and has assisted for 2 years as well. Chloe goes to Sinclair for their PTA program! Her favorite type of dance is contemporary! She loves teaching these girls and boys and can’t wait to watch them grow to be amazing dancers!Alaina Imboden
Instructor
Ms. Alaina danced at CSA for 15 years studying tap, ballet, modern, and jazz. She attends the University of Dayton Sinclair Academy studying Sociology and Women and Gender Studies. During her first year in college, she was a part of the University of Dayton Dance Ensemble before returning to CSA to teach. She choreographed for The Pride of Bethel’s Marching Band’s Color Guard for two years and created choreography for Bethel High School’s musicals for two years.Kim Kovacevich
Instructor
Ms. Kim is an accomplished dancer, choreographer, and instructor originally from the Chicago area. Originally a competitive figure skater, Kim completed her early training at Chicago City Ballet under the direction of prima ballerina, Maria Tallchief, and continued her training as a teacher with former New York City Ballet principal, Jillana. Her mastery of Balanchine technique enabled her to give memorable performances as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, as well as in the ballets Stars and Stripes and Paquita. Her choreography has been featured in dance team productions, musical theater, and contemporary dance performances. Among her achievements, Kim is most passionate about teaching. She earned an M.A. from Ohio State and completed additional graduate hours towards a Master of Arts in Teaching. Combining a solid classical foundation in dance technique with her academic training in curriculum design and instruction, Kim believes that there is an inherent joy in movement that she models in each class. She especially looks forward to sharing her enthusiasm for dance with ballet students at Center Stage Academy!Maddie Long
Instructor
Ms. Maddie danced at Center Stage for 13 years, where she participated in Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, assisted for 4 years, and helped with Joy in Motion. Maddie attended the University of Cincinnati where she obtained her bachelors and master’s degree in social work and continued her dance career. She is currently a Behavioral Health Therapist at Dayton Children’s. This is her 1st year returning to CSA, she is so excited to return back to her 2nd home and continue teaching younger kids what she loves!
Ryen Marsh
Instructor
Ms. Ryen is an alumni of CSA and danced for five years. She studied jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop, contemporary, and modern. She is attending Edison and majoring in Entrepreneurship in hopes to get a business degree. She is so happy to be staying in Troy and being able to teach and share her love for dance with others.
Natasha Morrow
Instructor
Ms. Natasha started dancing when she was in sixth grade and started teaching after high school. She moved to Virginia for 4 years where she taught a dance club at a before and after school program. Ms. Natasha is happy to be teaching at CSA again!
Sadie Swank
Instructor
Ms. Sadie started dancing at Center Stage Academy at 3 years old to 18 years old. She took a bit of a break during middle school but then realized it was what she was passionate about. After highschool Ms. Sadie decided to start teaching at CSA to continue what she loves!
Lotte Welbaum
Instructor
Ms. Lotte began dancing at Center Stage at the age of four until she was 18 years old. After high school, she attended Kent State University and studied as a part of their modern dance program. While there, she participated in several performances. She resides in Piqua with her husband and her sons. This is her 9th year on staff at CSA.