Meet Our Faculty

Lisa has been dancing her whole life, training in Jazz, Tap, & Ballet. Her training has brought her coast to coast, from Broadway Dance Center in NYC to Edge Performing Arts in LA. Lisa trained extensively with Dee Hillier and was a member of Dee's dance company. As a member of the company Lisa performed in several dance shows and traveled to Australia to perform in the World's Fair. Throughout her performance career, Lisa found her passion in teaching, opening her first studio, Spotlight, at the age of 18. From her first class, Lisa was praised for her positive attitude and ability to connect with young dancers. Her studio grew quickly and as her students excelled in their training, Lisa developed a competitive performance program. In 2010 the studio went through a name change and The Dance Stop was created. Lisa has built The Dance Stop on the foundation of positivity, balanced with disciplined training. As a choreographer, Lisa has created several award winning routines and been recognized for her outstanding choreography. Lisa's students have been awarded scholarships, national titles, and sought out by talent agencies. Many of her students have gone on to have successful careers in dance, from Broadway to TV & film. Lisa continues to have supportive relationships with her students and many of the professional dancing alumni come back and guest teach at the studio throughout the year. As an owner, Lisa still finds her greatest joy in developing young dancers and cultivating their passion for dance. Her bright and energetic personality is present in everything she does and truly creates a welcoming studio environment. Lisa loves teaching and is excited to continue creating a space for all students to find joy through dance!

Diane Lucas trained at Fairmount Center for the Performing Arts as a scholarship recipient and then at The Dance Center of Cleveland Heights, both under the direction of John Begg. As a scholarship student, she gained valuable performing and teaching experience and served as a teachers assistant to Mr. Begg. She has performed with various regional companies, in both classical and contemporary styles, including Fairmount Center Company, Dance Center Company and Cleveland Chamber Ballet. Diane has an extensive teaching background and has taught for over 20 years at various dance schools. She is also on the teaching staff of Cleveland City Dance.

Maddie Kummerl started dancing with Lisa at the age of 3 and grew up on the competition team at The Dance Stop. In college, Maddie continued to pursue her passion by joining the dance team at West Virginia University.  She performed at all men's and women's home basketball games and competed at NDA nationals in Daytona.  After college, Maddie came back to The Dance Stop and has been teaching jazz and hip hop.  During the 2019-2020 season, Maddie was a part of the Cleveland Monsters Topline Dance Team where she performed on the ice at every home Cleveland Monsters hockey game.  Maddie is excited to continue to share her knowledge and passion with the students at The Dance Stop.

Carolyn has been dancing since the age of 3 years old. Growing up in Michigan, she trained under the Bohaty sisters out of Saginaw, Owosso, Chesaning, and St. Johns. The Bohaty’s were notoriously known for being a powerhouse in the dance world winning many national competitions. She has studied ballet, tap, jazz, acro dance, and was a competitive gymnast. She later earned her BA in Hospitality Business at Michigan State University. Due to her love of both dance and gymnastics she went on to run the kinder program at Richmond Olympiad Gymnastics while also coaching on their competition team. She is honored to be running the Acro Dance program for The Dance Stop and loves sharing her love of tap and jazz with her students as well. Carolyn is a member of the Acro Dance Teacher Association where she is certified in their junior and intermediate acro dance program, and is currently working on her advanced certification. When she is not teaching, she loves spending time with her husband and three children; and she is a HUGE Disney fan! Carolyn believes dance can give students confidence and poise which carries far beyond the classroom/stage and will stay with them throughout life's journey.

Taylor first found her love for dance growing up in Cleveland, training with Lisa and at other local dance studios. She continued her education at The Ohio State University where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Pedagogy. While at Ohio State, she performed and trained with industry professionals from around the world including Bebe Miller, Susan Hadley, Sofie Clemmenson, Joshua Manculich, and Tine Saling. Participating in both faculty and student choreographed pieces, Taylor has performed throughout Ohio, and traveled to Costa Rica to study and perform. In 2016 Taylor moved to Chicago to pursue her professional dance career. She performed with Alluvion Dance Chicago and Forward. the Movement for two seasons, and performed in Visceral Dance Chicago’s “WITHIN”, Dance Chicago’s “Dances From the Heart”, Simantikos “CELEBRATION of CHICAGO ART”, Noumenon Dance Ensemble’s “NEW MOVES 2016”, “CARNIVAL Choreographer’s Ball 2018” under Andrew Tamez Hull, the Detroit Dance Festival with Forward. the Movement and the 27th year of “Dance For Life” Chicago in 2018 with Hanna Brictson and Dancers. Taylor continued her dance education and training as a work-study at Visceral Dance Center under the direction of Nick Pupillo. Taylor recently moved back to Cleveland with her family and is excited to share her passion and knowledge of dance with The Dance Stop.

Torie Gray specializes in teaching classical and rhythm tap styles in addition to contemporary clogging. She co-directs the Cleveland Tap Repertory, a pre-professional tap company based in Akron, Ohio. She is also an elite member of the Detroit Tap Repertory for which she has performed nationally. She will be traveling to Germany this December to represent the USA in the world tap championships as a member of the American Tap Company. Torie continually strives to learn and attends multiple tap festivals, residencies, and labs throughout the country every year. She also has a passion for special needs. She went to the University of Akron to study psychology and dance. She is currently an in-home ABA behavior therapist for children with autism spectrum disorders. She is opening two dance classes for non-traditional populations this year which will provide same-cost access to the arts for children with special needs. Torie emphasizes strong technique alongside music theory and history in her classes and hopes to instill a great love for the art form that she is fortunate enough to enjoy. “If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.” – Ignacio Estrada

Ever since age 4, Christina has been a student of Lisa’s and has always considered The Dance Stop her “second home”. Dance has always been a huge part of her life! Growing up at TDS, Christina was a part of the competition team in Jazz, Hip Hop, and Ballet. In 2012, she graduated with honors from Notre Dame Cathedral Latin high school where she was a member of the Dance Team. When it was time to “graduate” from the studio and high school, Christina knew she had to keep dancing! She went on to John Carroll University and graduated in 2016 with her B.S. in Accountancy and in 2017 with her M.B.A. The highlight of her college experience was being a member and choreographer of the JCU Dance Team and JCU Dance Ensemble. Just when she thought she was finally done with college, in Fall 2017, Christina returned to JCU once again to choreograph their Fall production of “Cabaret.” She had a blast choreographing the entire show and encourages everyone to always try something new! Christina has been a member of The Dance Stop staff since Summer 2017, and teaches jazz, hip hop, and combo. She could not be more ecstatic to be back at her “second home”, but this time as a leader, teacher, and mentor.

Carson started dancing with Lisa at the age of 4 and has been involved with The Dance Stop’s acro program ever since its beginning in 2015. Acro quickly became her favorite style of dance because of the way that it combines traditional aspects of dance with tricks and tumbling skills that so many children hope to learn. Carson’s love for acro inspired her to become more involved at the studio, and she began assisting with many of Miss Carolyn’s acro classes in 2018. Through assisting, Carson has worked with students of all different ages and levels and has learned how to help students develop their skills in the way that is most beneficial for them. Her personal experience in acro classes has also shown her that acro helps to build confidence, cooperation, and other qualities that are essential throughout life, no matter where it takes you. Carson is so grateful and excited to have the opportunity to help dancers begin their acro journey at The Dance Stop and to continue working with Miss Carolyn’s classes for a fourth year!

I have danced at The Dance Stop since the age of 3, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the family and life time friends I have made to this day. Among the many amazing opportunities I’ve received thanks to TDS, I’ve been blessed with the gift of teaching. I love experiencing the evolution of growth and development in these beautiful dancers. I love my Dance Stop Family!

Johanna Seidel has been dancing and teaching professionally for over a decade, with experience spanning ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, musical theatre, and contemporary dance. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from West Texas A&M University, where she also danced with Lone Star Ballet as a professional company member. During her time in Texas, she served as Ballet Mistress for the WTAMU Dance Academy and performed in the long-running production of Texas: The Musical Drama in Palo Duro Canyon.

After moving to Chicago, Johanna continued to develop both her teaching and performance career over six years. As a dance educator, she taught ballet, contemporary, jazz, pointe, pre-pointe, and more at a range of schools including All About Dance, Studio 22 High Tek, and The Chicago School of Ballet, as well as several other local and suburban studios. Her teaching is known for instilling strong technique and a lasting love for ballet in her students.

Johanna’s performance credits in Chicago include dancing professionally with Alluvion Dance Chicago, Esoteric Dance Chicago, and Movementum Dance Project. She was honored to present original choreography through Alluvion’s Emergence festival and Esoteric’s Choreography Showcase, and performed as a featured dancer in events hosted by Tri-Fecta Dance Collective, Simantikos Dance Chicago, and other citywide festivals. Her work also extended to appearances in various television projects. Johanna is excited to continue sharing her passion for ballet and bringing its beauty and discipline to every dancer she teaches.

Lexi Bajusz is a Cleveland native and has been training in multiple styles of dance since the age of 3. At 5 years old, she began dancing competitively and continued until graduating high school. During this time, she also began her journey as a teacher and choreographer under the guidance of her directors. After graduation, she went on to receive her B.S. in Economics and Political Science from Loyola University New Orleans. While in university, she performed and choreographed for the Loyola Dance Team, trained with New Orleans Saints and Pelicans Dancers at Preaux Style Dance and MOVE Studios, and continued teaching and choreographing for studios in the Greater New Orleans area. In conjunction with her university degrees, she also received training certifications in Balance Training, Injury Prevention, and Corrective Exercise. Lexi is currently based between Cleveland and Milan, Italy, continuing her training with Cleveland Dance Project and Fuori Di Danza, while also traveling to choreograph, teaching at studios locally and abroad, and running her dancer focused strength and conditioning business, Stage Ready Strength.

Katie Colabianchi is a dancer/choreographer from Cleveland, OH. She has been dancing her entire life under the direction of Karen Colabianchi, Dee Hillier, and additional master teachers. She is versatile across numerous styles of dance, including Hip-Hop, Pom, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Tap, Lyrical, Ballet, Pointe, Latin, and Contemporary. Katie's most recent professional performance experiences include performing as a Disco Dancer at Good Night John Boy, dancing and modeling in the 2025 and 2026 “Wearable Art Fashion Show," dancing for the opening of Strictly Gershwin at Playhouse Square and representing the New Jersey Generals and Pittsburgh Maulers as a USFL dancer. During her collegiate career, Katie served as captain of both her dance and cheer teams and was recognized as a Cleveland Cavaliers Dance Team Fast Pass recipient. Currently, Katie is a master teacher and coach in cities like Middleburg Heights, Strongsville, Highland, Bay Village, Beachwood, and Louisville, where she choreographs for dance and cheer squads. Ultimately, Katie is thrilled to be joining The Dance Stop and looks forward to inspiring and connecting with the dancers and their families. 

Jamie Holkovic is a Cleveland native who has loved dancing for as long as she can remember. She trained at Dance by Gloria, later known as Interpretations Dance Academy, where she danced both recreationally and competitively and worked with incredible local choreographers like Samantha Kost, Julie Sneltzer (Woods), Bridget Biliunas, and Kathy Satow (Conners). 

After high school, Jamie continued her dance journey at John Carroll University as a member of the Blue Streak Dance Team, under the direction of Melissa Zajacz, and proudly served as captain for two years. Since graduating, she has had the opportunity to teach at several studios around the Cleveland area, as well as perform with and choreograph for Cleveland Dance Project. 

Jamie has received multiple choreography awards at both regional and national levels, including an Industry Dance Awards nomination in 2025. More than anything, she is inspired by her students and loves helping them grow, build confidence, and find their passion for dance.  She is so excited to meet and work with the dancers at The Dance Stop and is looking forward to an amazing year ahead!

Reba Bartram is a dynamic professional dancer, aerialist, and company manager whose career spans global stages and premier entertainment productions. Her performance credits include work with Norwegian Creative Studios and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, as well as the production WOW - The Vegas Spectacular! on the Las Vegas Strip and the Off-Broadway production of Lord Nil: 7 Deadly Sins. Her work across these platforms highlights the ability to seamlessly transition between theatrical storytelling, commercial performance, and physically demanding aerial artistry. A former All-American Runner Reba brings a rare level of athleticism, discipline, and endurance to her craft. Known for her versatility, she excels across multiple styles, combining technical excellence with expressive performance quality. Her dual perspective as both performer and leader allows her to contribute meaningfully to the success of each production, she is part of. Reba earned her Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a Minor in Computer Science from Point Park University. 

MacKenna is a former competitive dancer from The Dance Stop who spent years training and performing in a variety of dance styles. Through dance, she developed strong discipline, teamwork, confidence, and a passion for the performing arts. She is currently attending Kent State University, where she is studying Business. MacKenna is grateful for the opportunities, friendships, and lifelong skills that dance has brought into her life and is excited to be a new addition to The Dance Stop.

Janet is one of the friendly faces at the front desk. She started with The Dance Stop over 20 years ago when her daughter began dancing and is still here! She will assist you with costumes, shoes, answer your questions about your account, help process your payments along with communicating important studio information. Janet loves her Dance Stop family and looks forward to serving you for years to come.

Kerri started taking dance lessons with The Dance Stop’s studio director, Lisa Stanziale, at the age of 8. From the moment she took class, she knew that dance had to be a part of her life. At the age of 10, she won her first scholarship to EDGE Performing Arts Center in L.A. Kerri began teaching in 2002 while attending Kent State University. Over the years, she has won numerous choreography awards and her performing groups have placed very well. Currently, Kerri works alongside Janet operating the office, being a liaison between parents and teachers and fills in where she is needed. Her cavapoo Fergus often visits the studio with her!

Kristin’s daughter was a student at the studio for 15 years, competing for 10 of those years.  During this time, Kristin started helping out and is now officially on staff.  She does a lot of work behind the scenes such as website management, organizing the music for competition and recital, competition books and any kind of computer or tech related activity the studio needs.  She also fills in at the front desk when needed.  She has also taken adult lessons at the studio and has been in 4 TDS recitals doing tap, jazz and hip hop.  She loves The Dance Stop staff and families and is happy to be working with everyone here.