WHY & WHO
THROUGH A CULTURE FOCUSED ON SUPPORT, COMPASSION, AND ENCOURAGEMENT,
THE DANCE COLLECTIVE WILL OFFER SUPERIOR DANCE INSTRUCTION IN ALL STYLES,
TO ALL AGES, ACROSS ALL LEVELS.
LIMITLESS
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FROM OUR COLLECTIVE ARTISTIC FAMILY WE
WILL EDUCATE, INNOVATE, AND INSPIRE FROM PERSPECTIVES AND EXPERIENCES ONLY ATTAINED BY PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE KNOWN SUSTAINED HIGH-LEVEL SUCCESS ACROSS THE INDUSTRY.
PROFESSIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES
TRAINING WITH THE DANCE COLLECTIVE WILL PROVIDE OUR DANCERS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO PURSUE SUCCESS IN THE PROFESSIONAL PERFORMING ARTS INDUSTRY, PREPARE FOR COMPETITIVE COLLEGIATE DANCE PROGRAMS, OR SIMPLY DEVELOP AND FOSTER A PASSIONATE PURSUIT OF THE ART FORM.
PROFESSIONAL. DYNAMIC. ENGAGING.
OUR EDUCATORS
Hannah Tiemeyer
Artistic Director
&
Competition Co-Director
HANNAH is a native of Louisville, Kentucky where she began her fundamental dance education. She attended the Youth Performing Arts High School as a Dance major, and received her BFA in Dance from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She performed regionally in the Dayton and Indianapolis areas with the Human Race Theatre Company, Gem City Ballet, and Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre. Most recently, she performed at Walt Disney World in Beauty and the Beast, Live on Stage, and was a member of the original cast of Rivers of Light. She also enjoyed several years as a valuable member of the Disney Performing Arts team of teaching artists. Hannah is a proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association.
At a young age Hannah discovered her passion for teaching. She has taught at dance studios across Kentucky, Ohio, and Florida, and has been recognized on a regional and national level for her performances and choreography. Hannah’s love of dance as an artform and a source of entertainment is what motivates her moving forward with The Dance Collective. She believes that a solid education in multiple forms of dance can lead to unparalleled opportunities in a dancer’s career and is hopeful she can instill her love and passion for the artform in her students for years to come!
J.J. Tiemeyer
Executive Director
J.J. is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. During his BFA Acting in Musical Theatre studies at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, he took his Equity card while working with the Human Race Theatre Company. He went on to tour nationally, work regionally in New York, Ohio, Nebraska, St. Petersburg and Fort Lauderdale. He enjoyed a nearly ten-year stint working for Walt Disney World, performing in numerous shows spanning every park.
He discovered his profound love and appreciation for dance when he learned in college, dubiously and ironically, that it would be something he would never be able to do at a very high level himself. Still, he enjoyed his dance classes and always signed up to be a part of the run crews for the annual dance concerts hosted by the dance department.
His professional experiences with both non-profit and large corporate entertainment companies have provided him with a unique mix of production and show business acumen. He is thrilled to be constantly developing The Dance Collective’s cultural impact, both inside the studio walls and out; and, strategizing for the long term success and security of a home where we can Educate, Innovate, and Inspire young artists!
Bethany Michael
Director of Operations
&
Competition Co-Director
BETHANY was born and raised in South Florida. She began dancing at the age of two and trained rigorously and competed at numerous competitions every season from the age of nine until she finished high school. As a member of Encore Dance Theatre Bethany won titles and other distinguished competition/convention scholarships and awards.
Bethany began her professional dance career right out of high school and booked a job traveling the world dancing for Celebrity Cruise Lines. She then continued her training in New York City with renowned instructors at Broadway Dance Center and Steps.
Bethany’s returned to Florida to fulfill her life-long dream of dancing at Walt Disney World, and picking up her Actors’ Equity card along the way, in shows such as “Beauty and the Beast-Live on Stage”, “Dream Along with Mickey”, and “Villian’s Mix & Mingle”. Bethany has also performed in shows at Universal Orlando, such as “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure”, the Macy’s Holiday Parade, the Mardi Gras Parade, and “Grinchmas”. Other professional opportunities Bethany has had include performing at Atlantis and performing in a circus in Japan, called “Circo Luci”.
Dance has always been Bethany’s passion in life. After stepping away from performing for a few years and gaining immeasurable experience in the business operations spectrum, she is back where she and her heart belong - in the dance classroom and looking forward to inspiring the next generation of dancers.
Ani Boer
MS. ANI was born in Baltimore, MD where she began her early training with the Susan Ina Dance Studio, Sudbrook Arts Center and Carver Center for Arts and Technology. She continued her studies graduating on scholarship from the Kirov Academy in Washington DC and furthered her studies with the American Ballet Theater (NY), Boston Ballet and Richmond Ballet.
After high school, she pursued a BFA at SUNY Purchase Conservatory, while working and performing with companies in NY. While in NY, she was selected by Bruce Mark’s to attend the Orlando Ballet summer intensive and was asked to join the company shortly after.
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She was a company member with Orlando Ballet from 2007-2021 performing soloist and principal roles. Some of her favorite standout roles include Dark Angel in Balanchine’s Serenade, the Stepmother in Val Caniparoli’s A Cinderella Story, the Red Queen in Wonderland, Tigerlily in Jorden Morris’s Peter Pan, Vampiress in Robert Hill’s Vampire’s Ball, Strangers in the Night Pas in Twyla Tharp’s Sinatra Songs, Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet and Prayer in Coppelia. Some other featured roles included Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Swan Lake, and The Nutcracker.
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Ms Ani is recognized as a guest teacher on a national level. Some of the classes she offers include ballet technique, pointe, variations, partnering, PBT/conditioning, and choreography. Additionally, she has sat on the judging panel for dance competitions and coached Olympic ranked gymnasts in ballet technique.
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She is certified with the ABT National Training Curriculum as well as Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT). She has done project development and choreographed works in collaboration with several organizations including the Orlando Museum of Art, the Orlando Fringe Festival, Orlando Fashion Week, Casa de Mexico and Cirque de Solei.
Alexander Drapinski
ALEX is an accomplished dancer and choreographer who currently performs at Universal Studios Orlando, in Orlando FL. Before moving to Florida, Alexander danced with multiple dance companies in Boston MA, some including: Impact Dance Company, a contemporary dance company directed by Megan McCaffery, Lostwax Multimedia Dance, a modern dance company directed by Jamie Jewett. Mr. Drapinski had the opportunity to travel with this company, performing in Boston MA, Pittsburgh PA, Tulsa OK, Sarasota FL, and Providence RI. Mr. Drapinski has also performed with LCTC-Lorraine Chapman-The Company, Inc. performing at the Alvin Ailey Theatre in New York City, as well as Prometheus Dance under the direction of Diane Arvanites & Tommy Neblett.
Mr. Drapinski earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Dean College Palladino School of Dance. During his college career, he danced with Dean College’s Dance Company. He demonstrated his diverse talents by performing hip hop, modern dance, tap, jazz, contemporary dance, and ballet. Alongside Dance Company, he had the opportunity to perform and choreographed for student run variety shows along with his fellow classmates.
Alexander has had the pleasure of spreading his love for the art of dance by teaching students in contemporary, tap, and hip hop dance techniques, for twelve years, in the states of MA and FL. At the moment, Mr. Drapinski teaches at multiple dance schools in Florida, where his contemporary choreography has won multiple choreography awards at their regional and national competitions.
Scotti Chase
SCOTTI currently lives in Orlando and is an Equity performer in Beauty and the Beast Live Onstage at Walt Disney World. Other days of the week she can be found performing as a Beauxbaton dancer in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios or as Pearl Dancer at the Edison at Disney Springs.
She has studied in cities all around the United States and toured with Tremaine Dance Conventions.
Scotti graduated Summa Cum Laude from Wright State University with a BFA in Dance
performance, there she studied Dance History, Pedagogy, Choreography, and many
other styles of dance.
Harrison Rustay
HARRISON is an accomplished and awarded dancer / choreographer. Growing up competing himself, he is an experienced performer of 17 years - having performed at Disney, multiple fashion shows, and 11 years on stage competing year after year. He won numerous awards at many regional, national, and world competitions.
In his years of training he had the privilege to work with and train under many of the industry's most notable choreographers; from technique to street and everything in between - giving him a diverse background which he continues to indulge in.
He was a guest dancer, and scholarshipped at the Northwest Florida Ballet Academie for their summer program at the age of 15. Along with this program, he has trained extensively with the renowned Katie Garza and Israel Rodriguez from the Orlando Ballet.
Having been able to work with a diverse set of choreographers for years, he has had experience in a myriad of styles of dance, and prides himself on being a versatile artist that doesn’t limit himself to a singular capacity. He has not only thrived as a dancer, but also as a choreographer.
Having an injury at 13, he worked within his boundaries during rehabilitation and became enthralled with choreographing. At the age of 15 he won his first student choreography award, and has since continued on that success - winning a multitude of awards at competitions for his choreography.
Not being defined, limited or categorized is the thesis for his mission as an artist. Harrison sets himself apart in this way - pushing the boundaries of what dance is, and can be.
Jennifer Sabat
JENNIFER is a native of Winter Garden, Florida where she began her dance training at a local dance studio. After graduating high school, she received her dance teacher certification from Florida Dance Masters Association where she is still an active member.
She spent fifteen years teaching at Elizabeth Parsons School of Dance. She attended the University of Central Florida and earned her Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and then Saint Leo University where she earned her Masters in Educational Leadership.
This is her 17th year with OCPS and currently teaches 4th grade at a local Winter Garden elementary school. Jennifer has always had a love for teaching and feels blessed that she is able to combine her education background with her passion for dance.
Tara Woodall
TARA was born and raised in the Central Florida area. She began cheerleading at the age of 5 with Pop Warner where she quickly realized her love for the sport. Tara became an all around cheerleader and an elite tumbler. She cheered 13 years with Pop Warner along with All-Stars where she competed throughout the south-eastern region.
Tara not only competed with her team, she also competed in Individuals and Stunting. At the young age of 9, she was nominated by judges at a competition to take part in the half time show at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. At age 12 Tara competed in the Junior Olympics taking 5th in the Nation. She went on the cheer all 4 of her High School years.
After graduating, she worked for UCA (Universal Cheerleaders Association) as a staff member conducting cheerleading camps at colleges all over Florida and Georgia. Afterward, Tara became an Ambassador for ICC (International Cheerleading Coalition) where she traveled to England, Scotland and Whales promoting cheer camps and competitions. Not only did she coach at many different Allstar gyms, she also judged various competitions in Europe. Tara has worked many years for the Cheer and Dance Worlds Competition at Walt Disney World.
Tara is very dedicated, her passion and knowledge for cheerleading and tumbling has brought her years of happiness and she enjoys passing this along to her students.
Rachael McDermott
RACHAEL is a dancer with interests in performance, teaching, and theater tech. Originally from Farmville, Virginia, she is a 2019 graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory with a Bachelor of Arts.
At Shenandoah, she was active dancing in mainstage and blackbox dance concerts and working behind the scenes for several dance and theater productions. She has showcased her passion for teaching by choreographing group dances, solos, and duets for local studio performances and national competitions.
Rachael relocated to Orlando in 2020, and is actively pursuing her dreams of performing and teaching. At her former studio, Rachael taught several classes, helped manage the desk, and ran summer camps.
She currently travels for Groove National Dance Competition running their backstage operations. She has extensive experience working with children, coaching dancers, and managing groups.
