Faculty

Faculty

Donna Casey/Owner

I began taking dance lessons at the early age of 4  in Phoenix, AZ and continued with my passion through High School and College.

Performing with the Arizona Repertory Theatre in “Pippin” and “The King and I” helped my staging background. Since 1981, I became an accredited member of “Dance Masters of Arizona.” I started teaching when I was 16, and worked at “Spisak Dance Academy” (6 years), “Betty Johnson School of Dance” (10 years) and in Albuquerque, NM at “Alwin’s School of Dance” (2 years).

Completing a dream of mine, I moved to Prescott over 25 years ago to open my own studio to finalize my DREAM!!

Many of my students have gone on to dance professionally in venues such as DisneyWorld in Florida & California, to Five Star Shows in Las Vegas, New York, and all over the world. A few extremely talented students have captured DMA titles in Arizona Regional & National Competitions along with many more Dance Competitions on Land & Sea

“Dance is my PASSION it is a  craft is deep rooted in my soul; It’s not what I set out to do; it’s what I had to do. It’s not a business I thought I might try, it’s what I knew I would succeed in”

Our community has been blessed with a Dance  Studio that offers it all. Outdoor pool, Fitness Classes, Full Gym, The Cafe, Happy Hours, Racquet & Pickleball and so much MORE. Throughout the season we offer; Master classees & teachers from across the US, Benefit Shows, Parades, performances at retirement homes, holiday shows, hospital shows, mall shows and an very Professional End of year Production.

Building healthy bodies, Strong minds and positive personalities, students learn the benefit of giving back to the community, Team Work, Making lasting lifelong friendships through cheering and applauding everyones achievements, so many like skills. Our motto is:

“Teaching Dance…Touching Lives”

Our Instructors
Carlee Votava

Carlee Votava

Lrycial, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary and Ballet

Carlee Votava

Carlee Votava

Lrycial, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary and Ballet

Darlene Thompson

Darlene Thompson

Tap & Jazz

Darlene Thompson

Darlene Thompson

Tap & Jazz

Deby Hyland

Deby Hyland

Deby Hyland

Deby Hyland

Donna Casey

Donna Casey

Owner/Instructor/ Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Pre-Pointe, Lyrical & Contemporary

Donna Casey

Donna Casey

Owner/Instructor/ Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Pre-Pointe, Lyrical & Contemporary

I began my dance career at the early age of 4 in Phoenix, AZ and continued with my passion through High School and College. Performing with the Arizona Repertory Theatre in “Pippin” and “The King and I” helped my staging background. Since 1981, I became an accredited member of “Dance Masters of Arizona.” I started teaching when I was 16, and worked at “Spisak Dance Academy” (6 years), “Betty Johnson School of Dance” (10 years) and in Albuquerque, NM at “Alwin’s School of Dance” (2 years). Completing a dream of mine, I moved here to open my own studio over 16 years ago. I am continuing with the dream going on my 21st year in Prescott, AZ. My “PASSION” for my craft is deep rooted in my soul. Many of my students have gone on to dance professionally in venues such as DisneyWorld in Florida, to Five Star Shows in Las Vegas, New York, and all over the world. Come and explore the wonderful classes that TDS has to offer at our Prescott & Chino Valley locations...You and/or your children will have FUN and LOVE their classes.

Marissa Melchiors

Marissa Melchiors

Ballet, Pointe, Pre-Pointe & Mini's

Marissa Melchiors

Marissa Melchiors

Ballet, Pointe, Pre-Pointe & Mini's

Marissa Melchiors began her dance training at age three, and her ballet training at age seven. She is experienced in several styles of ballet including Vagonova, Balanchine, and Royal Academy of Dance. Marissa has appeared in the San Diego Ballet’s The Nutcracker on three occasions. She has trained in Taos, NM at the Jillana School, in Salt Lake City with Ballet West, and in Washington D.C. with the Kirov Academy of Ballet. After high school Marissa spent a year as a ballet major at Utah Valley University. She then danced with State Street Ballet in California for two years where she appeared in such ballets as The Nutcracker, Snow White and Scheherazade. Most recently she was a member of Soli Contemporary Ballet in Michigan where she appeared in Petrushka and various original works performed throughout the state.

Philosophy / Mission Statement

POSITIVE PERSONALITIES…. TEAMWORK

“TEACHING DANCE…TOUCHING LIVES”

Here at TDS we do not just offer many different styles and levels of dance. More than anything else, we offer a lifestyle. TDS changes people for the better–we build positive personalities through a warm, loving, caring atmosphere through hard work and commitment. Learning to set high goals and achieving them, builds self-esteem. One of our motto’s “Fake it till ya make it” is posted on the wall to remind us daily never to give up until we achieve our goal.

 

DREAM, STRIVE TO BE THE BEST AND ACHIEVE THAT WHICH WE SET OUR MINDS TO…

 

BUILDING STRONG MINDS….comes directly from not giving up. Set a goal, fall down, and pick yourself back up time and time again until you finally reach the top.  When you set a goal and achieve that which you desire, this knowledge that nothing is impossible solidifies a can-do attitude.

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HEALTHY BODIES…..A by product of dancing, is building a healthy body. Exercise throughout your life will help you maintain a strong, pain free, healthy body.  While we enjoy the art form of any dance class, we can also improve our health. Building a strong body that can take on the world, and health that can carry us throughout our entire life.

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POSITIVE PERSONALITIES…. TEAMWORK is a big part of creating a positive personality. It teaches us all to work together and strive to seek out the best in everyone. Learning how to change, improve and build our personalities as to get along in a group setting. Another highlight in creating our personalities stems from exercise itself. A direct result of exercise is the happy endorphin sometimes called a “Runners High”. Exercise releases this endorphin which produces a euphoric, calm, clear state of mind. When people exercise they get a boost in their mood and happiness, feelings of accomplishment and also a break from life.

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The Dance Studio offers many opportunities to discover your creative soul in a positive, nurturing, healthy environment to create the very best person you can be.