Staff
Marie Robertson - Director & Co-Owner, Tap & Jazz Instructor
Marie and her twin sister, Maggie were born in Yokohama, Japan and raised in Newport, Rhode Island where they began studying dance at the age of six. Both continued their education at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. Here they received a B.F.A. in Dance as well as a B.A. in Mathematics. Marie was an apprentice in the Mid-Missouri Dance Company at Stephens as a student. Upon graduating, she was fortunate to become a member and featured soloist (for her mentor) in the Harriette Ann Gray Dance Company in residence at the college. Marie taught classes in Modern, Tap, and Jazz in the Dance, Theatre, and Physical Education Departments at Stephens for many years. Because of her knowledge and experience in performing different ethnic styles of dance as a student, Marie was able to teach East Indian at Stephens as well as at Stephens Summer Camp at Perry-Mansfield in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Marie is happily married and has a lovely daughter, Marisa, who shares her mother's love of dance. As Director, Marie schedules and coordinates all of the programs at Dancearts. She currently teaches all levels of Tap and Jazz and stays busy doing choreography for recitals as well as the Junior and Senior Competition Teams. In the summer, Marie enjoys teaching dance at Stephens to the students enrolled in the Summer Theatre Institiute as well as continuing to teach at Dancearts. Marie truly enjoys teaching and sharing her passion for dance to students of all ages.
Maggie Dethrow - Modern Instructor & Co-Owner
Maggie was born in Japan, along with her twin sister Marie, and grew up in Newport, Rhode Island. She began dancing at the age of six and went on to study dance at Stephens College, in Columbia, Missouri. Maggie studied Modern Dance with Harriette Ann Gray, founder of the college's dance program. She also studied Ballet, Tap, East Indian, Jazz, Choreography, etc. In 1973, she earned her B.F.A. in Dance and joined the Harriette Anny Gray Dance Company and the dance faculty at Stephens. Maggie performed and toured with the Company for several yearts throughout Missouri, Colorado, and the Chicago area. She joined the Dancearts Staff in 1985 and is currently part-owner of Dancearts, teaching four levels of Modern Technique, as well as choreographing for competition and recitals. She also still teaches at Stephens College, part-time. Maggie is involved with the Stephens Theatre Department, along with her sister Marie, teaching dance to thearte majors during their summer program.
Marisa Robertson - Hip Hop, Jazz & Tap Instructor, Co-Owner
Marisa has been dancing at Dancearts since the age of 5. She competed for 12 years with the competition team and has taught various styles of dance at Dancearts for 10 years. Marisa has studied at Steps in NYC, and was awarded a summer internship at Broadway Dance Center in NY and Performing Arts Center in LA. Marisa's been acknowledged for her innovative and polished choreography, as well as her teaching ability.
Ken Braso - Ballet Instructor
Ken brings twenty-seven years of professional dance experience towards his knowledge of pedagogy. He was a featured dancer with Southern Ballet Theater, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Ballet Austin, Cincinnati Opera Ballet Company, retiring after a nineteen-year tenure from the Louisville Ballet, as a principal dancer. Before relocating to Columbia, Mr. Braso was the Director of Step One Dance and a faculty member for the Louisville Ballet School.
Marcia Clarahan - Business Manager
Originally from Iowa, Marcia has been in Missouri for 24 years and involved with Dancearts for the past 18 years. What started out as taking class, turned into teaching Kinderdance and Creative Movement, and part-time behind the desk. She has been involved with almost every aspect of the studio at one time or another including advertising, desktop publishing, maintenance, computer upkeep, accounts receivable, back stage manager during recitals, and photo assistant. When asked about working at Dancearts, she said, "The people are great and it's the first job I haven't gotten bored with!"
Additional Teachers & Staff (2012-13)
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Emily Clarahan |
Anna Omelson |
