Faculty

Tina Strausbaugh

Studio Director / Co-owner

Tina is the studio director and co-owner of Artistry Dance Center.

Melissa Cook

Artistic Director / Co-owner

Melissa is the Artistic Director of Artistry Dance Center. She comes to us from sunny Southern California. There she had the opportunity to work in television, stage, print, and concert dance. Throughout her career Melissa has had the opportunity to work with highly sought after master teachers and Emmy nominated choreographers such as Mandy Moore of the hit TV show So you Think You Can Dance, and Gregg Russell of the L.A. based dance company Tapsounds Underground. Her dance credits include the Warner Brother's hit TV show "The Gilmore Girls", "Movements, A Symphony of Dance" at the Los Angeles Theater Center, numerous special events, parades, and street shows for Walt Disney Entertainment at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, and has been featured in "Disney Fan Magazine". She has also performed as a dancer and puppeteer in "Creation", performed at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA. There she had the opportunity to work closely with acclaimed choreographer Linda Simmons. She also worked with Ms. Simmons in her interpretation of West Side Story in "Pulse" for the DeFore Foundation of the Arts.

Melissa has an extensive background in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern and Contemporary Dance. She has been working in dance education for the past 10 years. She studied with Expression Dance Company under the direction of Paige Porter. There she had the opportunity to study and train intimately with some of the country's top master teachers and choreographers. While studying with Expression Dance Company she was offered a teacher internship with Company Director, Paige Porter. Thus began her love for dance education. During her internship she assisted many master teachers such as Mandy Moore, Paige Porter, Nancy Paridis, and Joreen Leonard. Since then she has gone on to teach at many schools in southern California and Virginia. She has also traveled the country teaching dance to award winning high school dance teams as an instructor with the United Spirit Association (USA). Melissa believes that dance training develops passion, discipline, self-confidence, and artistry in children, as well as providing them with the skills to make them responsible and capable individuals.

Trish Beaulieu

Ballet & Yoga

Trish has been teaching and choreographing from coast to coast for the past 11 years. She has obtained 5 certifications from the Cechetti Council of America. Trish is proud to be the former owner and Artistic Director of Performing Arts Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. She has also had the opportunity to travel the country as a guest teacher to many private studios and performing arts institutions. Trish has toured with Renaissance Entertainment Incorporated and other various companies as a dancer and actress in stage shows and fairs across the country. She also toured with and was featured as a belly dancer and storyteller with the Shiarizad Gypsy Travelers. Although Trish has an extensive background in performance, her passion is to work and create from behind the scenes. She considers it an honor to work with each and every student and we are honored to have her as part of our teaching staff.

Sian Packard

Scottish Highland - Mini Movers / Jump Start Ballet & Tap

Sian received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Pennsylvania State University in 1989 and a secondary education certification from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania in1990. Sian began her Highland training at age nine and competed at a Premiere level of competition. As a premiere dancer, she won scholarships to the Scottish Arts School at Oberlin College in 1986 and 1989. In 2003, Sian became a member of the British Association of Teachers of Dance. She currently trains students from beginners to Premier Level of competition.

Besides competitive dance, Sian has performed in many community and multicultural events. She also choreographed and danced solo in a community production of Brigadoon.

With her love for dance and warm sense of humor Sian is a teacher whose classes are a favorite of students. We are privileged to have her as a member of our teaching staff.

Kristi Tichenor

Ballet

Bio coming soon...

Hope Janowsky

Tap, Jazz

Bio coming soon...

Thomas "T.J." Jacobs

Hip Hop

Bio coming soon...