epastaffbios

Amy Rose (BPA, Oklahoma City University), former Encore Dance Company director, Rose has been involved with Encore Dance Company her whole life. Rose received her Bachelor of Performing Arts degree from Oklahoma City University and performed in Branson Missouri at A Grand Palace Theatre with Dino Kartsonakis in the Music For All Time show. She has performed at Jazz Dance World Congress in Wiesbaden, Germany, and has instructed dance at many studios including Southwestern Michigan College. Rose has choreographed musicals and the Miss Dowagiac Pageant and serves on the board of the Dogwood Fine Arts Festival and is the chair of the dance event. Rose is currently Artistic Director of Encore School of the Arts.

Kathleen Kiesselbach (BFA, Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts, Indiana University South Bend), serves as Director of Operations at Encore. Formerly Director of Marketing and Development at the Krasl Art Center, St. Joseph, and previously Communications Specialist at the Nanovic Institute for European Studies at the University of Notre Dame, Kiesselbach brings experiece in non-profit administration including marketing, development, and graphic design. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Art degree in Printmaking and teaches in the visual arts program at Encore.

Eileen Springsteen (Grand Valley State University), artistic director of the Encore Dance Company, began studying dance at Miss Kathy's School of Dance in Dowagiac, Michigan. During her eight years as an Encore Dance Company member, she traveled regionally, to Orlando and Las Vegas--and Japan--performing, competing, and studying dance. Springsteen was a member of the GVSU Dance Troupe for four years as a featured choreographer and soloist. While living in Denver, she built upon her skills by taking classes from Emily Sasson, Mandy Moore of SYTYCD, and Chantal Robson. A highlight was taking master classes from the dancers of Celine Dion's show in Las Vegas. Springsteen's most recent credits include being a Lady Admiral dancer for the Lake Michigan Admirals Semi-Pro basketball team, as well as the choreographer for the Dowagiac High School Chamber Choir and Miss Dowagiac Pagent. Currently, Eileen is also an instructor at Encore School of the Arts.

Kimberly Martz (B.S, Ball State University) is excited to be back teaching at Encore. Martz grew up in La Porte Indiana, but danced in southwestern Michigan most of her life. Martz has been dancing since the age of three. AtBall State Martz started the Burris Dazzlers Dance Team at Burris High School, and received her bachelor's degree in Dance Performance and Dance Education. Besides directing and teaching the Dazzlers, Martz performed inJunior and Senior choreography shows and Dance! Dance! Dance! while at Ball State U. Martz also performed in the Brachs Holiday Parade in Chicago, the Florida Citrus Bowl and the NCA College Cheer and Dance Nationals. Choreography is her passion. Besides choreographing for Encore Dance Company, she has choreographed for various pom, dance and cheer teams, choirs, and competition dance teams. Martz is lives in South Bend Indiana, and works at Enzyme Research Laboratories as an Administrative Specialist. She is the director of the Southwestern Michigan Encore Extreme Pom Team.

Audrey

Kim Rice attended Southwestern Michigan College on a full dance and academic scholarship. Prior to college, Rice was a member of a competitive dance team traveling throughout Michigan and surrounding states winning several prestigious awards for technique and performance. During this time she had the opportunity to study from several eminent dancers and choreographers, most notably Joe Tremaine, Mary Ann Lamb, and Wade Robson. She has taken classes from the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Jump Rhythm Jazz Project, and is a member of the Michigan Dance Council.

Melissa Whitaker-Auvil (MVP, University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory, BA, Central Michigan University) is an educator, director, and performer with a Masters degree in Voice Performance, and a Bachelor's degree in Music Education. Whitaker-Auvil has worked with companies such as the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Metro Opera, CrossCurrents Theatre, St. Peter's Players, and Midland Music Society. She is currently a member of the South Bend Chamber Singers, and owns a private voice studio in Niles and Dowagiac, Michigan.