Dance Instructors
- Susan Barr, Owner and Director
- Drew Burgess, Dance Company Director
- Rachel Holden, Dance Manager
- Erika Hunt
- Nicole McCampbell
- Monica Olejko
- Natalie Ramey
- Amanda J. Recko
- Alicia A. Smith
Guest Instructors
Susan Barr has been a dance instructor for 23 years and has completed her 8th year as owner and artistic director of Above the Barre Dance and Gymnastics. She is a member of Dance Masters of America and Dance Masters of Ohio and is currently the Treasurer for Dance Masters of Ohio.
Susan holds certification in tap, ballet, and jazz as recognized through Dance Masters of America. She is a graduate of Dance Master of America Teacher Training School. She is an active member of the Cecchetti Council of America and has achieved certification of the Elementary Professional V level as according to the Cecchetti Ballet system. Above the Barre Dance has hosted a number of events and workshops as Dance Master of Ohio’s Chapter 16 Closed Conventions, CCA of Ohio’s Ballet Day, and numerous national Cecchetti Ballet examinations. Susan enjoys keeping up with the latest styles of dance teaching techniques by attending numerous dance conventions and workshops around the nation pertaining to the enhancement of dance education. For the last 3 years, Susan has attended the Cecchetti Council of America national Training Seminar as a scholarship recipient from Cecchetti Council of Ohio.
In 2008, Susan added Gymnastics to Above the Barre. She is a professional member of the USA Gymnastics and is Safety Certified. Susan attended the Region 5 Congress and the National Congress. Above the Barre hosts two USAG sanctioned gymnastic meets annually: The Season Opener and the Red Carpet Invitational. Susan is very excited to have added Motion Evolution to Above the Barre Dance and Gymnastics list of services. She is the only professional certified in this area to offer a complete wellness program which integrates physical literacy, nutrition education, brain-body science, and play into one through Motion Evolution.
Susan has choreographed community theatre for Music Man, Oklahoma!, and Carousel. Susan attended Grove City College where she earned a Bachelor of Science and Accounting degree. Susan lives with her husband, Jim, and three daughters in North Ridgeville.
Rachel Holden is a former member of Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theater. Rachel comes from a family of dancers and performers. She trained under her mother Margaret Holden and later studied dance at the University of Akron where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Dance.
Rachel has studied the Kostrovitskaya Pedagogical method with Dr. Peggy Willis-Aarnio. She has worked with choreographers Michael Medcalf, Garry Abbott, Peter Kalivas, Germaul Barnes, Linda Kahn, and Young Park. In addition to her work with Tap Cleveland, Rachel has performing experience in musical theatre productions in New York, Tennessee, and Northeast Ohio.
This is Rachel’s fifth year at Above the Barre. Rachel is a Certified Member of Dance Masters of America and Cecchetti Council of America. She teaches Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, and Competitive Dance. Rachel is the Manager of Dance and is responsible for managing and setting the direction of the preschool and developmental programs. Rachel will also be directing the Northern Classical Ballet youth program at Above the Barre.
Originally from Millersburg, Ohio, Drew made his industry debut on “Live with Regis” during Amazing Kids Week. Upon relocating to California, he trained at L.A.’s best studios including EDGE, Millennium, Fusion, and the PAC Annex. Involved in many facets of the dance world, he is highly sought after as a performer, choreographer, and master teacher. Drew also judges on regional, national, and international circuits for StarQuest, American Dance Awards, and Dance Masters of America. A former competitor himself, Drew’s titles include Master, Jr., and Teen Mr. Dance of Ohio, as well as, Jr. Mr. and Mr. Dance of America. Drew is a Certified Member of DMA and active in his local chapter.
Drew is the Dance Captain of ‘iL CiRCo’, an international cirque troupe based in San Diego. He has worked all across the U.S., Canada, Bahamas, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, and Turkey. His credits include: GMC, Kia, UnitedHealth, Nestlé, Reebok, CitiGroup, and Taylor Swift. Drew’s students have won many awards and scholarships on regional and national levels. Their highlights include: AZ’s Male Dancer of the Year, Teen Miss Dance of Arizona, and Miss Arizona’s Outstanding Teen. This is Drew’s first year at Above the Barre and he is thrilled to be Dance Company Director.
This is Miss Mo’s fifth year teaching at Above The Barre Studios. She loves teaching all ages, but her very favorite age is preschool and primary grades. They just love to learn and show what they have accomplished.
With training in tap, ballet, jazz and ethnic dancing, Miss Mo has been choreographing musicals for all ages from preschool to high school to professional theatre for over thirty years. She also choreographed the Olympic Diving and Acrobatic show at Sea World.
She has studied in New York with Wayne Ciliento, Onna White, Tommy Tune, Alvin Ailey and Graziela Daniele. She also studied African movement and dance while in Zimbabwe, Africa when she performed for the Harare International Arts Festival.
This award winning performer continues to choreograph and direct theatre here in Ohio. Mo also is an actor as well as a cabaret performer. She is a voice-over artist for American Greetings and Little Tyke Toys.
Amanda J. Recko has been dancing for 25 years, born & raised in Berea she is happy to be here in her roots teaching her craft.
Amanda attended both Kent State & University of Toledo where she studied & majored in Dance. She was a member of the KSU Dance Flash Force & also a Toledo Rockette. Amanda has performed as a dancer, a singer, & a magician's assistant all across the country. She spent time in LA where she studied & assisted at The Edge. She also spent time in NYC where she studied dance at Broadway Dance Center. Amanda spent five summer & fall seasons performing at Cedar Point Amusement Park. She is returning to the stage this fall as a performer. Also, she is part of Cedar Point's Live Entertainment production team where she is one of the choreographers and production coordinators. You can see her choreography in many theaters, amusement parks, & studios throughout the country.
She currently teaches & choreographs for all the competitive teams & the large production and acro numbers. Her focus is mainly lyrical, jazz, contemporary, & technique. Her dances & choreography have won many high awards for her & the studio overall. Awards including Double Platinums, Choreography, Technique, Entertainment, & Overall Awards. Amanda has won many personal awards for her performance as well...highlights "Best Female Performer" IAPPA 05-07 & "Best Actress in a Musical" The Scene.
Amanda resides in Avon with her husband, daughter, and son.
Alicia Smith, National Dance Week’s Ohio Delegate is a licensed ballet teacher through the Cecchetti Council of America, certified in Ballet, Tap and Jazz through Dance Masters of America and a national award-winning choreographer. Also an Artistic Program Director and Judge, Ms. Alicia is a member of the New York City Tap Festival’s on-site staff and a recipient of The American Tap Dance Foundation’s prestigious National Tap Teacher of the Year award. As a Master Instructor, Ms Alicia has been featured in Dance Teacher Magazine’s Honors List recognizing top Dance Educators. Many of her students have received awards nationally and internationally as well as college scholarships recognizing excellence in dance. She is a professional member of the Cecchetti International Classical Ballet organization, Dance Masters of America, the International Tap Association, the American Fitness and Aerobics Association and the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She has taught in numerous venues including the American College Dance Festival and FlipFest, the gymnastics training ground for past and future Olympians. A seasoned Professional Performer, she has appeared in a myriad of shows in iconic venues like the world famous Cotton Club and with popular culture celebrities such as Ms. Lauryn Hill.
Her favorite quote: "Pride is doing your very best work, even when no one is watching."- Author unknown
Erika Hunt is a native of Northeast Ohio and began her training in 1990 at the University of Akron Dance Institute. While at the Institute Erika had the pleasure of working with some very special and talented instructors including Tatyana and Roman Mazur, Richard Dickinson, Jane Startzman, Lana Carroll, Andrew Carroll, Ana Lobe, MaryAnn Black, Amy Miller and Christina Foisie. Erika supplemented her early training with summer studies at both Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Jennifer Muller/The Works. Erika continued her dance education at the University of Akron, graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2008. Erika has performed in multiple professional and pre-professional capacities throughout the Northeast Ohio region including performances with Ohio Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, University of Akron Dance Company and appearances regionally as a guest artist. In addition to teaching ballet, Erika will be pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Cleveland State University beginning January of 2012.
Originally from Berea, Nicole McCampbell is an alumni of Above the Barre School of Dance. She has been dancing for 17 years, since she was 3 years old. Nicole is currently studying mechanical engineering at Cleveland State, with a minor in dance.
Kelli Sanford is the Artistic Director of RED Company real.edge.dance. RED is dedicated to bringing an eclectic style of modern dance to the Akron area and supporting performing opportunities to devoted professional dancers and musicians. Ms. Sanford holds a Master of Fine Arts in Contemporary Dance from Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from The University of Akron. Ms. Sanford also dances professionally with Tikvah Company of Artists and is a featured soloist in the production SEVEN which has been performed in Cleveland, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Ms. Sanford serves as the Associate Director of Tikvah. Ms. Sanford is a Part-Time Assistant Lecturer in Dance at The University of Akron where she teaches Modern Technique, Viewing Dance, as well as the Director of the UA Touring Ensemble; and was a Part-Time Lecturer in Dance at Case Western Reserve University from August 2007-May 2011 where she taught contemporary Graham-based Modern and served as the Production Manager. At CWRU Ms. Sanford received numerous awards in excellence in teaching, performing, theatrical elements, and a prestigious Pancoast award that enabled her to travel to Australia to study the Aboriginal Culture and Dance. Most recently she was nominated in the undergraduate student body for "Excellence in Mentoring" and also "Most Engaging Lecturer Award". Kelli has performed with Opera Cleveland, Louder Than Words Dance Company and has had her choreography featured at the Akron Art Museum, Akron Children's Hospital ,the Northeast Ohio Dance Festival and Ohio Young Artists Dance Festival in 2002. Ms. Sanford was selected as the Lead Artist in Dance for the city of Akron's Summer Arts Experience program of 2009, 2010, and 2011. Her choreography from this program was featured in the Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival at Goodyear Heights Park. Kelli was the Dance Instructor of Ohio Ballet's Turned Out Tikes Children's Program for five years, and she has taught at many NEO Dance schools including UA's Dance Institute, Great Lakes Youth Ballet, Ballet Western Reserve, Richland Academy of the Arts, Cleveland City Dance, Medina Center for Dance Art and Spotlight School of the Arts. Ms. Sanford attended the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance 2006 Summer Intensive on a two-week scholarship in NY. She is a sought-after instructor and a passionate and versatile performer. Ms. Sanford has resided in Copley, Ohio for the past four years and the Akron area in general for over ten years. She is committed to making dance art recognized and accessible to all the people of the Akron area.
Janeeka Wilson, a NY/LA Choreographer & Motivational Speaker, was recently named "New York City's new, up & coming" by Beyonce choreographer Rhapsody James. Janeeka is becoming well-known for her creative, energy-filled works of art. Her work has been showcased before DefJam Records, Jay-Z, Mya and featured on tours with Lil Wayne, Keri Hilson, Ric Ross & Tina Brown. She has also produced choreography works for MTVs Diddy—Making the Band. Janeeka's self-starting attitude and unique style brought statewide recognition and national exposure to her college dance team, "Da Truth". While working with the troupe, she was inspired to give the dancers a broader platform to showcase their talent. Subsequently, she booked, choreographed, and led them to dance before Def Jam at Jay-Z's album release party for American Gangster. Doubling as a choreographer and performer gives her the opportunity to express and share her love of dance. Currently based in the Greater New York area, Janeeka holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business/Marketing from Montclair State University. 
Haley Fish was crowned Miss Dance America by the Dance Masters of America. The Dance Masters of America competition consisted of judging in classes of ballet, tap and jazz as well as an interview with the judges and a dance/talent performance. Performing a contemporary piece, Haley was the winner of the talent portion of the competition as well as the interview. At sixteen, she is the youngest Miss Dance of America and the first from the Ohio Chapter and Lexington, Kentucky. 
Cheryll has been teaching for over ten years in ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz and contemporary. 
Natalie Ramey (Professional) is a Cleveland native and received majority of her training from Ohio Dance Theatre out of Oberlin Ohio.