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The StudioDNA Team:
John D. Dawson: (CEO, lead choreographer, head instructor) is the performing artist, dance instructor, and operator of StudioDNA Partners Inc. Truly a Renaissance man, John is a poet of movement, color, and expression. Whether dressing his clients in styles and colors that best enhance their beauty, or applying make-up or styling their hair for a show, John has a creative genius to make everyone look and feel their best! All of these combined talents along with grace and beauty of John's dance partners, create the mood and ambiance for all possible artistic expression within StudioDNA.
John, a member of the National Dance Council of America and the Professional Dance Federation has been instructing dance since 1991. American Style dance has been John's expertise in both Bronze and Silver levels. John has taken clients to first place titles in competition at numerous events. His degree in psychology from Loyola College in 1991, enables him to work intimately and respectfully with his clients while sharing his passion for dance! Working with people comes easily to John and he welcomes all his students with patience and encouragement. John worked in the field of Education both in the Baltimore City and Baltimore County School Systems for 6 years. Through his tireless efforts and patience with special needs children, John developed many styles and techniques for teaching which benefit his clients.
Michelle Horseman: also a member of National Dance Council of America, brings contagious enthusiasm, joy, and a tremendous amount of fresh energy to our studio. Michelle is a teacher for special needs children in Baltimore County during the day. Her education and communication skills allow her to share her knowledge of dance with everyone she meets. Michelle also has a Loyola College connection as she is finishing her Masters in Education. Besides private lessons for wedding couples, Michelle also teaches group Ballroom & Latin lessons too. Michelle also has extensive background in ballet, tap, jazz, & modern dance.
Michelle and John have been dancing together since 2005 and her dedication shows not only in the physical sense, but in her soul. She has assisted John at weekly Loyola College dance classes, demonstrations, and private events. Michelle absolutely glows when she is performing or hitting the floor in the competitive arena. She has taken a number of her clients to Competitions with numerous 1st place titles. Whether freestyle and funky, elegant and glamorous, or sensual and erotic, or a Zumba work-out session, Michelle wants to help share her understanding of dance.
Robert Williamson, ISTD: Robert has been teaching and dancing for over 40 years and is a Licentiate of the ISTD in Ballroom Dance. He was the Rising Star Champion in Ballroom in 1971, the New York State Champion in 1979, and a finalist in La Classique (Canada) in 1979. Robert has extensive background in International Style of Dance Ballroom and Latin and Argentine Tango. He is available for private coaching lessons in technique, styling, preparation for competitions, showcasing, and more. Contact John for pricing, scheduling, and availability of times for Robert. john@studiodna.com
Liza Massouda: has been dancing with StudioDNA since 2003. Having danced numerous Showcases and adding the 2008 Yuletide Dance Competition to her list of dance accomplishments, Liza brings her excitement for learning to each of her clients. She has a background in education and counseling which allows her clients to feel more at ease in their dance experience. Liza's main focus is to assist Wedding couples with their 1st dance. She has also taught a high school group of girls in a Latin Fusion Formation Team under the tutelage of John and assists at numerous group functions that StudioDNA holds.
Sharon White: Sharon T. White Hove has been a life-long
resident of Baltimore and has received an art degree from the University of
Delaware. Sharon started taking ballet at the age of four and has
continued to study and perform, making that 25 years of dance experience.
She started at the Ellen Price Eckhart School of Ballet and now continues her
studies at the Anna Apicella School of Dance. For the past several years
Sharon has also performed in the Nutcracker with the Donetsk Ballet. And,
she has also performed at Center Stage dancing in Sleeping Beauty.
Sharon teaches group and private
Ballet
lessons for ages 18 years and older. She will share barre style
exercises designed to improve strength, flexibility, and poise. Following
that we'll learn a few basic ballet steps and apply them in a simple floor
choreographed routine. Visit our
Calendar of Events link to get more about
her classes.
Patty Simmons: Patty
has been dancing TAP for over 10 years now. As a guest performer at the
Timonium Dinner Theater and a Member of Dimensional Dance Media, a dance company
at CCBC in Essex, Patty has shared her passion for dance in various venues!
She has performed in a number of Showcases and Productions and Studio
Exhibitions around the Baltimore area and we are now proud to have her share
her talents with us at StudioDNA. She will be teaching Broadway Tap or
Lyrical Tap at our Canton location and Pikesville location.
Please check the
Calendar of Events for days and times. She will offer private lessons upon request.
Robin Harvey:
Middle Eastern Dance (Raks Sharqi) or Bellydance
Robin will be teaching weekly group lessons and she will be available for
private lessons too. Robin has taken the name
"Kamala Shams", which
means Perfect Sun! She teaches workshops focusing on the history,
music, technique and artistic presentation. Her workshops will focus on
the fundamental and basic movements of bellydance as well as an understanding of
how the rhythms/melodies in the music drive the dance. A basic overview of
styles of dance will also be provided.
Historically, most of the dances associated with Raks
Sharqi/Middle Eastern Dance more commonly known as bellydance were performed
with the sexes separated; men with men and women with women. This practice
ensured that a "good" woman would not be seen dancing by anyone but her husband,
her close family, or her female friends. Sometimes a professional dancer would
go to a women's gathering with several musicians and get the women up and
dancing.
Today, Bellydance is thought of as predominately a
woman's dance which celebrates the sensuality and power of being a woman and
promotes fellowship among women. Belly dance is suitable for all
ages and body types, and can be as physical as the dancer chooses. The art
form tones the arms, strengthens and tightens the abs and obliques, and improves
flexibility. Bellydancing provides a good cardio-vascular workout and builds leg
strength. Bellydance emphasizes muscular "isolations", teaching the ability to
move various muscles or muscle groups independently. Visit our
Calendar of Events
link to learn more about her classes.
David Kravitz: David first found yoga in 2004 as a way to heal his body and mind from an illness which kept him in bed for an entire year. Before yoga, he had too much body pain even to take short walks, and a complete inability to concentrate. After just a short time taking gentle yoga, David was running again and found concentrating easier than before he was sick. Staying with yoga 5-6 times per week, he spent 3 years practicing only at a gentle and basic level before finding power yoga in 2008. Certainly he loves the way he gets such great fitness and muscle tone from all levels of yoga, but much more important to him is the balance it brings to both body and mind. His precise attention to detail and his love for yoga come through in every practice and every class. He'll also always have something exciting for core strength. David's teacher training began with Ann Hyland and continued with Michael Robinson. He has taken every influential workshops with Brian Kest, Shiva Rea, and several at Kripalu. He will never stop being a student who loves yoga, no matter how long he continues teaching. Found out more about David's classes here at our Calendar of Events.
Vanessa Paras: Vanessa developed a passion for yoga 10 years ago while visiting Los Angeles. The experience she gained after only a few classes was life-changing. The mental and physical benefits of yoga helped Vanessa and this passion led to her Joy Yoga Center's teaching Training Program in Houston, Texas. From the calming effects of yogic breathing to the physical challenges of asanas, yoga continues to positively enhance her daily life both on and off the mat. As a Nurse-Practitioner, Vanessa's continuous quest to promote health and well-being is deeply advocated as a practicing yogini and instructor. Vanessa invites you to share your practice with her so she may guide you through a deeper experience and help foster and maintain personal growth and a healthy lifestyle. Calendar of Even
Cole Strode: Cole is a graduate of John Hopkins University and currently works as a software developer. He has been studying and practicing Kadampa Buddhism and meditation for several years and brings a warm, friendly, and caring attitude to the classes he leads. Cole currently leads the group at StudioDNA in Canton. Get updated monthly info about Cole's group here Calendar of Events. or visit www.meditationmaryland.org
Maximiliano "Max" Gonzalez: Born in Buenos Aires, Argentine, he studied acting, and worked as a performer. Max has trained with some of the world's best teachers and shares this knowledge and technique and style with his clients. His dancing is a blend of the new and traditional, with elegance and dynamism, while at the same time, relaxed, comfortable, enjoyable, and accessible to everyone. He holds weekly classes in Canton and has one to two Milonga dance parties monthly there as well. Check out Max's classes here Calendar of Events or Contact Max tangofusa@yahoo.com
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*Teachers available upon request but currently not holding classes
*Andrea Gault: Andrea has been studying and practicing Hatha Yoga since 2001. Her clinical and physiological understanding of the body as a Doctor by profession, gives her an understanding of the workings of muscle groups and dos and don'ts of yoga. Mind, body, and spirit stretching techniques and exercise that will flow from movement to movement will be utilized. A yoga matt is required and a strap and block are suggested but not necessary! Please come with an open mind, an open heart, and willingness to learn, grow, and be a part of StudioDNA wellness community!
*Courtney Weisman: is certainly not new to dance. She has extensive background and experience in tap, jazz, belly dance, and ballet. Courtney has been dancing since she was 3 years old and blends into our DNA family wonderfully. Her enthusiasm to dance will be infectious to all her students. Courtney's primary focus will be Cardio work-out Belly Dance classes which are offered in a group class setting at least once a month. She also teaches Wedding Couple's how to dance their first dance.
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John's former dance partners:
**John and Tatjana Frost met in November of 2007 and trained very hard to Professionally compete at the Yuletide Ball in December of 2007. The experience was a wonderful one as this was John and Tatjana's first attempt ever dancing Professionally in a competition. They took 2nd place in the American Smooth Division.
**John trained and worked with Melissa White since they met in 1997 at one of John's Loyola College dance classes. They danced together as a team from 2002 until 2007. Together they performed for The Baltimore National Aquarium's "2002 Splash" fundraiser event, The Washington National Opera's Opera Ball in 2004 & 2005, and numerous private affairs.
**John trained and worked with his second dance partner Kim Valentini. They danced together for 5 1/2 years, performed in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Hotel, Carnival Cruise Lines in the Bahamas, and various magazines and affairs around the DC/Maryland area.
**John and his first dance partner, Kathleen Ryan, danced together for 3 1/2 years at the start of his professional career in 1991 at local events, weddings, and private affairs. She inspired him to work hard and pursue his dreams and make dance fun for all!