The Instructors
Mark Taylor is a native of Lansing and grew up at Assiff Studio of the Dance. He has studied at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Point Park College, and received his BFA in Dance from George Mason University. Mark was a member of Assiff Dance Company as well as performing with Indianapolis Ballet, Kings Dominion, Virginia Ballet Company, Fairfax Ballet and Stage Crew Productions.
Mark has taught for 24 years here in Michigan as well as throughout the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, where he taught and performed for 12 years. He returned to the East Lansing area in 1998 and purchased Assiff Studio of the Dance in 2001. This year Mark and his partner, Senator Gretchen Whitmer, won 2nd place, and also received the Peoples Choice Award, in the "Dancing With The Local Stars." This is his fifth year as director of Mark Taylor School of Dance.
Elzbieta Alabuszew-Kutek is a professional dancer trained at the National Ballet School in Warsaw and Gdansk, Poland, with an MFA (in pedagogy and choreography) from the National Institute of Theater Arts in Moscow, Russia. Ela performed, taught, directed, and choreographed performances in Poland, Russia, England, Germany, France, Denmark and Norway. She has received many awards, including an Award for Special Contribution in Developing Education for Artists in Poland, for Outstanding Choreography Achievements, and was recognized as a Meritorious Artist of Culture in Poland. Ela recently won first place in the "Dancing With the Local Stars." She continues her artistic efforts as a master teacher, choreographer, and director at Lansing Community College, and throughout the state. For nine years Ela was the co-Artistic Director of Lansing Chamber Dance. She is a member of the National Dance Educational Organization and Michigan Dance Council. This is Miss Ela's fifth year teaching at Mark Taylor School of Dance.
Colleen Opphile has been featured and has danced throughout the United States, Europe, and the Middle East in such productions as Hurray for Hollywood!, Gin-Pak Ballet, The Jose Louis Moreno Show, La Scala, It’s Hot!, Follies Bergere and the Fabulous World of Burlesque, as well as being a member of the Southwest Strutters. She also appeared weekly in the popular television programs, “Uno Dos Tres” and “Otro Cosas” in Spain and in Italy. She has studied Dance and Musical Theatre at the University of Las Vegas and with Henry LeTang her mentor. Colleen has taught and choreographed in the Las Vegas, NV, and Phoenix, AZ, areas. This will be her fourth year teaching for Mark Taylor School of Dance.
Jessicca Shank started dancing when she was three years old. She mainly studied jazz, tap, and some ballet at Assiff Studio of the Dance, in East Lansing. At age 18 she was introduced to Hip-Hop at Happendance., and really took to it. Since then she has studied all forms of dance, including modern and lyrical, at Lansing Community College. She has performed in 6 LCC shows. She has also choreographed 3 hip-hop pieces, 2 jazz pieces, and 1 lyrical piece within those six performances. In the summer of 2005 she danced for a Semi-pro football team based out of Charlotte. Although she was not the coach, she choreographed the audition piece, which then became the dance for the first half-time performance. She also choreographed many of the sideline dances as well. During the 2007-2008 school year Jessicca coached the Waverly High School JV dance team, and was responsible for all the choreography including pom. Jessicca still studies jazz and ballet at LCC, and is looking forward to her fourth year teaching at Mark Taylor School of Dance.
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