Wendy Harris
Owner and director of Spotlight, Wendy has over 18 years experience teaching dance to all ages. She trained in Ballet, Pointe, Tap and Jazz and competed in regional and national dance competitions. Her formal training was with Iacob Lascu at the Lascu School of Ballet. Ballet performances include “The Sleeping Beauty” and Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s “Nutcracker.” Wendy also taught the Clarkston Youth Enrichment Dance program for 3 years. Her competitive students have trained with many well-known choreographers and performers, have been well-recognized at conventions/competitions and have won numerous awards. She is certified to teach by examination through Dance Masters of Michigan and Dance Masters of America, of which she is an active member.
Kristen Rasegan
Kristen is in her 8th year teaching at Spotlight Dance Center. She is also director of Spotlight’s Senior Competitive Company. Kristen has over 25 years of experience in the dance field, training in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Hip-Hop and Musical Theater. She has studied under many top LA, Las Vegas, New York and Detroit instructors. At 14, she was chosen to travel and perform with the Dance Caravan Company as a “Caravan Kid.” She has won numerous scholarships and awards at regional and national competitive levels. Kristen was a member of the Michigan State University Repertory Dance Company performing under the direction of Dr. Dixie Durr. She has worked for Universal Dance Association as a performer, instructor and judge. She has guest instructed for Springfield Plains Elementary and judged for “Dream Girls” Pageant Systems. Kristen has also taught for Rochester Avon Recreation Authority and Juliart Dance Studio in Troy. She is a former coach for the Waterford Mott Varsity Pom Team. In 1996 she was awarded a $500 college scholarship at The Waterford Jr. Miss Competition. Kristen is currently certified to teach by examination through Dance Masters of Michigan and Dance Masters of America.
Stephanie Giegler
Stephanie has 19 years dance experience in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz and lyrical. She has experience as a competitive dancer and has attended many dance workshops and conventions. Stephanie has also studied and completed grades one through four in Cechetti method. She is the director of the Jr. Competitive Company at Spotlight. This is her 8th year at Spotlight Dance Center.
Lindsay Green
Lindsay Green has 20 years of dance experience in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, and hip hop. She danced here at Spotlight for five years where she was a member of the competition team and a substitute teacher. Lindsay also has experience as an assistant teacher and choreographer. In addition to studio dancing, Lindsay competed on the Varsity Pom Pon team at Clarkston High School for three years, where she attended UDA and NDA conventions and workshops. Lindsay has a BS in Child Development from Michigan State University and will start her elementary edu. internship in the fall. She is happy to be back home and excited to join our Spotlight family!
Heather Lawrence
Heather has 20 years of dance experience receiving her early training from Katie Holland. As a member of the Oakland University Dance team she competed at National competitions in Orlando Florida. Heather danced five semesters in the Oakland Repertory Company and spent her final year apprenticing with Eisenhower Dance Ensemble. After receiving her Bachelors degree in Performing arts, with a focus in Dance, Heather went on to dance with Automotion, the Detroit Pistons Dance Team. Currently Heather dances for the Ignition soccer team. “There is no greater joy for me than passing on my love for dance.”
Elizabeth Kaarlela
Elizabeth received her early training of Russian technique of Ballet beginning at age four, under the direction of Phyllis Pickett. She also studied Tap, Jazz, and Lyrical with Katie Holland and Raquel Pickett. Her performances include annual recitals, community festivals, and Midwest Dance Theater’s “Nutcracker”. She began to teach and choreograph her own works by age seventeen. In pursuit of a career in Dance education, Elizabeth studied and completed Cechetti grades one through four, attends Dance Masters of Michigan’s annual convention every year, and plans to complete her DMA certificate. Elizabeth began teaching at Spotlight in 2002 and teaches ballet, tap and jazz.
Amber Morris
Amber has 22 years dance experience in ballet, pointe, jazz and tap. She started dancing at Spotlight Dance Center in 2000 and has attended several conventions and workshops. She auditioned and participated in the intensive dance program for the Rockettes recently. Amber also has 3 years experience as an assistant gymnastics coach. She loves to interact and be involved with children. This is her 6th year as a dance instructor at Spotlight.
Raquel Pickett
Raquel has over 28 years dance experience in ballet, jazz and tap. She has been teaching for the past 21 years. She is a certified Cechetti instructor and has also studied the Russian style of ballet. She has performed for the Flint Ballet Theater and has taken top places in many competitions on both the regional and national levels. Loving the art of dance in all of its forms, it is Raquel’s desire to inspire that love in her students. Why walk when you can dance?
