MYA KAFFARANI

Jazz | Tap | Ballet | Lyrical | Contemporary | Modern | Competitive Dance

Mya Kaffaran is from Dearborn Heights, Michigan and has been training as a dancer since she was four years old. She fell in love with the art form and began competitively dancing in lyrical, tap, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop where she has won many awards for her distinguished performances. She is a graduate University of Michigan with a degree in nursing.

Miss Mya is a part of a Releve Dance Company at University of Michigan and has choreographed performances for her company. Miss Mya loves to dance, but her true passion lies in teaching. Throughout high school, Miss Mya worked with students individually teaching dance solos, substituting for teachers, and giving advice to younger students. Miss Mya is eager to share her passion for dancing with the students at the Michigan Academy of Dance and Music and is excited to watch her students grow.

RITA MOSLEY

Rhythm Tap | Hip Hop | Jazz | Contemporary | Lyrical | Salsa | Competitive Dance

Rita Mosley has been dancing for over thirty (30) years nationally and teaching for over twenty-five (25). Her training includes Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Jazz, Modern, Tap, Latin Ballroom, Hip Hop, and Break Dancing. Miss Rita has trained and studied under Legendary and Master Instructors including but not limited to: Ballet: Mary Ellen Cooper, Nadia & Betty Bandict; Tap: the late Robert Reed, the late Gregory Hines, Diane Walker, the late Harriett Brown, the late Nicolas Brothers, Debbie Allen, Bruce Bradley, and many more. Miss Rita was named the “Liaison of Dance-Michigan” for the critically-acclaimed reality television show “America’s Got Talent”. She is also one of the official adjudicators of the highly acclaimed Lifetime Television Network reality show “Dance Moms” and can be seen on several episodes. 

Miss Rita's overall passion is to share the gifts, history, knowledge  and overall passion for the Performing Arts that she received from her mentors, role models, and instructors who assisted, and continue to inspire & motivate her growth as an artist and highly respected, requested and admired master dance instructor, manager, consultant and choreographer across the country.

LACIA FRANKLIN

Ballet | Tap | Jazz 

Lacia Franklin has been dancing since the age of six. In 2014 she graduated Cum Laude from Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in dance. Miss Lacia has taught a various dance styles including Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern and Contemporary and has done choregraphy for competitive dance as well. In 2022, Miss Lacia joined Dance Uprising, a professional dance company located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In this company she works collaboratively with other company members as a dance performer and choreographer. Miss Lacia brings a contagious enthusiam to dance which inspires her students.

LINDSEY KOSHOWSKY

Ballet | Tap | Jazz | Hip Hop | Lyrical | Acro | Competitive Dance

Lindsey Koshowsky is a performer, choreographer and teacher who loves to share her passion for dance. She began dancing and training at the age of 3 and has studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre, Acro and Modern over the course of her dance career. Lindsey is currently studying Exercise Science and is Captain of the Concordia University Dance Team. She began her competitive dance career at the age of 5 and has earned many national awards and titles for both her group and solo performances. She has continued to earn individual dancer awards at the collegiate level. Lindsey’s teaching journey began when she became an assistant teacher at 12 and then started to teach/choreograph recreational and competitive dances during high school. Lindsey has trained extensively with numerous choreographers across the country including Dee Caspary, Frankie Zulferino, Chelsea Sebes, and more. She continues to be a student of dance taking classes whenever possible to stay current with new trends in the industry.

MEGAN STETSON

Voice

Along with performing, Megan has spent twelve years teaching private voice lessons. Megan believes in training a young singer to adapt a healthy way of singing, so as to avoid developing bad habits. She begins with covering the basics of vocal technique, vocal production and breath support. Most importantly, she tries to find music that interests and excites her students. It is this excitement that keeps the students engaged and committed to continue learning and improving upon their skills as a singer and musician.

NATALIE COPELAND

Piano

Natalie Copeland is currently a Senior at Eastern Michigan University where she is a Music major in Piano Performance. She has over 14 years of experience training, teaching and performing.

She studied with Carol Ivkovich of Spring Arbor for four years, concert Pianist Zhihua Tang for a year and currently studies with Garik Pederson at EMU. Natalie has performed in Solo and Ensemble for four years and received superior ratings.

Natalie loves sharing her passion of piano with children and introducing them to the joy of music! 

RICHARD SLATER

Guitar | Ukulele | Drums | Bass | Sound Production

Richard Slater is excited to be providing young learners with the opportunity to enhance their music skills on the guitar. Richard’s talents go far beyond the guitar to drums, piano and singing. Not only does he enjoy playing instruments but loves the technical side of art as well. For years Richard has worked in video and audio for bands, short films and theatrical events.

On top of being well-trained in guitar and audio engineering, Richard enjoys acting and singing on the stage.

HANNAH BAIARDI

Piano 

Hannah has always had a passion for piano and has been composing music since the age of 4. She has been offering in studio and private teaching experiences since 2019. A graduate from University of Michigan she obtained her BFA in the Jazz Studios Program for Piano. She has studied with jazz greats including Ellen Rowe, Benny Green and the late Geri Allen. Hannah is a patient piano teacher with a student-led approach. She believes that keeping student engaged and excited is critical to student commitment and motivation to learn piano. She believes in providing a strong foundation in technique and theory basics, as well as ear training, songwriting and beginner jazz/improvisation. Hannah is passionate about inclusivity; well-versed in working with neurodivergent and students with special needs and considerations. 

CASEY OLNEY

Drums | Guitar | Ukulele | Brass | Woodwind

Casey Olney a highly trained music teacher with more than three (3) decades of experience teaching between 4th-12th grade levels in Virginia and Maryland. Mr. Olney joins the Academy offering private instrumental lessons on all beginning and intermediate band instruments, guitar, bass, and drums. A professional trumpet player for 37 years, he also provides personal instruction to advanced brass instrumentalists, along with jazz improvisation skills to all interested students. 

Mr. Olney holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and a Master of Arts Education from the University of Maryland. His career has included performing as a soloist and conductor, as well as music arranger and clinician. “My personal approach to successful one-on-one music education is to effectively coach each student at their individual pace and interest level, with the intent to develop an intrinsic love of music and pure enjoyment of playing by themselves and/or with others. My goal is to guide and expand mechanical, intellectual, and emotional human growth through music education and performance.”

Recently retired from full-time teaching, Mr. Olney and his wife, who grew up in Ann Arbor, are pleased to have chosen Dexter as their new home. They live with their two energetic rescue dogs Gage and Josie.

BEATRICE

Administration