MEET OUR FACULTY

Isaah Henderson, Dancing Wheels Company Member, Dance Instructor,
has over 25 years of experience teaching and performing in ballet, modern, jazz and tap...in addition to ballroom and other forms of dance. Isaah started his professional dance training as a scholarship student at the prestigious Alvin Ailey American
Dance Theatre, and we are proud to have him teaching many of our classes this year. You will find him in the ballroom as well as teaching ballet and modern this year. Isaah is a member of Dance Masters of America and is certified to teach tap, jazz and ballet and is also certified in Cecchetti levels 1-3.

Emma Parker, Dancing Wheels Company Member, Dance Instructor, a performer/dance instructor for nineteen years, teaches ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, modern and integrated classes. Her past affiliations include Universal Dance Association, Balance Point Dance Solutions and VSA affiliate, Hilcroft. Emma served as choreography consultant for a PBS documentary entitled Vibrations. The documentary, about a deaf performing arts group, was nominated for a 2011 regional Emmy. In August of 2010, she choreographed and performed in her own work entitled "Exteroception" concerning the life of a blind man, which was chosen Dance Magazine's Editor Choice Award. Emma has traveled the country as a freelance choreographer and received training in dance/movement therapy.

Damon "Motion" Rucker, Dance Instructor, is a talented and energetic dancer turned instructor. Having performed professionally with the Cleveland Cavaliers Scream Team and other professional venues over the years, Damon has no shortage of experience in entertainment.  Damon, along with his dance group, Point Blank, recently won a hip hop dance competition entitled Revamped and was invited to perform in West Palm, Florida for B.E.T.'s nationally televised Spring Bling. Perhaps more impressive than his gymnastic flips, head spins, and moves, is his lively, fun spirit and ability to appeal to audiences of all ages. Over the years, Damon has instructed at many dance clinics and workshops.

Mackenzie Clevenger, Dance Instructor, teaches modern for The School of Dancing Wheels and is a trainee with Inlet Dance Theatre, a Cleveland-based modern dance company. She has also been involved with Theatre Ninjas, The Cleveland Museum of Art and Cleveland Public Theatre, as well as teaching for several dance studios. Mackenzie is passionate about creating new and innovative art, teaching and demonstrating the importance of dance in our culture.

Teri Westerman, Dancing Wheels Company Member, Theatre Instructor, is one of the founding members of PHAMALY. She has performed with PHAMALY in over 20 productions. Some favorite roles have been Mrs. Wadsworth T. Harcourt -"Anything Goes", Mother Burnside - "Mame" and Lady Brockhurst -"The Boyfriend". She has been trained in musical theater, drama, improv and creative writing at the Denver Center Theater Company and many others in the Denver theater community.

Mark Tomasic, Guest Artist, Training Materials Creative Director, received his BFA in Theater from The University of Cincinnati. Mark has worked with renowned dance companies and choreographers including Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Cleveland San Jose Ballet, Ballet Contemporaneo de Buenos Aires and Verb Ballets. He has performed in works by Martha Graham, David Parsons, and Dennis Nahat, to name a few. His theatrical credits include the Cleveland Opera and Great Lakes Theater Festival. On TV, Mark played “Big Boss Man” in Blue Suede Shoes (PBS), danced on The Drew Carey Show (ABC) and was a featured performer on Christopher Reeve: A Celebration of Hope (ABC). Mark has worked with Dancing Wheels as a dancer, tour manager and rehearsal director for eight years.

Keith Filip, Physical Therapist, Orientation & Mobility Specialist and Consultant, is a physical therapist for the Cuyahoga County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, the Cleveland Sight Center and the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital. He has worked as a physical therapist in all aspects of patient rehabilitation including sports and dance medicine. As an outpatient therapist, he has worked with The Dancing Wheels Company, Cleveland Ballet, and the International Children’s Games. Keith has an MA in Special Education and certification as an Orientation & Mobility Specialist from Michigan State University, as well as an ME in Exercise Science and a BS in Physical Therapy from Cleveland State University. Keith is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America.

Lindsay Stanley, Visual Arts Instructor, is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art (Illustration) and Case Western Reserve University (Art Education). In her career, she has taught special needs students, and is currently freelancing in the Cleveland area, creating and selling her own art. She is thrilled to be rejoining Dancing Wheels and teaching Theatre Arts Camp.