epastaffbios

Amy Rose (BPA, Oklahoma City University), has been involved with Encore Dance Company her whole life. Rose received her Bachelor of Performing Arts degree from Oklahoma City University and performed in Branson Missouri at A Grand Palace Theatre with Dino Kartsonakis in the Music For All Time show. She has performed at Jazz Dance World Congress in Wiesbaden, Germany, and has instructed dance at many studios including Southwestern Michigan College. Rose has choreographed musicals and the Miss Dowagiac Pageant and serves on the board of the Dogwood Fine Arts Festival and is the chair of the dance event. Rose is currently Artistic Director of Encore Dance Company and Encore School of the Arts.

Kathleen Kiesselbach (BFA, Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts, Indiana University South Bend), serves as Director of Operations at Encore. Formerly Director of Marketing and Development at the Krasl Art Center, St. Joseph, and previously Communications Specialist at the Nanovic Institute for European Studies at the University of Notre Dame, Kiesselbach brings experiece in non-profit administration including marketing, development, and graphic design. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Art degree in Printmaking and teaches in the visual arts program at Encore.

Casey Kener—Kener, a Niles native, attended Southwestern Michigan
college and majored in dance and early childhood education. Kerner was a member of Niles Elite for 11 years, having joined at the age of 4. Kerner won 7 National Championships and traveled to Beijing with Niles Elite, the first cheer team from the US to travel to China where they introduced cheer leading to the Chinese culture (Cheer China). They performed and trained at The Beijing Dance Academy, as well the Li Xiaoshuang Gymnastics School and Shi Cha Hai Gymnastics Sports School. In 2008 Kener traveled to Beijing with the Young Champions team SuperTeam, to perform during one of the Olympic opening ceremonies and for the Olympic Committee, campaigning for competitive cheer to become an Olympic sport in future games. Kener currently choreographs Niles High School's pom routines, and helps at Niles Elite practices.

Kimberly Martz (B.S, Ball State University) is excited to be back teaching at Encore. Martz grew up in La Porte Indiana, but danced in southwestern Michigan most of her life. Martz has been dancing since the age of three. AtBall State Martz started the Burris Dazzlers Dance Team at Burris High School, and received her bachelor's degree in Dance Performance and Dance Education. Besides directing and teaching the Dazzlers, Martz performed inJunior and Senior choreography shows and Dance! Dance! Dance! while at Ball State U. Martz also performed in the Brachs Holiday Parade in Chicago, the Florida Citrus Bowl and the NCA College Cheer and Dance Nationals. Choreography is her passion. Besides choreographing for Encore Dance Company, she has choreographed for various pom, dance and cheer teams, choirs, and competition dance teams. Martz is lives in South Bend Indiana, and works at Enzyme Research Laboratories as an Administrative Specialist.

Emily Pinkerton

Kim Rice attended Southwestern Michigan College on a full dance and academic scholarship. Prior to college, Rice was a member of a competitive dance team traveling throughout Michigan and surrounding states winning several prestigious awards for technique and performance. During this time she had the opportunity to study from several eminent dancers and choreographers, most notably Joe Tremaine, Mary Ann Lamb, and Wade Robson. She has taken classes from the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Jump Rhythm Jazz Project, and is a member of the Michigan Dance Council.

Sarah Smallbone (BPA, Oklahoma City University) was born in Dowagiac, MI and was a member of the Encore Dance Company and Miss Kathy's School of Dance starting at the age of 4 and received her Bachelors degree with an emphasis in Dance Performance. After graduation, Smallbone danced in the world famous Jubilee! show in Las Vegas. She is very excited to be back in Dowagiac teaching at Encore and is looking forward to a great year with great students.

John Wallace has played guitar for more than thirty years from garage bands as a teenager, to touring bands of every style including R&B and Country.
Currently playing jazz and blues venues with the Billy Nicks Trio, Crystal Blue Jazz,
and appearing as a soloist and in a duo with Josef Szaday on bass. John also
appears with his own quartet JWQ, featuring more R&B and Blues. Most recently
the Billy Nicks Trio has become a quartet with the addition of Jackie Ivory on
Hammond organ. John has been called on for recording sessions for artists as well
as local ads. He has been living and gigging in South Bend, IN, Chicago, and southwestern Michigan for the last 15 years.

Melissa Whitaker-Auvil (MVP, University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory, BA, Central Michigan University) is an educator, director, and performer with a Masters degree in Voice Performance, and a Bachelor's degree in Music Education. Whitaker-Auvil has worked with companies such as the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Metro Opera, CrossCurrents Theatre, St. Peter's Players, and Midland Music Society. She is currently a member of the South Bend Chamber Singers, and owns a private voice studio in Niles and Dowagiac, Michigan.