MEET OUR FACULTY

Kathy Jensen

FOUNDER + CEO

Kathy Jensen has been a part of the dance and educational communities for over 40 years. Kathy began taking dance classes at just nine years old, and found herself loving dance for years to come. She continued her training before transitioning into a dance teacher during her high school years. Following graduation, she continued teaching young students dance, and eventually went on to run and manage studios throughout the years. Kathy's passion for education, working with children, and business, led her to a new path, where she obtained her Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education from Rochester University, in addition to her Associates in Mental Health and Social Work. She became an early childhood educator, owning Premiere Preschool in Commerce over the last 21 years. Kathy always kept dance in her life, as her two children, Triston and Darby, shared in her love for dance. While still working at studios, she also had the role of a dance parent for over 18 years. Once her children graduated, she found herself longing for a new experience in this community. Alongside her husband, Mekay, and family, this led them to founding Premiere Dance Center, a place for all to be welcome and take in the joy of dance. Kathy takes pride in seeing the growth and excitment from her students, and getting to know all the wonderful families that are a part of Premiere Dance Center. She could not be prouder of her Premiere Dance Center Dancers. She looks forward to an amazing future ahead with PDC!

Darby Jensen

CHIEF ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

COMPANY DIRECTOR

Darby Jensen began her dance journey as soon as she could walk. Her mother Kathy was a teacher, and she grew up inside of the studio. From a young age, she trained in a variety of styles including jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, contemporary and more, and began competing at the age of six years old. Darby continued her training, traveling and auditioning much of her teen years for Broadway shows and various films, even being a finalist for Billy Elliot the Musical. As a member of her studios performing company, Darby trained under many esteemed master teachers throughout the country, and performed around the community, and in places such as Disney. During her time in high school, she was a member of the Lakeland Varsity Pom Team. Upon graduation, dance found a new role in her life, switching from performer to teacher. While teaching in Kalamazoo, MI, Darby served as the Company Director and worked with hundreds of students from ages two to eighteen under the direction of Katie Stull. There she learned she had a passion for teaching and has found immense pride in watching her students succeed in whatever they set their mind to. After graduating from her undergrad at Western Michigan University, Darby moved back to the east side of Michigan to attend Law School at Wayne State. During this time, she began working with her mother, Kathy Jensen, and continued to teach, working with students from the recreational level to pre-professional dancers. Together, their love of teaching and education formed what is now known as Premiere Dance Center. Darby specializes in Jazz, Acro, and Dance Team Technique, but loves working with every student who comes through her classroom door. She is also a certified Acro teacher through the Acrobatics Arts Program. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband, Jarred and their dog Winston, as well as her family. Miss Darby could not be more excited to work with the students of Premiere Dance Center, and is proud to be a part of their journey!

Kayla Hydorn

INSTRUCTOR + COMPANY DIRECTOR

From Michigan, Kayla trained locally in all aspects of the performing arts at the highest pre-professional level and was an assistant teacher to younger students. At just 10 years old, she booked her first job and continued to study jazz, tap, ballet, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, and voice lessons. Upon completion of high school Kayla went to work with Norwegian Cruise Line as a Production Dancer and Primary Aerialist. Other credits include Nuclassica Surrender Cover Music Video, Boogah and Hoogah’s Haunted House Party, North American Auto Show, DIA Private Wedding Event, Flash Mob America, LaFontaine Automotive’s U-CAN-SURVIVE – Cure & Couture, Sommerset Collection Event Entertainment, as well as other works with Children's Theatre of Michigan. She also performed as a magician assistant for the PJ Magic show and Po Cheng Lai Magic Show. Kayla has a passion for sharing her joy of dance with students ranging from the pre dance level to pre-professional. With 6 years of teaching and choreographing experience at studios in Michigan as well as virtual classes around the US and Canada, she strives to create a fun and energetic atmosphere. Kayla is also certified as an Acrobatic Arts teacher in the Module One Course.

Haley Mowers

INSTRUCTOR

Haley Mowers was born into a dancing family with her three older sisters and her, starting ballet at the age of 3. Their mother created this passion for dance, as she was their first-ever dance teacher. Haley started her journey dancing at Suzanne’s Main Street Dancer Center in Milford Michigan, where she spent every day after school practicing. She is disciplined in many styles of dance including, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, ballet, pointe, and more. Haley started competing when she was 8 years old and worked her way up from competition team to company when she was 10 years old. She competed at 4-5 competitions yearly, attended conventions, and performed at multiple shows like local nursing homes, Milford Memories, church fairs, and Disney World. She started assistant teaching at the age of 8 and continued to teach throughout college where she would also volunteer with the World of Dance regionals. Haley also performed with the Lakeland High School Pom team during her high school years. Haley graduated from Grand Valley State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Biomedical Science. She has 7+ years of medical experience in long-term rehabilitation, hospitals, and pediatrics office, and is now the Training and Education Supervisor for a non-profit mental health care company. During her undergrad, Haley danced with Grand Valley Dance Troupe for four years, where they performed recitals and raised money for local charities. She choreographed many pieces in college from lyrical, hip-hop, and jazz. Her three older sisters and mother still teach dance around Michigan and California to this day. She has now joined the amazing Premiere Dance Centers family as the third year teaching under the amazing leadership of Kathy and Darby Jensen and hopes to continue to grow as a creative dance teacher while making lasting memories for herself and her students as they create their own passion.

Natalya Yono

INSTRUCTOR

Natalya Yono has been dancing locally since the age of 8. Throughout her dance journey, she has trained in various styles, including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Musical Theatre, and Acrobatics. While Lyrical remains her favorite style to dance, she finds the most joy in teaching Hip-Hop. Currently, Natalya is pursuing a degree in sports medicine physical therapy, all while sharing her passion for dance with young students. She hopes to inspire the children she teaches, encouraging them to look up to her as a role model. A fun fact about Natalya is that she was a member of the Grand Valley Laker Dance Team during the 2022-2023 season. She has thoroughly enjoyed working alongside Kathy and Darby Jensen and is excited to see where this year will take them.

Lindsy Krauser

INSTRUCTOR

Miss Lindsy has been teaching dance for over 25 years. She has taught classes in many different styles and for both recreational and competitive level programs. In 2023, she founded and currently directs our Baton program. She is so excited to help offer this opportunity to students from Elementary School through College Majorette. Her own dancing career has included participation in shows performing at Magic Music Days at Epcot in Disney and on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. She has won many group and individual titles at competitions both as a dancer and a choreographer. In addition to teaching dance, she is a High School English and Social Studies teacher in West Bloomfield. She earned her Bachelor Degree in 2005, teaching credentials in 2011, and M.Ed. in 2015. All that being said, her proudest title is that of Mom to her 4 active children. She looks forward to sharing her love of dance with you!

Janet Clayton-Reid

INSTRUCTOR

Janet Clayton-Reid has been a professional dancer and teacher in the industry for many years. She is the Artistic Director of one of Michigan's professional dance companies, MoreDances Contemporary Dance Company. She specializes in teaching ballet, pointe, jazz, tap and modern, to all ages. She has worked as a professional dancer in concert dance companies in both Michigan and Illinois, as well as in review shows, dinner theater and musicals, on Norwegian Cruise Lines, Great America Theme Park, in Jubilee! at Ballys Grand Las Vegas, in Italy, Japan and in many professional shows in the United States. Janet is trained in the Vagonava Ballet technique, and was a previous student of the Gus Giordano Dance Center in Illinois. Janet was on staff at Blue Lake Fine Arts camp for ten years, taught for Cranbrook Schools, the American College Dance Festival and the Cecchetti Council for America as a guest instructor. She was a recipient of the Maggie Allesee New Choreography Award, receiving choreography awards and high scores for her numbers at competitions. Janet has also served as a dance competition judge for Energy National Dance Competitions. Janet is excited to share her love of dance with the students of Premiere Dance Center.

Darcie Swisher

INSTRUCTOR

Darcie loves sharing her passion for dance and has been teaching and choreographing for over 30 years. She graduated from Point Park University with a BA in Jazz dance and holds a Masters in Exercise, Fitness, and Health Promotion from George Mason University. Darcie has been a member of several professional tap dance companies. These companies include Gregg Russell’s Tap Sounds Underground for 5 years in Los Angeles, and Artis Mooney’s Artistry tap company in Washington DC. Darcie has also performed professionally for Adidas, and as a back up dancer for the singer Aaron Carter. Darcie has two teenagers of her own, and truly enjoys helping children and teens explore dance and find the joy in movement.

Jarred Billcheck

STRENGTH + CONDITIONING DIRECTOR

Jarred Billcheck, originally from Findlay, Ohio, has been involved in athletics since he was three years old. Training in multiple discliplines, he found his niche in Football and Strength Training. Working with a number of trainers one on one, he trained at the competitive level throughout his high school years. Jarred became a member of the Trine University Football Team, where he was a starting Linebacker under the direction of Maury Waugh, and graduated with a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering. Following graduation, he continued refining his craft in Strength and Conditioning, creating programs for students looking to take their training in any sport to the next level. Jarred has loved working with his wife Darby, on developing training programs specifically tailored to dancers to elevate their abilities. Jarred is excited to continue to work with the students of Premiere Dance Center!

Pam Rochester

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

BIO COMING SOON

Jamie Gluski

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

NHSDA + APPRENTICE PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Jamie Gluski brings over 40 years of dance experience, where she blends her passion for dance with her expertise as a middle school teacher. Jamie’s journey started with gymnastics, but dance quickly became her favorite activity. She has trained in various styles of dance, performed and competed in local and national events, and has taught students in pre-dance through pre-professional levels. One highlight of Jamie's dance career is performing in Disney's Magic Music Days. Jamie has extensive experience in developing apprenticeship programs for aspiring teachers and working behind-the-scenes on studio and event logistics. Outside of dance, Jamie teaches middle school English, math, science and social studies and values the parallels of growth and opportunities offered to students in school and dance.

Ellen Houseman

INSTRUCTOR

Ellen Houseman (Westland, Michigan) is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher. She received most of her training with Katie Stull at Excel Dance Centre Kalamazoo MI, where she trained in a large variety of dance styles. She received a BA in Dance from Madonna University where she performed works by Susan Panek, Tracy Halloran, Zandria Lucas, Douglas Burkhardt, and Brian Hare. She was a member of the Madonna University's Dance Team for 4 years and held the position of captain for 2 years. She has performed at Disney, Carnival Cruise Line, RAD Fest, Oakland Dance Festival, ACDA East-Central Regional Conference and was a part of the film documentary “Untapped” directed by Brothers Young, designed to inspire and encourage dancers around the world. In 2023 Ellen was selected to be the recipient of the Jordeen Ivanov-Ericson Choreography Award for her work Release. Release was presented at Oakland Dance Festival. She is also an Assistant Coach for Madonna University's Dance Team. Ellen Houseman is dedicated to the art of dance and continues to seek out new opportunities and knowledge to share in her dancing, teaching and choreography.

Jennifer Hydorn

STUDIO MANAGER

Amber Schmitt

CLIENT SERVICES + INSTRUCTOR

Theresa Dickinson

ADMINISTRATION