Our Dance Instructors

My name is Dionne (Dee) Luxford and I started dancing when I was 2 years old and have been dancing all my life.  I have studied with many different dance instructors from Grand Rapids, Chicago, New York, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles including Nan Giordano, Brian Friedman, Roberta Cassidy, Suave, Frank Hatchett, Bobby Ziegler, Don Mirault, Mia Micheals and many others.   I am a certified dance instructor from Dance Educators of America from where I graduated with my certification equivalent to a Bachelors degrees in dance education.  I continue to increase my knowledge even today by taking classes in Chicago and at conventions on a regular basis.

I have traveled to many different places to perform including Spain where the performing company I was traveling with performed at a Fourth of July party hosted by a Spanish Diplomat. Some of the guests included Elizabeth Taylor, George Hamilton, Rod Stewart, Princess Stephanie of Monaco, and other international royalty.  I have performed in Disney World twice, aboard the Big Red Boat and Carnival Cruise lines, at the Iberostar Resorts in Mexico and most recently at Universal Studios along with the Dancimation Performing Company.

All styles of dance have a place in my heart so it is very difficult to pick a favorite.  Each style allows me to convey a different part of myself.  Classical Ballet and Lyrical allow me to express the slow flowing emotions of a ballad or classic piece of music.  Tap allows me to explore the rhythm and intricacy of the sounds that can be made with my feet.  Musical Theater gives a chance to portray a character from a movie or musical.  Jazz and Hip Hop gives the opportunity to have fun and get sassy.

Teaching dance is more than a job to me. It is my passion.  Watching children grow and learn in the art of dance while becoming more confident and disciplined in themselves is a very rewarding experience.  Over the past 39 years of teaching, I have enjoyed sharing my energies and abilities with over 1200 students. I know that through dance they have become more confident and stronger individuals no matter what occupation they pursue. 

My name is Robyn Christensen and I started dancing when I was in the second grade at Miss Dee's School of Dance and continued on for 7 years. I took some time off and came back in 2011 to help Miss Dee celebrate her 25th anniversary with a reunion dance in the recital.  I have two children, Jackson and Jaelyn. In my time at Miss Dee's School of Dance, I have danced with Dancimation in places like Universal Studios, Disney World, aboard The Big Red Boat, in the Bahamas and Chicago to name a few. I was trained by Miss Dee in Tap, Jazz, Lyrical and Ballet, all of which I love.
Dance is to be free in thought!

My Name is Kristen Cripe (Miss Kristen) For the past 22 years I have had the privilege of learning the art of dance at 

Miss Dee's. I have taken classes in pointe, tap, ballet, lyrical, jazz, hip hop and 

contemporary. I have also been a part of the Dancimation competitive team. 

Dance has given me opportunities that have allowed me to broaden my horizons.

One of those experiences was assistant teaching and eventually teaching classes 

on my own. Through teaching I have been able to grow in my own 

dancing as well. 

My Name is Isabelle Houghton (Miss Izzy).  I have been attending Miss Dee’s for 17 years and have been a part of 

the Dancimation team for 8 of those years. I have also been an assistant 

teacher for 6 years and an instructor for 5 years. I have studied tap, jazz, 

lyrical, and contemporary dance. 

My Name is Zach Houghton (Mr Zach). I have been dancing for 15 years, all of which have been at Miss Dee's.  As a 

member of the Dancimation Performing Company I have enjoyed traveling to 

a number of dance competitions in and out of state and performed at Universal 

Studios in 2019 and 2022. I have been assistant teaching for the past 5 years

and teaching for 3 year. 

My Name is Shaylee Hunter (Miss Shay).

I have been dancing for 13 years at Miss Dee's.  My main focus is on Hip hop but 

I have also studied Lyrical and Jazz as well. I am a member of the Dancimation 

Performing Company and have performed at Universal Studios and competitions 

in and out of Michigan.  I have been assistant teaching for the past 4 years and now enjoy teaching classes on my own.