Our Instructors

Denise Gillman, FDCCA, AISTD

Denise began her training in Michigan with Marjorie Randazzo continuing at the National Ballet of Canada. Ms. Gillman is a frequent guest teacher in the United States and Europe. She has been on the faculty at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, Carnegie Mellon University, Louisville Ballet School, International Summer School of the Cecchetti Council of America and the Kate Simmons School, England. Denise is a Fellow teacher of the CCA and gained distinction for her ISTD Cecchetti Associate.

Evalyn Tirikos

Evalyn has studied ballet, tap, and jazz for the past twenty-three years and has taught at several studios in Northeastern Ohio for the past six years. She received her teaching degree through the Dance Masters of America teachers Training School at the
University of Buffalo, New York and Cecchetti Council of America. She has had the privilege of dancing with Youngstown’s very own Easy Street Productions and was a dancer for the Youngstown Hawks semi- professional basketball team. Along with dance education, Evalyn has taught recreational and competitive gymnastics, choreographing many floor routines for the USAG National Competition in Orlando, Florida.

Elissa Karstu

Tara Kellermeyer

Tara Kellermeyer grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is now living in the Highlands in the city of Louisville. She was trained at Connie Ferguson School of Dance in Cincinnati starting at the age of three. Before attending Northern Kentucky University, she toured with Joel Rumminer's Dance Camp, as a dance camp kid, where she assisted instructors in a wide variety of classes. She then joined Northern Kentucky University's Dance Troupe. The troupe was a reach-out program through NKU and traveled to many highschools throughout the tri-state. She was also involved in University musical theatre productions, as well as student projects. She is also a member of This Side Up Improv Troupe at NKU. Tara is also married to Dan Kellermeyer and together they have baby Grace.