ETD STAFF
Owner/Director: Brandi J. Archer
Ballet Instructor: Jennifer Mirelez
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OWNER/DIRECTOR:
Brandi J. Archer
(Formerly Brandi Albright)
Brandi is no stranger to dance within the performing arts. Brandi studied for fifteen years at the Adrian Dance Center, where she learned Ballet, Tap, Jazz, soft shoe and hard shoe Irish, Hiphop and had the opportunity to perform in the I LOVE DANCE, competition. Thereafter she started teaching a variety of her own classes within the program she started, "EXPRESSION THROUGH DANCE".
Brandi began her career as a choreographer in 2001, within Blissfield Community Schools. Brandi choreoraphed the High School & Middle School musicals, Variety Show dance productions as well as teaching youth hiphop at the Blissfield Middle School as an after school program. Brandi has continued performing in and choreographing musicals in both High School & Community Theaters. She also began directing and choreographing dance productions at the River Raisin Festival in Blissfield, MI and the Lenawee County Fair in Adrian, MI.
Brandi held youth dance classes located at the Adrian YMCA for one year, before she aquired the position of Childrens Education Dance Director for the Toledo Repatoire Theater in Toledo, Ohio. She discontinued her position after two years in August, 2007 when she announced her pregnancy with her now 21mth old beautiful daughter, Brooklyn Jane. Brandi just finished her third and final year as the Choreographer for Dexter High School located in Dexter MI, where she was named Honorary Member in January, 2006. She is very grateful to have been involved in building the Dexter Drama program, and to organize and choreograph the dance entertainment for their Annual Drama Club Banquets.
Brandi has always been passionate about dance and the performing arts. Making dance and musical theater a big part of her life, she attributes her interest and passion for the performing arts to her uncle John Ganun, who graduated from the University of Michigan, majoring in Photography & Musical Theatre. Thereafter, John was immediatly cast in the Original Broadway Cast of "The Will Rogers Follies", followed by many other Broadway Shows, Movies, Commercial, and TV appearances. This exposure led John to his dream career as a professional Actor & Photographer in Hollywood, CA, where he also promotes a new and exciting area of his photography, "GUESTAR". Brandi is very thankful to have John as an inspiration, and as a guide through persuing her career as a dance instructor and choreographer.
Outside of the studio, Brandi enjoys spending time with her family. Her main hobbies include; singing, performing, writing music and planning elaborate themed parties! Originally from Palmyra MI, Brandi grew up out in the country, where she has learned to enjoy and appreciate a hard days work. She also enjoys riding fourwheelers, horses and grilling & camping out with friends and family. Brandi also enjoys playing Sand Volleyball and Softball with her sister Ashley, husband Greg, and many friends. Greg and Brandi are also anxiously awaiting the birth of their first son, who is planned to arrive in April, 2010.
Brandi is proud to be teaching in Blissfield again, with hopes that EXPRESSION THROUGH DANCE will really flourish this year! There are many exciting things to come for this program, and for the community who continuously support performing and visual art students!
From all of us involved in the performing and visual arts,
Thank You! We are all truly greatful!
Brandi's Musical performance & choreography credits include:
Once Upon A Mattress, Babes In Arms, Kismet, Cinderella, The Pajama Game, You Cant Take It With You, The Envelope Please, Gone With The Breeze, Guys & Dolls, Oklahoma, Joseph and The Technicolor Dreamcoat, Anything Goes, Hair, Swing, Fiddler On The Roof, Cabaret, Noises Off, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying and Smokey Joe's Cafe!
Dance is an Art!
Express yourself!
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BALLET INSTRUCTOR:
Jennifer Mirelez
(Formerly Jennifer Eisenmann)
Jennifer has been a ballerina for as long as she can remember. She studied the Cecchetti method of ballet for 12 years at The Dance Center in Adrian. She also studied tap, jazz and of course, ballet, for four years during her time at Grand Valley State University.
She was a teacher’s assistant at a dance studio in Grand Rapids for a year while in college before moving home for the summer. She began teaching ballet on her own at her church in January of 2009 and joined the Expression Through Dance team during its first semester in May of the same year.
Jennifer grew up on the same farm her father grew up on in Palmyra, Michigan and graduated from Blissfield High School in 2002. She went on to complete her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids. After graduation she worked as an intern for The Toledo Hospital and R/P Marketing Public Relations. Currently she is employed by the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank as an Outreach Coordinator 35 hours a week during the day. Jennifer will be starting sign language interpreter classes in January in hopes of moving into that career field in a couple years.
Jennifer married another Blissfield native, Rudy Mirelez, in July of 2008. They live in a family farmhouse in Ogden Center. Outside of dancing she enjoys spending time with her husband and family, especially her three nephews and one niece. She also enjoys traveling, reading, scrapbooking and working with children at her church, Zion United Brethren in Ogden Center.
Dance and theatre have always been a part of her life. She got the chance to perform with The Toledo Ballet as a Candy Cook in high school. She was also in Babes in Toyland as a dancer and chorus girl at the Croswell Opera House in high school. Her high school theatre credits include, Once Upon A Mattress, You Can’t Take It With You, Anything Goes, Cinderella, Box Office Poison, Babes in Arms, Flyin’ and the Million-Heirs. She is also the choreographer and Co-Director for the Christmas program at church.
Jennifer also competed in the Miss River Raisin Festival for four years during in high school and college and was a competitor in the Fair Queen contest in high school. Although she didn’t place, she did earn scholarship money for college.
Jennifer is super excited to be teaching dance in Blissfield after taking a break from it after college. She looks forward to many more years of teaching girls the art and gracefulness of ballet in her hometown.
