Staci Shanton
Owner/Artistic Director
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Miss Staci opened the studio in 2007 after graduating with honors from Ohio University with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Business Administration minor. Staci has studied dance since the age of 8, first as a competitive dancer, then as a member of the University of Kentucky Wildcat Danzers (6th in the nation that season), and then as a dance major at Ohio University. During her undergraduate years, she studied under many esteemed teachers and choreographers such as Telly Fowler, Gladys Bailin, Travis Gatling, Kate Skarpetowska, and others. She took classes with famous choreographers Mia Michaels, Brian Friedman, and Shane Sparks. Staci also taught two modern dance courses at OU and taught at Factory Street Dance studio and the YMCA. Staci finished her degree in Queensland, Australia studying World Dance, Ballet, Modern, Kinesiology, and Creative Arts Management. Currently, she volunteers her time each year to be a dance professional for BBBS Dance For Kids Sake event. Outside of the studio, she has four children who keep her even busier than the studio, and if you're part of our dance family, then you're sure to have met them! Staci loves teaching dance and her students are like her second family!
Maddie McAllister
Teacher- Recreational/Competitive
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Maddie has been teaching with TSOD for 9 years. She trained and competed regionally and nationally in a diversity of styles until the age of 18. After high school, Maddie decided to continue her dance career at Wright State University as a member of the Emerald Jazz dance team. Maddie later enrolled at Otterbein University where she majored in Allied Health and minored in Dance. Here she continued her training in ballet, jazz, modern, and tap. She now resides in Waverly, Ohio and teaches high school English. She has been involved in choreographing the Waverly High School musicals for the past 7 years and continues to share her passion for dance by teaching at TSOD both for recreational classes and the competition team. Maddie is an integral part of our team and we are blessed to have her!
Reeanna Hougland
Teacher- Recreational/Competitive
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Miss Ree started dancing at the age of 6. At age 10, she joined Transitions school of Dance and was a member of the very first competition team where she won many awards and the regional and national level over the years. She taught multiple Creative Movement and Tap classes at the studio during her junior and senior years of high school. After graduation, Reeanna attended Kent State University where she took various dance classes including tap, jazz, and modern. She transferred to The Ohio State University and continued her dance education with composition and choreography classes, and she rejoined TSOD as an instructor. Reeanna graduated in Spring 2020 with a Bachelor's degree in Strategic Communications and a minor in Dance. Miss Ree tries to dance any chance she gets. She enjoys volunteering and dancing with the kids at Chillicothe Preschool, and last year she hit the stage again as a tap dancer and performer in the Chillicothe Civic Theatre's musical Mary Poppins. Reeanna also volunteers her time for BBBS Dance For Kids Sake event. While not at the studio she works full-time as a practice manager at Insight TMS and Mental Health Care. TSOD is so grateful for her years of instruction and the wonderful energy she brings to our dance family.
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Ella Smith
Teacher- Recreational​
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Miss Ella began dancing as a young child at Transitions and is still soaring upward! She has been a competitive dancer for more than 7 years and has won many high achievements and placements. Ella has also been a substitute teacher at TSOD for one year and is now ready to take on a class of her own. Her level of responsibility and maturity are unmatched. She works very hard to be an elite dancer, athlete, and student. We are excited to officially welcome her to our staff and we are looking forward to seeing the positive impact she will have on our students both through her knowledge of dance and technicality as well as her encouraging attitude and demeanor.
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Rylee Dudzinski
Teacher- Recreational
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Miss Rylee has been a student at Transitions since she was 3 years old and has danced both recreationally and competitively since that time. She has been an integral part of our competitive team and a great leader and role model. Rylee has been a student helper since she was 12 and began substitute teaching last season. She truly loves mentoring children and sharing her passion for dance. We are thrilled to offer her a spot on our staff this season and to see her lead her students by encouraging, supporting, and sharing her wealth of knowledge.
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