Teachers of Expressions Dance Academy

Owner / Teacher / Choreographer
JENNIFER CLARK
Miss Jennifer is one of the Co-Owners of Expressions Dance Academy. She has been involved with dance for over 30 years. Her credentials include years of experience as a competitive dancer with local dance studios and schools. She loves working with children of all ages. Miss Jen and her husband have 2 children, one of which is a member of the Expressions Dance Academy's Competition Team.

Owner / Teacher / Choreographer
KELLY RICH
Miss Kelly is a graduate of Grand Valley State University with a Bachelors of Spanish. She has been teaching dance since 2002. She began teaching recreational as well as competition classes at other local studios, before starting EDA with Miss Jennifer in 2007. Miss Kelly has been a part of performance and competition teams in the past, performing at local events and competitions as well as Disney World in Florida. She is currently one of the directors of the competition team. Her award winning choreography shows off her dancer's talent and her own love for dance. Her favorite style of dance is ballet/pointe and while she doesn't have any children she has three amazing felines, Spider, Ninja, and Patch.

Teacher / Choreographer
JILLIAN BROWN
Miss Jillian received her dance training from local dance studio throughout her life. She competed on East Kentwood High School's JV and Varsity Dance Teams and was a member of the Dance Unlimited Traveling Performance team, where she performed in Disney World. She has trained and competed in several large cities including New York City, Chicago, Las Vegas, San Antonia, and Florida. Miss Jillian graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor's in Elementary Education and Special Education. She is a Special Education Teacher at Excel Charter Academy and is also a licensed cosmetologist. Miss Jillian has much teaching and choreography experience, and her platinum award winning choreography has received many additional outstanding awards including overall high scores, judges awards, choreography awards, titles and scholarship awards. Miss Jillian's passion and love for teaching and choreographing dance is evident in all of her work.

Teacher / Choreographer
ERIN ALDRICH
Miss Erin is a graduate of Grand Valley State University with a Bachelors of Science in Clinical Exercise Science. She began dancing when she was 2 years old, and began dancing at Expressions Dance Academy in 2007 when it opened. After many years as an assistant teacher she official joined the teaching staff in 2011 and began teaching competition team classes in 2015. In her time as a teacher at Expressions Dance Academy she has taught many styles and ages, although her favorite is jazz. When she is not teaching Miss Erin continues taking class and being part of their award winning competition team. She has received many awards and recognition not only as a dancer but as a teacher as well.

Teacher / Choreographer
LAURA OESCH
Miss Laura has been dancing with our studio since 2010, and she began teaching at the studio in 2014. Her favorite types of dance include Jazz, Pom, and Ballet. She is currently enrolled at Grand Valley State University for a major in Elementary Education. Apart from her teaching responsibilities, she is also an amazing award winning competitive dancer.

Teacher / Choreographer
ANNA PUTNAM
Miss Anna began dancing when she was 6 and joined Expressions Dance Academy when it first opened in 2007. In 2009 she became a member of the competition team, and was an assistant teacher for 5 years before becoming an official teacher in 2016. Miss Anna has won many awards on the competition team in group dances as well as solos, including overalls scores and judges choice awards. Her favorite styles of dance are tap and contemporary. Miss Anna will be attending Aquinas College and is a member of their dance team. Being the oldest sibling in her family, Miss Anna enjoys working with children of all ages.

Teacher / Choreographer
ZOE STRAW
Miss Zoe has been dancing since she was 3 at Hearts In Step Academy of Dance. Her favorite styles are ballet, pointe and contemporary. She has been in The Nutcracker as well as many productions for her studio. She has performed in Europe with Blue Lake Fine Arts as well as 4 years at the camp. This will be her first year teaching at EDA but has assistant taught at her former studio. Zoe enjoys reading and hanging out with family (and her dog!) in her free time!