Dianna Durkin (Director) has owned and operated DDDS since 1960. While she was a senior at Green High, she was given the studio by her dance teacher Martha Galvin Fritz.  When Dianna took over the studio only 5 students remained.  Within 2 years she had built it to over 100 students.  The studio now has over 200 families with a teaching staff of 10.  Many of Dianna’s former students have gone on to perform in soap operas, television shows, theater productions, amusement parks, as well as becoming dance teaching professionals.  Dianna would like to take this opportunity to thank the students and families currently enrolled and those from years past.  “Thank-You!”

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Cindy Hixson (Assistant Director) began dancing at the age of 2 at DDDS.  She has also studied with the Canton Ballet and the University of Akron Ballet.  She has studied in NYC with various teachers over the years including: Charles Kelley, Frank Hatchett, Germaine Salsberg, Avi Miller, Ofer Ben, Mia Michaels, and Tyce Diorio.  She continues her education by attending workshops, conventions, traveling to NYC to take classes at the Broadway Dance Center, as well as attending the Pulse Teacher convention in New York City every summer.  Cindy has been a member of Dance Masters of America of which she has been certified by test to teach. She has also been a dancer on the Cleveland Cavilers Dance Team.  Cindy specializes in jazz & tap & has been a teacher at DDDS for over 20 years. She strives to make her classes a place where dancers are motivated to improve their skills and unleash their creativity while doing something they love!

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Wendy Stewart Blasick began her dance training at the age of 6 here at DDDS.  She constantly asked her mom when was she going to start dance classes because her older sister danced.  She performed in local, regional and national competitions – winning numerous awards.  She has studied tap, jazz and hip hop and has been a teacher and an assistant teacher for over 20 years.  Through her experience at DDDS she has learned to work with all ages of students.  Her students perform in local and regional competitions and have won awards in tap, jazz and hip hop.  Her students have also performed at half time for Akron University basketball.  Wendy continues her education by taking hip-hop classes at the Dance Institute at the University of Akron and attends workshops and conventions and has taken master classes from various teachers including Stepp Stewart, Gregg Russell, Charles Kelly and Frank Hatchett.  Wendy has also traveled to NYC to take classes at the Broadway Dance Center and most recently attended the BDC Teacher Workshop/Pulse Convention (with SYTYCD faculty) (taking master classes from various teachers including Gil Duldulao, Tyce Diorio, Dave Scott, Ms Vee, Ephrat, Chio, Rhapsody, Leslie Feliciano, Jamie Jackson, Dana Foglia, Debbie Wilson, Derek Mitchell and Future).  She has been a member of Dance Masters of America and Ohio (of which she was certified by test to teach), the Akron University Dance Team and the Cleveland Spirits.  Hip-Hop/Fusion is Wendy’s favorite form of dance.  "Dance like no one's watching!"

Jennifer Lehaney has been an instructor at Dianna Durkin Dance for the past 15 years. She started dancing at the age of 3 and continued for 16 years with Bourn Dance Academy (formerly Judy Bourn School of Dance). Jennifer has over 11 years of competition experience, winning numerous overall awards, such as Top Soloist, at regional as well as national competitions. She went on to study dance at Kent State University and obtained a bachelors degree in Business as well.  She is currently attending The University of Akron to obtain her State of Ohio Teaching Licensure for Dance K-12 as well as a Masters in Education.   In addition to her schooling, she also continues her dance education by attending conventions such as the Pulse Teacher Workshops this summer (with SYTYCD faculty) and taking classes at the Dance Institute at the University of Akron and the Canton Ballet.  She has had classes, workshops, and conventions with such influential choreographers and dancers as Finis Jhung, Calen Kurka, Chris Hale, Michelle Assaf, Mia Michaels, David Howard, Desmond Richardson, Frank Hatchett, Wade Robson and many other inspirational choreographers and teachers.

Throughout her years of teaching Jennifer has taught ballet, lyrical/contemporary, Modern, stretch/technique, jazz, and pointe at DDDS and as a guest artist. Jennifer enjoys sharing her love for dance as an art form with her students as well as preparing them for continuing education.  "In order to be a great teacher, you have to have a passion for what you do.  Showing kids what it's like to have a passion for dance sometimes turns a switch on in them- and that's the most amazing thing to see!"

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Nicole...COMING SOON

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Dusty Spraggins began taking jazz from Dianna when she was 16.  After seeing her classmates have so much fun with tap, she just had to learn that, too!  She has performed in regional and national competitions as well as attended workshops.   Dusty has been a teacher and assistant teacher for nearly 20 years.  Although she has assisted with all ages, she really enjoys working with our youngest students.  She hopes to make their first experience with dance class instructive but also enjoyable and memorable.

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Emily Sigman began her dance training at the age of 5 at DDDS and over the years studied tap, jazz, lyrical and hip hop. She has performed in local, regional, and national competitions winning numerous awards and has attended various workshops. Emily started as an assistant teacher in 1993 and then began teaching her own classes in 1995. Currently she teaches tap and jazz at the beginner and intermediate levels. In 2007 she traveled to New York City to take classes at the Broadway Dance Center and in the summer of 2010 attended the Broadway Dance Center Teacher Workshop/Pulse Convention in New York City (with SYTYCD faculty). Through her experience at DDDS as a teacher she has learned to work with pre-school, beginner and intermediate students of all ages and inspire them to love dance. Tap is Emily’s favorite form of dance and cannot imagine life without dance!

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Tara Beamish started dancing at DDDS when she was 8 years old. She began taking classes in tap, jazz, and later added hip hop. Over the years, she has participated in numerous competitions, and also attended various workshops. Tara was also a member of the Green High School Dance Team,and then took additional dance classes at Kent State University. In 2009& 2010, she traveled to NYC to take classes at the Broadway Dance Center and attended the Pulse Convention (with SYTYCD choreographers). Tara began as an assistant teacher in 1996, and then started teaching her own classes in 1999. Currently, she is teaching beginner hip hop, beginner tap and jazz, and several pre-dance classes. Though she loves all types of dance, Tara's favorite has always been tap! Tara truly enjoys teaching our young dancers, and introducing them to the world of dance!

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