DDDS Teachers
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At DDDS, all of our classes are taught by qualified dance/teacher professionals who take a vested interest in children and their growth as well rounded dancers. Our staff keeps a fun, non-competitive environment that allows the students to build self esteem and life-long friendships with their classmates.
Cindy Hixson
Owner and Advanced Tap Teacher
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Cindy is the daughter of Dianna Durkin and took ownership of the studio in 2015. Her focus, as owner, is to create a safe and nurturing environment for our students to learn dance from highly qualified teachers. Along with our teachers, Cindy strives for our students to also learn lifetime characteristics, such as integrity, leadership, responsibility & professionalism. Her goal is to create a dance family within our studio, so each and every student feels welcomed & appreciated.
Cindy began her dance career at the age of 2 at DDDS. She continued her training at the Canton Ballet & the University of Akron. She has also studied with countless master dance teachers, all over the country, during her lifetime. Cindy has been certified, by test, to teach by Dance Masters Of America. She participated as a dancer on the Cleveland Cavaliers Dance Team. Cindy now specializes in her first love, Tap. She strives to make her Tap classes a place where dancers are motivated to improve their skills and unleash their creativity while doing something they love! Cindy continues her Tap and studio management education by attending conventions, online seminars and classes. She is constantly striving to maintain DDDS's A+ rating as a highly respected and excellent dance studio in Ohio and our community.
Dianna Durkin Wiggins
Founder
Dianna was still attending Green High School when her dance teacher Martha Galvin Fritz decided to give her the studio. When Dianna took over the studio in 1960, only 5 students remained. Within 2 years she had built it to over 100 students. T Dianna is proudest of how many former students have enrolled their children as well as grandchildren & even great grandchildren! It's a testament to the quality and high standards DDDS maintains.
Dianna continues to mentor, assist and inspire all our teachers & students at the studio.
She will forever be a role model for all of us to aspire too. Heck, her name is still on the door for a reason!
Tara Beamish
Pre-Dance/Tap/Jazz Teacher
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Tara is a DDDS alum and a teacher at DDDS for over 20 years. Tara was also a member of the Green High School Dance Team and then took additional dance classes at Kent State University. She has studied with master teachers in NYC and conventions. Though she loves all types of dance, Tara's favorite has always been tap! She truly enjoys teaching our young dancers and introducing them to the world of dance. Tara strives to make their early experiences with dance class instructive, but also enjoyable and memorable.
Lydia Hacker
Jazz & Hip Hop Teacher
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Lydia Hacker has been dancing for 19 years. She began her training as a competitive dancer, and she continued to pursue her love through her college career. Lydia graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Akron with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Dance. During her college career Lydia performed with the University of Akron Dance Company and the University of Akron Dance Team. Lydia has had the opportunity to perform as a backup dancer for artists such as Train, LL Cool J, and DJ Khaled. She is a Company Dancer for CDP Company, a professional contemporary fusion company based in the Cleveland Area, and she is excited to go into her second season as an NBA Dancer with the Cleveland Cavaliers Powerhouse Dance Team. Lydia is very passionate about dance education, and when she is not performing she is in the studio passing her love of dance on to her students!
Matthew Venus
Ballet/Contemporary/Acrobatic Teacher
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Matthew began his dance training at Jackson School for the Arts and at various dance studios and summer programs throughout Northeast Ohio. His last two years of high school, he interned with Megan Seemann as an assistant teacher to beginner dancers and was the dance captain for Jackson High Schools production of "Cinderella." During his senior year, Matthew was a full-time company member with the canton Ballet under Cassandra Crowley and Jennifer Hayward and other ballets choreographed by Angelo Lemmo and Cassandra Crowley. After graduation, Matthew attended the University of Akron for two years where he studied and performed dance while taking masterclasses from professional companies like Abraham in Motion, Koresh Dance, Christopher K. Morgan and Artists, Groundworks Dance Theatre, and others. Matthew then accepted a full-scholarship to the School of Cleveland Ballet Trainee Program, where he trained under the amazing Gladisa Guadalupe and Rainer Diaz from July to December of 2019. Matthew has choreographed for Jackson's Dance Showcase and Arts Extravaganza and was commissioned to choreograph pieces for their showcase in 2019.
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Heather Muzic
Ballet/Pointe Teacher
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Heather attended the University of Akron to study Dance Performance and Education. While attending the University, she studied ballet, pointe, modern and jazz under Andy Carroll, Lana Carroll, Jerry Burr, Inna Stabrova, Tom Smith and Priscilla Wagner. She performed with Akron's Repertory Dance Company and represented Akron at The American College Dance Festival. She has also attended classes with the Joffrey Ballet, Ohio Ballet, Ohio Dance Theatre, Jennifer Muller Dance Company, Inlet Dance Theatre and Broadway Dance Center. Heather started her teaching career at Angela's Dance Studio and over the past ten years has made teaching her full time job at various dance studios across Northeast Ohio including Studio 82 and Noreen Londegren School of Dance. Heather has also been involved with after school enrichment programs for movement in Solon and Cleveland Heights as well as summer projects with Music Settlement.
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Dusty Spraggins
PreDance & Dance With Me Teacher
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Dusty is thrilled to be returning to Dianna Durkin Dance Studio! She is a DDDS alumni and has been teaching dance for over 30 years at DDDS. She has attended multiple dance conventions and competitions over the years. Dusty continues her dance training with online courses and programs geared to teaching the young dance student. But Dusty’s main qualification is her years of knowledge on the job! Dusty loves working with our youngest students, and they adore her as a teacher! Parents love Dusty for her patience and the quality dance class she always has prepared. Dusty makes the PreDance class fun, while at the same time teaching the students the basics of dance and preparing them to perform on stage. Our goal is to have these young students fall in love with dance and Dusty is a master of that! We are always excited to see these youngest students up on the stage at our Recital. They “steal” the show every year! Welcome Back Ms. Dusty! We are so excited to have you back on the DDDS Staff!
Jordan Matthew
Jordon first began studying dance at Jackson School for the Arts, and after graduating, moved to New York City full-time to study Musical Theatre in college and pursue it as a career. He began to find success in the New York theatre and dance scene while also spending any extra time he had at the Broadway Dance Center learning from top Broadway choreographers, and getting his foot in any audition room door he could. Jordon also studied Voice with the acclaimed Badiene Magaziner, where he was introduced to some of the best performers, producers, choreographers, etc. New York has to offer. Eventually the pandemic brought him back to Cleveland where he has gone on to Dance Captain and Choreograph many productions around the Northeast, Ohio region, including shows such as, Matilda the Musical, Gypsy, 9 to 5 the Musical, Kinky Boots, Something Rotten, The Sound of Music and many more.
RaeAnna Lewis
Ballet, Jazz & PreAcro Teacher
RaeAnna Lewis began her dance training at the age of three. Her last two years of high school were spent at DDDS, taking all genres of dance. RaeAnna enjoyed competing in solos, duets and groups at DDDS & other previous dance studios. She was an assistant teacher her senior year at DDDS. Previously, she trained with the Canton Ballet when they offered the Canton Jazz Company under Megan Seemann. Currently, she is a freshman at The University of Akron studying Social Work with hopes of becoming a Dance Minor in the spring. RaeAnna participates in The University of Akron Ballroom Dance Club, Emerging Leaders and her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi. RaeAnna was a previous Ballet in the City Ambassador where she spread awarenesss of ballet as an art form. She has taken master classes from Misty Copeland (ABT), Carlos Lopes (ABT), Zippora Karz (NYC Ballet), and members of the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. RaeAnna enjoys being back this year to DDDS, as an Intern, learning and growing to be the best dance teacher she can be. We are excited to have her with us as an enthusiastic Dance instructor!
