LEADERSHIP
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, STEPHANIE PIZZO
Eisenhower Dance Detroit Artistic Director, Stephanie Pizzo, joined the company as a founding member in 1991. At various points in her dance career with EDD, she served as Resident Choreographer, Associate Artistic Director, and Co-Artistic Director. Ms. Pizzo now leads the company into her 7th season as Artistic Director. She focuses on collaborating with the highest quality national and international artists and creating strong ties within the metro Detroit community through the art of dance. Her dance for film work, The Five Tangos, inspired by the music of Astor Piazzolla and created in collaboration with the Detroit Institute of Art and Zazu Creative Studio, was selected as the winner of BEST EXPERIMENTAL film, 2022 Dancecentric Film Festival (Florida); semi-finalist, 2022 Inspired Dance Film Festival (Australia); and featured online in Dance Magazine’s “Friday Film Break.”
Ms. Pizzo also believes in educational programming and youth mentorship as key tools to develop community connection. She works to use the art of contemporary dance both as a means to present beautiful, athletic, and engaging repertory and as a vehicle to reflect on and explore issues of social significance. She has set her choreography at Illinois State University, Texas A & M University, Texas Christian University and Wesleyan University, along with having staged numerous works by Laurie Eisenhower on companies and universities throughout the United States. Her work has been presented in Tel Aviv as part of Eisenhower Dance Detroit’s production of The Light Show, at international dance festivals in Poland, and the Inside/Out Stage at Jacob’s Pillow. A native of Clinton Township, Michigan, Ms. Pizzo holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Oakland University. In 2009, she received a Distinguished Alumni or “MaTilDa” award from the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance. She served as a special lecturer in dance at Oakland University for 12 years.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ANNE BAK MARINE
Ms. Bak Marine received her BFA in Dance (magna cum laude) from Western Michigan University/Lee Honors College and spent more than ten years touring and performing with Eisenhower Dance Detroit. She has choreographed and taught master classes at many colleges and universities and served as adjunct faculty at Oakland University. She also served as founding director for the EDE Center for Dance (now known as the School of EDD), Artistic Director for the Center Dance Ensemble, and choreographer for the Archdiocese of Detroit’s “Art for God’s Sake.” In an administrative capacity, Ms. Marine served as Director of Operations for Eisenhower Dance Detroit from 1998-2006, Managing Director for the Rackham Symphony Choir, and project manager and lead curriculum designer for “Healthy Kids,” a collaborative residency project between EDD, Beaumont Hospital’s Weight Control Center, and the Pontiac School District and funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Community Foundation for S.E. Michigan. Ms. Marine has also served on the staff at the Detroit Skating Club since 1995 and as coordinator for the Dance Academy at DSC from 2013-2020. She has served as Executive Director for EDD since 2019.
ASSISTANT ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, ANDREW CRIBBETT
Andrew Cribbett, originally from Thomasboro, Illinois, received a full scholarship to The Washington Ballet in Washington D.C. He then attended Duke Ellington School of the Arts to finish his senior year of high school. He joined Eisenhower Dance Detroit in 2011 and retired as a company dancer and Rehearsal Director in 2021. While dancing with the company, Mr. Cribbett toured nationally and internationally both teaching and performing in venues as far as Tel Aviv, Israel. He also had the great pleasure of performing original works by Nicolo Fonte, Gina Patterson, Darrell Grand Moutrie, Edgar Zendejas, Joshua Peugh, Ron De Jesus, among many others. His choreography has received recognition for Top 12 placement at YAGP for solos, small groups, and ensembles. Over the years, Mr. Cribbett has taught and choreographed for several local studios including The School of Eisenhower Dance Detroit and also trains elite level figure skaters in Junior Ice Dance. He is also pursuing a degree in Nursing concurrent with his role of Assistant Artistic Director.
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, LINDSAY CHIRIO-HUMENAY
Ms. Chirio-Humenay graduated with a BA in Dance from Oakland University and joined EDD as a company dancer in 2012. From 2012-2020, she had the pleasure of touring, teaching, and performing with EDD. In 2018, through EDD’s Beyond the Stage Initiative, she was promoted to Company Manager and currently serves as EDD’s Director of Operations. Wearing several hats within the organization, Ms. Chirio-Humenay teaches at The School of EDD and directs several of the projects and programming EDD offers including the annual intensives: NewDANCEfest, U.P.rootEDD, and the EDD Winter Intensive. She is responsible for national booking and coordination of in-studio workshops, known as The EDD Experience, as well as educational and choreographic residency programs for school systems from elementary to college level. Ms. Chirio-Humenay also manages EDD’s EducatEDD programs which provide high quality educational materials and resources from knowledgeable and experienced professionals to the public and the dance community. A few of these programs include EDD’s monthly Pro-Tips, High School Dance Table Talks, An Insider’s Guide to Contemporary Dance online course, and EDD's annual “See and Be Seen” event.
EDD YOUTH ENSEMBLE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, JUDY MILNER
Judy Milner began her training and career under direction of Clifford Fears, original company member of Katherine Dunham Dance Company as well as Ms. Dunham herself. She also trained with Carol Morisseau of Detroit City Dance Company before receiving scholarship to train at the Ailey School in New York, where she began her professional career as a dancer. Ms. Milner also performed around the world with artists like: Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, The O’Jays & Lavertte, Luther Vandross, Gladys Knight, Heavy D, Aliyah, Mary J Blige and more recently, Janet Jackson’s State of The World Tour 2018 to name a few. As an Actress, Ms. Milner performed in stage plays, TV & film with artists like: Kim Fields, Charles Dutton, Debbie Morgan, Chip Fields, Glynn Turman, Denzel Washington and Vanessa Williams.
Ms. Milner has a Bachelors in Dance Education, Masters in Curriculum & Instruction, Doctorate in Organization Management.
Ms. Milner was Program Director, choreographer and dance teacher at Winans Academy of Performing Arts under leadership of Grammy Award winning gospel artist Marvin L. Winans, AMDA Summer Program, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, The Link School of the Arts, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Black Academy of Arts in Letters, School of Fine Arts Camp and is currently dance teacher/program manager at Silver Creek High School and Artistic Director of Ailey Arts & Education Program with UC Berkley/Cal Performances in CA.
Ms. Milner has taught and/or Adjudicated at dance competitions like: Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP), ACT-SO, NYCDA & Capezio A.C.E. Award Competition.
Ms. Milner is a member of Dance Alliance, National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), National Liturgical Dance Network & International Association of Blacks In Dance (IABD).
Ms. Milner has guest taught at Wayne State University, Oakland University, Washington University, University of Michigan, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Western Michigan University, Saginaw Valley State University, Grand Valley State University, Eastern Michigan University, UC Berkeley, The Link School of the Arts and the Black Academy of Arts & Letters (TBAL). Ms. Milner have trained students who have attended these colleges and others who are currently professional dancers with Alvin Ailey, Ballet West, NYC Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Cleo Parker Robinson, Dayton Contemporary, Paul Taylor, Evidence, Washington Ballet, and Dallas Black Dance Theatre.
Ms. Milner is the mother of daughters, India, who begin her professional dance career with New York City Ballet Summer 2017 and Iman, actress, author and director, respectively.
MARKETING DIRECTOR, ALLISON ARMFIELD
Allison Armfield grew up in Michigan and was a student at the School of Eisenhower Dance Detroit and Academy of Russian Classical Ballet. She attended Texas Christian University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in modern dance and a minor in business. While at TCU, Ms. Armfield was a rehearsal photographer for the School of Classical and Contemporary Dance, as well as Editor-in-Chief of the Horned Frog yearbook. Her choreography capstone work, of the mind made up, was selected for adjudication as a guest artist work at ACDA’s regional festival in 2018 and was performed in several dance festivals in both New York City and Michigan. Upon graduating in 2017, she relocated to New York City to work as Studio Manager for the world-renowned dance photographer, Lois Greenfield. During her time in New York City, she continued to photograph dance performances throughout the city for clients such as Bridge for Dance and Sheep Meadow Dance Theatre. In 2021, after relocating to Michigan, she accepted a position as Marketing Associate for Eisenhower Dance Detroit. In addition to becoming Marketing Director for the company’s 31st season, Ms. Armfield became the resident photographer for Eisenhower Dance Detroit. Her photograph of former EDD dancer, Kyle Halford, recently was the grand prize winner for ‘Best Studio Portrait’ in the Inspired Dance Photography Competition in Australia.
SCHOOL OF EISENHOWER DANCE DETROIT CO-DIRECTOR, MEGHANN HAZELTON
Meghann Hazelton began dancing at an early age and teaching by the age of 17. Born and raised in Shelby Township, Michigan, she grew up training with Lynda and Dennis Lambert. She graduated from Oakland University with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. She danced with Oakland Dance Theatre, OU Repertory Dance Company, and as a guest dancer with Eisenhower Dance Detroit during the company’s 20th Anniversary Season. Ms. Hazelton performed in works by Laurie Eisenhower, Stephanie Pizzo, Thayer Jonutz, and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. In 2010, she was honored with the Distinguished Dance Student "Matilda" award. Ms. Hazelton has taken classes in Choreography, Creative Dance for Children, Dance Pedagogy and Kinesiology. She studied the Cecchetti Ballet Method and successfully passed student examinations 1-6. She began serving as CoDirector at the School of Eisenhower Dance Detroit in 2018 after being on the teaching staff since 2008. Ms. Hazelton looks forward to sharing her love and passion for dance with the next generation of dancers.
SCHOOL OF EISENHOWER DANCE DETROIT CO-DIRECTOR, AMANDA REA-BURNETT
Amanda Rea-Burnett began her dance training at a very early age at Encore Dance Academy under the direction of Jennifer Rickard. Through her years of dance training, she worked with many well known choreographers including Gus Giordano, Frank Hatchett, and Dennis Caspary. She was a member of CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts) at Churchill High School for 4 years. She performed in numerous CAPA musicals and dance concerts and choreographed for Les Miserable, A Chorus Line, and many dance productions. For five years, Ms. Rea-Burnett danced as a company member with Allure Dance Company in St. Clair Shores. She began her teaching career in 2003, and served as a Guest Choreographer in Nashville, Tennessee from 2004-2006 where her choreography won numerous overall awards including “Best Choreography.” Ms. Rea-Burnett began working at the School Eisenhower Dance Detroit in 2011. In 2017, she became the Director for the Detroit Country Day Lower School’s after school dance program where she continues to build the program. In 2019, she became the Business Manager and School Director for The School of Eisenhower Dance Detroit. She is honored to share her knowledge, passion, and love for dance with the next generation.
FINANCE MANAGER, CHRISTINA TASCO
Christina Tasco, BHS, MES, is the Finance and co-Business Manager of Eisenhower Dance Detroit and danced professionally with the company from 1997-2004. During her time with EDD, she has held various positions within the organization including Company Member, Teaching Artist, Student Company Director as well as Director of Education and Outreach, where she managed the company’s Rochester studio and helped to open and direct two additional locations in Birmingham and West Bloomfield. Today, Ms. Tasco continues to work for EDD both administratively and as a teaching artist/choreographer.
Throughout her career, Ms. Tasco has taught numerous master classes and residencies across the state and country. She has choreographed for and taught within a variety of studios, school districts, universities and special events including various fundraisers, musicals, and after school programs.
In addition to her position at Eisenhower Dance Detroit, Ms. Tasco is a special lecturer at Oakland University where she has been on faculty since 2002. She teaches several technique courses as well as Kinesiology, Dance History and Appreciation, and Dance Production. At the university, she received the Most Inspirational Professor award in both 2014 and 2015 and was nominated for a Teaching Excellence Award in 2016. In 2018, Christina received the Order of the Plume for igniting “inspiration within the students.”
SENIOR TEACHING ARTIST & SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR, KATY HALL
Katy Hall graduated from Oakland University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She received the MaTilDa Award for Outstanding Student Service through the Music, Theatre, and Dance program at O.U. She has also choreographed several pieces for O.U.’s dance company, Oakland Dance Theatre. Ms. Hall is a CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts) dance alum and has choreographed many pieces for the dance program at Churchill High School since her graduation in 2003. In 2014, she attended the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum conference where she received her certification. She has been teaching for the School of Eisenhower Dance Detroit since 2006 and also serves as the Special Events Coordinator, Youth America Grand Prix Director, and Student Ambassador Program Director.