Maria Usher – Director/Instructor

Maria began teaching dance in 1986 with only five students. She spent the first nine years of her teaching career working for Fowlerville Community Education. With the love and support of her family, friends, and Community Ed, Maria ventured out in 1995 to open her own studio, Maria’s School of Dance, Inc. Maria began dancing at the age of 3 and has continued training throughout the years. She has studied at Glenn’s School of Dance, Cheryl’s School of Dance, Roxy and Company, Tina Marie’s, and with Loraine Jones. Maria attended dance classes at MSU, as well as studied at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway in NYC, Gus Giodano in Chicago, and Debbie Reynolds in L.A. She continues to expand her dance education and stays current on what is new in the dance world by attending national conferences for dance educators. She also provides opportunities for her students beyond the studio by taking dancers to NYC to attend professional classes, to Walt Disney World to perform in parades in the Magic Kingdom and on a WDW stage, and to perform on a professional stage on cruise ships. In addition to teaching dance, Maria has a BA in Mathematics with a Secondary Teaching Certificate. She taught math and computers in middle and high school for seven years and has been teaching math at Lansing Community College since 2001. Maria enjoys sharing her love and knowledge of dance with her students. She also prides herself in providing her students with the most knowledgeable and qualified instructors.

Jennifer Krueger – Instructor

Ms. Jenn earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Wayne State University, where she majored in dance with a focus on education.  She began coaching gymnastics and teaching dance in 1989 while still in high school.  After college, her time was spent continuing to coach gymnastics, working at a private Michigan school where she developed a creative movement program for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, choreographing for high school musicals, and working at a couple of Metro Detroit dance studios teaching and choreographing various dance styles.

Currently, Ms. Jenn is an Associate Cechetti Council of America member and holds her Elementary level teacher’s certificate with the CCA and is qualified to send students to CCA ballet examinations. She is also a permanent member of the Cecchetti Council of America’s National Executive Board of Directors, where she serves on the Summer School Committee as the Business Admininistrator, the Classical Ballet Competition Committee, the Finance Committee, and as the Archivist.

Ms. Jenn is also a proud member of Dance Masters of Michigan Chapter 4 of Dance Masters of America where she is currently serving as the Secretary on the Board of Directors.. Through Dance Masters and the Cecchetti Council of America, Ms. Jenn continues her training and education by attending various educational events sponsored by these outstanding organizations.

In 2008 Ms. Jenn joined the Maria’s School of Dance family as an instructor and as a dance parent. She continues to grow and develop a comprehensive ballet program at MSD using the Cecchetti ballet method and the Cecchetti Council of America’s syllabus which builds a dancer’s self-discipline, artistry, technical excellence, and a love for the art of dance. Ms. Jenn also teaches and choreographs jazz, modern, lyrical, and ballet dances for soloists and groups in the MSD competitive dance troupe, Dance Express.

Kim Flores – Instructor

Kim began teaching at Maria’s School of Dance while still in high school and has now been an instructor for nearly 20 years.   Kim started dancing at the age of 3 and continued her training at Maria’s School of Dance from age  seven through her high school graduation.  She later attended Michigan State University, earning a  Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology.

Throughout her dance career, Kim studied an extensive range of styles and expanded her training through classes at Gus Giordano Dance Center in Chicago, Lansing Community College, numerous touring conventions, and on scholarship at both Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway in New York City.

Tap is Kim’s greatest passion.  She teaches tap dancers of all ages and levels, including members of the competition team, Dance Express.  Her choreography has received multiple awards and special recognitions. Beyond her long-standing role at Maria's School of Dance, Kim has taught for Summer Institute for the Gifted at the University of Michigan and has choreographed musicals for  Howell High School, the Community Theatre of Howell, and, most recently, Prelude Children's Theatre in Hartland.

 A lifelong tap dancer, Kim is devoted to preserving the art form and sharing her knowledge with students both young and old. 

Sarah Paternoster - Instructor

Sarah has been dancing with MSD since she was one and a half years old. She took classes in tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, ballet, and pointe. She was a member of Dance Express, a demonstrator for the Special Needs dance class for 5 years, and taught at MSD her senior year of high school. In addition to MSD, Sarah performed with Spirit Wind Dance Ministry during high school and the Community Theatre of Howell.

Sarah received a BA in dance and psychology from Hope College in the spring of 2014. While at Hope she took classes in ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, modern, and historical social and studied under dance teachers such as Sharon Wong, jazz chair of The Alvin Ailey Dance School in NYC. Sarah also participated in Ballet Club and "The Nutcracker", was on the leadership team of Sacred Dance Ministry, and a member of Sigma Omicron Dance Fraternity.

Since returning to Fowlerville Sarah has choreographed several shows for Fowlerville Community Theatre, performed (again) with the Community Theatre of Howell, and choreographed and danced with Miss Kathey's Academy in Detroit. Sarah works as a Title I paraprofessional at Kreeger Elementary.

Sarah is excited to be teaching at Maria's where she began her dance career!

Marissa Robinson - Instructor

Growing up at Maria’s School of Dance, Marissa's journey started at age three as an MSD student for 15 years and a Dance Express competition team member for 13 years.  MSD quickly became her second home, and after graduating, she transitioned straight into teaching. She is proud to have become an instructor and choregrapher for both MSD and Dance Express students since 2015.

Marissa earned her degree from Michigan State University, where she spent four years on the Michigan State Elite Dance Team, served as team captain for two years, acheived three consecutive top-10 national finishes, and earned three All- American honors.  Her coaching experiencec also inlcudes leading the FHS Varsity Dance Team as head coach from 2016-2021.  Throughout her teaching career, she has been honored with a National Championship and numerous choreography and top-scoring awards.

Styles Taught & Specializations

• Lyrical, Contempory, & Jazz
• Hip Hop, Tap, & Musical Theater
• Acro, Pom. & Collegiate/High School Dance Team

Nothing brings her more joy that sharing her pasion with the next generation of dancers right where her own love for dance began.

Sara Johnson - Instructor

Sara Johnson has been teaching at Maria's School of Dance since 2020, and has fallen in love with it more each year.  After growing up dancing at Gift of Joy, then moving to MSD, she began teaching all ages and dance styles - from ballet for two and three year olds, to tailored jazz classes for adults with special needs. Sara has danced both recreationally and competively, and her focus is always  on joy, expression, and growth through music and movement.  She has performed in nearly a dozen Community Theatre of Howell productions and always enjoys being involved both on and off the stage. Sara's goal in the dance studio is to provide a positive and upbeat learning environment where students feel safe to try hard things, make mistakes, and build a positve self-image, all while learning foundational skills and fun choreography.

Outside of the studio, Sara enjoys knitting, sewing, running, yoga, and watching movies with her partner.  She is currently working on building an impressive CD collection.  As of December 2026, she will have her Master's of Cybersecurity from Eastern Michigan University and will be pursuing a career in cybersecurity while continuing to teach dance.

Ruby Jeffery - Instructor

Ruby has been dancing for over 14 years and has been part of the competitive dance world for 8 years  She is especially passionate about contempory and hip hop, and loves helping dancers find their individuality, build confidence, and express themselves through movement.  After growing up dancing at Maria's, she is excited to now share her love of dance with the next generation of dancers.  In the future, Ruby hopes to continue growing as a dancer and pursue choreography.

Makenna Usher - Instructor

Makenna is an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan majoring in Movement Science through the School of Kinesiology, with minors in Dance and Music.  Makenna is also an instructor for the MSD competition team, Dance Express, and choreographs the Opener and Closer for the annual recitals.  She grew up dancing at Maria's, starting when she was 3 years old, and joined Dance Express at 7.  Makenna is very excited to continue her journey teaching classes throughout the week and having the privilege of spending more time at her home away from home!

Anni Ulman - Instructor

Anni teaches Advanced Lyical and Advanced Jazz at Maria's School of Dance.

Stephanie Krueger - Instructor

Stephanie teaches various styles of dance at Maria's School of Dance.

Connie Chapman (Archie and Reggie) – Office Manager

Connie began working at Maria’s School of Dance in 1996 doing many different projects around the studio.  Over the years she has continued to grow, learn, and take on new roles and responsibilities. 

Connies is currently the office manager. Many of her grandchildren dance at the studio, her husband (Dave) - Head Usher, daughter (Kim) - instructor, and sons (Jon) and (Chris) - Usher/Dancing Dad, and Jack of all trades, are also involved at the studio. 

Connie has come to think of the studio as her second home and the staff, students, and their families as her extended family.

Archie joined the staff in June of 2020. He enjoys hanging out in the office area  and greeting the instructors.  Reggie joined the office staff in September of 2024.  He also enjoys hanging out in the office area and greeting everyone.  If you see them at the stuido, stop and say Hi!  They both enjoy meeting all the parents and students!

Nancy Paternoster - Receptionist

Nancy's first dance class was a mother/daughter tap class with her daughters taught by Maria in 1993, then another mother/daughter tap class a few years later. Nancy has enjoyed taking tap since then and in the last 3 years has also added jazz, lyrical (1 year), and ballet classes at Maria's School of Dance. She has joined the adult jazz and tap classes at the regional competitions.

Dance classes have grown into participating in theater. Nancy was in 42nd Street, White Christmas, and Mary Poppins with the Community Theatre of Howell, all with Maria as the choreographer.  More recently, she has become part of the Fowlerville Community Theatre and has been involved in several shows with FCT.  Nancy also enjoys learning and dancing with the Recycled Rockettes at the Hartland Senior Center.

Nancy has a BA in Psychology, but has worked in many other fields over the years. She has experience in bookkeeping, insurance, and teaching and retired in 2018 from teaching reading and math under the Title I program at Smith Elementary. Nancy was married to Dan and they have 2 grown daughters and a son-in-law.

Nancy enjoys meeting the dance families and helping them find the classes that best fit their needs. She gets excited when another dance mom joins the fun of the adult classes!

Katie Johnson - Receptionist