SPOTLIGHT STUDIO INSTRUCTORS

Miss Cassandra, Miss Sarah, Miss Reanna, Miss Sadie, Miss Christi, Miss Annie, Miss Ashley, Miss Courtney, Roger

Miss Christi Fischer
Instructor
Owner/Artistic Director

I began dancing at the age of nine at various dance studios around the Toledo area. At the age of twelve I began assisting classes and haven’t stopped teaching since. I have taught many forms of dance including tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop and ballet. Growing up I choreographed and was involved in numerous musical productions at Anthony Wayne High School where I graduated from in 2000. In high school I participated in cheerleading and was also a part of the dance team. I returned in 2002-2004 as a coach and choreographer of the Anthony Wayne dance team.
In pursuit of my dancing dreams I chose to attend The University of Akron as a dance major. There I was involved in the prestigious Performance Ensemble and was also a member of the Akron Zips dance team. If that wasn’t enough, I continued to teach at Marquette School of Dance and had the pleasure of performing with them at a Cleveland Cav’s pregame show. I have also taught at many dance studios in the area including Daryl Jervis and Cassandra Ballet School.
I am living my dream owning Spotlight Studio and teaching all the students to love and enjoy dance as much as I do.

Miss Annie Barrow
Instructor
SDC Director
Certified in Acrobatic Arts

Annie Barrow became fascinated with dance at a very young age, studying tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, pointe, and lyrical at local studios. She received the majority of her training at The Dance Center of NWO, working also as an assistant teacher. Given the opportunity to begin her choreography career early on has led to over a decade of award-winning performances. Annie attended The University of Toledo, majoring in theater. While there, she was involved in multiple theatrical productions, the University’s Dance Team - The Rockettes and Concert Chorale. Her passion for the arts has led her to work with numerous local theater companies such as The Toledo Rep, and several area schools including Central Catholic and Anthony Wayne High School/Junior High. Miss Annie, returning for her 3rd season, is elated to continue her experience as a dance educator while sharing her love for performance in her new role as Company Director for SDC.

Miss Ashley Tipping
Instructor
Certified in Progressing Ballet Technique

My name is Ashley Tipping and I have been dancing for over 20 years. I have trained at Daryl Jervis South, On Stage, and the Dance Factory. I have also been spending the last 4 years studying dance at Bowling Green State University as a dance major. I have studied many styles of dance including Ballet, Tap, Hip-hop, Jazz, Modern and Ballroom.  I have been teaching dance  for many years now. I love teaching dance and sharing my love for dance with my students. Teaching is the highlight of my days and I love seeing the dancers grow and learn new dance skills and styles.

 

Miss Courtney Payne
Instructor

My name is Courtney Payne and I have been dancing since I was three years old. As a child, I began my training at Daryl Jervis Dance Studio, and have been dancing at Spotlight Studio since we opened in 2015. Throughout my high school career, I was a member of the Spotlight Dance Company and began assisting classes at the age of 13. I have not stopped teaching since!
I graduated from Anthony Wayne High School in 2020 and am currently a Senior at Bowling Green State University. Here I am studying Communications with a minor in Advertising. Along with this, I am a Social Media Intern for Bowling Green State University's Marketing and Brand Strategy Department.
I have trained in many styles of dance throughout the years including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, and Hip Hop. I began instructing here at Spotlight Studio in 2020 since then I have taught Combo, Jazz, Lyrical, and Hip Hop classes. I love to dance with my whole heart and cannot wait to share this love with my students.

Miss Cassandra Macino
Instructor

Cassandra Macino began training in classical ballet at the age of nine under the instruction of Ms.Gail Grant-Ryan in Toledo, Ohio. At the age of twelve, she was awarded a Ford Foundation Scholarship from the School of American Ballet in New York City given by Suzanne Farrell, former principal with New York City Ballet. Her scholarship continued through the age seventeen. Ms. Macino continued to study extensively in New York City, at American Ballet Theatre, Harkness House for Ballet Arts, and Joeffrey Ballet. She also studied classical ballet with Finis Jhung, and in particular with Melissa Hayden and Willy Burmann. Additionally, Ms. Macino has studied jazz at Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center under renowned jazz instructors: Chuck Kelly, Phil Black, Betsy Haug, and Frank Hatchett.

Ms. Macino founded the Cassandra School of Ballet in 1972. In 1981, she founded The Cassandra Ballet of Toledo, a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors.
Ms. Macino has choreographed over 100 origional dances and has staged and produced a variety of classical ballets: The Sleeping Beauty Ballet-Act III; Cinderella Ballet; La Boutique Fantasque; Nutcracker-Act II Divertissements; Hansel & Gretel; and The Little Match Girl. She also wrote and choreographed an original, full-length ballet, Visions of Sugar Plums with music by Rossini/Respighi.

Students from the Cassandra Ballet have been accepted into the most prominent summer dancer programs in the country including Schools of Americal Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Pittsburg Ballet, Joeffrey Ballet, Miami City Ballet and Kirov Ballet in Washington, DC. Many alumnae have gone on to dance professionally with companies such as Miami City Ballet, New York Contemporary Dance Theatre, New Jersey Ballet, San Francisco Contemporary Dance, and Pittsburg Ballet.

Ms. Macino attributes the sucess of her teaching to tradition, perseverance, and meticulous attention to detail.

 

Roger Markley
Instructor

Roger Markley began his dancing career at the age 18 when he took his first class at O'Connells Dance Studio here in Toledo. after that first class, he was hooked! Three years later he had the opportunity to move to LA California and moved west. He spent 8 years in LA waiting tables and continuing his dance training. Roger also taught classes at Hamma's Dance Center and Debbie Reynolds rehearsal studio in North Hollywood while occasionally performing in shows throughout the  LA and Las Vegas areas. He also performed in a couple of MTV Videos for the European Market during this time. In 1993 he was offered a full-time teaching position at O'Connells Dance Studio and decided it was time to come back to Toledo to reconnect with his family. In 1999 he opened his first studio in Delta Ohio, followed by One in Sylvaina, and then in Waterville. He taught Tap, Jazz, Ballet, and some tumbling. Roger also had a passion for fitness and loved motivating thousands of students in his aerobic classes in many Fitness Centers in the Toledo area. He also has choreographed musicals for high schools and community theatres. In 2015 after a lifetime of teaching, he was forced to close his studio in Waterville due to hip injuries. In 2023 after recovering he was given the opportunity to reignite his passion for Dance when he was approached to Choreograph a Musical for the Village Players and then two days later was offered a position to instruct Tap here at Spotlight Dance Studio. With this opportunity, Roger is happy to say he has found a new home at Spotlight Dance Studio, he is returning for his second season to teach tap and is very excited to once again be a part of the dance Community in North West Ohio.

Miss Sarah Smallman
Instructor

Sarah began dancing at the age of 3 at Stars Unlimited Dance and Baton Studio in Wauseon, Ohio. As a teenager she joined their competition group and started assisting in their classes. She continued to compete with their competition group even after graduating high school and taught there until 2015. She has experience in tap, jazz, ballet, baton, tumbling, dance and cheer, and lyrical. Sarah was also part of competition cheerleading through New Heights Gymnastics and in her high school band's auxiliary. She also danced her way into the title of 2006 Wauseon Homecoming Queen.
Aside from dance life, Sarah is a wife, mother of 2, step mom of 4, business owner, and the hugest animal lover! In the summer, you can find her at the lake soaking up the sunshine.
Sarah is so blessed to join the Spotlight dance family and to be back teaching! She looks forward to sharing her passion and love for dance with your dancer!