Monica has been in the dance world for nearly her entire life! After graduating from The University of Akron, with degrees in Dance & Business Management she returned to her hometown of Warren, Ohio to open a dance studio named “All That Jazz with Monica”. Her studio was her pride and joy staying opened for 8 years. Moving to Canton, Ohio in 1996 led her to be an instructor  at Center Stage Dance Studio. There she led numerous competition groups and won many regional & national titles. Monica has judged for VIP, KAR, Rising Star, and StarQuest.

Zoe Williams comes to New Focus Dance Academy with a wealth of knowledge from
14+ years of dance training and many successful years in the convention and competition circuit.
Zoe has had the unique opportunity to choreograph and teach since the age of 17. Since then, she
has received numerous choreography awards, overall high scores, and Industry Dance Awards
nominations for her work. She has earned the opportunity to be a part of the Dancer’s Against
Cancer PSA, The Industry Dance Awards, Choreographer’s Carnival, Spencer Ludwig’s music
video, “I Just Wanna Dance,” James Barre music video, “Blame It on Us,” and Vans US Surf
Opening. She was recently named a MusEffect apprentice for Muse Dance Company based out
of Los Angeles, California. Additionally, she is an apprentice for Tap into the Network, which is
a national tap convention. This December, Zoe will graduate with her B.A. in marketing from
The University of Akron. Zoe prides herself on creative and challenging classes in all styles of
dance. She strives to be a leader, team player and role-model for each one of her students and
hopes to inspire each dancer to achieve their personal best.

April Templeton Brenneman first started her dance training at the age of 8 under the late Richard Moore. Over the years, she continues to study her craft by traveling to numerous conventions, studios, and never turning down an opportunity to take class or perform.

Through her teaching career, April has been seen:

* Guest teaching at New York’s The Broadway Dance Center for their Children’s and Teens Summer Dance program.

*Teaching on Cleveland’s first convention circuit “Convention Cle” Alongside Nicole Kirkland, Cameron Lee, And Devin Solomon.

*Assisting the incredible Duo Dejan Tubic and Zach Venegas here in Ohio, California, and at DanceMakers Inc. convention tour.

Her performance background includes several years of community theatre in the Akron Area with Shalamar Reloaded’s Nate Smith, as well as back up dancing for recording artist Eden Xo and in an EP release concert for singer Anthony Paul from season 5 of “The Voice.”

April has enjoyed being a full time dance instructor over the years, teaching many different disciplines of dance including contemporary, hip hop, jazz funk, and musical theatre. She hopes to continue inspiring students, and that she may be a teacher who makes a difference in the lives of others while still working, training, and collaborating new innovative concepts to bring to her classes.

Emma Janus received her early dance training in Lexington, South Carolina at the Columbia City Jazz Conservatory under the direction of Dale Lam. In 2022, she graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in dance performance from SUNY Purchase College. During her time there, Emma performed works by choreographers such as Ohad Naharin, Annie Rigney, Peter Chu, Lea Ved, and Hannah Garner. Additionally, she has attended training programs with Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Doug Varone, and Tanztheater Wuppertal. She has freelanced in New York City, dancing with Dance Lab NYC’s Spring Lab and performing works by and collaborating with Talia Abdiel, Dava Huesca, and Akira Uchida. Emma most recently danced with GroundWorks Dance Theater, performing works by Antonio Brown, FLOCK, David Shimotakahara, and Olivier Wevers.

Hi! My name is Shannon Salisbury and I want to introduce myself. I have been teaching students for 32 years at various dance studios. I went to college to specialize in tap, hip hop, acrobatics, jazz and ballet. I am excited to be with your children and to be teaching at this studio and to be a part of this family! So, get ready everyone and LET’S DANCE!

Raised in Massillon, Ohio, Julia Spizzichini started dancing at age three. She spent multiple years training diligently in ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, hip hop, pointe, partnering and theater dance. In 2019, Julia received her BFA in Commercial Dance from Pace University in New York City. After performing as an ensemble dancer in the 2018 season of The Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes, she traveled to Tokyo, Japan to perform in West Side Story in Stage Around. Julia currently resides and teaches in northeast Ohio, enjoying her chance to give back as an educator and choreographer in the many genres she fell in love with at such a young age.