About Us
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Robin Brumley
Director/Teacher/Choreographer
Robin has recently earned her B.A. in Dance from San Diego State University. She has
dedicated her young adult life to studying dance in all forms and styles. Her enthusiastic
style of teaching has led her students to consistent success throughout the years. In
2004 she started her own hip-hop performance dance company, Robin's Freelance
Dance. Her students have performed at various events and have recently won top
awards at many competitions. She is very excited to have teamed up with Joanne and
April to form Metro Dance. "What a great team!"
Director/Teacher/Choreographer
Robin has recently earned her B.A. in Dance from San Diego State University. She has
dedicated her young adult life to studying dance in all forms and styles. Her enthusiastic
style of teaching has led her students to consistent success throughout the years. In
2004 she started her own hip-hop performance dance company, Robin's Freelance
Dance. Her students have performed at various events and have recently won top
awards at many competitions. She is very excited to have teamed up with Joanne and
April to form Metro Dance. "What a great team!"
(619) 299-METRO(6387)
FAX - (619) 299-6389
5304 Metro St Ste. B 92110
Joanne Lovejoy
Director/Teacher/Choreographer
Joanne, is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer. As a teen Joanne performed along
side the “Bright Side Singers” in Bob Hope’s USO shows in California. She was a
singer and dancer for “Cabaret Review” produced by On The Town Productions, as well
as for numerous productions with the “Rhythm-Aire Players”, including “Rhythm is our
Business” and “Final Encore.” She choreographed “Annie” and “Little Shop of Horrors”
for Children's Creative and Performing Arts School in S.D., and her choreography was
recently showcased at the Lycum Theater in the California Youth Conservatory Theater’s
production of “Little Shop Of Horrors” directed by Shaun Evans. In addition Joanne has
been involved with Mothers and Daughters Club Assisting Philanthropies (MADCAPS), a
philanthropic organization, as a choreographer for the past 15 years. Her studio,
Joanne's Dance Place, was the training ground for many dancers who have performed
on cruise ships, in Vegas shows, and on Broadway. For the past twelve years she has
been on the teaching staff at several local dance studios including S.D. Danceworks
and Culture Shock Dance Center providing classes for children through adults offering
various dance diciplines from beginning through advanced levels.
Director/Teacher/Choreographer
Joanne, is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer. As a teen Joanne performed along
side the “Bright Side Singers” in Bob Hope’s USO shows in California. She was a
singer and dancer for “Cabaret Review” produced by On The Town Productions, as well
as for numerous productions with the “Rhythm-Aire Players”, including “Rhythm is our
Business” and “Final Encore.” She choreographed “Annie” and “Little Shop of Horrors”
for Children's Creative and Performing Arts School in S.D., and her choreography was
recently showcased at the Lycum Theater in the California Youth Conservatory Theater’s
production of “Little Shop Of Horrors” directed by Shaun Evans. In addition Joanne has
been involved with Mothers and Daughters Club Assisting Philanthropies (MADCAPS), a
philanthropic organization, as a choreographer for the past 15 years. Her studio,
Joanne's Dance Place, was the training ground for many dancers who have performed
on cruise ships, in Vegas shows, and on Broadway. For the past twelve years she has
been on the teaching staff at several local dance studios including S.D. Danceworks
and Culture Shock Dance Center providing classes for children through adults offering
various dance diciplines from beginning through advanced levels.
April Barnes-Sanders
Director/Teacher/Choreographer
April is a graduate of the San Diego School of the Creative and Performing Arts. She
competed in tap, jazz, hula, and clogging winning numerous Sweepstakes and First
Place Awards in local and national competitions. She began teaching at a very young
age at Leah Walker Dance Studio. Then later moved on to teach at Joanne’s Dance
Place, Carlsbad Dance Centre, San Diego Danceworks, and was part owner of the
dance studio Rhythm & Dance. She teaches ages 2 through adult in beginning through
advanced levels, including all of the Competition Groups. She has taken her students
to competition where over the years they have consistently placed in the top five overall.
She has been teaching for over eighteen years. Although she teaches many forms of
dance her true love and forte is tap.
Director/Teacher/Choreographer
April is a graduate of the San Diego School of the Creative and Performing Arts. She
competed in tap, jazz, hula, and clogging winning numerous Sweepstakes and First
Place Awards in local and national competitions. She began teaching at a very young
age at Leah Walker Dance Studio. Then later moved on to teach at Joanne’s Dance
Place, Carlsbad Dance Centre, San Diego Danceworks, and was part owner of the
dance studio Rhythm & Dance. She teaches ages 2 through adult in beginning through
advanced levels, including all of the Competition Groups. She has taken her students
to competition where over the years they have consistently placed in the top five overall.
She has been teaching for over eighteen years. Although she teaches many forms of
dance her true love and forte is tap.
Kathy Benson
Teacher/Choreographer
Kathy Benson has been teaching tap, jazz, lyrical, ballet and acrobatics in San Diego for
the past 26 years. She is very proud that she has trained many of the local dance
teachers in San Diego. She has been associated with San Diego Dance Centre, Dance
Machine, The Tumble Shop, The Kearny Mesa Dance Academy and many more. Kathy
has received countless “Best Choreography” awards and has won many sweepstake
awards. She has danced in and even choreographed shows in Las Vegas. She danced
in “Jesus Christ Super Star” at the Civic Theater and was lead dancer in “Bah Humbug”
at the Spreckels Theater. She was also one of the original dancers on “The San Diego
Dance Team”. Other credits include, choreographing for Granite Hills High School and
the philanthropic group, The SPRITES.
Kathy received her training at San Diego Dance Centre, California Ballet, Grossmont
College and the EDGE. Her students have won several regional, state and national
titles. She has trained dancers that have gone on to dance professionally on cruise
ships, in dance videos and even on Broadway.
Teacher/Choreographer
Kathy Benson has been teaching tap, jazz, lyrical, ballet and acrobatics in San Diego for
the past 26 years. She is very proud that she has trained many of the local dance
teachers in San Diego. She has been associated with San Diego Dance Centre, Dance
Machine, The Tumble Shop, The Kearny Mesa Dance Academy and many more. Kathy
has received countless “Best Choreography” awards and has won many sweepstake
awards. She has danced in and even choreographed shows in Las Vegas. She danced
in “Jesus Christ Super Star” at the Civic Theater and was lead dancer in “Bah Humbug”
at the Spreckels Theater. She was also one of the original dancers on “The San Diego
Dance Team”. Other credits include, choreographing for Granite Hills High School and
the philanthropic group, The SPRITES.
Kathy received her training at San Diego Dance Centre, California Ballet, Grossmont
College and the EDGE. Her students have won several regional, state and national
titles. She has trained dancers that have gone on to dance professionally on cruise
ships, in dance videos and even on Broadway.
| METRO DANCE OFFICE STAFF |
| Danielle Craft |
| Lynn Dobbs |
| Dori Hoadley |
| METRO DANCE DIRECTORS |
Matt Carney
Teacher/Choreographer
Matt Carney, native of St. Louis, began dancing professionally with the Modern American
Dance Company (MADCo) and later the Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Theatre
where he had the honor of performing works by Erick Hawkins and working with
legendary choreographers Donald McKayle and Jennifer Muller to name a few. He
received his BFA in Dance Performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City's
Conservatory of Music and Dance performing the works of Marius Petipa, Doris
Humphrey, Sir Fredrick Ashton and George Balanchine. Matt currently resides in sunny
San Diego where he has worked with the Malashock Dance Company, is a company
member of the San Diego Ballet and teaches and choreographs throughout the city. Matt
teaches Children's and Teen/Adult Ballet at Metro Dance.
Teacher/Choreographer
Matt Carney, native of St. Louis, began dancing professionally with the Modern American
Dance Company (MADCo) and later the Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Theatre
where he had the honor of performing works by Erick Hawkins and working with
legendary choreographers Donald McKayle and Jennifer Muller to name a few. He
received his BFA in Dance Performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City's
Conservatory of Music and Dance performing the works of Marius Petipa, Doris
Humphrey, Sir Fredrick Ashton and George Balanchine. Matt currently resides in sunny
San Diego where he has worked with the Malashock Dance Company, is a company
member of the San Diego Ballet and teaches and choreographs throughout the city. Matt
teaches Children's and Teen/Adult Ballet at Metro Dance.
Marissa Nunes
Teacher/Choreography
Teacher/Choreography
Laurel Dreisbach
Teacher/Choreography
Teacher/Choreography