Meet Our Staff

Ms Lisa

Lisa Gilmore dance training began at Charmaine’s Dance School located in St. Claire Shores, Michigan. She received a full dance scholarship to the University of Hawaii where she earned her degree in business and dance. Her professional credits include: the role of Chacha in Grease, a company member of the Honoulu Dance Company, member of the Detroit Piston’s Automotion, back up dancer for Boyz 2 Men, Mariah Carrey, and Enrique Iglesias. Her choreography credits include: movie premier for Jeff Daniels, opening number for KAR talent competition national finals in Las Vegas, Piston Automotion dance team, artistic director of the University of Hawaii Dance team, director of the Kamemehaha Summer Performing arts dance program, director of the Chippewa Valley High School Dance team and guest teacher and choreographer for numerous local dance teams. She is also a professional dance judge working for companies such as Kids Artistic Revue, Star Systems National Talent completion, Hall of Fame talent competition and Universal Dance Association. She has been teaching children dance for 18 years.

Her greatest accomplishment has been opening her own dance facility, Big City. It is her goal to be the all around best training facility in the Detroit area focusing on quality training and building self esteem through a healthy activity for all her students ages 2 through adult.

Ms Christie

Christie has been dancing for 18 years and teaching for 6 years. Christie's talent is her sincerity and passion for teaching children the art of dance. She created and implemented Big City's "stars of tomorrow" program which introduces our young dancers to competing. With her tutelage, this program has won numerous overall awards at competition and has grown in membership by leaps and bounds. Christie is a very accomplished dancer and competitive cheerleader. In addition to training locally, her advanced dance training includes: master classes at Eastern Michigan University and Wayne State University, Broadway Dance Center in NY, NY, and many conventions from renown choreographers in the industry. Christie has a Bachelors degree in Education from Eastern Michigan University.

Ms Jenna

Jenna has been dancing since she was four and has been with Big City for 11 years. She has trained with many Choreographers in the Industry including Sonya Tayah, Kacy Combs, and Mandy Moore. And renown dance schools such as The Edge in LA and Broadway Dance Center in New York City. She has performed on numerous stages including The Disney Cruise, Walt Disney World and The Purple Rose Theatre. Jenna has won multiple high point awards and also received the Title of Miss Dance at Kids Artistic Review.

In addition to her dance training Jenna received a Degree in Electronic Media from Eastern Michigan University.

Ms Nicole

Nicole began her dance training over 30 years ago and has been teaching dance for the past 20 years. She attended Western Michigan University on a partial scholarship where she received her higher education in dance. She was a company member of both the WMU Repertoire Performing Dance Company & the WMU Dance Team. Nicole earned her Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education from Oakland University & was a member of the OU Dance Team. She is a guest instructor & choreographer at MaryGrove College and Henry Ford Community College. She started her professional dance career as a member of the Joel Hall Dancers in Chicago. She studied at professional facilities such as Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center in New York City, also at the Edge Studio in Hollywood, CA. Her choreography has been recognized at the National level. She has been a judge and choreographed for numerous local dance studios, high school dance teams, and college dance teams such as University of Michigan, Oakland University and Western Michigan University. Further professional judging has been for Detroit Pistons Automotion Dance Team, WNBA Shock Dance Team, MaryGrove College and Henry Ford Community College Performing Arts Programs. Nicole has been and instructor and part of the Big City family since it opened its doors in the year 2000.

Her professional and choreography credits include: Detroit Pistons Automotion Dance Team, WNBA Shock Dance Team, Joel Hall Dancers, Detroit Symphony Orchestra Christmas Spectacular, director of Troy High Dance Team, co-director of Cousino High School Dance Team, Jeff Daniels movie premiere at the Purple Rose Theatre, the Who's Rock Opera "Tommy" at Henry Ford Community College, Western Michigan Performing Arts Company, Premiere Dance Company along with the Fabulous Fakes, and was a back-up dancer for LL Cool J and Kid Rock.

Ms Lindsay

Lindsay began her training at a young age as both a dancer and a gymnast. She has been a part of the Big City family since the doors opened in 2000, first as a student and then made the transition to teaching her freshmen year of high school. Currently she is a senior at Oakland University, where is she is studying dance and exercise science on scholarship. She is scheduled to graduate in the winter of 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a minor in exercise science. At Oakland University, she is a member of the Repertory Dance Theatre. She was recently offered an apprenticeship with Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Bloomfield Hills where they are providing scholarship to cover the cost of her training. She has taken classes from and trained with professional companies such as, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Complexion Contemporary Ballet Company, and Eisenhower Dance Ensemble. She has also trained and attended workshops with many commercial choreographers such as, Sonya Tayeh, Dennis Caspary, KC Combs, Mandy Moore and Pamela Boling. She has also attended classes at The Edge and Broadway Dance Center.