South Dayton School of Dance

South Dayton School of Dance Dance School in Dayton, Ohio with Professional Faculty

Professional Faculty Offering:

Classical Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Jazz, Tap,
Creative Movement, Pre-Ballet, Pre-Tap, Improv/Choreography, Adult Ballet, Adult Tap
Age 3 - Adult

REMINDER! SDSD will be closed Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day. Classes will resume as usual on Tuesday, S...
09/03/2026

REMINDER! SDSD will be closed Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day. Classes will resume as usual on Tuesday, September 8. Have a fun and safe long weekend!

09/01/2026

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! SDDT invites all non-company SDSD dancers enrolled in Ballet 1-8 to audition for our Nutcracker on Saturday, September 12th. All who audition will receive a role!

SDDT’s Nutcracker will be performed at the Dayton Masonic Center on Saturday, December 5th and Sunday, December 6th.

Audition Schedule:
2:00-2:30 Ballet 1
2:30-3:00 Ballet 2 & 3
3:00-3:30 Ballet 4+

Audition Form
https://pci.jotform.com/form/261894566056166

Non-Company Nutcracker Information
https://www.sddt.org/non-company-nutcracker-information

We can’t wait for another magical Nutcracker season!

📸: Scott Robbins | Geek with a Lens

MEET THE FACULTY!Introducing our new faculty joining us this year!CALLIE CROOMCallie Croom began her early training at P...
08/21/2026

MEET THE FACULTY!

Introducing our new faculty joining us this year!

CALLIE CROOM

Callie Croom began her early training at Pontecorvo Ballet Studios in Dayton, Ohio. She received her BFA from Butler University in 2011, performing works by George Balanchine, Butler faculty, and featured roles in The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. Following graduation, she relocated to Chicago as an inaugural member of the Visceral Dance Center Scholarship program. Through this program, she met Mike Gosney and began dancing with Elements Contemporary Ballet in 2012. She worked as both a company dancer and choreographer for eight seasons, performing works by Mike Gosney, Brian Enos, Joseph Caruana, Ben Wardell, Victoria Vargas and others. She also performed in a variety of notable works including the David Bowie Exhibition at MCA Chicago, and events for The Actors Gymnasium. In 2019, she stepped into the role of Rehearsal Director for ECB until her departure in 2020.

Callie has taught all over the Greater Chicago area including Extensions Dance Company, Visceral Dance Center, Evanston Dance Center, The Hive and Dance Colony Studios. Her specialities include Ballet, Pointe, Conditioning for Dancers, Contemporary Ballet, Modern, and Improvisation. She recently returned to Ohio, and is pursuing her Doctor of Physical Therapy at the University of Dayton. Artistry and body mechanics are the cornerstones of her teaching philosophy, and she cherishes every opportunity to share her love and knowledge of movement.

MEET THE FACULTY!Introducing our new faculty joining us this year!JESSIE ETLINGJessie Etling recently graduated from Wri...
08/21/2026

MEET THE FACULTY!

Introducing our new faculty joining us this year!

JESSIE ETLING

Jessie Etling recently graduated from Wright State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance. During her time at Wright State, she performed works by guest choreographers Stephanie Martinez, Autumn Eckman, Jennifer Sydor, DeShona Pepper-Robertson, Allison Reny, and Hannah Williamson. She also performed in faculty works by Gina Walter and Ashley Pabst. During her time at Wright State, she participated in the Dayton Ballet School Ensemble where she performed Corps de ballet roles in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Dracula alongside the first company. This year Jessie will be dancing with Dayton Ballet Studio Company for their upcoming season.

MEET THE FACULTY!Introducing our new faculty joining us this year!ZOE BEESZoe Bees is from the small town of Waynesville...
08/20/2026

MEET THE FACULTY!

Introducing our new faculty joining us this year!

ZOE BEES

Zoe Bees is from the small town of Waynesville, Ohio. She has earned her BFA in Dance from Wright State University in 2025, where she trained exclusively in ballet, modern, jazz, and tap. There she had the pleasure to work with incredible choreographers including: Ray Mercer, Stephanie Martinez, Teressa McWilliams, Alison Reny, Gina Walther, and Ashley Pabst. Zoe has participated in multiple intensives consisting of Mutual Dance Theatre, Eisenhower Dance Detroit, and Water Street Dance Milwaukee. She has had the gratification of teaching and choreographing for a variety of studios, in which she has won several awards from. Zoe loves the gift that God has given her since the age of three, and she continues to be grateful for her supportive family and friends along this journey.

MEET THE FACULTY!CAROL JEAN HELLERCarol Jean began studying with Jean Hiatt at the age of four. In 1960 she moved to New...
08/20/2026

MEET THE FACULTY!

CAROL JEAN HELLER

Carol Jean began studying with Jean Hiatt at the age of four. In 1960 she moved to New York to dance with Ballet Repertory of New York City. In New York, she studied tap with Jack Stanley (a student of the great Gene Kelly) and Jazz with Luigi. After her time in New York, she returned to Dayton and opened Carol Jean’s Dance Academy. She also began studying with Miss Jo (founder of Dayton Ballet School and Dayton Ballet).
She served as a member of Dance Masters of Ohio, where she became an examiner for new members.
During the 70s, Miss Carol Jean taught numerous children and adults in ballet, musical theatre, and tap at the Living Arts Center. In addition, she choreographed for groups such as ‘Peanut Butter and Jelly and The Production Company.’ She was also active in the campaign to save Victoria Theatre. She was a choreographer for WHIO- TV’s special “Mr. Manime.” which was so popular it turned into a weekly spin off called “Court House Square” featuring original music by Ron Kindell and lyrics by Ernie Rock. She was a stitcher for Dayton Ballet’s costume department under Betty Kelly, where she built costumes for many of their productions such as Stuart Sebastian’s Sleeping Beauty. Throughout the years, Miss Carol Jean has choreographed more than 30 musicals for Dayton Playhouse and also served on the Board of Trustees for eight years. In 1986, Miss Carol Jean began teaching ballet and tap at Dayton Ballet School and was eventually named Ballet School Administrator. She started the adult tap program that continues today. She starred as “Mother” in Miss Jo’s show Fraya and the Bear, and as a ‘Nun’ in Dayton Ballet’s Romeo and Juliet. Carol Jean Heller retired in 2020 after more than 20 years as Dayton Ballet School Administrator. Dayton Ballet is pleased to recognize the years of dedication and instruction she gave Dayton Ballet School and the Dayton arts community. Her legacy is the joy and appreciation of dance and the arts she instilled in countless young people.

MEET THE FACULTY!MAK BAKERMAK BAKER recently graduated from Point Park University where they were a dance major with a c...
08/19/2026

MEET THE FACULTY!

MAK BAKER

MAK BAKER recently graduated from Point Park University where they were a dance major with a concentration in modern on scholarship. They began in Dayton, Ohio at Jeraldyne’s School of the Dance training program and then transferred to the Pre-Professional company (SDDT) at South Dayton School of Dance alongside Michael Green, Kim Robinson, Erin Long Robbins, De’shona Pepper, Amanda Sortman and Kaitlynd Valentini, both in class and stage. Mak also attended Joffrey Ballet New York Intensive on Blacklist scholarship, National Choreographic Intensive on scholarship, and Springboard Danse Intensive on scholarship. They have worked under Jesse Factor, Marc Spaulding, Jae Man Joo, and Norbert De La Cruz. Recently, their performances include Yoshiaki Nakano’s “Endless Enclosure”, quartet member in “The Bus”, a piece created for The Pillow Project Company under Kaben Benavides, soloist in Rosalie Anthony’s, “Empechement”, “Second Saturday” as a soloist under Jaka Porter, and they were a 25+ multi-gender swing/understudy for Jason Mcdole’s “The Grand Cross”, Julia Erickson’s “Benevolent Mischief”, and Crystal Frazier’s “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop”. They’ve been commissioned on several choreographic and film endeavors via Rocker Verastique, Erin Robins, Danny Herman, Kiesha Llalama, and Hadassah Nix. This includes a successful Emerging Choreographer nomination from Regional Dance America dance festival. Utterly thankful, and always growing.

MEET THE FACULTY!SEAN FERGUSONSean Ferguson (Bellbrook, Ohio) graduated with his BFA in Dance Performance from Wright St...
08/19/2026

MEET THE FACULTY!

SEAN FERGUSON

Sean Ferguson (Bellbrook, Ohio) graduated with his BFA in Dance Performance from Wright State University in 2023. While at WSU, he worked with guest choreographers DCDC resident choreographer, Elizabeth Ramsey, Stewart/Owen Dance and Kiki Lewis. Sean was rehearsal assistant for Teressa McWilliams work “Exits”. His dance studies include Water Street Dance Festival in 2021. In 2020, he was a member of Dayton Contemporary’s Second Company, DCDC2. During his tenure in DCDC2, he performed in mainstage performances “Exposure” “Crossroads” and “In Freedom”. He performed as a guest artist with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company in Tally Beatty’s “Stack Up.” at the Victoria Theatre in 2024. Sean was a member of DCDC for their 24-25 season.

MEET THE FACULTY!CLARISSA CAREY HOMANClarissa was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio and started ballet classes at South Da...
08/18/2026

MEET THE FACULTY!

CLARISSA CAREY HOMAN

Clarissa was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio and started ballet classes at South Dayton at the age of three. She went on to dance with Gem City Ballet at 14 years old and spent several summers dancing with Boston Ballet. Clarissa continued on to Butler University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance Performance. Throughout her dance career she has had the opportunity to study with Helen Pickett, Deborah Wingert Arkin, Jon Rodriguez, Daniel Duell, Tong Wang, and Tamara King. She has also had the opportunity to perform in several George Balanchine ballets including Concerto Barocco, Valse Fantaisie, Who Cares?, Walpurgisnacht Ballet, and her personal favorite, Serenade. Clarissa looks forward to continuing to teach ballet at South Dayton this year!

MEET THE FACULTY!BRITTANY BUTLERBrittany Butler is a New Jersey native and began her training at The Academy of the Danc...
08/18/2026

MEET THE FACULTY!

BRITTANY BUTLER

Brittany Butler is a New Jersey native and began her training at The Academy of the Dance in Wilmington, Delaware. At the age of 16 Brittany wanted to further her education and training and decided to attend North Carolina School of the Arts. Upon graduation she was chosen to perform with a premier company, Missouri Ballet Theater, in St. Louis, under the direction of Adam Sage and Robert Philander. She then joined the Lexington Ballet Company in Kentucky under the direction of Luis and Nancy Dominguez where she enjoyed two years of hard work. From here Brittany found Dayton Ballet and felt there were many possibilities that fit her needs in life. She worked under the direction of Karen Russo-Burke for five seasons while simultaneously completing an Associate’s Degree in Health Science. Some of the works Brittany had the pleasure of performing were Reflections by Gerlad Arpino, “Wendy” in Septime Webre’s Peter Pan, Jessica Lang’s From Foreign Lands and People, Amy Seiwert’s Finding Almost, “Lilith” in Karen Russo Burke’s Dracula: Bloodlines, “Lady Capulet” in Septime Webre’s Romeo and Juliet, Gina Patterson’s You Are Here, and had the pleasure of concluding her performing career with Sechs Tans by Jiri Kylian. Through Brittany’s career, the opportunity to teach has been extended. She has guest instructed at various summer intensives and workshops focusing on technique and pointe class, variations and movement classes.

Address

101 E Alex Bell Road, Ste 130
Dayton, OH
45459

Opening Hours

Monday 4pm - 8:30pm
Tuesday 3:45pm - 8:45pm
Wednesday 4pm - 7:30pm
Thursday 10:45am - 12pm
3:45pm - 8:45pm
Friday 3:45pm - 6:15pm
Saturday 9:30am - 1:15pm

Telephone

(937) 435-5052

Website

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