Michelle's Academy of Dance & Performing Arts Center
About Michelle's Academy of Dance
Fun Facts About MADPAC:
- Opened in 2004 by longtime dance educator Michelle Marzejon
- After just one year in business, MADPAC expanded to offer students double the space
- MADPAC was voted #1 Dance Studio in Livingston County in 2009 and 2010!
- Studio D ("the big room") is also used as an intimate performance space, equipped with stage lights and curtains, that seats approximately 100 people for fun in-studio shows
- We are well protected at MADPAC by karate master James Meyer and his Karate Kids classes that take place in Studio E
- MADPAC is home to the professional contemporary dance company Michigan Dance Project, directed by MADPAC's own Kathy King
- You will sometimes see our studio mascot, Jazzy the jack russell terrier, dancing around... don't worry, she's very nice and loves to watch the kids dance!
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Meet the MADPAC Faculty & Staff:
At MADPAC, we are dedicated to offering you and your children the best in dance eduction with our top-notch, professional faculty and staff members.
Michelle Marzejon | Owner, Director, Instructor
Michelle Marzejon has over 20 years of international performance experience, including Japan,
Canada, and the U.S.A. She spent many years as artistic director at several dance studios
before finally opening Michelle’s Academy of Dance & Performing Arts Center in Brighton,
Michigan in 2004. Michelle not only teaches and studies a wide range of dance genres, but
she is also a certified Stott’s Pilates instructor and an avid student of yoga. Her students
have graduated from her programs to continue training at area universities and pursue
professional careers in dance nationwide. Teaching credits include Wayne State University,
Albion College, Hope College, Michigan Dance Project and Brighton Dance Festival. Her
choreography has received top honors nationwide, including the 2007 Copperfoot Award
from Wayne State University. In addition to running her studio, Michelle was the artistic
director for the Splendor of the East production in Dearborn, MI in 2010 and 2011, and is
frequently called upon as a dance adjudicator nationwide.
Kathy King | Assistant Director, Instructor
Kathy King is the Founder and Artistic Director of Michigan Dance Project, a not-for-
profit professional contemporary dance company currently touring Southeast
Michigan. Recent directorial projects include the Brighton Dance Festival, Get Up &
MOVE! Choreographers' Showcases, and the Jumping Through the Lens
photography & dance exhibit. She is on faculty with Dance Rogue Intensive
Workshops and Artists-in-Training Dance Convention, and is a freelance dance
adjudicator throughout the U.S. and Canada. Professional training includes Wayne
State University, EDGE Performing Arts Center, Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio,
Broadway Dance Center, and the Bates Dance Festival. Kathy began her
professional career in high school, dancing for Detroit rap artist T-Baby, and touring act Dave King Live. Before attending Wayne State University to study dance and public relations, she spent time living in Los Angeles where she was assistant to choreographer Joaquin Escamilla, and taught at Fusion Dance Studio.
Currently, Kathy teaches locally as an adjunct lecturer at Eastern Michigan University in the Department of Music and Dance, where she teaches Modern and Jazz dance. She is also the Assistant Artistic Director at Michelle’s Academy of Dance & Performing Arts Center in Brighton, MI, and choreographs for several area high school dance companies.
Cyndi Buczek | Instructor
Cyndi Buczek has been a teacher and choreographer of dance for over 30 years. She attended
Wayne State University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Dance. Cyndi has
taught at many dance studios through the years and along with being on staff at MADPAC, she is
currently Artistic Director of the Cohesion Dance Company. She began her professional dance
career at the age of 16 and was a member of the Fairlane Ballet Company where she had the
opportunity to perform in classical ballets such as The Nutcracker, Giselle, Swan Lake, and Don
Quixote just to name a few. She has performed and toured with various dance companies in
Michigan and was the lead in several productions. She continues to teach master classes and
workshops throughout the Detroit area, which most recently includes the Brighton Dance Festival.
She is a certified Zumba instructor as well. Cyndi has choreographed for many theatre productions
throughout the years and has received recognition for her work including the 1995 Copperfoot
Award from Wayne State University. Her choreography has won many “Top Teacher” awards as well as overalls in both the regional and national levels of competition. Cyndi finds joy in teaching students of all ages and levels and sharing her love of dance with them.
Laura Burdick | Instructor
Laura Burdick attended Western Michigan University on scholarship where she received a
Bachelors of Arts in Dance along with a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
While at WMU, Laura performed in various Great Works Projects, such as George
Balanchine's Who Cares, Giselle, as well as Gus Giordano's Sing, Sing, Sing. After graduation,
she went on to dance for Holland America Cruise Lines, followed by a move to Chicago where
she continued to dance professionally, making an appearance in the movie The Break Up.
Laura has trained nationally under an extensive list of professionals, and has won numerous
awards, scholarships and recognition for her dancing.
Laura is a founding company dancer with the Michigan Dance Project, performing throughout
Southeast Michigan since 2006. Along with being a full-time engineer and finishing graduate
school at Eastern Michigan University, Laura teaches, choreographs, judges and continues to
share her love of dance with her students.
Becky Aramino | Instructor
Bio coming soon...
Lisa Short | Instructor
Bio coming soon...
Gabriel Klei | Assistant Instructor
Bio coming soon...
Debbie King | Office Manager
Bio coming soon...
Guest Teachers
You can see these incredible teachers frequently in the MADPAC studios working with the kids throughout the year. Although they are not on our full-time faculty, they are definitely a part of our family!
Travis Staton-Marrero
Travis Staton-Marrero, hailing from Puerto Rico, began his dance training at a young age at Troy Dance
Studio studying hip hop, breakdancing, latin ballroom, jazz, ballet, modern and contemporary. In 2009, he
continued his training studying dance and theatre at Oakland University. He has also spent time studying
at Millennium Dance Complex, EDGE Performing Arts Center, and Broadway Dance Center. Travis is an
avid hip hop dance instructor and choreographer throughout Southeast Michigan,teaching students of all
ages at Troy Dance Studio, American Dance Academy, Michelle’s Academy of Dance & Performing Arts
Center and the Spartan Dance Center. Professional experience includes principal roles as a dancer with
the Sensuality Latin Dance Show at Greektown Casino (2005-2006), Motown Music Awards (2006),
NHSMBA Hispanic Scholarship Fundraiser (2008), Chicago Salsa Congress (2009), and the PuertoRican
Travel and Tourism Company Performance. Other professional roles have included The Wannabe’s TV
Show (ABC Australia), Miley Cyrus ensemble dancer, Motor City Movement, Michael Jackson Tribute
(Novi Expo Center), and the Detroit Salsa Congress. Currently, Travis is the assistant artistic director of
the Michigan Dance Project, and attends Michigan State University studying theatre.
Megan Drabant
Megan Drabant began dancing at Main Stage Center for the Arts under Laurie Papovich and
Regina Ihns when she was three.She has taken a variety of styles ranging from Cecchetti ballet
to Hawaiian. Continuing her training in New York and Chicago, Megan has had the privilege to
study under Ray Mercer, Denise Caston, Ellen Werksman, Laura Raisch, Professor Robert
Reed, Kat Wildish, Sonya Tayeh, and many others. She was a member of the Detroit Tap
Repertoire directed by Denise Caston and is continuing her second year in the Wayne State
University Dance Workshop advised by Meg Paul. Currently Megan is a junior year B.F.A.
dance major at Wayne State University with a minor in journalism. Megan hopes to one day
combine her love of dance and writing together. Megan is entering her third year as a company
member with the Michigan Dance Project.
Emily Turner
Bio coming soon...
