• Mary Lorraine
• Deb Hayden
• Nichole Balus
• Crystal Fitch
• Amanda Middleton
• Paula Jakopovic

Mary Lorraine received her degree in dance from Webster University's Performing Arts Conservatory. She studied on scholarship with Chicago's famed "Hubbard Street Dance Company", as well as such greats as Joel Hall, Gus Giordano, Luigi, and Joffery II Ballet. During her five years in Chicago she was a professional choreographer, dancer, and actress for opera and musical theater. She performed onstage, in films, and commercials. She is certified by the Royal Academy of Dance and Dance Educators of America. She is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild.

Since her return to Omaha she has directed and/or choreographed many theater productions including the Ak-Sar-Ben Coronation. She has been a Master Teacher for the Omaha Community Playhouse, a Nebraska Arts Council Artist in the Schools, a teaching artist for UNL's Arts are Basic program,as well as on the UNL dance faculty. She currently also teaches for the Very Special Arts Program.  She is also a PAYBAC Partner with Millard Public Schools and teaches classes within the regular curriculum at MPS schools. She has received MPS's "Trailblazer Award" for her work.  

She has had 39 years of training, 28 years of teaching experience and participation in over 85 musical theatre productions throughout the Midwest.  She continually takes continuing education courses to keep up with current changes in dance education.  

She opened MLDC in 1990 and started Omaha's first jazz and tap company - Mid-America Theater Dance Company.  She understand the importance of strong family values and promotes them within the studio as at home she is the mother of three.

This will be MLDC's sixteenth year of business.  Many of her dancers have gone on to college programs on scholarship,  graduated and are dancing professionally all over the U.S.  Others have carried the love of dance on into their daily lives.

Deb grew up in Ralston taking dance, assisting and eventually teaching at MLDC.  She was a founding member of MATDCo. She went on to get her BFA in Dance Performance from the prestigious Oklahoma City University.  There she studied with famous performers such as Donald O'Connor, Cholly Atkins, Al Gilbert, Debbie Dee and many more.  She worked professionally in Branson for 3 years doing musical theatre.  She was the dance captain and a dancer in the Broadway musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."  She brings great knowledge and experience to our program.

Nichole began dancing at the age of five with Beth Gaynes and was one of MLDC's first students. She assisted in the studio for many years and was a founding member of MATDCo. She's appeared in musicals such as "Kiss Me Kate" and "Oklahoma". She's also performed in the Winter State Games Opening Ceremony, the Aksarben Coronation, and the WOW Bridal Fair. Nichole also studied dance in college while attaining her degree in Elementary Education from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. She is wonderful with our younger students as she has her own preschooler at home!

Crystal returns to MLDC this fall to teach her 9th year. She has her degree in Exercise Science from Creighton University. While attending Creighton, she was on their dance team all four years and was team captain for two of those years. Her dance training includes classes at On Broadway and Ballet Omaha and dance team training with the NCA and UDA. She is also an NPA certified “Pom” coach. She has been a competitive dancer and won many awards on both the regional and national levels. Crystal is the director of MLDC’s competition teams. Crystal has an exceptional way of motivating our students to attain new heights!!

Amanda started her dance training at MLDC at the age of 5 and has been dancing ever since! She was an assistant teacher during her high school years and in now a teacher. She was on Westside High School’s Dance Team and has danced for various Corporate events and master classes with Dance Olympus.and Ballet NY. She has just completed her Assoc. Degree in marketing. She is also and NDA All-American Dancer and is great with our students!

Paula achieved the rank of second degree black belt by the age of 16. She has also studied judo, jujitsu and hapkido, as well as basic weapons training. She has been teaching taekwondo and self defense workshops since 2001, and is a M.A.R.S. certified instructor. Paula’s training has included work with the M.A.R.S. and N.A.M.A. organizations of Omaha, A.T.A. of Lincoln (UNL), and Songham Taekwondo of Lincoln (UNL). Paula also has extensive dance training in all areas from MLDC. and studied dance while working on her bachelors degree in Elementary Education at UNL, and her M.A. of Education at UNO. She currently teaches for OPS. She does a phenomenal job of bringing this artform to our students.