• Mary Lorraine
• Deb Hayden
• Nichole Balus
• Paula Jakopovic
• Kellie Satterly
• Katelyn Walter
• Jacque Albertson
• Samantha Fry
• Scott Jakopovic
• Chelsea Kropp
• Jocelyn LaViolette
• Erin Carnahan
• Stacey Fletcher

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 nineteenth 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."  In addition Deb is a judge for national dance competitions.  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!

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.

Kellie began her career in Grand Island, NE where she studied with the Royal Academy of Dance under Karen Jamieson.  She went on to receive a BFA in dance from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.  While there she performed in dance concerts, musicals and operas. In the summer of 2001 Kellie performed with Ruth Davidson Hahn, formerly of the Mark Morris Dance Co., at Jacob’s Pillow in Beckett, MA.

Along with performing Kellie has an extensive background in teaching children and adults of all ages in ballet, jazz, tap, creative movement and lyrical.

Kellie has recently moved back home to Nebraska after living and dancing in Seattle, WA the past six years. She is excited to now be a part of the Omaha community where she lives with her husband and baby girl.

Katelyn began dancing at the age of 3 and grew up in the MLDC program taking classes in ballet, jazz and tap.  She has also attended Dance Olympus and Showbiz master classes, performed professionally at corporate events and is working on her degree in Elementary Education at University of Nebraska at Omaha.  She has been an assistant, associate teacher and now, teacher in our program.  During her high school years she was active in theatre, performing in such musicals as High School Musical Onstage and in the show choir which performed in Branson’s Onstage Live and opened for the Legends show in Branson, MO.  Katelyn has a special way with younger children and will be a teacher in our younger students’ program.

Jacque started dancing when she was four at Kitty Lee Dance Studio. She took ballet, tap, and jazz classes there for eight years. She was on the Millard South Dance Team from 2003-2007 and was captain her senior year. She has been coaching for Millard South's Dance Team since 2008, and helps choreograph their camp and national routines each year. Jacque attends the University of Nebraska at Omaha and has been a member of the UNO Dance Team since 2007.  She is currently the captain for the team. Jacque will be sharing her dance team and pom experience with MLDC students in our pom classes.

Sam started dancing at the age of 2.  She has always had a passion for performing, whether it be in dance, musical theater, playing drums or singing.  She has been instructing dance since 2004 and teaching group fitness classes such as body pump and body combat since 2006.  She has choreographed routines for Iowa Western Community College, Papillion LaVista High School and has put together shows for various show choirs and musicals such as Thomas Jefferson High, LaVista, Avka, Central City, Glenwood and Iowa Western.  Sam just graduated from Iowa Western and is working towards her degree in Criminal Justice and music education with some personal training on the side.  Sam is very excited to be a part of the amazing staff at MLDC and is looking forward to a great year!

Scott started TaeKwonDo under Tom Petak with the Martial Arts Research System (M.A.R.S) in 1994. Receiving his 1st Degree Blackbelt at the age of 12 he started the Instructor Training Program shortly thereafter. Scott began teaching at MLDC in 2002 with Paula Jakopovic. In 2006 he became a Certified Instructor through M.A.R.S and in January of 2009 was awarded his 3rd Degree Black belt. Scott  also affiliates with Nebraska Academy of Martial Arts (NAMA) , Ralston TaeKwonDo and Aikido Hawai'i Internation (AHI) through Aikido Omaha. Scott has studied a variety of arts including Judo, Juijitsu, Aikido, Hapkido, Goju-Shorei, and Iaido. He is currently working on his Doctorate of Pharmacy at UNMC and loves teaching & dancing at MLDC.

Chelsea started her dance training at MLDC at the age of 3 and has been dancing ever since! She was an assistant teacher during her middle and high school years and is now excited to be back teaching. During high school, Chelsea danced full time at the studio, played three varsity sports at Omaha Marian and was in choir. She continued her athletic career in college, playing volleyball at George Mason University in Washington, DC. In May, she completed her bachelor's degree in biology to pursue her medical career. This fall, she will be attending medical school at Creighton University as she starts down the road to becoming a pediatrician. Chelsea is happy to be back in her hometown and back at MLDC taking classes and sharing her love of dance with others!

Jocelyn is beginning her first year of teaching class at MLDC and is extremely excited to do so! She started dance later that most at the age of 12 but has embraced the program and with focus and determination has become a Dancer of the Year nominee, choreographed award winning solos and many dance numbers in productions such as Zombie Prom, Peter Pan and Wizard of Oz for the community. Jocelyn recently graduated from Papillion-LaVista High School in 2009 where she was on the dance team, show choir and in many theatrical productions. She is now attending Dana College on a dance and academic scholarship. While there she will be studying business with an emphasis on marketing and advertising all while pursuing her dream of being on stage!

Erin started dancing at the age of 5 at Mary Lorraine's Dance Center and has danced ever since. She was an assistant dance teacher in the studio for 5 years and has always been active in the MLDC program doing everything from running sleepovers to helping with concerts. She was on MLDC's competition team for three years and won many awards as well as attending many master classes. She has studied theatre and acting both at Marian High School and UNO. She is currently attending the University of Nebraska at Omaha majoring in Human Resources and Business Management. Erin has a ton of energy and always makes class lots of fun!

Stacey began her dance training with Sherry Holzapfel and danced with MLDC during her teen and adult years. She was Nebraska’s Junior Miss and has served as a performer and judge for many dance events. Stacey was the captain of the dance team at Chadron State College and spent a season dancing with the IBA/CBA Black Hills Posse dance team in Rapid City. She was a member of MATDCo and has taught in our outreach programs. She taught at MLDC for 3 years and 1 year in Oklahoma. She holds Bachelor’s degrees in Agribusiness and Animal Science and is currently finishing her Master of Agriculture degree at UNL. We are happy to have Stacey back on our staff.