Meet the Team
Qualified Professional Instructors
Mary Lorraine
Owner and Director
Having danced since age 5, 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 great as Joel Hall, Gus Giordano, Luigi, and Joffrey II Ballet. During her five years in Chicago she was a professional choreographer, dancer and actress for opera and musical theater, performing onstage, in films, and commercials. She has over 40 years of teaching experience, and has participated in over 65 musical theater productions throughout the Midwest. She opened MLDC in 1990, and started Omaha's first jazz and tap company—Mid America Theater Dance Company. At home, she is the mother of three. She is passionate about bringing dance and all of its benefits to students of every age.
Maddy Miller
Associate Director
Mary Lorraine's daughter, Maddy grew up at MLDC and under the training of her mother. She received her Bachelors of Art in Dance and minor in Entrepreneurship from Point Park University Conservatory of Performing Arts in Pittsburgh, PA. She has extensive training in ballet, modern, jazz, lyrical, and tap. She attended Broadway Dance Center's Professional Semester and Steps on Broadway in New York City. She has performed in many regional musicals throughout the U.S. including Sweet Charity, Grease, Saturday Night Fever, Sister Act, 9 to 5 the Musical, La Cage Aux Folles, and Singin' In the Rain. She was a dancer and singer at MGM's Beau Rivage and Borgata Resorts and Casinos. Maddy has traveled throughout Asia, Europe, and Central America as a dancer and aerialist on Norwegian Cruise Line. Maddy recently performed in Tokyo, Japan in "Broadway's Christmas Wonderland". In addition to performing, she has taught internationally and was a writer for Dance Teacher Magazine. Maddy has been a demonstrator for NYC classes in both Modern and Ballet. Maddy recently created and produced a show for a new dance company, called the Omaha Jazz Dance Ensemble.
Katelyn Meyer
Katelyn started taking dance at the age of three and grew up taking ballet, tap and jazz. In high school she was active in theatre, performing in musicals like Highschool Musical Onstage, and in show choir, which performed in Branson in Onstage Live and opened for the Legends Show in Branson, MO. She has also attended Dance Olympus and Showbiz master classes, performed professionally at corporate events and has a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). Katelyn taught in the Millard Public School District and now teaches third grade at Trinity Classical Academy. She started as an MLDC assistant, and then became a teacher for the MLDC program. Katelyn loves being part of the MLDC program, and sharing her passion with the students.
Kellie Satterly
Kellie began her career in Grand Island, NE where she studied with the Royal Academy of Dance under Karen Jamleson. She went on to receive a BFA in dance from UNL where she performed in dance concerts, musicals, and operas. After graduating, Kellie moved to Seattle, WA where she continued to dance and teach. While in Seattle, Kellie had the opportunity to take classes from choreographers such as Mandy Moore, Mia Michaels, Cris Judd, and Tyce Diorio along with performing with Ruth Davidson Hahn, formerly of the Mark Morris Dance Co., at Jacob’s Pillow, MA. Kellie has found a home at MLDC where she can teach and create. She is proud to a part of the MLDC competition team and company and to work with such amazing students and families. Kellie has won many top awards for her lyrical choreography.
Ashley Woster
Ashley grew up at Mary Lorraine's Dance Center (MLDC), starting at the age of 3 thru age 18 studying ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical, and was also on the competition team. In High School, Ashley was on the Millard West Dance Team. She attended Goucher College studying ballet, pointe, modern, and was in the school’s tap troupe. After transferring to Doane University, she joined the dance team and competed for three years in jazz, pom, and hip hop.
Ashley brings a wealth of teaching and coaching experience to MLDC. She spent many years working in early childhood education at a daycare and also taught English abroad in Thailand, giving her a unique perspective on connecting with students of all ages and backgrounds. She also served as the head coach of the Elkhorn North High School cheer team. Currently, Ashley is Senior Cost Basis Specialist at Orion Advisor Tech. She loves teaching technique and making sure students have a strong foundation!
Anna Aesoph
Anna danced at MLDC from the ages of 3 to 18. She studied ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, and tap and was a member of the competition team for 7 years. In high school, she performed in Tuck Everlasting (Bellevue Little Theatre) and five productions of The Nutcracker (American Midwest Ballet) while also studying voice at SNJ Studio of Music. Anna completed her first year of college studying English Literature at the University of Greenwich in London, England where she was a part of the dance team. She then transferred home to Creighton University, and graduated with her degree in English and Dance. At Creighton she performed featured roles in ballets such as The Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, and The Nutcracker all choreographed by former NYCB dancer Elizabeth Alford. Anna is most passionate about sharing her love of ballet with students and the knowledge she gained from her professors, who have performed with world-renowned companies such as New York City Ballet, Pilobolus Modern Dance Company, and the Fosse National Tour.
Brianna Botts
A former competitive dancer, Brianna started dancing at Mary Lorraine's Dance Center (MLDC) at the age of 3. Brianna was also a member of the Papillon LaVista South's Show Choir team. She was on Hastings College Dance Team and was their dance captain. Brianna was a member of the Omaha Beef Prime Dancers for 4 years where she also choreographed for the team. Brianna's group hip hop dances have received top awards at competitions in Omaha. We are happy to have Brianna back at MLDC teaching Hip Hop and our Dance for Show Choir Class!
Rachel Maas
Rachel started dancing at the age 3 at Mary Lorraine's Dance Center, and participated in ballet, pointe, tap, and jazz classes until her high school graduation. She was an assistant at the studio and was a captain of her high school cheer. She graduated from The University of Nebraska at Omaha with a degree in Early Childhood Inclusive Education, and taught Kindergarten and 1st grade in Orlando, FL while owning a small wedding business with her husband. She is back in Omaha working as a sales consultant and is so excited to be teaching dance classes again! Her favorite part about teaching is making her classes fun while remaining faithful to the foundation of dance and technique first.
Megan Miller
Megan started accompanying her mom, Mary Lorraine, to the studio at the age of 2 and took every class she could. She continued to dance through high school, taking classes in all styles and competing with our MLDC competition team, while also playing competitive sports. Megan attended Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri as a pre-med scholar and played collegiate soccer. She went on to study medicine at St. Louis University and graduated with a distinction in community service. She then moved to Iowa and completed her residency at the University of Iowa's Stead Family Children's Hospital. She is now practicing as a board certified pediatrician with Boystown. Throughout Megan's life she has continued to be actively involved with dance and MLDC. She is now choreographing for our competition team and is thrilled to be able to teach weekly in the regular dance season!
Jamie Barrera
Jamie grew up in Bellevue taking dance classes and dancing on her high school dance team. She studied with the Rose Theater Pre-Professional Summer Program. During her college and adult life, she has continued to take classes whenever she can. She taught Ballet and Tap for ages 3-8 years old while living in Texas and then when she moved back to Omaha. She has been teaching group fitness classes for various programs in Omaha since 2009. At home she is the mother of 5 - 3 of which are MLDC dancers!
Carissa Sorensen
Coming from a family of gymnasts, Carissa started gymnastics at just three years old. Her grandparents own Cahoy’s Gymnastics in Ralston and her uncle was on the United States Olympics Gymnastics Team. After stepping away from competing her freshman year of high school she started coaching. She has helped 100’s of young children reach their goals and loves seeing the happiness on their face that comes along with learning a new skill. She is married to her high school sweetheart and has four children including one who dances at Mary Lorraine's Dance Center. Carissa looks most forward to creating confidence in learning the new skills during her acro class.
Megan Marasco
Megan grew up dancing at Mary Lorraine’s from age five on, and she joined the competition team at age eight, and was an assistant at MLDC until graduating in 2024. She will receive her BA in Dance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln this spring. Megan has performed in the Lied Center for Performing Arts annual gala and performed and choreographed in Omaha Jazz Dance Ensemble’s Evening of Jazz. She has choreographed for UNL's annual student dance project showing and has attended American College Dance Association conferences. Megan was also a Campus Engagement Intern at the Lied Center, connecting students to the arts. She recently choreographed and directed a dance film called Where the Water Runs. Megan is proud to come back to Mary Lorraine’s Dance Center as a teacher and give back to the studio that raised her.
Guest Master Teachers
MLDC believes in the importance of exposing our students to other teachers and their styles. Past in-house master teachers have included:
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Nick Drago - Professional Dancer/choreography visited to set choreography on our competition team.
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Dancers from the cast of Hairspray National Tour
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Dancers from the cast of Funny Girl National Tour
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Dancers from the cast of Wicked National Tour
Nicholas Drago and Grant Chenok of FLOW 40 (based out of L.A.)
Ashley Becker - Point Park University Graduate and Director of Quest Intensive. Set Choreography.
Geoff Meyer and Jose' Silva of the Lion King cast.
Master Teacher Avram Gold, formerly of the Houston Ballet and The Omaha Theatre Ballet.
Michelle Pugh, a former MLDC dancer and now professional contemporary dancer in Denver.
Sarah Jo Fazio and Angie Sellers from NYC to teach master classes and set choreography for our award winning competition team. Two4oneproductions.com
Leigh Anne Wencker: a former Radio City Rockette and Broadway Dancer
Amy Schulke from Just Plain Dancin' of Ontario, CA worked with MLDC dancers. Her studio has been ranked the #1 competitive studio in the U.S. by Dancer Magazine.
Danielle Laurion - Contemporary master teacher and Director of The Moving Company
Bosco - Master Hip Hop teacher from L.A. has been to MLDC twice
Jeremy McQueen from NYC - studied with Alvin Ailey, has danced with numerous companies and the Radio City Music Hall show.