SHELBY TILMANN IS A 2016 GRADUATE OF GRAND VALLEY UNIVERSITY WHERE SHE EARNED A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN DANCE. DURING HER TIME AT GVSU, SHELBY TRAINED IN TECHNICAL COURSES INCLUDING, BALLET, MODERN, JAZZ, CONTEMPORARY, DANCE HISTORY, DANCE COSTUMING, PEDAGOGY, AND CHOREOGRAPHY/IMPROVISATION. SHE ALSO PERFORMED WITH GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY DANCE COMPANY, AS WELL AS GVSU MOMENTUM DANCE CLUB.

SHELBY’S TEACHING & CHOREOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE INCLUDES: GVSU DANCE COMPANY, GVSU CHILDREN’S ENRICHMENT CENTER, THE DANCE CENTER, ROCKFORD SCHOOL OF DANCE, THE DANCE ASYLUM, DUHADWAY DANCE DIMENSIONS, FLAT RIVER DANCE COMPANY, AND EVOLVE DANCE STUDIO. SHE RECEIVED HER FOUNDATIONAL TRAINING AT DUHADWAY DANCE DIMENSIONS INCLUDING BALLET, POINTE, CECCHETTI, JAZZ, LYRICAL, CONTEMPORARY, TAP AND HIP HOP.

SHELBY’S FAVORITE PART OF TEACHING AND CHOREOGRAPHING IS SEEING HER STUDENTS POUR THEIR LOVE INTO SOMETHING SHE HAS HELPED CREATE.

EMILY STALL BEGAN HER DANCE CAREER AT THE AGE OF THREE. THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL, SHE TRAINED AT DUHADWAY DANCE DIMENSIONS AS WELL AS THE SAGINAW ARTS AND SCIENCES ACADEMY, STUDYING BALLET, POINTE, CECCHETTI, JAZZ, LYRICAL, TAP, HIP HOP, MUSICAL THEATER, AND MORE.

EMILY CONTINUED DANCING AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL, EARNING A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION AND DANCE, AS WELL AS A MASTER’S DEGREE IN ADAPTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FROM SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY IN PENNSYLVANIA. WHILE DANCING ON THE ROCK DANCE TEAM AND WORKING WITH ENVISION BLIND SPORTS, EMILY REFINED HER ADAPTIVE TEACHING SKILLS TO SERVE DIVERSE POPULATIONS.

SHE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT CREATING AN INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERY DANCER FEELS ACCEPTED AND VALUED.

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AURORA BEGAN HER DANCE JOURNEY AT THE AGE OF 19 WHILE ATTENDING CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY. SHE TRAINED IN A VARIETY OF TECHNICAL STYLES, INCLUDING MODERN, JAZZ, BALLET, HIP HOP, BHARATANATYAM, AND TAP. AURORA HAS DANCED WITH NUMEROUS ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, PARTICIPATING AS A GUEST TO IMMERSE HERSELF IN THEIR CULTURES AND MOVEMENT STYLES.

SHE WENT ON TO PERFORM WITH THE CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY THEATRE DANCE COMPANY, WHERE SHE GAINED EXPERIENCE NOT ONLY IN PROFESSIONAL DANCE BUT ALSO IN THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF PRODUCING A DANCE CONCERT.

WHILE AT CMU, AURORA EARNED A BACHELOR OF APPLIED ARTS IN DANCE STUDIES AND A BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP. SHE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT CREATING A SAFE, INCLUSIVE, AND CREATIVE SPACE WHERE ALL STUDENTS CAN GROW AND THRIVE ON THEIR DANCE JOURNEYS.

Growing up in Houston, Texas, Sarah trained in Ballet, En Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, and Contemporary dance. She performed competitively at both the regional and national levels with Boni’s Dance and Performing Arts Studio while having the opportunity to take class from industry professionals such as Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, Melanie Moore, and Sonya Tayeh. Additionally, Sarah studied ballet under former Houston Ballet Principal Dancers and current Ballet West faculty Jim and Bridget Payne, performing in many of their story ballets. 

Sarah moved to Michigan to attend Calvin University, where she earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education and minored in dance. She performed in and choreographed several pieces for Calvin’s Dance Guild, and began teaching at different studios in the greater Grand Rapids area. She has worn the many hats of teacher, choreographer, and assistant director.

Sarah is passionate about challenging her students to achieve while instilling in them a love of dance. She is thrilled to continue this passion at Evolve.

HAILEY VANDERWEIDE IS A DEDICATED AND PASSIONATE DANCER WITH OVER 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN COMPETITIVE DANCE. SHE HAS PERFORMED NATIONALLY WITH HIGHLY REVERED COMPANIES INCLUDING DANCE DIMENSIONS AND VDW DANCE COMPANY, SHOWCASING HER SKILLS IN A WIDE RANGE OF STYLES INCLUDING BALLET, EN POINTE, CONTEMPORARY, TAP, JAZZ, MODERN, AND LYRICAL.

HAILEY HAS STUDIED PRIVATELY WITH ESTEEMED BALLET INSTRUCTOR CASSIDY ISAACSON OF GRAND RAPIDS BALLET AND FROM DISTINGUISHED CHOREOGRAPHERS INCLUDING CHRISTA SMUTEK, MELISSA LOBES, SELENA MOLTER WILLIAMS, JENNA BARTHOLME, RACHEL SIEGEL ANDNINA POLLZZIE. HER STRONG TECHNICAL FOUNDATION AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE HAVE EARNED HER CONSISTENT TOP 5 PLACEMENTS IN THE ADVANCED CATEGORY AT NATIONAL DANCE COMPETITIONS AND CONVENTIONS. IN ADDITION TO HER YEAR-ROUND TRAINING, HAILEY ATTENDED SUMMER BALLET INTENSIVES AT GRAND RAPIDS BALLET AND DANCED ON HER HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY DANCE TEAM, FURTHER REFINING HER CLASSICAL TECHNIQUE AND ARTISTRY.

CURRENTLY A JUNIOR AT GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY, HAILEY IS PURSUING A DEGREE IN BUSINESS AND MARKETING. SHE BRINGS HER LOVE OF DANCE INTO THE STUDIO AS AN INSTRUCTOR AND MENTOR, FINDING JOY IN GUIDING EVOLVE STUDENTS AND WATCHING THEM GROW IN BOTH SKILL AND CONFIDENCE.

LAUREN VANDERWEIDE IS A SEASONED AND VERSATILE DANCER WITH OVER 15 YEARS OF TRAINING AND NATIONAL COMPETITION EXPERIENCE. SHE HAS PERFORMED WITH OUTSTANDING COMPANIES INCLUDING DANCE DIMENSIONS AND VDW DANCE COMPANY, DEVELOPING STRONG TECHNICAL FOUNDATIONS ACROSS BALLET, EN POINTE, CONTEMPORARY, TAP, JAZZ, MODERN, AND LYRICAL.

LAUREN HAS RECEIVED PRIVATE BALLET INSTRUCTION FROM THE RENOWNED CASSIDY ISAACSON (GRAND RAPIDS BALLET) AND REFINED HER CONTEMPORARY TECHNIQUE UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF EXPERT CHOREOGRAPHERS INCLUDING CHRISTA SMUTEK, MELISSA LOBES, RACHEL SIEGEL, SELENA MOLTER WILLIAMS, JENNA BARTHOLME AND NINA POLLZZIE. HER ADVANCED TECHNICAL ABILITY AND EXPRESSIVE ARTISTRY HAVE EARNED HER CONSISTENT TOP 5 PLACEMENTS IN THE ADVANCED CATEGORY AT NATIONAL DANCE COMPETITIONS AND CONVENTIONS. HER DEDICATION AND TALENT WERE RECOGNIZED WITH A FULL SCHOLARSHIP TO THE SUMMER BALLET INTENSIVE AT GRAND RAPIDS BALLET, WHERE SHE DEEPENED HER CLASSICAL TECHNIQUE AND STAGE PRESENCE. IN ADDITION TO HER STUDIO ACHIEVEMENTS, LAUREN WAS ALSO A DEDICATED MEMBER OF HER HIGH SCHOOL’S VARSITY DANCE TEAM.

CURRENTLY A JUNIOR AT GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY, LAUREN IS PURSUING A DEGREE IN BUSINESS AND MARKETING. SHE CONTINUES TO SHARE HER PASSION FOR DANCE THROUGH HER WORK WITH THE TALENTED DANCERS AT EVOLVE DANCE STUDIO, INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION WITH HER EXPERIENCE AND LOVE FOR THE ART FORM.

Megan Ellison is the owner and founder of Evolve Dance Studio, a family-focused, inclusive dance space where joy, creativity, and community are at the heart of everything. With a lifelong love of dance and a passion for creating meaningful experiences for children and families, Megan opened Evolve to be more than just a dance studio—it’s a place where every dancer is valued, supported, and encouraged to grow.

Inspired by her own positive experiences with dance growing up, Megan created Evolve to foster a welcoming, fun, and nurturing environment for dancers of all ages and abilities. From recreational classes to competitive team training and sensory-friendly programs, Evolve offers something for everyone. Under Megan’s leadership, the studio has become known for its highly trained staff, uplifting atmosphere, and commitment to building confidence through movement.

As a mother herself, Megan understands the importance of balance, community, and support—values that are reflected in every part of the studio. Whether it’s the family-friendly lobby with a kid zone and viewing monitors or the personalized attention given to each dancer, Megan’s vision is clear: to create a space where dancers feel at home and leave each class excited to return.

Evolve Dance Studio is more than a place to learn dance—it’s a place to belong.