Mary Ann Focht began her dance training with Marilynn Little McKenna at the age of 6. She studied ballet, tap, Spanish dance, and jazz through her teens, then began teaching at Marilynn Little's School of Dance at the age of 16.

She subsequently studied with Julie Hawk, Bill Clifford, Bruce Bristol, and other master teachers in the Detroit area, as well as taking many study trips to NYC and attending dance conventions throughout the United States. In 1980, she opened The Dancers' Studio in Dearborn with Marilynn Little McKenna and Susan Kuhr, both of whom have since retired. She remains the sole owner of The Dancers' Studio, and continues to teach ballet / pointe, tap, jazz, and competition classes. Mary Ann enjoys teaching all ages and levels of dance.

A member of Dance Masters of Michigan / America since 1982, she has been certified through written and practical examination to teach ballet, tap, and jazz. She is also a graduate of Dance Masters of America's teachers training program. She has served on the board of directors, as Second Vice President, and as the director of the Junior Miss Dance of Michigan Scholarship competition where she is also an examiner of new members. She has won choreography and overall awards for ballet, tap, and jazz routines in solo, duo-trio, group, line, and production categories at Dance Masters of Michigan / America, Dance Olympus / Dance America, American Dance Awards, Footloose, Headliners, I Love Dance, and other competitions.

Shara Marbry began her love for dance at The Dancers’ Studio under Mary Ann Focht at the age of 5. There she was trained in the dance genres of ballet, tap, jazz, modern, musical theatre and pointe. Shara’s passion for dance continued into high school where she danced for Cass Technical High School’s Dance Workshop. From there she branched out and successfully auditioned for Twyla Tharp’s 100 Grand Celebration, Alvin Ailey’s Summer Intensive Workshop, and Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Pre-Professional Detroit Residency. There she performed in the ballet “Firebird” for two consecutive years at the Detroit Music Hall.

She continued her education at Grand Valley State University where she served as the President of GVSU’s Dance Troupe. With that organization, she organized over one hundred dancers in six dance productions. Pursuing a teaching degree, she moved back to Detroit and attended Wayne State University. There she danced for the dance company that received the prestigious honor of performing at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. for Jawola Zolar’s Repertory work of “Hair Stories.” After receiving her Bachelor of Science Degree with Teaching Certification in Physical and Dance Education, she immediately went to work. Shara is currently teaching Physical Education at University Preparatory Academy, coaching Girl’s Cross Country, finishing her graduate degree at Wayne State University and teaching where she first started, The Dancers’ Studio.

Nicole (Martin) Succurro began her dance studies at the age of 3 with Marilynn Little McKenna at the Dancers’ Studio, and then continued her study with Mary Ann Focht and Nancy Totten. She studied Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Production, and Modern dance, and was an active competitor and the winner of many competition awards. She also participated in the City of Dearborn’s Nutcracker Ballet, and has taught dance in City of Dearborn’s summer camp program. A graduate of Divine Child High School, she participated in the high school musicals, and taught in the CCD program at Divine Child for many years.

Ms. Nicole has been teaching dance at The Dancers’ Studio for ten years. She has worked all ages of dance students, ranging from 2 to 75 years old. Many of her students have won numerous awards in dance competitions. She is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, with a BA in Literature, Language, and Writing. She is married to Frank Succurro, owner of the Electric Beach Tanning, and is the mother to Saverio and Victoria.

Christina Dzingle began her training in 1986 at The Dancer’s Studio under the direction of MaryAnn Focht. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, and modern. Throughout her early years, she was able to represent Michigan at The Petite Miss Dance of America competition and was recognized as the most talented non-finalist at the Toronto venue.

Christina found success on the dance stage as a performer in competition but became interested in choreography at The University of Michigan. While pursuing her academic studies, she became part of U of M’s Impact Dance Company as both performer and choreographer taking her dances to Mendelssohn Theater, Hill Auditorium, and The Power Center. She also became part of the TDS staff during this time and enjoyed teaching hip-hop and creative dance. Her love of dance also led to auditioning for “So You Think You Can Dance” and “America’s Got Talent.”

After graduating in 2004 with a teaching certificate and BS in biology, Christina married her college sweetheart and moved to Indiana. There she taught tap at Turning Point Academy of Dance and Accented Motions Dance Studio. Her students have earned numerous awards, including overall high score winners. Aside from dancing, Christina taught 8th-grade science, coached middle school track and field, coached high school volleyball and also became a registered nurse in 2014. She lives with her husband and three beautiful children, Collin, Reagan, and Reese.