• Jeannie Zimbalatti's School of Dance • 2211 N. Beech Daly • Dearborn Heights, MI 48127
Our Staff
Jeannie Zimbalatti-Owner & Artistic Director
Jeannie Zimbalatti is the owner and artistic director at Jeannie Zimbalatti’s School of Dance, which is beginning its 31st year. She has dedicated a lifetime of experience to the field of dance and performance artistry. She has studied Tap, Ballet, Jazz and Flamenco with internationally known dance masters Al Gilbert, Gus Giordano, Joe Tremaine, Frank Hatchet and Christina Scott, to name a few. Her focus is on instruction, choreography, and performance artistry. Her professional credits include producing shows for universities, schools, charities, and music videos. She has achieved enthusiastic community support and recognition.
Cheryl Bandy
Cheryl Bandy is the Ballet Director at Jeannie Zimbalatti’s School of Dance. Cheryl has dedicated a lifetime to studying and teaching ballet. Cheryl received a minor in Dance from Marygrove College and is “CCA” certified (Cechetti Council of America) and incorporates this method into the entire Ballet Program. Her professional credits include elaborate ballet productions such as the Titanic, Swan Lake, Salute to America, Gigi, An American in Paris, The Phantom of the Opera, Firebird and Cinderella.
Jennifer McPherson
Jennifer joined the teaching staff at Jeannie Zimbalatti’s in 1995. She heads the JZ Tap Company and also teaches ballet and tap. Since 1981, she has been a performer and student of dance, studying Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Cechetti, Pointe, Russian, Hip Hop, and Lyrical and has competed both locally and nationally. She has choreographed several musicals for Dearborn High School including 42nd Street, Guys and Dolls, and Damn Yankees. She won the Dearborn Page Award for Outstanding Achievement in Choreography for 42nd Street (2001) and was nominated again in 2006 for Damn Yankees. Jennifer is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University with degrees in Drama & Theatre for the Young and Communications.
Renee Van de Ven
Renee has studied dance since 1984. She joined Jeannie Zimbalatti’s as a student in 1992 and later became an assistant teacher, graduating to a full-fledged instructor. Renee is a principal dancer accomplished in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Lyrical, and Jazz. She is a principal dancer of the JZ Jazz, Ballet and Tap Companies and currently heads our successful Special Needs Dance program.
Elissa Tackett
Elissa is an accomplished dancer and teacher of Tap, Ballet, and Jazz. She began her studies in 1989 and joined Jeannie Zimbalatti’s staff in 2002. She is a principal dancer of the JZ Jazz, Ballet and Tap Companies and currently heads the JZ Jazz Company. To further her education, Elissa attends various master dance programs including the Detroit Dance Collective Master Classes and the Jump convention.
Dawn Borg
Dawn Borg has been studying dance at Jeannie Zimbalatti’s since 1999, and joined the staff in 2005 as our Hawaiian instructor. Dawn was a member of the Sarah Paull Dance Company from 1970-1982, a statewide performance company. She previously taught at Sarah Paull, Dearborn Civic Center, and Oak Park High School’s Summer Program.
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