The LaShelle’s Staff

 

We are proud to have such a talented, dedicated and passionate staff! Many of our staff members trained as youth and are now proud to share the gift of dance with others.  Our staff members have a wide array of experience and are well versed in all genres of dance.


Wilkanda LaShelle Goodman, Founder/Owner of LaShelle’s School of Dance has been dancing and performing since the age of three.  She received a foundation in tap, jazz and ballet while attending Sheryl’s School of Dance for 14 years and competing as a member of Sherylette’s and Company.  She also traveled and performed in Cozumel, Mexico and on a Caribbean Carnival cruise ship with Sheryl’s in 1995.  She became exposed to Modern and African dance while attending Cass Technical H.S.  and at Ferris State University, she became one of the founders of New Vibe Dance Team and choreographed and performed with them throughout her college career.  In recent years, LaShelle  earned her Masters of Business Administration, completed 3 years of the Dance Masters of America Teacher’s Training School and recently passed her Cecchetti Grade II teacher’s examination with the Cecchetti Council of America. Prior to opening LaShelle’s she also instructed Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Tap classes for other programs in the Detroit area.  It has always been her dream and passion to start a dance program in metro Detroit because Wilkanda LaShelle believes dance should be an art that all growing children are exposed to.  As a Michigan certified teacher, she has an unconditional Love for teaching all ages.

24705 Coolidge Hwy. Oak Park, MI 48237 - 248.414.3243 - lashellesdance@gmail.com

Carolyn Goodman, Business Manager of LaShelle’s School of Dance and Tennessee native, is a proud educator, wife and “dance mom”.  She graduated from Lane College in Jackson, TN with a Bachelors in Education and from Wayne State University with a Masters of Business Administration. As a child growing up in a small town, she did not have access to attend a dance studio or take dance classes. However, when she moved to Detroit, got married and started a family, she always knew she wanted her children to receive a dance education.  Alongside her husband, Willie James Goodman, Carolyn exposed her daughters (Miss LaShelle & Miss Carollette) to many years of dance training, master classes, competitions and performance opportunities on local, national and international levels. A teacher  of Accounting and Business Math for the Detroit Public School System for 40 years,  and a dance mom for over 30 years, “Mrs. Goodman” makes for quite the Business Manager.

Carollette Phillips, Public Relations Director and Dance Instructor at LaShelle’s, is proud to be a native Detroiter.  She recently earned her Masters of Fine Arts degree at Wayne State University and passed the Cecchetti Council of America’s Grade I & II teacher’s examinations.  She also successfully passed 4 years of the Teacher’s Training program with Dance Masters of America, achieving an excellence in teaching scholarship in 2013 for  outstanding work in her ballet, tap and jazz teacher examinations. No stranger to the stage, Carollette began dancing at age three at Sheryl’s School of Dance and has since gained substantial experience as a dancer and choreographer.  During high school she worked with Gina Ellis and the Renaissance Dance Workshop before moving onto Miami University of Ohio where she was a dancer and choreographer with Vision Dance Company and earned her B.A. in Communications.  She has taught tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop and modern dance and provided choreography for numerous events with organizations such as the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, The Rosedale Park Players, Andover High School, the Wharton Center at Michigan State University and The Cotillion Society of Detroit. In 2000, Carollette participated in a master tap workshop with Gregory Hines and appeared alongside him in Ebony Magazine. Carollette has had numerous opportunities to work with notable dance professionals and programs including traveling to Russia and studying under former prima ballerina Larisa Dmitrieva. When Carollette is not onstage, she enjoys spending time with her husband, family and friends.

Rita McMorris California native, Rita McMorris had a passion for dance early on in life. Focusing on more urban dance styles as a teenager, Rita paid special attention to prominent dancers and choreographers such as Fatima Robinson and Debbie Allen, which influenced her to start doing choreography of her own. Rita formally began her dance training at Redford High School in Detroit, Michigan, becoming a part of the Redford Dance Company. Rita later attended Michigan State University where she became the Choreographer for Spartan Soul dance team for the next 4 years. She later trained with dance companies and studios such as Choreografitti, Artistry in Motion and Freedom Danz Xpressions to begin mastering other art forms, and has done choreography for dance teams at Groves High School in Beverly Hills, Michigan helping them place 1st in the UDA dance competition. Rita graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Advertising, and currently works as an Account Supervisor in the Advertising Industry. Rita has choreographed routines for all of the dance companies at LaShelle’s helping them win multiple 1st place titles in the Hip Hop Division at both Tremaine and Starpower competitions. Her “Digital Divas” choreography won the Junior National High Score Award and was selected out of 250 dances to be featured in the 2010 Tremaine Gala in Orlando Florida. Rita’s choreography had the opportunity to be performed for Executive Producer, Choreographer and Judge, Nigel Lythgoe from “So You Think You Can Dance” and known Choreographer and director Barry Lather. Rita constantly works to challenge every dancer and provide them with an excelled level of personal growth and dance opportunity.  Rita’s Motto: “Always Think Outside the Box”.

Teacher Assistant Training Program

At LaShelle’s, students that are interested in becoming Dance Educators and Choreographers are given the opportunity to become teacher’s assistants and junior staff members. The ultimate goal is to give these young dancers tangible experience they can use in the future and also provide them with the opportunity to become Dance Instructors at the studio in the future. 

Angela Austin began her training at the celebrated Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts where she had the privilege of working with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Opera House, Fox Theatre, Fisher Theatre, and the historic Dance Theatre of Harlem. Ms. Angela continued her training on scholarship at Oakland University where she earned her BA in Dance, and later received her Masters of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Michigan. She also studied at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York City and the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company in Ohio as a Maggie Allesee Summer Study Scholarship recipient. In 2005 she was the recipient of the Jacob Decker Dance Award for Outstanding Dance Performance. Ms. Angela has performed with Oakland Dance Theatre, OU Repertory Dance Company and has appeared as guest dancer with the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, Patterson Rhythm Pace Dance Company, Gladdys Knight, Deborah Gibson, Billy Porter and Kaddy Adams. She has performed works by choreographers including Sean Curran, Martha Graham, Rennie Harris, Amy Marshall, Laurie Eisenhower, Leyya Tawil, and Li Chao Ping, among others. She is currently the dance teacher at the Marvin L. Winans Academy of Performing Arts.

Chanita Dunham enjoyed dancing as a young child. Choreographing dance routines with family and friends were a favorite pass time.  She pursued dance in a more structured atmosphere in 1996 when she joined the praise dance ministry at her church in which she has been active for the past 16 years. Her passionate and energetic expressions of dance led her into the position of Dance Leader and Choreographer at New Bethel Christian Church in Lansing, MI for two years and Greater Apostolic Church in Detroit, MI for the last six years.  There, Chanita started a youth hip hop ministry and sign language ministry working with individuals of various ages.  Her church dance ministry “Dynamic Dancers of Praise” has performed at numerous services locally and has recently had the opportunity to open for the local stage play “A House Divided” in 2011.  Chanita has participated in the National Liturgical Dance Network and the Detroit/Lansing Chapter Dance Workshop “Calling, Commitment, and Discipline” in April 2006. She has also furthered her training by taking the Praise/Modern Dance class at LaShelle’s School of Dance in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons and attending the Dance Masters of America Teachers’ Training School in July 2012 and 2013. Chanita enjoys spending time with family and friends and continuing her love of sports. She believes that a leader should also be a mentor and an example to those whom he/she leads.

Tiffany Glenn is an Administrative Assistant at LaShelles. While taking time off to raise her family, she began working with the studio and has been there for 3 years. Tiffany has a background in administration and finance, and she has worked with a local bank for over 9 years.  Currently, she works at the school her children attend and she loves it.  Tiffany began working at the studio because she loves to be around kids.  She believes the love for kids came from being an only child, and helping take care of younger cousins.  When not at the studio, Tiffany enjoys being with her husband, her children and traveling. 

Ashia Lee is currently a student at Wayne State University, majoring in Pre-Med (Biology) pursuing a Bachelors degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences. She is currently working as a Patient Attendant for the Detroit Medical Center in hopes of one day becoming an Obstetrician, Physician Assistant, or a Paramedic. As a child, she had a passion for cheerleading, stepping, and dancing, but her main focus was on academics. Ashia was an over achiever throughout grade school, graduating from Heart Academy High School as class valedictorian in June of 2007. In her spare time she loves creating step routines and choreographing dance routines. She is currently working with the Detroit Youth Choir & Performing Arts Company as a dance choreographer. Though her passion and main focus is on getting to medical school, Ashia loves to dance as a hobby, attending classes at LaShelle’s School of Dance from 2006-present and currently working as an Administrative Assistant.  Ashia believes in being a well-rounded individual and striving for excellence in everything that you do!

Susan Clayton -  DDCdances company member and company ballet teacher proud to be dancing her 24th season 2013/2014. Past company work includes MoreDances Contemporary Dance Company, Harbinger Dance Company, Ballet Michigan, MI, Opus Dance Ensemble, NV, Dance & Company, Il,  review shows in FL, NV, PA, as well in Japan and Italy. Sue has danced with Sigfried & Roy at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas, NV, and with Carlton and Company as a featured act in Jubilee in Las Vegas, NV. Sue toured the Caribbean as dancer, dance captain and company manager of the Norwegian Cruise Lines, Fl.  Sue is an experienced teacher and has directed her own school, been on staff at many local studios, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Oakland Community College, and Oakland University. Susan has studied Vaganova Ballet through teacher's course work at Lake Michigan College, MI and at Nutmeg Ballet, CT.  Comprehensive study in creative movement at Wayne State University, MI. Full Dance Merit Scholarship (one year) at Giordano Dance Center, IL. After becoming interested in more injury prevention work, Susan completed and is a certified registered RYT 200 yoga therapist through Yoga Medics in spine care, and Sun Moon Yoga.  In 2013 Susan completed course work in Pedagogy For Different Learning Styles through NDEO, and Ballet Based Biomechanics and Orthopedic Analysis Level 1 through the Humanitarian Resource Institute.  Other related studies have been in nutrition and anatomy, always trying to learn more to protect dancers from injury.

Cathy Taister grew up in California, where she trained at Orange County Dance Center which is an award winning studio. For college, Mrs. Taister moved to Washington DC where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance from George Washington University. She is certified as a performing arts teacher for public schools by the District of Columbia. Cathy has been teaching dance for eighteen years. She is trained in acro, ballet, tap, jazz, and modern.  As a teacher, Cathy enjoys using her background in a variety of movement arts to create exciting programs to help her students learn and grow.  Mrs. Taister has enjoyed a colorful career as a performing artist. She has performed with Saint Mark’s Dance Company, Atlas Moving Company, World Dance Focus, and Avadance. She also ran her own dance company, called Cathy and Company for seven years. The most memorable performances include performing for the Kennedy Center’s open house and performing with Figment in New York City.

Alanna Phillips is currently a Senior at  Renaissance High School and an honor student. While maintaining a 3.5 G.P.A., she participates in Renaissance's Dance Workshop, is a LaShelle’s Company Training Program member, and is a part of the staff at LaShelle's.  Starting dance at the age of 7, Alanna has come a long way and loves to dance. She is proficient in all genres including Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern and Lyrical dance and recently passed her Cecchetti Grade II Student Examination.  Also she is a past recipient of the LaShelle’s Scholarship for Excellence in Dance and has received numerous awards as a competitive dancer at the State, Regional and National levels.  Her most recent victories took place with the Tremaine Regional and National Dance Conventions in St. Louis, MO and Orlando, FL. As a student Alanna has had the opportunity to train with Dance Master’s of America, the Cecchetti Council of America, the Michigan Youth Arts Festival, the Broadway Dance Center , the Alvin Ailey Dance Center in New York City and the International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference.  As an instructor Alanna has worked with students of all ages and has had a great impact as a peer mentor and youth leader.

Administrative Staff

LSODance Teachers’ Assistant Team

2012 - 2013

(From L to R)


  1. -Row 1: Diondra Reynolds

  2. -Row 2: Rianna Dorsey, Daija Dennis, Jayla Williams, Destiny Taylor, Devin Maples

  3. -Row 3: Lanee’ Dickens, Shylah Rivers

  4. -Row 4: Breann Darkins, Chondra Franklin, Madalyn Tenace, Martasia Bozeman

ZUMBA - Take the "work" out of workout, by mixing low-intensity and high-intensity moves for an interval-style, calorie-burning dance fitness party. Once the Latin and World rhythms take over, you'll see why Zumba® Fitness classes are often called exercise in disguise. A total workout, combining all elements of fitness – cardio, muscle conditioning, balance and flexibility, boosted energy and a serious dose of awesome each time you leave class.

We are proud to have such a talented, dedicated and passionate staff! Many of our staff members developed a love for dance as youth and are now proud to share the gift of dance with others.  Click on the names below to view individual bios.



Meet Our Student Teachers!

https://app.jackrabbitclass.com/reg.asp?id=523529

Teacher Training Program

Exceptional students that are interested in becoming Dance Educators and Choreographers are given the opportunity to become Junior Staff Members. In order to be selected, these dancers must exhibit excellence on and off the dance floor and have a proven history of dedication and professionalism as young artists. The ultimate goal is to give these rising stars real job experience they can use in the future and also to provide them with the opportunity to become Dance Instructors and choreographers



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