Meet Our Staff!
Manda Moore- (Studio Director & Instructor) Ms. Manda is the owner and director of Manda's Rhythm & Dance, LLC. Her attention to detail, nurturing demeanor, and gift for creativity are the driving force behind the tremendous growth of her studio. In the fifteen years of operation, Ms. Manda has seen many successes including sold out studio performances, the development of a superior performance company, and an award winning competition team. Ms. Manda received her dance training in area dance studios and started to teach at the age of 16. She knew immediately that teaching dance was her passion and that was determined to open a studio of her own. Ms. Manda attended Central Michigan University and received a degree in Entrepreneurship with a minor in Dance. She opened Manda's Rhythm & Dance in 2005 and in the Summer of 2007, was contracted to direct the dance program for Macomb Township Parks and Recreation. She continues her dance training with National conventions and seminars. She is the proud mother to 2 dancing daughters, Caroline and Camille.
Maria Buchholtz- (Company Director & Recreational Instructor) Ms. Maria is a graduate of Wayne State University where she studied dance education and earned a BA in Liberal Arts. She has worked as a professional choreographer and instructor for over 20 years. Ms. Maria has continued to educate herself in teacher workshops and learning the most current and innovative teaching methods in the industry today. Maria is trained in classical ballet, contemporary, modern and jazz. She is also trained in ballroom dance. She loves teaching the adult ballroom classes her at MRD! She has learned the value of education through dance. Her favorite place is still in the classroom sharing her passion for the art of dance! She also loves spending time with her 2 daughters, a very patient husband and one crazy dog.
Julie Geggie- (Recreation Instructor) Julie has been teaching ballet and other styles of dance for over 20 years. She teaches all ages, from Mommy and me classes to adults! Her main area of focus is in ballet but her love for dance spans across all styles. Julie currently teaches at Manda’s Rhythm and Dance since September of 2017. She has also had the opportunity to teach at TCH Dance Academy, Underground Dance Company and Fabulous Feet. She began her teaching experience at Metropolitan Ballet Center. She started her pre professional training with Renee Wood at Metropolitan Ballet Center at the age of 9.
From there she has had many opportunities to preform leading roles in The Nutcracker and many other ballets. She has had training from American Ballet Theater, Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Internationale, Ballet Magnificat, The Rock Ballet, Dance Theater of Harlem and other amazing professional ballet instructors throughout her life. All of her experiences have led her to her love of teaching children and adults, which is something that she is passionate about. Julie is also a mother of 3 amazing children and a wife to a wonderful husband.
Ashley Haynes- (Recreation & Company Instructor) Miss Ashley has been dancing since she was 4 at local dance studios, and started teaching when she was 18. She also coached Lutheran High North’s Dance Team. In 2015, she graduated from Wayne State University with her Bachelors of Science in Dance. She is certified in our Leap N Learn curriculum and in Acrobatic Arts. Miss Ashley is also one of our instructors at the Macomb Rec Center. When she is not teaching dance, she is performing as an aerialist with the Detroit Circus.
Emily Hill- (Recreation & Company Instructor) Miss Emily has been dancing and performing since the age of two. She attended Arts Academy in the Woods high school in Fraser. Miss Emily is currently in her fourth year as an honors student at Wayne State University working towards her B.S. degree in Dance and Dance Education, and a member of the National Dance Education Organization. She has performed in pieces choreographed by Jarrel Gordy, Lisa LaMarre, and Biba Bell in WSU biannual dance concerts. Miss Emily has been teaching dance for the last three years at Manda’s Rhythm and Dance and is beginning her fourth-year teaching. She has also recently finished her first year on ConTexture dance Detroit dance company. Emily has also recently been certified as a kickbox/fitness trainer through 9Round Eastpointe. Emily is very passionate about dance and movement and is excited for another great dance season!
Gracie Reiter- (Recreation & Company Instructor) Ms. Gracie has been dancing since a very young age at local dance studios and has participated at various competitions. Ms. Gracie started as an assistant teacher at our studio and is entering her twelfth year as an instructor for MRD and the Macomb Township Parks and Rec. She teaches Twinkle Babies, Twinkle Stars, Jazz, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Poms, and Tap.
Maria Buchholtz- (Company Director & Recreational Instructor) Ms. Maria is a graduate of Wayne State University where she studied dance education and earned a BA in Liberal Arts. She has worked as a professional choreographer and instructor for over 20 years. Ms. Maria has continued to educate herself in teacher workshops and learning the most current and innovative teaching methods in the industry today. Maria is trained in classical ballet, contemporary, modern and jazz. She is also trained in ballroom dance. She loves teaching the adult ballroom classes her at MRD! She has learned the value of education through dance. Her favorite place is still in the classroom sharing her passion for the art of dance! She also loves spending time with her 2 daughters, a very patient husband and one crazy dog.
Julie Geggie- (Recreation Instructor) Julie has been teaching ballet and other styles of dance for over 20 years. She teaches all ages, from Mommy and me classes to adults! Her main area of focus is in ballet but her love for dance spans across all styles. Julie currently teaches at Manda’s Rhythm and Dance since September of 2017. She has also had the opportunity to teach at TCH Dance Academy, Underground Dance Company and Fabulous Feet. She began her teaching experience at Metropolitan Ballet Center. She started her pre professional training with Renee Wood at Metropolitan Ballet Center at the age of 9.
From there she has had many opportunities to preform leading roles in The Nutcracker and many other ballets. She has had training from American Ballet Theater, Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Internationale, Ballet Magnificat, The Rock Ballet, Dance Theater of Harlem and other amazing professional ballet instructors throughout her life. All of her experiences have led her to her love of teaching children and adults, which is something that she is passionate about. Julie is also a mother of 3 amazing children and a wife to a wonderful husband.
Ashley Haynes- (Recreation & Company Instructor) Miss Ashley has been dancing since she was 4 at local dance studios, and started teaching when she was 18. She also coached Lutheran High North’s Dance Team. In 2015, she graduated from Wayne State University with her Bachelors of Science in Dance. She is certified in our Leap N Learn curriculum and in Acrobatic Arts. Miss Ashley is also one of our instructors at the Macomb Rec Center. When she is not teaching dance, she is performing as an aerialist with the Detroit Circus.
Emily Hill- (Recreation & Company Instructor) Miss Emily has been dancing and performing since the age of two. She attended Arts Academy in the Woods high school in Fraser. Miss Emily is currently in her fourth year as an honors student at Wayne State University working towards her B.S. degree in Dance and Dance Education, and a member of the National Dance Education Organization. She has performed in pieces choreographed by Jarrel Gordy, Lisa LaMarre, and Biba Bell in WSU biannual dance concerts. Miss Emily has been teaching dance for the last three years at Manda’s Rhythm and Dance and is beginning her fourth-year teaching. She has also recently finished her first year on ConTexture dance Detroit dance company. Emily has also recently been certified as a kickbox/fitness trainer through 9Round Eastpointe. Emily is very passionate about dance and movement and is excited for another great dance season!
Gracie Reiter- (Recreation & Company Instructor) Ms. Gracie has been dancing since a very young age at local dance studios and has participated at various competitions. Ms. Gracie started as an assistant teacher at our studio and is entering her twelfth year as an instructor for MRD and the Macomb Township Parks and Rec. She teaches Twinkle Babies, Twinkle Stars, Jazz, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Poms, and Tap.
