Dance
Carmen Cook
Carmen Cook is an outstanding product of the Mt. Zion School of Performing Arts (MZSPA). She has been dancing since the age of three and been dancing with Mt. Zion School of Performing Arts since the age of 8. She is a graduate of Oakland University with a degree in Communication. Her extensive training includes studying with Ballet Magnificat, Marygrove College, Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway in New York City and intensive training with internationally renowned ballet master and choreographer Iacob Lascu. Ms. Cook has danced locally at community events including performances with the Detroit Tigers, Cobo Hall and Dream Cruise. She has danced internationally in Lima Peru with the mission group of Mt. Zion and has been a featured soloist in performances of The Nutcracker and Coppelia. In addition to teaching Ms. Cook is an active dancer with the Mt. Zion dance worship team and church hip hop choir. She was a founding member of the award winning MZSPA competition teams and currently is an active member of the Elite Company, Elite Small Group Jazz and Principle Group.

Colleen Drews
Colleen is a graduate of Marygrove College with a bachelor’s degree in dance performance. She has been involved with dance companies at the university level. Colleen is also an award winning dancer having competed in International Dance Challenge, ADA and Applause Dance Competition. She has been teaching since 2001 and has an impressive background in teaching ballet, tap, jazz, Cecchetti ballet as well as musical theatre and adult dance fitness classes. She has studied under Jordeen Ivanov-Ericson, Penny Godboldo and Barabara Selinger.

Maria Mohrman - Dance Director, Choreographer
Maria Mohrman’s background in dance extends from coast to coast. Spending time in New York and Los Angeles, Maria has sat under the training of Rhapsody, Bev Brown, Chio and many others. She has been teaching at Mt. Zion School of Performing Arts for 17 years and going into her fourth year as the Dance Director. Specializing in Hip Hop, Maria started forming performing company’s ten years ago that place a strong emphasis on character development in addition to excellence in dance and performing technique. Believing that the growth of the dancer should extend beyond simply learning the art, Maria’s dance company’s have participated in several community outreach programs, including performing at local schools, competitions, festivals and churches. Select company members perform internationally for missions work. She has also been invited to choreograph for the Detroit Tigers, The Dream Cruise and for several roles in ballets, such as the Nutcracker and Coppelia. Many of her students have been granted scholarships to colleges and have won awards to schools such as Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, and regional talent agencies.

Andrea Redman
Andrea has been teaching for over 17 years. She holds a B.A. in Dance from Oakland University and has been on the faculty at Steps on Broadway (NYC), Rebecca Kelly Ballet Kids Co-Motion (NYC), and other schools. Ms. Redman has danced professionally in NYC with the Eglevsky Ballet, Tatiano Cabaret Show and Notara Dance Theatre as well as with the Richmond Ballet, Ballet Theatre Pennsylvania and Russian Ballet Theatre of Delaware. She has also toured nationally. She has been rehearsal director of the children’s cast of the Nutcracker with the Moscow Ballet at the Fisher Theatre and the Masonic Temple. Her students have been accepted to and received scholarships to many prestigious programs including The Julliard School, American Ballet Theatre, SAM (New York City Ballet School), University of Michigan, Wayne State University, Oakland University, Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey, and many others. She has won choreography awards and her students have placed in the finals at the Youth America Grand Prix and many other competitions. Ms. Redman has trained with many master teachers including Nancy Bielski, Suzi Taylor, Joe Lanteri and Jason Parsons. She also trained with master teachers at the Kirov Ballet School in Russia. In her teaching methods she stresses proper technique and body alignment, and striving for your personal best in an encouraging atmosphere.

Kelley Unrath
Kelley has been dancing for 17 years. She started her training at American Dance Academy, competing in local competitions along with Dance Masters of Michigan pageants. Kelley attended West Bloomfield High School and was proud to take part in its dance program as well as the pom/dance team all four years of high school. In 2004, she had the opportunity to perform with the Cincinnati Ballet in The Nutcracker through the Detroit Opera House. In 2005, Kelley attended the World Jazz Congress in Chicago, studying with artists like Gus Giordano, Frank Hatchet, Joe Tremaine, and Pattie Obey. She is currently continuing her dance education at Marygrove College, planning to graduate with a BFA in Dance Performance and a minor in Business.

Ashley Wrathell
Ashley is a product of the Mt. Zion School of Performing Arts (MZSPA) and its teacher training program. She has been dancing since the age of four and began studying at MZSPA at age seven. Ashley is currently enrolled in college pursuing a degree in sports medicine. Ashley has performed in a number of local venues for events for organizations such as the Detroit Tigers, Woodward Dream Cruise, Ambassador Magazine and others. Ashley is Zumba certified. She has trained in New York City at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway. She has studied under master choreographers Luam, Slam, Bev Brown, Dana Foglia and more. Ashley continues to dance and choreograph for the Mt. Zion Hip Hop choir as well as MZSPA.

Music
Albert Hodge - Music Director
Mr. Hodge brings more than 25 years of educational and administrative experience to the Mt. Zion School of Performing Arts. Mr. Hodge possesses a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Oakland University. Mr. Hodge has supervised and coordinated events involving over 900 students, concurrently coordinated music programs of 17 schools and 4 home school groups. He has personally performed in Europe and Scandinavia. He has also organized trips and conducted bands, orchestras and vocal groups in MSBOA, ACSI, Canada’s Wonderland, Kings Island and Cedar Point music festivals and solo and ensemble events. He continues to be an active part of the church orchestra as well as work with youth music groups of the church in addition to his duties at Mt. Zion School of Performing Arts.

Pamela Nemeth
Pam’s musical training began in her early childhood. She took private piano lessons throughout her school years and also played the clarinet in the school band. In the evenings and weekends at home she enjoyed accompanying her father on the piano as he played his violin. Pamela is currently a private piano instructor and has been for over 20 years. As a founding member of Mt. Zion Church her ministry began as a Sunday School teacher where she used her musical skills to write simple songs to help children memorize Bible verses and lesson themes. Pam was also the pianist for the children's Junior Church services for many years. She went on to become director of the children's music and arts department in which her many duties included organizing weekly worship and praise services and co-directing choir performances and musical plays that were performed every Easter and Christmas. Pam holds a Bachelor's Degree from Oakland University in elementary education. She taught at Mt. Zion School for thirteen years where she used music to enhance her daily lessons. As you can gather, music has always been an enjoyable and fulfilling part of Pam’s life. She looks forward to once again teaching at Mt. Zion to bring musical enjoyment to the lives of others.

Theatre
Clare Carnell
Clare Carnell started her journey in theatre when she was 15 years old. She was involved in her high school drama as well as Acts of the Word drama ministry. Clare has had the opportunity to experience every arena of theatre from the technical side with calling the show with lights and sound to helping build sets, props and costumes. She has written many scripts with her husband, Pastor Gabriel Carnell, for Mt. Zion children’s ministry. She began as an assistant director for the Mt. Zion Theatre Company and then moved on to direct the children’s productions for Mt. Zion Children’s Ministry for a few years. She had the wonderful opportunity to teach music at Mt. Zion Christian School and was involved in the talent shows where she helped direct music videos performed by K-5th grade. She is currently assisting Diana Stafford with the Mt. Zion Theatre Company. She loves children. Clare and her husband have been involved with the children’s ministry since 1995. They have four beautiful children of their own ranging from 7yrs to 5 months. She is so excited for this wonderful opportunity to teach at Mt. Zion School of Performing Arts.

Sonja Chiappelli
Sonya brings over nine years of tap, jazz and ballet dance experience to the Mt. Zion School of Performing Arts. She has studied and performed nationwide and internationally including Los Angeles, Florida, New York, Russia and Poland. She has competed both with dance troupes and as a soloist. Her performance and competition experience include Dance Shoppe’s competitive troupe the Classy Dancers, Junior Miss Dance Competition, Waterford Kettering Dance Team where she was captain and choreographer, and Startrek dance company which provided entertainment for children’s events and fundraisers. Sonya continues to hone her dance skills and has most recently been studying Checcetti. She has passed level one and two exams. Sonya is a member of Mt. Zion Church and is actively involved in the children’s ministry.

Annah J. Ferguson
Annah began her music education at Laguardia High School and Performing Arts in New York City. While attending La Guardia High school she began taking private voice lessons during her sophomore year with, the late, Mrs. Anna Ext. She later went on to pursue her degree at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida where she majored in vocal performance and performed in Operas such as The Marriage of Figaro and The Mikado. During Annah's career as a student she has also worked as a music teacher and drama instructor at the Expressions Summer Day Camp in Tampa, Florida for about 3 years where she directed a children's choir and scenes from the Lion King with children from Kindergarten to 5th grade. Currently, Annah is now a transfer student at the University of Michigan, pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Voice Performance.

Nicholas Hodge
Nicholas Hodge is a senior at Rochester College who is studying Communications with a Theater Focus, and is working on getting accepted into Wayne State’s Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Program. He is also the president of Rochester College’s Theater Fraternity Alpha Psi Omega. Nick has been involved with a traveling Theatre troupe called the Pied Pipers. Nick has been involved in every area backstage including set construction, stage management and directing. He also assistant taught at the Mt. Zion School of Performing Arts for a year. He is looking forward to this next year and working with all of the students.

Diana Stafford - Theatre Director
Diana was introduced to the theatre while in high school where she volunteered as a student director. She immediately loved the stage as well as the behind the scenes elements of putting a drama together. Diana was on the ground floor of the development of the Mt. Zion Theatre Company and has been active in all facets of production since its inception. She has taught theatre classes at Mt. Zion Christian School and has produced several plays and skits. Though professionally trained in family and child development and psychology Diana thoroughly enjoys working with children on a daily basis and encourages them to develop their vast resource of talents.