Our mission is to inspire and empower individuals of all ages and backgrounds through the art of dance.

Instructor
TyLeigh Baughman is a dancer originally from Sand Springs, Oklahoma. After training with Tulsa Ballet’s Center for Dance Education, she was the first person to graduate from the school to be hired into Tulsa Ballet’s main company. In 2017 she moved to Columbus, Ohio to join BalletMet as a company artist and has been a dancer there ever since. She has performed in many roles such as Odette in Edwaard Liang’s “Swan Lake” and Clara in BalletMet’s “The Nutcracker.” She has had the opportunity to perform at the Joyce Theater in New York City, and for Moscelyne Larkin’s Memorial Gala. She has also performed in many world premieres and works by world renowned choreographers such as Ma Cong, Edwaard Liang, and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. She began teaching ballet and pointe classes to young students in 2018, and has since transitioned into teaching to people of all ages and levels.
Instructor
Competition Team Director/Production Manager
Kara Braunreiter began dancing at the age of 4 and hasn't stopped dancing! She danced competitively with Eau Claire School of Dance in Eau Claire, WI and with her high school dance teams in both Schaumburg, Il and Eau Claire, WI. She began dancing at Artisan in 2013 when she moved to Columbus to pursue her PhD in Molecular Genetics. Since then, she has been a part of numerous Artisan Ballet Company productions including The Wizard of Oz and Mary Poppins, but her favorite role so far has been Cinderella in Cinderella! Kara began teaching with Artisan in 2015, and she enjoys sharing her love for dances with students of all ages. In her free time, you can find Kara reading books and playing with her dogs, Cinderella, Jasmine and Cookie.

Instructor
Christina D’Amico began dancing at the age of 5 at Mason Dance Center in Mason, Ohio. She danced there through high school and trained in: tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, and contemporary; Christina was also a member of Mason Dance Center’s competition team and their pre-professional ballet program. She has been dancing at Artisan Dance Studio since 2016 and has been teaching here since 2017. Christina graduated from The Ohio State University in 2012 where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management and minored in dance. During the day she is the Senior Sales Manager at the Hyatt Regency Columbus and in her free time you can find her at dinner and a show with her mom, spoiling her two nephews, reading a book, or taking her favorite Theatre Jazz class at Artisan.
Instructor
Haley Fravel is a dancer and teacher from Galloway, Ohio. She grew up dancing on the west side of Columbus at first Dance Center West, followed by Dance Rhythms Studio, where she began teaching in 2011. She attended The Ohio State University, where she received her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education in 2020, after first completing her Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Development and Education in 2017. Throughout her time in school, she continued teaching dance classes for children ages 3-16, as well as working in a variety of childcare settings with children aged 6 weeks to 12 years. Currently, she is a 1st grade teacher at Cypress Christian School in Galloway, where she strives to give each child a positive outlook on learning, and a confidence in themselves that they can carry with them well beyond their time with her.
Instructor
Steve received his PhD ('21) in Dance Studies from The Ohio State University, where he wrote his dissertation on 20th century British ballet choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton. Prior to graduate school, he studied ballet at Ohio State with numerous teachers who gave him a well-rounded foundation, upon which he received additional Balanchine oriented training at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle, Washington. In his spare time, he enjoys pampering his dog Mako, a toasted marshmallow fluff Shi-Tzu/Bichon mix who is an excellent cuddle-bug.

Instructor
Amy Holihan performed with Pennsylvania Ballet and New York City Ballet during a seven-year career as a working artist.

She attended summer training programs at Miami City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and School of American Ballet (SAB), enrolling in SAB’s Winter Term in 2017. She trained for 3 years at SAB, with opportunities to perform in New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker, then accepted a position with The Pennsylvania Ballet where she danced for seven seasons. Featured roles included the Siren in George Balanchine’s The Prodigal Son as well as Russian Divertissement and Big Swan in Christopher Wheeldon’s Swan Lake. She also had the privilege of performing notable works by William Forsythe, Jerome Robbins, and Twyla Tharp.
In addition to her ballet career, Amy holds a B.A. in English from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. in Arts Policy and Administration from the Ohio State University. She is currently the Senior Project Manager for the Columbus Music Commission and a member of Dance Data Project’s Advisory Council.
Amy is also a fiber artist who loves to go hiking, play with her dog, and explore new places.
Instructor
Joanna Hollern fell in love with dance as a child and trained and competed in all genres until graduating high school. One of the highlights of her early dance training was performing at Walt Disney World in 2016. After graduation, she attended Miami University where she performed with Dance Theatre, choreographed multiple pieces, and taught company class. She also attended The American College Dance Association (ACDA) for three years, taking classes in multiple genres and performing in both adjudicated and informal concerts. Notably, her piece 'Age of Envy' was performed at ACDA in 2020. After graduation, Joanna continued to train and perform with a local contemporary dance company before co-founding Artisan Dance Collective in 2022. ADC is a diverse dance company that specializes in contemporary, modern, jazz, and more. Joanna is passionate about teaching and creating a nurturing environment for her students, emphasizing technical skills as well as individuality, creativity, and a love for dance.
Founder/Director
Jessica Kehn is the Founder/Owner of Artisan Dance Studio, where her passion for dance and creating a vibrant community shines through. With a background as a competitive dancer and a degree in English and Dance from The Ohio State University, Jessica brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role.
Throughout her career, Jessica has honed her skills through continuous learning, attending esteemed institutions such as Broadway Dance Center, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Tap Into the Network, and Rhythm Works. Additionally, her dedication to giving back is evident in her volunteer work at the Ohio Reformatory for Women, where she taught incarcerated women the art of tap dancing, providing them with a transformative outlet.
What excites Jessica every day is the opportunity to foster a love for dance in both youth and adults, and to build a supportive and inclusive community within Artisan Dance Studio. She believes in creating an environment where everyone can explore their passion for movement, express their creativity, and form lifelong connections.
Beyond the studio, Jessica finds joy in the simple pleasures of life. She loves spending time outdoors, exploring nature's wonders, and cherishing moments with her husband, two dogs (Rigsby and Paula), and cat (Moe). As a perpetual learner, she also finds inspiration in her piano lessons, nurturing her artistic growth outside the realm of dance.
With Jessica's warm and friendly demeanor, she welcomes you to Artisan Dance Studio, where the magic of dance and the power of community converge to create unforgettable experiences.

Instructor
As an Irish dance competitor, Myles placed top three at the Mid-America Regionals, top 10 at the North American Irish Dance Championships, and achieved recall at the World Championships. He has always been passionate about delivering the best performance possible, and this passion ignited into a professional career in dance at the age of 17 while finishing out his senior year of high school. Some of his favorite roles/tours: lead role of The Priest in ‘Romeo & Juliet’ touring China; choreographer and lead role of Aidan in ‘A Celtic Christmas Story’, debut in NYC; dance captain and lead role of The Prince in Rhythm In The Night, touring North America. Myles is thrilled at the opportunity to build a foundation through his teachings and choreography with his various students to come. “I am so thrilled to continue working with such a phenomenal studio and workplace I love being able to call a second home, and build on something extraordinary - the children’s love for dance and the arts.”
Instructor
Janelle Maur is a tap dancer and musician from the Akron, Ohio area. After training at the Christine Jones-Meneer School of Dance, she moved to central Ohio in 2008 to attend Otterbein University. While there, Janelle studied Music Business, playing saxophone in Otterbein’s classical and jazz ensembles throughout Ohio and in surrounding states. In 2010, Janelle began working in the arts and culture sector, holding positions at Jazz Arts Group, the Westerville Symphony, and COSI. Today, she spends Monday through Friday working in communications at Bridgeway Academy, a school and therapy center serving children and young adults with autism and developmental disabilities.
Instructor
Marissa Morris, a Columbus native, has been dancing since the age of 3, training in all styles. She danced competitively for many years, winning numerous accolades and top overall awards with her team at both regional and national levels, and also earned multiple individual scholarship awards from Ohio Dance Masters. Marissa went on to earn a degree in Finance from Miami University, where she was a member of Dance Theatre, a contemporary-focused, student-led dance company. With Dance Theatre, Marissa performed in company concerts each semester in pieces set by her peers or professional guest choreographers. She attended the American College Dance Association’s East-Central regional conference three times during her college career, performing in both adjudicated and informal concerts, and attending master classes with dance faculty from across the country. Marissa is a founding member of Artisan Dance Collective, a performing dance company housed out of Artisan Dance Studio that showcases multiple genres. Whether she is teaching youth or adult students, or taking class herself, Marissa aims to foster a safe space for continuous growth and learning where we can all share our love and passion for dance.

Instructor
Jenna Swartz began her dance training in Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania at Enterline's Dance Center. She attended programs at The Rock School for Dance, The Joffrey Ballet School, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. She then graduated from Mercyhurst University (Erie, PA) with a BFA in Dance and a BA in Pre-Health Science, fueling her passion for injury-prevention in dancers.

While in school, Jenna performed as a company member with SoMar Dance Works (Erie, PA). After graduating she joined Seiche Dance Collective (Erie, PA) as a company artist, performing classical, contemporary, and jazz works, as well as debuting original choreography. While living in Erie, Jenna also choreographed for the Erie Dance Film Festival, worked as a remote artist for Dissonance Dance Theatre (Philadelphia, PA), and served as the rehearsal director and choreographer for Erie Contemporary Ballet Theatre, where her choreography was chosen to be presented at the Regional Dance America Festival in 2023.

Jenna is in her second season with Columbus Dance Theatre, and continues to teach and choreograph in the Columbus area.
Instructor/Director, Artisan Ballet Academy
Alexandria is a Director of Ballet Academy and an instructor at Artisan Dance Studio. She graduated from The University of Akron with a Bachelors of Arts in Dance with a business cognate along with a Psychology minor. Alexandria has taken many classes throughout Ohio, Chicago and New York City. Her choreography has been presented in Akron’s Choreographer's Showcase and Spring into Dance, Artisan’s Adult Showcase, as well as studio recitals and masterclasses throughout Ohio. Alexandria has traveled to the American College Dance Association and was also a part of The University of Akron's Dance Company. She performed in the new musical Front Page Flo, danced two seasons with Seven Dance Company, and two seasons with Cultivate Dance Project. Alexandria has also attended and completed Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s Teacher Program. Her hopes are to impact the arts one day by creating positive experiences for her students and sharing a passion and love for dance.
Instructor
Alvin Tovstogray is an artist with BalletMet and is a former Principal Dancer with Oklahoma City Ballet. Born in Dnipro, Ukraine, he received his training at the Dnipro State Choreographic School under Viacheslav Volkov. From 2008 to 2010 Mr. Tovstogray continued his training at The San Francisco Ballet School and later joined The Washington Ballet Studio Company. In 2012 Mr. Tovstogray joined Oklahoma City Ballet as a company dancer, was named Soloist in 2014 and promoted to Principal in 2015. He received multiple awards at International Ballet Competitions including Bronze at WBC Orlando, Silver at Istanbul IBC and Gold at Tanzolymp Berlin. His repertoire includes works by George Balanchine, August Bournonville, Anthony Tudor, Jiří Kylián , Nacho Duato, Twyla Tharp, Stanton Welch, Michael Pink, Septime Webre, Robert Mills, Helen Pickett, Ma Cong, , Margo Sappington, Matthew Neenan, Amy Seiwert, Brian Enos, Yui Sato, Jacob Sparso and others. Mr. Tovstogray is an American Ballet Theatre® National Training Curriculum Certified Teacher in Primary through Level 5 of the American Ballet Theatre® National Training Curriculum

Enrollment Coordinator/Instructor
After being a competitive studio and dance-team dancer growing up, Emma started her teaching journey in 2018 for Beavercreek Dance Teams and fell in love. Now, she not only teaches recreational classes at Artisan, but also has the opportunity of being an assistant choreographer for Synergy Dance LLC specializing in pom, contemporary, and jazz. Outside of teaching, you can find Emma still dancing, whether at Artisan's diverse adult classes or performing with Columbus' Cultivate Dance Project. Emma is also completing her master's degree in public health (MPH) at The Ohio State University and hopes to further serve the Columbus community. "I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the welcoming and inclusive learning environment that Artisan fosters for its students, both children and adults. There truly is nothing that makes me prouder than to represent Artisan as a teacher.
Office Manager
Carley has been dancing at Artisan Dance Studio since it opened in 2012. She started in the recreational program, and later competed on Artisan’s Competition Team earning recognition at regional competitions at local competitions. Currently, you can catch Carley in the evenings as our office manager, and taking classes at the end of the night.
Instructor
Rachel Verdi received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from The Ohio State University, and her Master of Arts in Theatre Education from New York University. While attending Ohio State, she also minored in Dance, English and Communication. During the day, Rachel can be found teaching dance, drama and vocal music at Bishop Hartley High School. In addition to her role as a performing arts educator, she has gained numerous performance credits, both in New York City and Columbus. Although she is most known as a Musical Theatre actress, she has also done film, commercial and traditional theatre work. In her free time, Rachel enjoys playing with her daughter and baking. Her favorite styles of dance are Contemporary and Tap.

Instructor
Instructor
Stephano Candreva is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and graduated from ballet at Alice Arja School of Dance in 2006. Stephano attended summer programs at Miami City Ballet School and Milwaukee Ballet School on full scholarship. He has danced professionally with Teatro Sesiminas, Milwaukee Ballet, The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, City Ballet of San Diego and California Ballet. He has been a guest artist with Cisne Negro Cia de Danca (Brazil), Smuin Contemporary Ballet, Twin Cities Ballet, Illinois, Arizona Classical Ballet, and Ballet Chicago. Stephano represented his native Brazil at the 2012 seminario Internacional de Dana de Brasilia where he was a silver medalist at the 2006 Prix de Lausanne Argentinian qualifications. Stephano has performed leading roles in most major ballets including Romeo and Juliet, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Giselle, The Firebird, La Fille Mal Gardee, Le Corsaire and The Nutcracker. He has worked frequently with various Répétiteurs of The Balanchine Trust performing principal roles Balanchine ballets. His repertory also includes premiers of original works by such notables as Stanton Welch, Ricardo Amarante, Max Petrov, Craig Davidson, Septime Weber, among others.
Instructor

Instructor
Grace Chester has pursued her passion for dance since age 3. She danced at Artisan for 6 years on the Competition Team and in the Ballet Academy. She enjoyed performing roles of Step Sister in Artisan's Cinderella, then Doll Soloist, Chinese, Fritzi, Roses & Snow in The Nutcracker. She was a teaching assistant at Artisan for the past 2 years. Grace has attended Summer Dance Intensives at BalletMet, Columbus Dance Theatre, Artisan and Louisville Ballet. Grace has recently had cool opportunities to dance at various Central Ohio venues such as the Columbus Metropolitan Main Library, Topiary Garden and River Park in Dublin with Columbus Modern Dance Company and at the Columbus Arts Festival with the Artisan Tap Ensemble. In her free time, Grace likes to read, crochet, care for her ducks and cuddle her overly affectionate cat, Finn. Grace is excited to share her love of dance with the next generation.
Instructor
Media Manager
Steve is the creative force behind Artisan Dance Studio's visual storytelling. Alongside his wife and studio owner, Jessica, he helped bring the studio to life and now continues to capture its vibrant essence through the lens. Owner of Marked Imagery, at Artisan he specializes in studio portraits, dynamic action shots, and captivating performance photography. Steve has an uncanny ability to freeze the fleeting moments of grace, energy, and emotion that define the heart of the dance community. His photography not only showcases the dedication and talent of the studio's dancers but also preserves the memories that make Artisan Dance Studio a sanctuary of creativity and self-expression.

Front Desk
Lauren Curran is a competitive dancer from Columbus Ohio. She has been dancing since the age of three and her favorite styles are ballet and contemporary. She currently attends Thomas Worthington High School. In her free time she enjoys reading and watching Stranger Things over and over again. She is currently working at the Artisan front desk and is a member of the Artisan Competition Team and Ballet Academy.
Front Desk
Front Desk
Katelyn Young is a competitive dancer from Columbus Ohio. She has been dancing since the age of four and has been competing since the age of six. She currently attends Olentangy Berlin High School, where she preforms with The Berlin Dance Team. She intends to go to The Ohio State University with a major in business in the future. In her free time, she plays the clarient and ice skates. She is currently working the Artisan front desk and is a member of the Artisan Competition Team.