Our Staff:
Juliana Pirpinelli – Studio Owner & Artistic Director
Julie has been teaching for over 25 years, specializing in tap, jazz & lyrical. Her credits include judging national dance competitions, President of Dance Masters of Michigan, awards for choreography and teaching, Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade, and $100,000 winner Star Search – Vegas.
Valentina Barsukova - Ballet
Valentina has 20 years experience teaching ballet, pointe and character dance. She has choreographed ballet programs, production numbers, “Nutcracker”, and competition numbers. A teacher of the Russian method (Vaganova system), Valentina teaches all levels of dancers. She has created programs for many competitions in the US, such as Starpower, Showbiz, Grand Prix Youth of America, Dance Masters of America. She holds a BA degree in Ballet & Choreography from The Art Culture College in Kharkov, Ukraine.
Amanda Knight – Pre-School
Amanda has over 15 years of dance experience. She has performed with the Alma Ballet Company and the Detroit Lions half-time show with Enrique Iglesias. She specializes in tap, jazz, ballet & lyrical.
Brittina Cole – Pre-School
Brittina, a past Teen Miss Dance of Michigan, has over 22 years of dance training and specializes in teaching preschoolers. She has toured with Dance Olympus of America throughout the US and Dance Company in Russia and Poland. Brittina has attended many seminars and workshops and has competed in State and National Competitions as a soloist and with a group. Her background includes ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, clogging, modern and gymnastics. Her love of dance has brought such joy to her over the years that now she wants to take the opportunity to teach children the beauty of dance.
Lesley Kay-Debbs – Jazz, Hip Hop & Lyrical
Lesley has been teaching for over 10 years. She is a former Detroit Pistons Automation dancer and has choreographed commercials for Little Caesars and many dance teams.
Michael Lemanski – Jazz & Lyrical
This is the start of Michael’s fifth season at Juliana’s. His credits include the Radio City Christmas Spectacular where he was a Dancer in the chorus and the chorus Swing; Disney World and Disney Land Productions where he portrayed the character of Aladdin and also danced as a Kid of the Kingdom; and the Tokyo Film Festival where he danced in the stage show before the World Premiere of Disney’s Pocahontas. He has also appeared in four television commercials and danced in industrials for Chrysler, General Motors, Nike, Disney and Casino Windsor, just to name a few. He has been the Assistant Choreographer for two Orange Bowl Half-time shows down in Miami and two NFL Half-time shows.
Marcia Rathgeb – Adult Tap & Tech
Marcy is a dance professional who has a 35-year background in performing and teaching in dance arts. Since 1980, she has been a teacher, choreographer and technique facilitator at Juliana’s. She has been associated with D.M.M./D.M.A. and P.D.E. Her teaching career began as a Student Teacher at LaVerne Dance Studio in Clawson, MI and eventually operated her own studio. Her experience includes numbers of awards in U.S. Championship Ballroom Dancing, Tap & Jazz. Choreographer for children’s theater, competition figure skating dance teams and staged production numbers, Marcy has also presented many Tap Technique workshops for summer dance camps. Sometimes referred to as the “Warden” of Miss Marcy’s “House of Corrections”, she continues her passion for dance through her teaching skills and her dedication to young dancers.
Emily Wallin
Emily Wallin received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre from Oakland University. Emily is a former Juliana's dancer and is thrilled to return to the studio she calls home. Her performance credits include three years with the Broadway Theatre Project in Tampa, FL, her most recent showcase at the Clurman Theatre in NYC, Dr. Charlotte in Falsettos, Miss Prism in The Importance of Being Earnest, Woman1 in I Love You, Your're Perfect, Now Change!, Kit in Top Girls, Bird/Turtle/Squirrel/Mole in A Year with Frog and Toad, Patience in Patience and many more. Her awards include the Access Broadway Triple Threat Award 2005. Emily is very passionate about muscial theatre and is glad to be able to share these passions with her new studio family.
Linda Zublick – Pre-School Ballet
Linda has been teaching at Juliana’s for the past five years. She was trained as a dancer in New Jersey, where she grew up. She is involved in community theater and works actively with Stagecrafters Youth Theatre of Royal Oak in choreographing and directing many shows.
Natasha Barsukova – Ballet
Office Staff:
Bonnie Jordan – Studio Coordinator
Bonnie has been with Juliana's for over 20 years and is currently the Studio Coordinator. She manages the front desk, administrative tasks and everything else to ensure the studio runs efficiently.
