ABOUT US

Continuing a 50-Year Legacy of Excellence in the Arts

Michigan Academy of Dance + Arts (formerly Ann Parsley School of Dance) was founded in 1976 by Ann Parsley and proudly continues a 50-year legacy of exceptional dance education in a supportive, non-competitive environment. While our name is new, our heart remains the same, guided by the same leadership, values, and commitment to ensuring every dancer feels supported, challenged, and inspired.

We are dedicated to developing strong, confident artists through high-quality training while nurturing a lifelong love of dance. Rooted in tradition and driven by passion, our approach is both disciplined and encouraging, welcoming students of all levels and aspirations.

As we celebrate this milestone and look toward the future, our continued growth has expanded our vision beyond dance. With the addition of a thriving music program, along with theatre and voice, we now offer a more comprehensive arts experience. This evolution reflects who we have become as a community and serves as the inspiration behind our new name.

Whether a student is pursuing dance at a serious level or simply discovering a love for the arts, Michigan Academy of Dance + Arts is a place where every individual can thrive.

OUR HISTORY

Founded in 1976 by Ann Parsley, our school has been a cornerstone of quality dance education in Macomb County for over five decades. Her vision was simple yet powerful: to provide exceptional training in a supportive, non-competitive environment where every student could thrive. A commitment to strong technical foundations, artistic expression, and personal growth became the heart of the studio’s mission—and continues to guide us today.

Over the years, Ann Parsley School of Dance built a reputation for excellence in ballet training and well-rounded dance education. In 1983, Ann expanded that vision by founding the Macomb Ballet Company (now Michigan Ballet Company), creating meaningful performance opportunities for young dancers in a pre-professional setting.

In 2009, Ann passed the torch to longtime student and faculty member Amber Megna Michalik, who continues to honor this legacy while thoughtfully growing the program. Under her leadership, the school has expanded beyond dance to include music, theatre, and voice, reflecting the evolving needs of today’s students and families while staying rooted in the values that have always defined it.

Having recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, the organization now enters a new chapter as Michigan Academy of Dance + Arts. While the name has evolved, the foundation remains the same, carrying forward a tradition of excellence and continuing to inspire the next generation of artists with the same care, integrity, and passion that started it all.

OUR BELIEFS

What Makes MADA Different?

Building on a 50 year legacy of excellence, Michigan Academy of Dance + Arts (MADA) is dedicated to nurturing both technical growth and a lifelong love of the performing arts.

Our high quality, non competitive training is rooted in a strong foundation of classical dance, guided by professionally trained instructors who care deeply about each student’s journey. We offer age appropriate, thoughtfully designed programs that inspire creativity, build confidence, and support artistic development across all dance styles, while also expanding into music, theatre, and voice.

More than just a studio, MADA is a welcoming community where children and families feel at home, growing together through movement, music, and the joy of performance.

  • At MADA, we believe a strong foundation is essential to every dancer’s success. Ballet serves as the cornerstone of all dance disciplines, and our program is recognized for its exceptional quality and structure. Through focused instruction in technique and discipline, we provide each student with individualized training that nurtures both skill and artistry.

    Our commitment to a solid classical foundation extends beyond ballet. We apply the same principles of precision, control, and musicality to every genre we teach—including contemporary, jazz, tap, hip hop, and more. This approach ensures our dancers not only develop classical strength, but also the versatility needed to thrive in all styles of dance.

  • At MADA, we are dedicated to providing exceptional dance education in a supportive, non-competitive environment. We prioritize individual growth over trophies, believing that every student has unique potential waiting to be discovered and nurtured.

    Our faculty maintains high technical standards while fostering a genuine love of dance through encouragement and positive reinforcement. In this nurturing setting, dancers are free to explore their creativity and express themselves through music and movement—without the pressure of competition.

    Whether for children or adults, dance at MADA promotes personal expression, goal setting, and collaboration. Students gain valuable skills such as coordination, musicality, discipline, creativity, self-confidence, and a lasting appreciation for the arts.

  • Michigan Academy of Dance + Arts fosters a welcoming, family-oriented atmosphere where movement, music, and costumes are always tasteful and age-appropriate. Our studio is a place where dancers of all backgrounds and aspirations feel at home.

    Whether a student dreams of a professional career in dance or simply enjoys the joy of movement, the lessons learned at MADA-discipline, confidence, teamwork, and self-expression-extend far beyond the studio and enrich every stage of life.

  • Our faculty consists of experienced, qualified adult instructors who are passionate about dance education. All of our ballet teachers are certified by the Cecchetti Council of America and have successfully completed the required teacher examinations for the levels they teach.

    Many of our instructors are also leaders in the dance community-training other educators across the region and preparing them for their own Cecchetti Teacher Examinations. This level of expertise ensures our students receive the highest quality instruction in a structured, supportive environment.

Ballet students practicing at barre with instructor in ballet studio, mirrored wall, and ballet-themed artwork.
A group of young girls in ballet costumes sitting and kneeling on the floor, gathered around their ballet instructor in a dance studio with floral wall decor.
A ballet instructor giving corrections to a young ballerina during a ballet class at a dance studio, with other students stretching at the barre in the background.
Young girls in purple ballet dresses practicing in a dance studio with mirrors and ballet barres.
Young girls in leotards performing splits during a ballet class in a dance studio, with an instructor observing.
Ballet class with young girls practicing in front of a mirror, wearing costumes and ballet slippers, with an instructor guiding.
Group of young women ballet dancers sitting on the floor, talking and smiling, dressed in blue and beige tutus.
Ballet class with young dancers practicing stretches and ballet moves in a dance studio, supervised by instructor
Four young girls in purple ballet leotards standing in a line at a ballet studio, facing the same direction. The background includes a white wall with some writing and a wooden door.
Young girls in purple leotards sitting on the floor in a dance class, smiling and talking to each other.
Group of young girls in purple dance costumes practicing ballet in a dance studio.
Ballet instructor and students practicing at a dance studio mirror
Ballet dancers in turquoise, beige, and purple leotards and tights practicing stretches on a black dance studio floor.
Ballet students sitting on the floor in a dance studio, watching their instructor in front of a mirror.
Ballet class with young dancers and instructor in dance studio with mirrors and ballet barres.
Ballet class with five young women practicing at ballet barre, wearing leotards and tights, in a dance studio.
Young girls in colorful dance costumes practicing ballet in a dance studio.
Children in ballet costumes standing in a circle in a dance studio.
Ballet students in blue leotards practicing ballet stretches with their instructor in a dance studio.
Young ballet students in pink costumes and ballet slippers stand in a line at a dance studio, practicing ballet moves with their arms raised. The studio has mirrors and ballet barres.
A ballet class with six young girls in colorful leotards and an instructor practicing dance moves in a studio decorated with butterfly and floral wall art.