Teacher Profile
Lindsay Stammer, Director and Owner
Lindsay has been the Director of Academy of Dance Arts since September of 2000 after having trained and performed with the studio for fifteen years. Studying under the direction of Roberta Rehberg-Boorse and Michelle Azzolina, Lindsay is trained in Classical Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Hip-Hop. Her wide range of dance techniques guides her in overseeing the studio as it grows under her leadership. Her performance credits include: Summerfest, Festa Italiana , State Fair, Disney World, Lakefront Festival of the Arts, and the Milwaukee Rock Opera. Under her direction, ADA has traveled to perform at Disney World in Florida and in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. In addition to directing the studio, Lindsay teaches the kinder dance through elementary levels and all levels of jazz and tap. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children.
Renee Harris-Mrzyglod, Ballet Director
Renee is thrilled to begin her eighth year teaching at Academy of Dance Arts! A native of Richmond, Virginia, she began her dance training at the School of the Richmond Ballet on a merit scholarship. She also studied at summer intensive programs at the San Francisco Ballet School, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, and the State University of New York Dance Program at Purchase. Renee enjoyed her professional ballet career at The Milwaukee Ballet Company, Ballet Met, and the Dayton Ballet Company. Her seven year career as a ballet dancer included performance highlights in her leading roles in Dermot Burke's Nutcracker, Cinderella in Christian Holder's An American Cinderella, ands "Emily" in Phillip Jerry's Our Town among others. After retiring from the stage, Renee attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she graduated Summa CumLaude in 2001 with her BBA in Finance and Marketing. Renee teaches ballet classes at the Academy and heads up the Prepointe and Pointe program. When not in the studios, Renee enjoys spending time with her family.
Enrique Retana
was born and raised in Los Angeles, California where he trained and performed with many great performers and directors including Ron Brown, Keny Long, Sharon Collins, Lady Vereen-Walquer, Lula Washington and Debbie Allen. His teaching style is a combination of everything he's learned with a strong emphasis on Horton and Dunham techniques. He has performed all over the world and enjoyed every minute of it. His performance credits include several dance companies, a commercial for Mervyn's California, Disneyland, many festivals, Jazz Dance LA, and Royal Caribbean Productions. Currently he is a Rehearsal Choreographer for Royal Caribbean. He's very proud to be on staff with ADA as well as working with the Milwaukee High School of the Arts and City Ballet Theatre.
Marja Finnigan
Marja studied ballet, tap, and jazz at Marilyn's School of Dance in Tomah, WI for 15 years. She was also a member of Vision Dance Company touring regionally in 1998-1999 and also touring France in the summer of 1999. In the summer of 2002, she also toured Austria with the show choir company, The Limited Edition. As a member of the Monroe-Jackson Dance Theatre, Marja has also had the opportunity to perform many different roles and solos in The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Thumbelina. Recently, she has taken on a new role for MJDT by choreographing a piece for their new production, The Cracked Nut, a Nutcracker satire.
Marja graduated from UW-Milwaukee in May 2006 receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism/Mass Communication with a minor in German. While at UWM, she was a four year member of the UWM Dance Team, and named a captain her final year. During this time, the team won the UDA College National Championship in Division I Hip-Hop.
Marja has taught at ADA since September 2004. She teaches ballet, tap, jazz, creative movement, and hip-hop. She also works full-time as a Marketing Assistant for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.
