The Turning Pointe staff is comprised of young professionals with higher education and training in dance. Our dance educators continue to perform and choreograph professionally with various dance companies based out of Cleveland. Combining our staff's education and professional experience we are able to provide one of the highest levels of dance education in the greater Cleveland area.
Meet Our Dance Educators . . .
Katherine Brent
Photo courtesy of Cavanaugh Photography cavanaughphoto.com
Katherine (Katie) Brent is the Owner and Artistic Director here at The Turning Pointe. She is a native of Cleveland, Ohio and began her dance career almost 20 years ago, under the direction of Jen Naso Marinis, Dana Soroczak, and Dee Hillier in Strongsville, Ohio. It was here that Katie was awarded many State and National titles for both group and solo performances. Katie was also a member of the ESBI International Dance Company, which held performances nationwide. Upon traveling to New York City and Los Angeles to expand her dance training, she then moved on to receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance: Choreography and Performance and a Business Administration degree, both from Ohio University.
During her four years at Ohio University Katie became highly involved in fitness instruction and management. She worked as a Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, and Pilates Trainer, all while managing the Group Fitness department at the Charles J. Ping Recreation Center.
Upon graduation Katie returned to Cleveland to accept a position as The Pilates Coordinator at the grand opening of Life Time Fitness in Beachwood. In addition to working as the Pilates Coordinator, she taught dance at numerous studios in the greater Cleveland area and choreographed multiple routines that were awarded both State and National titles from 2009-2013.
Katie has been a company member of The Marquez Dance Project, under the direction of Jennifer Sandoval Eccher since 2009, and has been a regular performer in The Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival and Cleveland Public Theater’s Big Box and Danceworks series. Katie also devotes her time to perform with other professional dance companies in the Cleveland area on a project based basis.
Katie has pursued her love of dance since 2000 and loves sharing her passion and enthusiasm for the art of dance with her students at The Turning Pointe: Dance and Fitness. Katie enjoys bringing her two worlds together by sharing her passion and appreciation for how the body works and what it can do, in both her dance and fitness classes.
Michelle Brown
Michelle Brown earned her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Kent State University. Michelle currently dances with Cleveland based company, The Movement Project, under the artistic direction of Megan Lee Gargano and Rebecca Nicklos. The company has performed at various events and festivals all throughout Ohio, as well as the DUMBO Dance Festival in NYC. Michelle also dances frequently with Travesty Dance Group under the artistic direction of Kimberly Karpanty. She has regularly performed in Cleveland Public Theatre’s DanceWorks Series, as well as Ingenuity Festival and Bal Ingenioux since she begun her work with the company in 2012. Michelle is very excited to teach at The Turning Pointe this year, and can't wait to share her talents with all her new students.
Rachel Torowski
Rachel Torowski is currently attending Cleveland State University and working towards her major in Dance Performance and Choreography. Rachel is a member of the Cleveland State Dance Company, which performs at the Allen Theater Main Stage, at the Playhouse Square. Rachel is very excited about her second year at the Turning Pointe and can’t wait to share her excitement for dance with her students again this year!
Lexi Bonus
Lexi was born and raised in Parma, Ohio and has been dancing since she was 3. As the oldest of nine, it has always been in her nature, to help and teach those around her. She strives to bring out the best in everyone and encourage others to see and achieve their highest potential. Lexi is super excited to be a part of The Turning Pointe family!
Molly Baber
Molly began dancing at the age of 3 in Florida and then was relocated to Nowra, Australia where she trained in Ballet and Physie. After moving back to the states she began the remainder of her training with The Academy of Ballet in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She spent many summers attending the Richmond Ballet Intensive program. By the age of 16 she began focusing her study on jazz, modern and lyrical techniques and for the next three years she would compete solo and group numbers at local Competitions around Virginia. Molly also began substitute teaching and choreographing her own numbers for the Academy of Ballet Performances.
Molly received her business degree in 2013 from Virginia Commonwealth University where she was also a proud member of the Goldrush Dance Team for four years. She then began a mentorship under West End Academy of Ballet’s School Director and Ballet Master Julia Mitchell and by 2017 she was the head of the Teen Beginner Ballet Program.
In 2018 Molly relocated to Ohio, and has taught ballet at various studios as well as outreach programs in the greater Cleveland area. Molly is thrilled to be back at The Turning Pointe!
Dominique Patton
Having started her dance training at the age of three, Dominique has always had a passion for teaching and choreographing. She went on to pursue a dance major at the University of Akron where she had the opportunity to train with and perform in works of companies and choreographers such as Ballet Jazz de Montreal, Groundworks, NEOS, Alice Klock, Koresh Dance, and many more. During her time at the University of Akron she had several pieces performed at Daum Theatre and one piece chosen to be performed at E.J. Thomas Hall and sent to be performed at the American College Dance Association. Since graduating she’s been teaching for the Dancing Wheels School and Company, receiving alongside her teaching and performing associates the first ever physically integrated dance teaching certification. She currently works full time as a toddler teacher, runs her own dance collective, Roots Dance, is learning American Sign Language at her local community college and studying for her GRE.
Kayleigh Hahn
Kayleigh has been dancing since the age of two, studying tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary, lyrical, pointe, musical theatre, hiphop, kick line, acrobatics, modern, competition dance and student teaching. She grew up in Berea, Ohio and recently graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts and Communications in Theatre with a Musical Theatre Specialization from Bowling Green State University. Kayleigh just finished teaching this season at The Beat Dance Company in Bowling Green and is so excited to join The Turning Pointe family!
Ryan Rosinski
Ryan has been a professional dancer for the past 19 years and is well known all over the US for his television appearance on “So You Think You Can Dance”. Ryan has also appeared on PBS, Channel 3 news and FOX 8 where he was featured for his teaching prowess and exciting choreography. Ryan has performed all over America including many prestigious theaters throughout Ohio; The Agora, The Goodyear Theater and Playhouse Square.
Ryan has been teaching dance for the past 15 years and has won “Cleveland’s Best of the East” award for Dance Instruction, for the past 6 years. Ryan has judged multiple dance competitions and his choreography has won numerous awards. In addition to being a dancer, teacher and choreographer Ryan also spends time directing dance teams and booking agents for his dance troupes. You can check Ryan out on Youtube where he has more than 2 million views! Ryan is always smiling, so when you see him at the studio be sure to say “Hey!”
Our Priorities
We strive to provide the highest level of dance education to all our students, ensuring individualized corrections and praise to instruct each individual. We work to build proper technique, discipline, and skill that will help our students succeed. Through building a strong foundation, focusing on posture, flexibility, alignment, and strength we are able to advance our students to the next level. We strive to create a fun, energetic, and results driven environment to help our students succeed while enhancing their creativity and love of dance.
It is a priority of ours to keep up to date on current and trending styles of both dance and fitness, in order to continuously provide the best education and training for our students. We focus not only on educating and challenging our students, but we instruct each class to help build self-confidence through movement and performance.
Our uniquely trained staff is invested in helping you achieve your goals, while caring for your body in the process. We want to help change your body, so you can continue to feel young for many years to come. Each class focuses on proper body alignment and use of each joint to prevent future injury or pain, no matter what your current age. We focus on utilizing your body to take care of itself, so that you may live a long, fun, and pain free life.
Attitude, discipline, and respect are of highest importance to us, and we work to instill that in our students both on and off the dance floor. By unleashing our student’s creativity, we help them grow and provide them with a stronger feeling of self worth. By instilling the structure and discipline that dance requires in a fun and energetic environment, we build not only strong dancers, but confident young adults.
What people are saying about us
“My girls have danced at The Turning Pointe since it opened. Miss Katie is a great teacher to all the dancers. My girls have grown so much in their dance skills. We love The Turning Pointe, it’s like a second family to my girls.”
-Suzanne (Dance Mom from Solon)
“They seem so caring for all their students. We have enjoyed the dance recitals for the last 5 or 6 years. I have 3 granddaughters at this studio and all have had great experiences.”
-Judy (Dance Grandma from Chagrin Falls)
"The end of the year Dance Showcase was simply darling. Miss Katie and staff did an amazing job. My grand-daughter was so happy to dance with you. Thank you for helping her blossom!"
-Dancer Grandparents
Check out our Reviews Page for additional reviews.