Lake Michigan Dance Academy

Lake Michigan Dance Academy is located in Allendale, Michigan, less than 30 minutes outside Grand Rapids. The studio is founded and directed by Alissa Tollefson, who graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hope College in December 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Special Education and Dance Education. After graduation, Alissa moved to Chicago to pursue a professional dance career, apprenticing for River North Dance Chicago and later becoming a full-company member at Thodos Dance Chicago, a contemporary dance company. She spent four seasons with Thodos before returning to Michigan. Alissa is an ABT® Certified Teacher who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She also worked as a Part-Time Professor at Grand Valley State University teaching Modern and Jazz technique classes, and is on faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.

The studio offers youth classes divided into Creative Beginners (ages 3–6), Community Dancers (ages 6+), and the Lake Michigan Dance Company (ages 8+, pre-professional). Youth classes span ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, acro, lyrical, and contemporary, with levels ranging from Basic through advanced. Classes are offered in various lengths: 30-minute Toddler & Me classes for ages 1–3, 45-minute Creative Dance for ages 3–4, and 60–90-minute classes for older students depending on level and style. Pre-Pointe is available for ages 8+, and Pointe for ages 13+. Private lessons are available in every style.

Adult classes (ages 18+) include Move and Groove (high-energy dance fitness incorporating Latin, Hip Hop, Belly Dance, Urban, African styles), Adult Yoga (all-levels, taught by Leigh Moerdyke, RYT 500), Adult Barre Fusion (low-impact, combining ballet, Pilates, yoga, and strength training), and Adult Tap. For $47/month, adults can take all adult fitness classes—Move and Groove, Adult Yoga, and Adult Barre Fusion—unlimited times during the season. Adult Tap is charged separately.

The studio runs major performances including the Nutcracker (December performances each year), Winter Showcase, Company Showcase, and Spring Recital. The Spring Recital 2027 is scheduled for June 5–6 at the Ceglarek Fine Arts Center at Allendale High School. Summer camps and birthday parties are also offered. The studio is closed for Labor Day (September 7, 2026), Thanksgiving Break (November 24–28, 2026), Winter Break (December 21, 2026–January 9, 2027), Spring Break (April 5–10, 2027), and Memorial Day (May 31, 2027).

The teaching team includes Angela Danis (currently attending Grand Valley State University as an exercise science major, trained as a competitive dancer at Dancers Only Studio); Melisa Deneweth (graduated Cum Laude from Grand Valley State University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance and minor in Advertising and Public Relations, trained under Carrie Brueck Morris, Hannah Seidel, Edgar L Page, Rachel Miller, and Carolyn Pampalone Rabbers, performing at the American College Dance Association in 2023 and 2024, starting first season with Happendance Professional Company); Jessica DeGroot (trained at Dance Network for 9 years in its competition company before attending Lake Michigan Dance Academy through high school, currently a student at Grand Rapids Community College); Angela DeVrou (majored in Performance Art at Western Michigan University, has twin daughters Lexi and Logan who are teaching assistants at LMDA); and Lindsay Filcik (graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hope College in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in elementary education). The studio also offers free class trials for prospective students.

Your first class follows the studio's dress code for your chosen style and level. Creative Beginners (ages 3–6) explore fundamentals of ballet, tap, jazz, and tumbling through games and exercises. Older students train in technique-focused classes, with instruction from professional and pre-professional dancers. The studio emphasises developing the whole dancer—creatively, technically, and artistically.

Alissa Tollefson is the founder, director, company director, and instructor. She holds an ABT® Teacher Certification and has trained at Thodos Dance Chicago and taught at Grand Valley State University and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. Other instructors include Melisa Deneweth (trained at Grand Valley State University, member of Happendance Professional Company), Jessica DeGroot (trained at Dance Network and Lake Michigan Dance Academy), Angela DeVrou (Performance Art degree from Western Michigan University), and Lindsay Filcik (elementary education background, Hope College graduate).

Creative Beginners classes (ages 3–6) introduce fundamentals through games and exercises; no prior dance experience required for Adult Barre Fusion or Adult Yoga.