Instructors & Staff
Amanda Nye, Artistic Director & Owner
Meet Amanda Nye, Owner & Artistic Director. Amanda Nye is the passionate and dedicated Owner & Artistic Director of our dance studio. She studied dance education at Bowling Green State University, graduating in August 2016 from the College of Human Movement and Development. During her time at BGSU, Amanda was an active member of the Repertory Ensemble, BGSU Dance Team (2013 to 2014), and served as Vice President of the University Dance Alliance. Amanda's extensive dance background was cultivated at Studio 82 in Cleveland, Ohio, where she trained in various styles including ballet, jazz, lyrical, musical theater, modern, tumbling, acro, contemporary, tap, cheerleading, hip hop, ballroom, and combo classes. Her professional experience is vast and varied, encompassing roles such as Dance Teacher at Imagine Madison (2017 to 2018), AmeriDance Judge, Inferno Dance Competition Adjudicator & Judge, Founder of the Maumee Dance Team, Choreographer for Ashland University, former Dance Teacher and Dance Team Coach at Toledo School for the Arts (where her team won two OASSA State Championships), Precision Arts Challenge Dance & Inferno Dance Adjudicator & Judge, and Dance Teacher and Limelighters Choreographer at Clay High School. Amanda is also certified in Acrobatic Arts Module 1 and Progressive Ballet Technique Level 1. Her true passion lies in helping dancers achieve their goals and dreams within the dance industry, fostering a supportive and inspiring environment for all her students.
Tyler Nye, Director & Owner
Tyler Nye is the dedicated Owner & Assistant Director at our dance studio. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Middle Childhood Education from Bowling Green State University and is currently a middle school teacher at Bowling Green City Schools. At Nye Dance Productions, Tyler is the friendly face you’ll see at the front desk, handling all the behind-the-scenes operations with efficiency and care. He is also known for his enthusiastic participation on stage during our annual Dad's Dance, bringing joy and energy to the performance. Tyler's commitment to both education and the dance studio ensures a supportive and well-organized environment for all our students and families.
Samantha Roth, Company Artistic Director
Meet Samantha Roth, Company Artistic Director. Sam began dancing at a young age and graduated from Toledo School for the Arts as a Dance Major in 2014. She has trained in varied styles including jazz, contemporary, lyrical, tap, ballet, modern, hip hop, and pom. Sam has choreographed and instructed for local studios and served as the Head Coach for two local Varsity High School dance teams. Throughout her dance career Sam has received several Choreography Awards, Judges Specialty Awards and Overall Placements at competitions for her work. She recently became a Certified Progressive Contemporary Technique Instructor. Sam is thrilled to start her role as Company Artistic Director this season and excited to continue her work at NDP, striving to bring creativity, inspiration, education, and purpose to her classes.
Paris Wellman, Curriculum Director
Paris Wellman has been dancing for the past 20 years and has been on staff with Nye Dance since 2020. Paris can be seen in the studio working with Spotlight Dance Company and developing curriculum for the studio using resources from Team JulieKay. She has done summer intensives at The Joffrey Ballet School in NYC. She is a Toledo School For The Arts alumni. Paris went on to Otterbein University to obtain her B.A in Allied Health with a Psychology Minor. While at Otterbein University Paris was a cheerleader for four years. Paris was a part of professional showcases, and competitions, and even danced with her students at competitions at the Fred Astaire Westerville studio. Paris danced for the Arena Football League The Columbus Destroyers in 2019. She also represented with her team the AFL league in Washington, D.C. Paris graduated from the University of Findlay with her Masters in Occupational Therapy in 2023. Paris enjoys spends her free time with her husband and daughter Penelope, taking Pilates classes, being involved with her church, and reading at coffee shops.
Carolyn Anderson, Instructor
Ms. Carolyn’s very first dance class was at the age of 3 at the Sage YMCA in Crystal Lake, IL. She continued to train at The Dance Academy, studying ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, and modern. She studied Limon Technique and the Vaganova Syllabus. She performed and competed with the Northwest Dance Company in Cary, IL,, earning a national title for modern and a top 10 title for tap. She also performed in The Nutcracker as a flower and as the Arabian Dancer. Ms. Carolyn also danced for her high school dance team, and the DePaul University Dance Team. She has taught ballet and contemporary at the Ft. Meigs YMCA, and jazz at Hanf Dance Studio. When she isn’t teaching dance, she works as an administrator in a local school. As a dance teacher, Ms. Carolyn loves to see young dancers find joy in their emerging artistry.
Christa Callahan, Instructor & Front Desk
Christa has been a dancer and dance educator for 20 years. She began dancing when she was 3
years old and trained in Ballet, Jazz, and Tap. When she was 11 years old, she began her training at
Trenton School of Dance, primarily under the instruction of Meredith Shamanski. Here, she
expanded her training to Lyrical, Pointe, Contemporary, and started to study the Cecchetti ballet
method. Christa has 5 years of competitive dance experience, along with experience training with
Wayne State University faculty. She has also trained with companies such as ArtLab J and
Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Along with teaching, Christa has about 7 years of experience
performing musical theatre. When she is not at the studio, she is working at her local library or
cuddling with her cat, Leo. She is very excited for the new season and looking forward to meeting all
of the dancers!
Jamila Coleman, Instructor
Jamila Scott Coleman, born and raised in Toledo, Oh. She started dancing at the age of 5. Jamila was trained in tap, jazz, hip hop, and lyrical at the Toledo Workshop of Dance. She is a proud 2008 graduate of the Toledo School for the Arts, where she majored in music and dance. Jamila's passion for dance continued after high school in which she went on to study tap at the Bowling Green State University. Currently, Jamila heads the liturgical dance ministry at her church. Jamila is a qualified behavioral health specialist and entrepreneur by day. This will be Jamila’s 4th season as an instructor at Nye Dance Productions.
Cleopatra Cousino, Instructor
Cleopatra Cousino first started taking hip hop classes at age 13. After her first time performing on stage, she knew it was her passion. When Nye Dance Productions opened, she decided to start taking classes there. She was encouraged to join Spotlight Crew and learn other styles of dance. She trained in ballet, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary. After high school, she went to Orion Institute for massage therapy. Cleo wants to create a fun and safe environment for students while also helping them grow as dancers.
Lillian Czop, Instructor
Lillian Czop was born in Toledo Ohio. Trained in ballet, tap, jazz, and hiphop she started dancing at the age of 4 years old and continued dancing through out her school years. She discovered a passion for choreography in high school where she remained busy choreographing two children's musicals. She later started her career teaching dance at her Local YMCA where she discovered a love for teaching youths. In 2022 she graduated from Kent State majoring in theatre studies and a minor in dance. She is excited to join the new NDP season, and can’t wait to get started.
Orlando Finelli, Instructor
Orlando has been a dancer since 1994 when he was 2 years old. He specializes in Tap, but has a background in Jazz, Hip Hop, Ballet, Modern, and many other styles. He also does a lot with community theater and has been performing on stage in the Toledo area since 2004, with over 30 shows and counting. He is on the board for Oregon Community Theater and also performs and has been a choreographer and music director for them. Apart from dance and theater, Orlando is a professional musician and has been playing in the Northwest Ohio region since 2005. Orlando is very excited to be able to work with Nye Dance Productions and to continue to teach dance.
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Stephanie Messer, Instructor
Stephanie Messer started her journey in dance began at the age of 4, where she discovered her love for expressing herself through movement. At the age of 12, Stephanie was competing at Steppin’ Out Dance Center in Lima, Ohio. While attending Bowling Green State University, Stephanie was a part of the dance team (2 years); where she not only refined her technique but also explored various dance styles and choreographic approaches. Stephanie is excited to be teaching Acro to our Itty Bitty and all the way up. Stephanie brings a wealth of knowledge in Acro and enthusiastic to share it with her students. She is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of dancers, fostering both technical proficiency and artistic expression in a supportive and inspiring environment. While, alongside Acro, Stephanie will be teaching a flexibility class to build strength and mobility to help assist with all forms of training. Stephanie is thrilled to be continuing her dancing career by sharing her expertise and love for dance with her students at Nye Dance Productions, where she continues to inspire and empower dancers of all ages to reach their fullest potential.
Alayah Mack, Instructor
Alayah was a competitive cheerleader from the age of 8-16, She’s has learned all the skills up to level 4 tumbling. She has graduated from Toledo School for the Arts and was a dance major in hip hop and modern dance. She has won a scholarship from monsters dance. She has choreographed pieces from the show Legends of Hip-hop in 2024.
Kadyn Miller, Instructor
Kadyn Miller started dancing at the age of 11. Even though she started out later then others, she knew it was her passion! Kadyn is a graduate of NYE dance Productions. She was a competitive dancer for 8 years. In her senior year she accomplished so much, such as traveling to California for nationals. She is trained in various styles, with contemporary and lyrical being her favorites. She found a true love for teaching dance her senior year as well and is now on her fourth year apart of Nye staff! Kadyn hopes to share her love she found in dance with so many more!
Stuart O'Carroll Dubbed Flexy Stu, Instructor
Meet 'Flexy Stu', a boyhood fan of Martial Arts movies, suppleness later characterized a unique identity amid London’s elite Hip Hop Dance community, then serving as an identifier in the Tamil / Hindi film circles where the stage name ‘Flexy Stu’ stuck ever since.
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Zoë Parsons, Instructor
Zoë Parsons began dancing at The Canton Ballet at the age of 3. In addition to Ballet, she is also trained in Jazz, Modern, and Hip Hop. Zoë studied dance education at Bowling Green State University and graduated in 2014 with a Bachelors of Science in the College of Human Movement and Development. She has her Resident Educator License in Dance from The Ohio State University. Zoë worked for Toledo School for the Arts from 2022-2024 where she ran the Hip Hop program, taught Introduction to Dance, and was the assistant coach of the dance team. Previously, she was the dance teacher and choreographer for Toledo Public Schools from 2015-2021. In 2023, she choreographed the Nye Dance Productions Hip Hop duet that made us national champions at EnerGyNDC! She is continuing her dance training at Cleveland Dance Project. Zoë is excited to continue her 5th season with NDP!
"Eboogie" Scruggs, Instructor
Estevon Scruggs is a professional dancer specializing in the art of Popping, Animation,
Breaking, House, Waving and other street dances. He is formerly a dancer at Michael Jackson
One, created by Cirque Du Soleil, located at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Beginning at age 12 he was self taught, until age 17 when he gained the opportunity to learn
Modern and Ballet under the direction of Ririe Woodbury in a mentorship program called Step
Up led by Caine Keenan. In 2011 he joined UWD Underground Crew, which blends street
dance and studio dance to create a yearly production located in Slc, UT which consisted of 30+
dancers each season. Starting in 2012 until 2015 he became the Popping Coordinator for the
company where he was able to present 10 original pieces for their consecutive yearly
production, and later in 2014-2017 he became both a dancer and Choreographer for They
Reminisce presented by the BBoy Federation.
Since 2012 his training consisted of the mentorship of artists like PopNTod (Lxd/Illumnate),
Boogie Frantick (LXD/Step Up/Gr818ers), Chacho "The Mute" (Flavonoids/House Of
Flava/Bboy Fed), Pandora Marie (LXD/Cirque Eloise/Style Elements Crew) Quali D (Style
Elements Crew) and many other internationally known street dancers.
After relocating to Las Vegas in 2017 featured in 10+ variety shows as a specialty solo act,
performed as an Original Character created by himself in Cirque Du Soleil's One Drop 2018,
performed as a specialty act in Mr. Bizzaro's Halloween Boo Bash 2019 as Mr. Bizarro, was a
staple dancer in Troyboi's residency at Drai's Beach club and won over 15+ competitions where
he was made a Honorary judge at First Friday's Monthly Battles sponsored by Zappos after
winning 4 consecutives months.
Starting in 2021, Estevon became part of Cirque Du soleil's Michael Jackson One where he
performed 410+ shows as the role of Tabloid Junkie. During his time there, he was also the
back up in-house Solo Character known as Wink.
Raleigh Shimrack, Instructor
Raleigh’s journey in classical ballet began at the tender age of 3 at New Castle Regional Ballet, where she discovered a deep passion for dance. Her dedication led her to enriching experiences at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet's renowned 2-week and 5-week summer intensives, where they refined their technique and artistry. Under the mentorship of ballet icon Gelsey Kirkland, Raleigh gained invaluable insights and inspiration during her time studying in New York. Education became a cornerstone of her journey. She pursued dual Bachelor's degrees from Eastern Michigan University, achieving academic excellence in Dance and Communication Sciences and Disorders. Raleigh continued her academic pursuits at Adelphi University, earning a Master's degree in Speech Pathology. Today, Raleigh seamlessly integrates her love for ballet with a new career in speech pathology, enriching lives through both art and science. Raleigh strives to share the classical art form of ballet in a modern way, making the art form accessible to all bodies.
Pierson Leonhardt, Front Desk Assistant
Bio coming soon!
Jerzee Martin, Front Desk Assistant
Bio coming soon!