Andrea Purrenhage is a certified American Ballet Theater Instructor for pre-primary through level five. She is has been a faculty member at CMU in the department of Theater and Dance teaching ballet and choreographing for the University Theater Dance Company. Purrenhage began her training with the Metropolitan Ballet Center and then the Professional Ballet School under Svetlana Chrin of the Ukrainian National Ballet. She has studied with dance greats such as: Arthur Mitchell, Twyla Tharp, Laveen Nadue, and Fluer Isreal through the Dance Theater of Harlem, Dayton Ballet, and Eglevsky Ballet.
Purrenhage is also certified in Lagree Fitness Technique, Barre Above, and Progressing Ballet Technique.

Travis Hunt is so excited to join the MPSD family full-time as Studio Manager. During his time at CMU, Travis contributed choreography to two university musicals, as served as Dance Captain. He performed with the University Theatre Dance Company for two seasons, and earned a first-place national title with the CMU Dance Team. Recently, Travis has begun a new endeavor at Mt Pleasant High School, choreographing their Spring Musical, and as Head Coach of the Mt Pleasant High School Varsity Dance Team. At MPSD, Travis teaches Musical Theatre, Jazz, and Tricks & Technique.

Carla Zawadzki recently graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Dance and Elementary Education, focusing in Integrated Science and Language Arts. During her time in college, Carla was a four year member of the CMU Dance Team as well as an assistant coach, where she received three national titles in the D1 category. She was also a member of the University Theatre Dance Company for two seasons. Carla will be returning as an assistant coach to the CMU Dance Team this season, and is excited to be back with her MPSD family.

Izzy Walton has nine years of technical dance training and was a four year member of the Mount Pleasant High School Varsity Dance Team. She has performed in two MPSD productions of the Nutcracker Reimagined, performed at high school half time shows, and attended multiple training camps and workshops through NDA and CMU. She is currently attending Central Michigan University to earn a degree in neuroscience on a pre-medicine pathway.

Jonathan Hughes started his dance training in Georgia, and attended Interlochen Center for the Arts at fourteen. After performances in New York City, summers at Boston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Indiana University, Johnathan graduated high school with a classical ballet major. He is now currently pursuing a degree in Clinical Psychology and Neuroscience, with a minor in substance use disorders at Central Michigan University.

Sam has been dancing for 14 years and has been dancing competitively since age 8. She grew up training in many different styles, including tap, jazz, modern, ballet, lyrical, hip hop, pointe, and hula. She passed her Grade V Cecchetti exam in 2024. Additionally, Sam was a member of the Fraser Varsity dance team, and was captain her senior year. Sam will be heading into her second year at Central Michigan University, majoring in elementary education and will be a member of the Central Michigan Dance Team. Sam is very excited for her first season with MPSD!

Sarah Zmick began her dance career in Fraser, Michigan, dancing at Encore the Dance Center for 16 years and competitively for 7 years. Throughout high school, she was an assistant teacher for younger dancers. Sarah is now attending Central Michigan University, majoring in Elementary Education grades PK-6.

Dr. Popp is an Associate Professor of Child Development, in the Department of Human Family Studies at CMU. She is a consultant with MPSD providing instructors with evidence based knowledge on developmentally appropriate practices when working with young students.