ALMOST 30 YEARS OF DANCE IN FAIRLAWN

Brooke, daughter of owners Mark and Erin Smith is from a long line of professional dancers and performers, beginning with her grandmother Etta Mae Smith who owned Etta Mae Smith’s Studio of Dance for over 60 years, her aunts Mickey LeBrecht and Kimberly Dawn Smith who were both Broadway performers and Rockettes, and of course her parents Mark and Erin. Continuing the tradition of performing and dancing, Brooke began dancing at Studio West Performing Arts Centre at age 2. Through her many years of competitive dancing, she received several scholarships including the Debbie Allen Dance Academy Scholarship for Hip-Hop and Commercial Dance in Los Angeles, New York City Dance Alliance Scholarship, Broadway Dance Center Scholarship, Full Scholarship to Revel Dance Convention, and Artists Simply Human Standout Performer Scholarship. She also won Teen Miss Precision Arts in 2018. Brooke graduated from Kent State University in 2024 with a degree in education and a minor in dance. At Kent State University, Brooke was selected as a guest performer in the 2022 Kent State Dance Ensemble spring concert “No Permission Needed” under the direction of artistic director and choreographer Gregory King. Brooke had the opportunity to work with Amy Hall Garner, a Juilliard graduate and current adjunct professor at New Studio on Broadway at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, and Hope Boykin, a former member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and current Artist in Residence at USC Kaufman. Also in 2022, Brooke was awarded with Dance Minor of The Year at Kent State University. As a dance educator, Brooke began assistant teaching at age 11 and began choreographing at age 16. She has received several choreography awards and multiple overall placements with her routines. Brooke inspires her students to be passionate, creative, and disciplined and she helps students develop a true love for dance as an art form.

Hello! My name is Clover Brown and I’m currently an Exercise Physiology student at the University of Akron. I started my dance journey in 2016 at the age of 11 and I have been instructing since 2023. My favorite styles are contemporary and hip hop but ballet admittedly has a special place in my heart! Music, movement, and community are my driving forces; I believe that everyone deserves to move, no matter their ability.

Hannah is a Dance major at Kent State University with training in a variety of styles and a special love for tap. She began tapping at age six and has performed tap solos for over 10 years, earning multiple titles and awards at dance competitions, along with numerous duets and group pieces. At Kent State, she has performed in several pieces for the Fall Faculty Dance Concerts and choreographed For the Love She Left for the Kent State Student Dance Festival. Outside of dance, Hannah served as President of her sorority, where she developed a passion for leadership and mentoring. She loves sharing her passion for dance and helping students grow in confidence and technique.

Emma has been part of the Studio West family since the age of seven, growing from a student into the accomplished instructor she is today. Having continued her dance journey through high school and into her college years, Emma brings years of experience, passion, and dedication to the studio.

She enjoys working with dancers of all ages, from our youngest 3-year-old students to adults, and is well-versed in a variety of styles, including ballet, tap, contemporary, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, modern, and tumbling. Emma holds a minor in Dance from the University of Akron, and her choreography has earned numerous accolades at competitions throughout Ohio and beyond.

Emma's favorite part of teaching at Studio West is watching her students grow in confidence, develop their skills, and, most importantly, have fun along the way. She loves knowing that the lessons her dancers learn in the studio extend beyond dance, helping them build skills and confidence that will benefit them in all aspects of life.

Jamie Holkovic is a Cleveland native and lifelong dancer whose passion for dance has grown into a rewarding career as a teacher, choreographer, and performer. She began her training at Dance by Gloria, later known as Interpretations Dance Academy, where she danced both recreationally and competitively and had the opportunity to learn from Cleveland-area choreographers including Samantha Kost, Julie Sneltzer (Woods), Bridget Biliunas, and Kathy Satow (Conners).

Jamie continued her dance journey at John Carroll University as a member of the Blue Streak Dance Team under the direction of Melissa Zajacz. Throughout her career, she has continued to expand her experience throughout the Cleveland dance community, teaching a variety of styles and age groups at several area studios while also performing and choreographing with Cleveland Dance Project.

In addition to her work in dance, Jamie is an early childhood educator specializing in Pre-K education. Her day-to-day work with young children has strengthened her passion for teaching, creativity, and helping students build confidence. Her education background brings an especially thoughtful and encouraging perspective to her dance classes, allowing her to create an environment where students feel supported, challenged, and excited to learn.

As a choreographer, Jamie has received multiple choreography awards at regional and national competitions including winning ID National Dance competition fan favorite choreography in 2026. She is passionate about creating meaningful work while helping dancers develop strong technique, confidence, and a genuine love for performing.

Jamie is thrilled to join the Studio West Performing Arts Centre community and is excited to share her experience, creativity, and love of dance with its dancers. She looks forward to an incredible year of learning, growing, and celebrating everything her students are capable of!