ANGELINA GRIMA, is the current Co-Artistic Director of Design Dance Company located in Chicago, IL. Design Dance Company has been honored with many major awards including Prelude Midwest Dance Competition Champions and placed top ten at the U.S. Hip Hop Championships hosted by Hip Hop International. Prior to her recent success, Angelina began her training at Piazza Dance Company under the direction of Marilynn Piazza-Esper and Gina Piazza, located in Northville, MI. She also attended Western Michigan University’s Department of Dance from 2004-2008. She has had the opportunity to perform works choreographed by George Faison, Doug Varone, and Robert Battle.

At the start of her professional career in 2008, she was featured at the B96 Summer Bash, performing behind DJ Flipside of B96 Chicago. In Fall 2009, Angelina had the privilege of performing alongside the Black Eyed Peas at Oprah’s 24th Season Kickoff Party where she assisted to teach 21,000 people, the largest flash mob in history. She just recently performed with Beyoncé at Oprah’s Farewell Show at the United Center and at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas. She has also worked with the legendary Kanye West as part of his U.S. summer tour performing at Summerfest 2011 in Milwaukee, WI and at the 2011 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, LA. She is heavily influenced by the fusion of her classical background and her passion for street styles and considers herself a student of this ever-evolving art.

PDC Graduate Tania Garrant was a member of the 1996-1997 Detroit Pistons Dance Team “Automotion.” Tania was chosen as one of fifteen members from a state wide selection process consisting of over 635 candidates. Tania graduated with her Masters Degree in Physical Therapy from Oakland University in 2003. She currently works full time, as a Director and Physical Therapist at Physiotherapy Associates in Walled Lake. Tania treats a multitude of dancers and performing artists. With her diverse dance background, she is able to integrate her physical therapy skills to create sport specific rehabilitation programs tailored to the dancer. However to Tania, there is no such thing as not enough time in the day. When she is not at the clinic, Tania is busy teaching classes for both the competitive and recreational programs at Piazza Dance Co.

After graduating from Piazza Dance Company, Michael McDonald went to Western Michigan University and will attain his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance at the end of June (2010.) While at Western Michael had the privilege of performing works by many notable choreographers such as Frank Chaves, Ron de Jesús, Harrison McEldowny, Gerald Arpino along with numerous guest and faculty works. He was also selected to present is work for adjudication at the American College Dance Festival in Athens, OH representing Western Michigan University. Recently Michael has been offered a contract with Thodos Dance Chicago.

Piazza Dance Company graduate, Donnell Quaker spent two years with Cirque Du Soleil in Las Vegas in a show entitled Believe featuring Criss Angel Mindfreak and the choreography of emmy nominated Wade Robson.

PDC graduate and popular teacher, Shannon Busse, is moving to Las Vegas where she landed a dance role with the long-running classic Vegas Show, "Jubilee!" Shannon will start training in Serptember. Those long legs will only be out-distanced by those extra tall headpieces! Congratulations, Shannon!