Staff

Wyndee Hughson-McGovern

Artistic Director,  Jazz, Choreography, Conditioning

Wyndee is a Master Jazz Instructor certified by Dance Masters of America in 1995.  In 2002, her choreography for “Slippin’ into Darkness” earned her a position as a finalist in the Jazz Dance World Congress Choreography Event, which recognizes outstanding achievement in choreography throughout the world.   In that same year, she founded “Jazzfuzion,” a pre-professional performance company. In March 2004, Wyndee and her Company made their Broadway debut in “Nothin’ Like a Dame” at the St. James Theater with their interpretation of Michael Jackson’s “In The Closet”. Wyndee and her Company have been invited to represent the State of Maryland at the 2005 & 2007 International Festival for Young Dancers in Hollywood, California.  Under her direction, Spotlight Studio of Dance has become a competitive force in the dance community. Wyndee’s dancers are consistently recognized for their finely-honed technique and diversity of training. Spotlight has won numerous awards, both for performance & choreography, and was most recently named Grand Champion in 2007 & 2008 National Competitions of Onstage America and Dance USA.

Nilda Gumbs

Tap

A student of jazz and tap greats Judy Bassing, Bob Heath, and Bob Rizzo from the famed Broadway Dance Center - Nilda was a recipient of a jazz scholarship to the Gus Giordano Dance Center in Chicago and the Lenny Williams scholarship for modern dance at Steps on Broadway. She is a Master Jazz instructor certified by Dance Masters of America in 1995. Nilda was named Ms. Penn State in 1989.  This is Nilda’s eighth year teaching for Spotlight.

Jennifer Smith Jones

Lyrical

 As a former student of Ms. Wyndee, Ms. Smith won various regional title awards including Teen Ms. Dance Educators of America-Mid Atlantic in 1993, and Miss Dance Masters of America-Chapter 17 in 1994. In 1995 she won the title of Miss Teen Maryland, USA. In 2004 Ms. Smith’s choreography "Please Help Me" was recognized by New York City Dance Alliance as one of the top 5 finalists for the National Critic's Choice award.

Deidra Diehl

Pre-School Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Mini Company Choreographer

Ms. Deidra has been a member of Spotlight Studio of Dance since she began dancing at 6 years old. She competed with Spotlight throughout high school and was a proud member of the Glen Burnie High School Dance Company. She is a member of "Jazzfuzion" and competed in the Jazz Dance World Congress in the summer of 2002. Ms. Deidra works closely with the studio Director assisting her with scheduling and class curriculum/syllabus for all pre-school and beginning levels of dance education.  Ms. Diehl teaches pre-ballet, level 1 & 2 ballet, tap and also choreographs for Spotlight’s Mini & Junior Company.  She has received several recognitions for her outstanding work in the primary divisions from several organizations such as OnStage New York Conventions & Showstoppers Dance Competitions. This is Ms. Deidra's sixth year teaching for Spotlight.

Michelle Smith

Alternative, Company Choreographer

Michelle is one of the most “in-demand” choreographers in our area.  She was a member of the world famous Rockettes, performing in the 2005 Radio City Christmas Spectacular. She also worked as an assistant for the New York City Dance Alliance National Tour for two years and assisted Joe Lanteri at the 2004 Jazz Dance World Congress in Costa Rica. She received the "Critic's Choice" Award from the New York City Dance Alliance in 2003 as well as numerous other awards for her innovative choreography. Michelle performed in both "Dreams" and "Pearl", directed and choreographed by Debbie Allen, at the Kennedy Center and the Lincoln Center in New York City. Michelle is also a member of the traveling company American Dance Artists (ADA), under the artistic direction of Adrienne Canterna.  Michelle trained at Spotlight for 10 years where she was a Company member for the duration.

Kirov - Ballet Technique & Ballet Conditioning

Anatoli is a Master Ballet Instructor with the Kirov Ballet Academy.  Anatoli was named “Teacher of the Year” by the prestigious Youth American Grand Prix and has been featured in several major dance magazines such as “Dancer”.  His students, including Rasta Thomas, have received Gold medals at several major ballet competitions including Varna .  Early in his career he was a principal dancer for 8 years with the "Stars of the Bolshoi Ballet."   Mr. Kucheruk was awarded 2 silver medals at Varna and Moscow ballet competitions.  Anatoli will be celebrating his tenth year at Spotlight Studio.   

Junior Conditioning and Jazz, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Adult Jazz and Tap

Marissa has just recently graduated Suma Cum Laude from Towson University with her degree in Criminal Justice.   Marissa was named captain to Towson’s 8- time National Champion Dance Team in her junior year. She completed her senior and final season taking them yet again to their 9^th Championship.  She has trained under the tutelage of Mrs. Wyndee Hughson-McGovern since the age of 10.  She was a member of Spotlight’s dance company for 5 years. She is an original member of "JazzFusion" and competed in the 2002 Jazz Dance World Congress. Marissa also choreographs for and advises high school dance teams all over Maryland. She is currently in her first year of Law School at the University of Maryland.  This will be Marissa’s sixth year teaching for Spotlight.

Balanchine- Ballet Technique & Repertoire

Ms. Bowman has been the Owner and Artistic Director of the Hanover School of Music & Dance and the Nebula Performing Company for the past 13 years. She received her training in Central Connecticut in classical ballet and modern (Graham Technique). She performed with the Central Connecticut State University Dance Company and at Allenberry Theatre. She is a talented teacher and choreographer and has directed Duke Ellington productions of the Nutcracker, Nunsense, and the Ms. Hanover Pageant. Robin has received numerous Teacher Achievement and Choreography awards at regional competitions and conventions.  This will be her sixth year teaching at Spotlight.

Robbie Nicholson – Lyrical/Contemporary/Musical Theater/Company Choreographer

A native of Virginia, 22 year old Robbie Nicholson is a veteran of the
Broadway stage having spent almost two years in "The Music Man." 
During that time, he appeared on "The Tony Awards," "The Today Show,"
"The Rosie O'Donnell Show," and the "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade."
He won the first and only title of "American Dance Idol" and appeared
on the nationally televised "Star Search." He most recently returned
from Tokyo, Japan where he was in the cast of "Encore!" at the Tokyo
Disney Resort. Robbie is an original company member of Bad Boys of
Dance.  A new company, created by Rasta Thomas, BBD seeks to push the
boundaries of male dancing today.

Deborah Engerman - Int. Ballet Technique Pointe/Junior Ballet

Deborah Engerman trained with the Baltimore Ballet in the RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) tradition, passing her graded exams. While pursuing her degree in International Policy at Dickinson College, she continued her study of classical ballet at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Her dance training also includes The Vaganova Technique, The French Methodology, and the Dance Education Program at Towson University.  She has been fortunate to have many successes as a dance educator. Deborah was the Ballet Academy Director at Mid Atlantic Center for the Performing Arts, where she staged such ballets as the Nutcracker and Swan Lake, Act II. Dancers trained by Ms. Engerman have danced with Universal Ballet, The Washington Ballet, The Vienna Opera Ballet, the Boston Ballet, and on Broadway. She has also been a coach to dancers winning at numerous international ballet competitions, such as The Prix de Lausanne, the Varna IBC, and The Youth America Grand Prix. One of her students, Adrienne Canterna, took the Junior Gold Medal at the 1998 Jackson USA IBC. Ms. Engerman is happy to bring the discipline and technique of classical ballet to Spotlight Studio of Dance.  This will be Ms. Deborah’s fifth year at Spotlight.