Dance Instructors

Michelle Bower

Dance Program Coordinator and Dance Instructor

This is Michelle’s second year teaching at the Buhl Community Recreation Center. She started dancing at the Buhl Club at the age of four and continued there through her freshman year of high school. From sophomore year through her first year of college, she danced at the Linda Lucas Dance Studio where she was a teaching assistant. Michelle was a four year member of the danceline and basketball cheerleading squad at Kennedy Catholic High School. She was the danceline advisor at Kennedy from 1998-2005 and currently is the assistant varsity basketball cheerleading advisor. She was the instructor of the Super Spirit Squad (2nd and 3rd grade cheer and dance squad) from 1996-2006. She recently has been named the Dance Program Coordinator at the BCRC. Michelle resides in Hermitage with her husband Matt and their 22 month old son Michael.

Dori Yez

Dance Instructor

Dori came to the Buhl Community Recreation Center with several years of teaching experience at various studios in our area. She originally started dance lessons with Audrey’s Dance Center Studios in Sharon, where she eventually instructed students in ballet, tap and jazz for 16 years. Dori also studied with Anna and Barry Van Cura of Ballet Mid-West, Beth Jahns of the New York City Ballet, and has attended various conventions in dance education. She has extensive choreography experience with local high school musicals and show choirs. Her performance and choreography background includes productions with the Buhl Summer Playhouse, Shenango Playhouse, Trumbull New Theatre, and Columbia Theatre Restoration Fund. Previously she taught preschool and beginner ballet at GiGi’s Studio of Dance in New Castle. Additionally, Dori is a well-known local line dance instructor, working for several local agencies, including adult line dance classes at BCRC. Dori is also a dance coach for the Twirling Angel’s Dance Twirl Team, whose home is here at the BCRC under the direction of Missy Colbert. Dori loves teaching students the art of dance technique for several reasons: to boost their self-esteem, for coordination, and the pure enjoyment of dancing!