MEET THE TEACHERS
Morgan Drake
Owner / Director
Morgan is well versed in various styles of dance including Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary, Musical Theatre and Swing. Morgan has been involved in dance since the age of four and started teaching dance at the age of fourteen while continuing her own study of the art. She grew up dancing and competing in Hilliard, OH where she won numerous Regional and National Titles.
In her career she has studied with numerous choreographers throughout Ohio, LA, and New York. Morgan continued her Dance Education at the Broadway Dance Center in New York City, as well as attending the American Musical Dramatics Academy in New York City, studying and working alongside Broadway Alum.
Morgan worked as assistant choreographer for New York’s Park Playhouse productions of Grease, West Side Story, and Guys and Dolls, where she had the opportunity to perform in West Side Story as a featured dancer and lead dance captain. Back in Ohio, she danced with Seven Dance Company as a Principal dancer for four seasons and then spent several years performing with Carpenter Productions. Morgan still travels the Midwest as a featured Artist for various conventions and studios, as well as a judge for numerous dance competitions. Morgan also works with Mitchell Aaron Productions choreographing various performances for nationally-televised broadcasts as well as performances of “flash mobs” throughout the Midwestern United States for multiple company projects.
All of Morgan’s hard work and dedication has been recognized not just by the Choreography awards and Regional and National Title winning routines, but the multiple “ADCC Studio of Excellence” awards, and most recently being named at Nationals “Dance Educator of the Year.” Being a role model that shares her knowledge, passion and love for dance is what Morgan is most excited to bring to your children.
Olivia Crawford
Assistant Artistic Director / Instructor
Olivia began her dance journey at the age of 3 and instantly fell in love with the art. Originally from northeastern Ohio, she is trained in a multitude of styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, musical theatre, hip hop, acro, and pointe. She began competing at age 5 and teaching at age 17. In Olivia’s time as a competitive dancer, she won many regional and national awards; won awards for excellence and technical training in tap, ballet, jazz, and more from esteemed competitions such as Dance Masters of Ohio, Nuvo, and Showstoppers; and won a National Title.
Olivia continued her dance training in college. She attended Otterbein University, minoring in dance while earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. She graduated magna cum laude in 2018 with both degrees and with distinction. While at school, Olivia performed in many main-stage productions and began her choreographic career. Her performance credits include Thoroughly Modern Millie (Alice), Fiddler on the Roof (Bottle Dancer/ensemble), Tell Tale Poe: Dance Concert 2014 (Lenore from Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven), Famously Yours, Forever: Dance Concert 2015 (featured dancer), The Goddess: Dance Concert 2016 (ensemble), Move Me: Dance Concert 2017 (featured dancer). Olivia was the sole Student Choreographer on The Goddess and Move Me, as well as the Assistant Choreographer in Thoroughly Modern Millie and Damn Yankees, working alongside Tony Award-winning designers and professionals who have worked on Broadway. She also spent the entirety of her senior year producing and choreographing a dance show titled The Letters to Giulietta as part of her distinction project.
Olivia spent time auditioning in New York City while training at Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center. She moved back to Ohio in 2020 during the peak of the pandemic and then relocated to Columbus, where she has been with DDA ever since! Olivia performed as a feature dancer in NYC's Midtown International Theatre Festival, danced alongside Ryan P. Casey as a member of his Tap Ensemble, and was a member of New Vision Dance Company from 2021-2023.
As a Dance Instructor and Choreographer, Olivia loves working with kids of all ages. Her choreography has received many Choreography Awards and Top Overall Awards, including many First Overall wins at both the Regional and National levels. She is committed to always bringing her best for the kids and pushing them to achieve their best! While tap is her specialty, she loves all styles of dance and is incredibly honored to pass her passion for all things dance on to the next generation!
Rachel Fish
Instructor / Marketing Director
Rachel, a Columbus Ohio native, is a professional dancer, choreographer and dance educator. She is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre, modern, lyrical, and contemporary dance. A graduate of Otterbein University, Rachel spent much of her college career performing, choreographing, and assisting faculty members for numerous theatre and dance productions including Singin' in the Rain, Chicago, and The Pajama Game.
Rachel has performed professionally at Short North Stage in Pippin, The Rocky Horror Show, and A Chorus Line. Rachel was also a company member with WhirlWind Dance during their 2023-2024 season. Additionally, she was previously a judge and instructor for Groove and Reverb Dance Competitions.
Rachel loves all genres of dance but is most passionate about choreographing contemporary works. Accolades for her contemporary choreography in the competitive circuit include Choreography awards, Technique awards, and numerous First Overall awards. Aside from dance and theatre, Rachel is a marketing professional and works as a Social Media Manager day to day.
Alexis Edmonds
Instructor
Alexis Edmonds is thrilled to continue sharing her passion for dance and teaching at Drake Dance Academy. A third-generation dancer, Alexis began dancing at just two years old in her hometown of Martins Ferry, Ohio, where she trained and competed throughout her childhood.
Her dance journey continued at Oglebay Institute School of Dance in Wheeling, West Virginia, where she began teaching at the age of sixteen. Alexis went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) in Early Childhood Education from Ohio Dominican University. After graduation, she married her husband, John, and made the Columbus area her permanent home.
Alexis enjoys working with dancers of all ages, but she has a special passion for introducing the youngest dancers to the joy of movement and dance. Her background in early childhood education brings a thoughtful, nurturing approach to the classroom. Alexis is also Acrobatic Arts certified and enjoys incorporating foundational acrobatic skills into her classes, helping dancers build strength, flexibility, coordination, and confidence in a safe and supportive environment.
Outside the studio, Alexis enjoys spending time with her husband and their four children, Hollis, Leland, Deklan, and Fallon. If they aren't at the dance studio, you can find them on the baseball field!
Bas Goodman
Instructor
Sebastian Goodman, (Bas), is a Columbus-based dance artist and educator with aspirations of pursuing a career in Physical Therapy. Bas specializes in Hip Hop instruction while maintaining a deep love for contemporary, modern, and improvisational movement. His choreographic work draws from the many dance forms he has studied throughout his career, as well as from his Colombian heritage. Through dance, Sebastian hopes to help people discover more about themselves, build genuine connections with others, and leave feeling better, both mentally and physically
J’lyse Kafana
Instructor
Kalista J’lyse Kafana is a professionally trained dancer, choreographer, and now teacher. She started her training at a very young age. Growing up, she has trained throughout the United States for summer and winter intensives, to name a few, BalletX, The Joffrey Ballet, Cirque du Soleil Las Vegas, American Ballet Theater... but her main training has been in Ohio, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, PA, and New York City. She has performed in many ballet’s and pieces, some of her favorites include, Balanchine’s “Western Symphony'', Gulnare from “Le Corsaire'', Rose Waltz from “Beauty and the Beast, Balanchine’s “Tarantella'', Amy Hall Garner’s, “A Jungle Swing'', Jamie Murphy’s “Here in this Room”, and Janice Rosarios, “Brink''. One of J’lyse’s biggest privileges has been dancing in Buglisi Dance Theaters, “9/11 Table of Silence '' at Lincoln Center in 2020 and 2021. J’lyse has been teaching and choreographing dance since she was 16 years old with experiences in choreographing for events such as the West Virginia Dance Festival, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive Program and ChoreographyProgram, the event, “Global Harmony”, through Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City where only 10 dancers pieces are picked amongst hundreds, and for various dance schools ballets and productions throughout. J’lyse has also been a guest, professional teacher for multiple programs and events, such as Ballet In the City’s Summer Intensive in Saratoga, NY and was the first teacher under 25 to be asked to be an instructor for The West Virginia Dance Festival held in Charleston, WV in 2023. She has also been invited to come back to be an instructor for the festival for the 2024 program. J’lyse continues to work in outreach programs to provide dance to the community of the Ohio Valley. J’lyse is trained through the Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (YPAD) and in Darkness to Light. J’lyse is a certified American Ballet Theatre Trained Ballet Instructor, Levels Pre Primary through Level 5. Through ABT’s National Training Curriculum, J’lyse offers her students the best practices in the ballet pedagogy with full understanding of student development and dance anatomy and psychology. She is currently working on a choreography degree through a school in Europe under the tutelage of Rick Tija.
Dani Bolton
Instructor
Dani Bolton is a proud Drake Dance Academy alumna. She graduated in 2023 after many years of training and performing. She is currently attending The Ohio State University, where she is pursuing a degree in Computer Science and Engineering.
Dani’s favorite styles to choreograph are hip hop and contemporary, and she loves bringing creativity, energy, and individuality into her classes and choreography. Outside of teaching, Dani stays involved in the dance community at Ohio State as the Social Media Manager for Movement Variations, a student-led dance organization on campus.
Dani is excited to share her passion for dance with her students and looks forward to creating a positive, fun, and encouraging environment where every dancer can grow in confidence and express themselves!
Sienna Palmer
Instructor
Sienna Palmer is currently studying psychology with minors in dance and exercise science & health promotion at Otterbein University. She has been trained in various genres including tap, jazz, contemporary, ballet, lyrical, hip hop, and musical theatre. She started her dance journey at the age of four and entered the competition world by age seven. Sienna was a member of DDA's competition team for six years in which she competed regionally and nationally. She also had the opportunity to perform in a flash mob in Pittsburgh and excerpts from "The Nutcracker" at The Ohio Statehouse. One of her favorite memories from this time was being able to choreograph and tap live with her high school's jazz band and co-create tap and drum set features. She has a particular interest in the interrelationships between the brain, music, and dance. Sienna was able to further follow this curiosity by studying for a semester at Maastricht University under the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience in the Netherlands. There she joined the organization M.S.D.V. Let's Dance!, which allowed her to learn from and beside dancers across the globe. Sienna can't wait to share her passion for dance artistry and performing with you!
Drew Burgess
Instructor
Drew Burgess is a nationally recognized choreographer, adjudicator, educator, coach, and consultant specializing in dance and acrobatics. He serves on faculty and adjudication panels for prestigious organizations including Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, Dance Masters of America, Dance Educators of America, Impact Dance Adjudicators, Kids Artistic Revue, Rainbow National Talent Competition, and Encore Performing Arts, among others.
As a former competitive dancer, Drew held multiple regional titles including Master, Junior, & Teen Mr. Dance of Ohio, Mr. Dance of the Pacific Coast, and the national titles of Jr. Mr. Dance of America and Mr. Dance of America. He is certified by test to teach through DMA and DEA in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Acrobatics and maintains active membership in both organizations. Drew is also Acrobatic Arts Certified (M1-M3) and is honored to be part of their staff as a USA Division Course Conductor and Examiner. He is also a proud faculty member of Accelerate: The World’s Largest AcroDance Convention.
Drew’s professional performance credits include working with the Radio City Rockettes, Taylor Swift, and The Baha Men. He toured internationally as a professional dancer in Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys of Dance, performing in both “Rock the Ballet 2” and “Romeo & Juliet” as a multi-track swing in each show. His choreographic achievements include the Sherry Gold Memorial Choreography Award from DMA, Overall Choreography Awards for Small Group and Production from NexStar, and Industry Dance Awards Nomination from KAR.
Drew’s students have earned distinguished honors including Teen Miss Dance of Arizona, Miss Dance of Ohio, Mr. Dance of America, positions with the Radio City Rockettes, Walt Disney World, D1A Texas Tech Pom Squad, NFL Cincinnati Bengals (“Ben-gals”) Cheerleaders and Female Junior Solo Gold & Silver Medalist from IDO World AcroDance Championships.
Currently based in Columbus, Ohio, Drew is on the weekly teaching staff at Straub Dance Center and Drake Dance Academy. He previously served as Tap Director at Spisak Dance Academy in Glendale, Arizona for four years. Drew has filmed educational content for CLI Studios and recently worked as a Guest AcroDance Coach for The Ohio State University Dance Team. He continues to share his expertise through year-round guest workshops, technique clinics, and choreography sessions worldwide.
Emily Emanuel
Instructor
Emily trained at a pre-professional ballet company in Erie, Pennsylvania beginning at age 4. She studied at numerous summer intensives, including American Ballet Theater, Cincinnati Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre where she performed in excerpts of Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Paquita, Le Corsaire, among others. She attended the Regional Dance America Northeast Festival and International Festival of Dance from 2010-2019. She continued her dance training at Kent State University where her focus was on ballet and modern technique. She served as the student artistic director for the Kent Dance Ensemble and a member of the Student Dance Education Organization. At Kent State, she had the opportunity to perform in many pieces, her favorites including “Pretty Is…” by Ray Mercer, “Men will Disappear” by Gregory King, “Don’t Explain” by Catherine Meredith, and “Snowfall” by Yoshito Sakuraba.
Emily has been teaching since the age of 16 and is excited to be joining the DDA family as a ballet instructor. As a dancer with scoliosis, she is especially passionate about educating students about self-care, injury prevention, and mental health. She is currently a second-year PhD student in Special Education at The Ohio State University.