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
Instructor
Olivia Crawford studied psychology and communication with a minor in dance at Otterbein University. Originally from North Canton, Ohio, she started dancing at the age of 3 and competing at the age of 5 at Candy Apples Dance Center. She has been trained in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, acro, hip hop, and musical theatre. In her competitive career, she was crowned the first National Miss Energy and she has been on teams which have won national championships. Continuing her dance education at Otterbein, she was a student choreographer for the annual Dance Concert. Also in her Otterbein career, she was a featured dancer for the dance concerts, a featured dancer and dance captain in the production of Fiddler on the Roof, and assistant choreographer for the production of Damn Yankees. She began teaching in high school and has taught at studios all around Ohio and in Michigan. She has also had independent choreographic opportunities for both competition dancers and concert dancers. She recently made her New York City debut in a show which premiered in the Midtown International Theatre Festival.
Kristina Sweazy
Instructor
Kristina is so excited to be returning for another year with Drake Dance Academy, where dancing with the students, Morgan and the other teachers is one of the highlights of her week! Kristina has danced professionally with the Tulsa Ballet II, Louisville Ballet, Festival Ballet Providence and was a guest artist with Dayton Ballet and Kentucky Ballet Theater. She currently performs with Columbus Dance Theatre. Kristina graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Cincinnati with a BFA in ballet, where she studied on scholarship. She also recently graduated with a MFA from the Department of Dance and a Graduate Interdisciplinary minor in College Teaching from The Ohio State University. At OSU she was a graduate teaching associate and the recipient of an Ohio State University Fellowship. She also teaches ballet to the Ohio State Dance Team – Go Bucks! She has enjoyed teaching and choreographing for students of all ages for over ten years in Columbus, Cincinnati and Rhode Island. For the past six years she has been an instructor with the Joffrey Ballet School Summer Intensive programs in Georgia, Denver, Colorado Springs and Kansas City. She has also taught at BalletMet and Festival Ballet Providence, in the school and at the Senior and Junior Summer Intensive programs. Kristina has received a Columbus Dances Fellowship award for choreography and her work has been presented at the Columbus Arts Festival and the TEDx Ohio State University 2016 event.
Rachel Fish
Instructor / Marketing Director
Rachel is a choreographer and dance educator with performance backgrounds in the competitive dance circuit, as well as collegiate musical theatre and dance concert productions. 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 main-stage and student-led productions. Performance credits include dance roles in Singin’ in the Rain, The Pajama Game, and Dance 2018: Gloriously Grimm, with featured dance credits in Dance 2019: Together Again and Dance 2020: The Wild Within. Rachel was also the Female Swing and assistant to the choreographer in Otterbein’s production of Chicago. Additional theatre choreography credits include OMTI’s Mean Girls, OMTI’s A Chorus Line, Buckeye Valley High School’s Newsies, and assisting choreography for OMTI’s Chicago.
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. In addition to teaching and choreographing, Rachel is also a judge and masterclass instructor for Groove Dance Competitions and a resident dancer with Whirlwind Dance; a professional contemporary company here in Columbus.
Harmony Beerman
Instructor
Harmony Beerman began dancing at the age of three and started competing at the age of five. She was part of the original competition team at Drake Dance Academy where she won numerous Regional and National titles, including being crowned Ms. Dynamite. Harmony is well versed in various dance styles including jazz, musical theatre, contemporary, ballet, lyrical, tap, and hip hop. She has been an assistant in teaching and choreographing routines for the dance team at Otterbein University. Harmony has also performed many local festivals and performances within her community. Her favorite performances have included dancing “The Nutcracker” at the Ohio Statehouse, as well as performing during the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game. Harmony is currently studying fashion merchandising at The Ohio State University as well as furthering her education in acro and aerial arts. Harmony loves everything Drake Dance Academy stands for and is excited to share all of the wonderful experiences and lessons through her teachings with you!
Danielle Perry
Instructor
Danielle has been dancing since the age of three and has studied many styles including jazz, contemporary, lyrical, musical theatre, clog, tap and her favorite, hip-hop. She was a competitive dancer for 10 years and has won overalls at both Regional and National levels. Danielle studied under Morgan Drake for 6 years and during that time she also worked as an assistant teacher for Morgan and Mitchell A. Finke. Projects included various dance performances and nationally recognized flash mobs.
A graduate from Marysville High School, Danielle now holds a bachelors in chemistry and minor in business from The Ohio State University. During her time in college, she performed with Carpenter Productions and the Smoking Belles.
Lisa D’Onofrio
Instructor
An Ohio native, Lisa began her training at New Albany Ballet Company at the age of three and later graduated from BalletMet Dance Academy as a recipient of BalletMet’s Dare to be Moved Scholarship. While there, she enjoyed performing in BalletMet’s Nutcracker as ‘Clara’, and in Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. She has participated in summer programs at Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington D.C., at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, BalletMet Dance Academy, Carolina Ballet, and Ballet Magnificat. Lisa attended The Ohio State University as a dance major before moving to Mississippi join Ballet Magnificat as a trainee. She was asked to join the Events Company, and performed with the company touring across the nation, and internationally touring to Cuba, Mexico, Kenya, and Zambia. Lisa has been teaching for over five years, and she is excited to teach and share the joy of dance with DDA!
Andrew Foster
Instructor
Andrew has always had a passion for mentoring kids, starting at young age working with Big Brothers Big Sisters. It wasn’t until his senior year of High School that he would fall in love with dance by way of watching his future wife (Morgan Drake) perform. He has now been involved in the dance industry for over 14 years.
After many years of assisting in various roles throughout the dance industry, Andrew wanted to bring a new aspect of dance to DDA, which lead him to becoming an Acrobatic Arts Certified Instructor. He now spends time working with various age groups in building not only their foundation in dance, but also providing them with the courage and confidence they can use throughout life.
Alexis Edmonds
Instructor
Alexis Edmonds is excited to continue her teaching career at Drake Dance Academy. She started dancing at age two, as a third-generation dancer in her hometown of Martins Ferry, Ohio where she competed. Alexis continued her dancing at Oglebay Institute School of dance in Wheeling, WV where she began teaching at sixteen. Alexis graduated from Ohio Dominican University with her BSE in Early Childhood Education. After college she married John and moved to Columbus, Ohio permanently. She taught in the school system for a few years and then became a private nanny. Alexis loves teaching all ages of dancers but has a special place in her heart for the youngest of dancers. She is also an Acro Arts certified instructor. Alexis has four children, Hollis, Leland, Deklan and Fallon. Alexis and her family live in Delaware, Ohio
