Leaping Lizards Staff
Robin Michelle Berger
Studio owner
Tap I & II, Tap IV, Beg. Adult Tap, Int. Adult Tap, Adv. Adult Tap, Teen Adv. Tap

Director/Choreographer of the Leaping Lizards On Stage performing group; choreographer and member of the professional tap company, Diva La Tap Professional Tap Group; 1994 graduate of Webster University receiving a BFA degree in Visual Arts & minor emphasis in Dance; performed in community and professional theatre for twenty years including: the MUNY and Radio City Music Hall in Branson, MO; attended master Tap classes with: Jimmy Slyde, Cholly Atkins, Fayard Nicholas, Debbie Dee, Spencer Prince, Leonard Reed, Robert Reed, and Robert Reed, Jr.; choreographer/member of KLOU Oldies Revue; choreographed for Crestwood / Kirkwood Youth Theatre, C&C, New Jewish Theatre, Kirkwood Theatre Guild, American Legionettes, CBC, Clayton and Nerinx Hall High Schools; current choreographer for Webster Groves H.S.; studied at the Joel Hall Dance Center in Chicago, IL; studied privately with Robert Reed; Joel Hall scholarship recipient; 2000 Arts For Life Award recipient; currently choreographing at Webster Groves HS; Resident choreographer for New Line Theatre; choreographer for Miss Illinois 2010, Whitney Thorpe-Klinsky; Robin is the mother of two.

Taylor Pietz
Teen Adv. Jazz, Adult Beg/Int Broadway Jazz,
 Piano

Received a degree in Media Studies at UMSL; studied dance at LLPAS for over 10 yrs; co-founder director of LL ON Stage, member of the studio sponsored professional tap company, Diva La Tap; has worked with numerous companies around St. Louis including New Line Theatre, STAGES St. Louis, KTG, Take Two and many more; a classically trained pianist and piano teacher.  Recently in the world premiere of the new rock musical, Love Kills and played the title role of eva Peron in Evita with New Line Theatre; commercials for television and independent film in both St. Louis and Chicago; presented her very own cabaret in November 2010; represented by West Talent and Model Management. 

Voted 2010 Best Actress In A Musical by the RFT!
Grace Ade
Wednesday & Saturday Doodlebugs

Grace has been dancing for thirty years. She has been an instructor at Leaping Lizards since the studio opened in 1996.  She was a 4 year member and captain of Bishop DuBourg's dance team; performed with Bishop DuBourg Theatre Guild, Windsor Theatre Group and Full Circle Ice Theatre; 6 year member and co-captain of the American Legionette Dance Troupe; attended master tap classes at the St. Louis Tap Festival; performed at numerous National Dance Week Festivals; current member of the Leaping Lizards Rhythm Queens. Grace graduated in December 2008 from Missouri Baptist University with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and holds a State of Mo Certification in Elementary Education grades 1st - 6th.  She is also currently employed as a Sixth grade teacher at Lone Dell Elementary in the Fox C-6 School District. Mother of three children.  
 
Cecily Daguman Walsby
Preschool Dance, Doodlebugs, Jazz IV, Adult Adv. Ballet, Int. Combination, Adult Beg/Int Ballet, Jazz I & II, Adult Adv. Jazz, African Style Dance

Ms. Daguman is a classically trained ballet dancer from California. Her studies include companies such asWestside School of Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, where she received a full scholarship. She was a semi-finalist for the Music Center’s Spotlight Award in Los Angeles, CA. Ms. Daguman has toured with Off Center Dance Theatre in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Performance credits include: Oklahoma, The Shooting of Dan McGrew, Hello Dolly, and The Music Man in both LA and NY productions. She has appeared onstage with performers such as Barry Williams, Barbie Andretti, Tom Hatten, Ruta Lee, and Jacques D’Ambroise.Upon moving to St. Louis she joined the staff at Leaping Lizards in 2007 and has been a Special Guest Instructor at Webster University. Currently, Cecily is the director/choreographer  of Leaps N' Bounds a dance performing group in the St. Louis area.  Cecily is a member of the Rhythm Queens adult tap performance group.  Mother of three children.
Shelley Muellhaupt
Tap III

Visual artist by day, tap dancer by night, and grad student for at least three more semesters, Shelley Muellhaupt is known for her ecclectic resume. She started dancing when she was two and went on to compete in the " Miss Sunflower Pageant"and cried her way home without a trophy and without regrets. Fast forward several years with a ten year hiatus from dance, Shelley attended San Francisco Academy of Art College; for nearly a decade, she was employed as a children's footwear designer with a St. Louis company.  Still feeling  something was missing, Shelley found tap again the first day she stepped through the Leaping Lizards' door and has since become a member of Diva La Tap. In her copius amounts of free time, she completed her BA in Psychology/ Minor in Studio Art from University of Missouri-St. Louis in 2009 and is currently pursuing her MA of Psychology with an emphasis in Behavioral Neuroscience at her alma mater. Additionally, Shelley sings and taps with a local rock band, Devil Baby Freak Show,  and continues to create mixed media artwork.  Ms. Muellhaupt is thrilled to be a performer with Diva La Tap Professional Tap Group, Rhythm Queens and a house performer at Jumpin Jupiter.
Claire Hilleren
Contemporary Dance
Teen Int/Adv Ballet/ Pre-Pointe 

17 years dance experience. Graduated in the 
Fall of '08 from Webster University with a BFA in 
Dance and an emphasis in ballet. Where she  
performed in the Webster University Dance 
Ensemble.
Upon Graduating  she spent a summer
at the American Dance Festival, and from there  
started working the Modern American Dance 
Company (MADCo).  Professional performances 
include MADCo, David Dorfman Dance Company,  
and Annonya Arts.
This is Claire's third year at Leaping Lizards and
she is enjoying every minute of it.
 

Sal "Freedom" Ochoa
Hip Hop/Break Dance,  Jr. Hip Hop

Local Hip hop performer/professional dancer; dancing since the age of eight; He has established himself as one of the founders of the second generation bboy scene in St. Louis. At a young age Freedom entered competitions in the metro-east area winning and becoming recognized as one of the top dancers in the hip hop scene. Now competing on a national level, Freedom and his crew has competed from coast to coast being recognized as one of the top emerging crews. Freedom is the founder of ENI (Express Not Impress). has opened for several professional Hip Hop acts that have toured in St. Louis; toured Fiji and Brazil as a member of GX International. Freedom's passion is teaching the youth; has taught Hip Hop/Break dance at Leaping Lizards for several years.
 

Hope Harl
Beginner Combination Dance, Preschool

*Bio and photo coming soon*

Zachary Allen Farmer
Acting classes, Summer theatre camp

Zak attended and graduated from the musical theatre program AMDA (American Musical and Dramatic Academy) in New York, NY and has performed with the Aardvaark Theatre Group in El Paso, Tx, Ceramic Cow Productions in Fayeteville, AR., Dupont, MS, New Line Theatre and the Washington Avenue Players Project in St. Louis, Mo. He has appeared in Productions of 'Gentlemen Of Verona', 'Wild Party', 'BARE - a pop opera', 'Evita', the American Regional premiere of 'High Fidelity: The Musical,' 'Assassins,' and the world premiere of 'Love Kills.'

Voted 2010 Best Actor In A Musical by the RFT!






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