MEET THE FACULTY

Betty Mitchell, School Director and Ballet Instructor

In 1976, Betty Mitchell began her early ballet training with Jean Nuccilli, (Southfield, MI), Leslie O’Day (Detroit, MI) and Rosemarie Floyd (Royal Oak, MI), while touring and performing with The Glory & Latter Rain Dance Companies.

1986, Ms. Mitchell assumed the position of Director of Dance at Bethesda Christian Church, where she also instructed ballet classes. Performances at various large church and school events contributed to a rapid increase in enrollment which brought a significant awareness of Jesus Christ in dance in the metropolitan Detroit area.

1994-2002, Ms. Mitchell assumed the Director of Dance position at Kensington Community Church (Troy, MI) where a Performing Arts School was launched and classes offered in ballet, modern, jazz, tap & Ballroom. During her tenure at Kensington, Ms. Mitchell coordinated many collaborative events with local, regional and nationally recognized ballet and modern companies, such as Ballet Magnificat (Jackson, MS), Eisenhower Dance Ensemble (Oakland County, MI), Rosemarie Floyd Civic Ballet (Royal Oak, MI) and Houston Ballet Dancers (Millenium Center, Southfield, MI).

(2002-present), Currently Ms. Mitchell is Director of The Link School of the Arts of The Link School of the Arts, a non-profit 501 C3 arts organization, launched by Kensington community church. She is also a LCAA member of the Cecchetti Council of America (CCA) and is currently working on her ACCA and FCCA certification. She is also certified through Cecchetti USA as a LCUSA Licentiate Member. Ms. Mitchell has presented more than 1,500 candidates for Cecchetti Examinations in Grades 1– 6. Ms. Mitchell also teaches Advanced 7 and Diploma classes under the direction of Ms. Bethany Lenhart. For her non-syllabi teaching, she has studied under many notable teachers; Priscilla Nathan Murphy, Andrew Murphy, Lauren Anderson, Victoria Vittum, Caleb Mitchell, ( All Houston Ballet) Shawn Stevens (NYCB & Twyla Tharp), IBC Teacher’s Training (David Howard), Steve Rooks, Evelyn Cisneros, and Sol Maissonet.

Ms. Betty, the late Mr. Sonny and their son Caleb, started the Vision that has created the Link School of the Arts as it is today. She has LINKED dancing for the Glory of God, high quality dance education, and community engagement performances locally and internationally, and has made all the CORNERSTONES of the School. Ms. Betty has poured her heart and soul into the School and has been its Director for over 30 years! She has MANY students that have progressed to professional careers in dance and created a BREEDING GROUND for teachers and choreographers. She inspires all of her students and faculty to be better and holds them to the highest quality of dance and in life.

 She continues the vision that she, Mr. Sonny and Caleb’s life work started, with facilitating the launch of the Professional Arm of the School, The ARK Initiative Ballet and currently working with many leaders and dancers in the Southeast Michigan area on developing the Southeast Michigan Ballet Alliance. .

In 2008, Ms. Mitchell instructed, mentored and coached a competitor at the CICB Competition in Calgary, Alberta, the 2011 CICB Competition in Manchester, England, and presented 4 competitors in the 2017 CICB Competition in Florence, Italy with one of the competitors advancing to finals in the Senior Division. Many of her students have placed in the top 12 of YAGP regional and national competitions and gives all the honor and praise of these accomplishments to the Glory of God!

Susan Howard, Ballet Instructor, Tap Instructor, Financial Administrator

Susan Howard received her early classical ballet training at the Doris Marsh School of Ballet. Earlier jazz and tap training were studied at the Judy Kanary School of Dance. During this time Susan attended multiple dance workshops and summer intensives studying under Sylvia Palmer (Royal Winnepeg Ballet), Gus Giordano, Al Gilbert, Meribeth Kisner, Michael Donovan, Sherry Zunker, Ellen Carrington, Lisa Nowak and many others. Following her study, she went on to become a dancer with the Detroit City Dance Company, a professional modern dance company under the direction of Carole Morisseau. Plans to pursue a dance career in NY were thwarted when she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior.

In 1984, Susan joined “The Glory Dancers”, a Christian interpretive ballet company that toured locally, regionally and nationally, communicating the Gospel message through dance. Susan was a ballet instructor for 7 years at the Bethesda Christian School of Dance and performed with the Latter Rain Christian Dance Ministry for 11 years. She then went on to teach ballet, tap, jazz, and modern for 7 years at Kensington Community Church School of Dance.

In 2002, Susan assisted Betty Mitchell in launching The Link School of the Arts, a 501c3 arts launch of Kensington Community Church. Susan also became a member of the Cecchetti Council of America, and has trained and presented more than 150 candidates for Cecchetti Examinations in Grades 1-3. She has attended numerous Cecchetti seminars as well as workshops including the 1998 IBC Teacher’s Workshop with David Howard, CICB 2011 Teacher’s workshop in Manchester, England, CICB 2014 Teacher’s Workshop in Richmond, Virginia and Master Classes at the Houston Ballet. During this time, she has also studied under master teachers: Lauren Anderson, Shawn Stevens, Priscilla Nathan Murphy, Andrew Murphy, Caleb Mitchell, Steven Rooks, Clara Cravey, Sol Nazario, Charmaine Hunter, and Evelyn Cisneros.  Currently, Susan serves as a Ballet instructor at The Link School of the Arts.

Andrew Kaczmarek, Ballet Instructor

Katreece Ivory, Modern Instructor

Kareece Ivory began her dance training under Debra White-Hunt with the Detroit-Windsor Dance Academy. There, she studied many forms of dance, including ballet, modern, tap, and African contemporary for 10 years.  She trained with DWDA for 10 years and had the opportunity to participate in an international worship convention in Cape Town, South Africa.

Katreece began her college career at Grand Valley State University. She was accepted into the GVSU dance troupe, where she danced for 2 years. She was, also, accepted into the Rhythm ’N' Blue Dance Company at this time. After GVSU, Katreece finished college at Wayne State University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 2010. 

Katreece’s life is a testimony. She was born with Sickle Cell Anemia, a debilitating genetic blood disorder.  Because of this disease, doctors believed that Katreece’s life would be limited. God had a different plan. With the support of her family, Katreece exceeded everyone’s expectations. The more she danced, the healthier she became! From frequent hospitalizations and medically-induced comas to dancing in 3-day intensives and teaching numerous dance classes.

Katreece gives all glory to God. 

Although she was raised in church, Katreece began her own personal journey with Christ in 2000 when she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.  She believes that dance is a God-given talent and that God has placed a calling on her life through dance.

Katreece also served as assistant director and teacher at The Body of Praize Dance Factory, under the direction of Taivia Jones. She has been with TBOP for 10 years, teaching ballet, jazz, modern, and tap to a variety of leveled dancers. She is well-versed in Lester Horton and Martha Graham technique,

Katreece has been married for 15 years. She lives in Sterling Heights with her husband, 3 sons, and 1 daughter. Katreece is excited to join the faculty at The Link. She is looking forward to sharing her love for God and dance with new students and families.

Riley Susan, Worship Instructor

Riley is very excited to be a part of the Link's teaching team this year.

 Riley has been dancing since she was a little girl starting her formal training at Ann Parsley School of Dance and Christian Arts Academy. Desiring to further her Cecchetti ballet training she started at The Link School of the Arts at Grade 3 Cecchetti Syllabus.  She learned so much in the time she was there and loved having class with Ms. Sue and Ms. Betty. 

 She is very passionate about worshipping the Lord through dance and is excited to share her passion with her students while in class. Riley also loves to sing and do musical theatre.  Her most recent roll was that of Ariel in The Little Mermaid. She is actively involved in her school and is a member of the Link Crew. Riley loves to worship through song and has been a worship leader at her church for the past few years. In her spare time, she loves to shop, spend time with friends, and drink specialty coffee.