Who We Are

Founded on the belief that every dancer deserves individualized attention at every level, Juliart has blossomed into a nurturing space for aspiring dancers of all ages and backgrounds. Since its inception, Juliart Dance Studio has garnered a reputation as a warm and inclusive community that prioritizes support and collaboration over competition.

Our talented and passionate staff are committed to providing top-notch training that challenges and elevates dancers to their fullest potential. The combination of enjoyable classes and rigorous technique ensures that students not only learn the art of dance but also develop discipline, dedication, and resilience along the way.

Our dancers emerge not only as skilled performers but also as compassionate individuals. Join us along the journey!

Meet Our Team

  • Nicole Kotwicki

    Director

    Nicole has been dancing her entire life and has danced at the competitive level both locally and nationally. Throughout her career she has received several dance scholarships, including The Edge in LA, Broadway Dance center in New York City and The San Francisco Ballet School. Nicole is a graduate of Western Michigan University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Business. Nicole has over twenty four years of teaching experience.

  • Roberta Varon

    Instructor

    Roberta’s relationship with Juliart goes all the way back to Juliart’s inception. Roberta is not only a Juliart alumnus but also the mother of a Juliart dancer. Roberta is a graduate of Oakland University’s Communications department and has been teaching young students at Juliart for many years. Roberta’s unique ability to teach students the basics of dance technique while instilling a love of dance and fostering friendships among both students and parents makes her an integral part of the Juliart Family.

  • Amy Walker

    Instructor

    Dance has been a part of Amy’s life for as long as she can remember. She grew up taking lessons at a studio in Gladwin, MI. Following high school graduation, she wasn’t ready to completely walk away from dance. So along with her major in Education, she minored in Dance and obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree from Western Michigan University. Once she had children, and they were old enough to enroll in dance classes, she quickly got them involved…and re-enrolled herself in Adult classes. Amy and her daughters have been with Juliart Dance Studio since 2010 – Amy joining the staff in 2013. She enjoys teaching the studio’s entire age range…from Pre-Ballet classes all the way up to the Adult Tap class. Juliart Dance Studio IS her home away from home!

  • Shannon White

    Instructor

    Based in Detroit, Shannon White is a performance/multimedia artist passionate about collaboration, vulnerability, shared experience and expanding accessibility of “the arts” in the city. Since graduating with a BFA in Dance from Wayne State University in 2019, she has explored concert and commercial realms through performing/collaborating with: BAIRA / Mvmnt Phlsophy, Biba Bell, BALLSHOUSE + Projects, Nick Cave, Imbue Detroit, Sam Austins, Sara Marie Barron, and more. Furthering her research in pedagogy and personal/collective growth via. movement, she teaches classes to metro-Detroit movers of all levels at local studios such as the Andy Arts Center, WSU, Big City Dance Center, Juliart and more. In response to the effects of COVID-19 on the performance industry, along with a new-found interest in filmmaking, she is currently exploring the worlds of creative directing, filming and editing along with choreography.

  • Annalise Walker

    Instructor

    Anna started dancing at three years old! She is trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, and contemporary. Anna is also Juliart alumni! She was a company dancer for nine years, receiving various scholarships and furthering her training with intensives such as Dancerpalooza in Los Angeles and broadway dance center in New York. After graduating high school, she began a career in modeling, as well as working in childcare. Anna is also a Balanced Body certified Mat and Reformer pilates instructor. She’s so excited to share her passion with students!

  • Cadence Ference

    Instructor

    Cadence is a recent Juliart alumni and currently enrolled at Wayne State University, where she is majoring in Dance on the BFA track. She danced at Juliart for 16 years and was a part of Juliart’s competition team for 10 years. During her time with the studio she has also attended summer intensives with companies such as Complexions Contemporary Ballet and SoulEscape. During her time at Wayne State she has worked with artists including Crystal Frazier, Joshua Peugh & Eisenhower Dance Detroit, and Leah O'Donnell. Cadence is ready to continue with her Juliart family this year and share her joy with the dancers!

  • Kate McAllister

    Instructor

    Kate is a Juliart alumni that began dancing at the age of three. She was a part of Juliart's competition team for 9 years and began teaching dance during her senior year of high school. She is currently pursuing a BFA in Dance at Wayne State University, along with a BS in Information Technology and a minor in Business Administration. During her time at Wayne State, Kate has pursued training as a Balanced Body Mat Pilates instructor. She is excited to be back with her Juliart family!

  • Lene Simko

    Instructor

    Lene is a current senior at Avondale High School and has been dancing her entire life. She has been dancing at Juliart for 14 years and has been a part of the competition team for 7. She started demonstrating for classes when she was 12 and has loved working with kids of all ages. She is beyond excited to be teaching this year and can't wait to see what this year has to bring!

  • Avery Mattson

    Instructor

    Avery is a senior at Athens High School and has been dancing at Juliart since she was 3 and has danced on Juliart's competition team for 8 years. Avery loves working with kids of all ages and creating special bonds with them. She is so excited to start teaching this year at Juliart and is beyond excited to see the new experiences this year brings!

  • Debbie Tessoff

    Office Manager

    Debbie has been part of the Juliart Family for over 30 years. Her expertise managing and running the front office make her an invaluable asset!

Kind words.

  • We love Juliart Dance Studio! The teachers are so much fun and really care about every student as a person and as a dancer. My daughter gets so excited to come to class each week and talks about dance every single day. It has helped her grow confidence and strength which has been a joy for us to watch. We are so grateful we chose Juliart as our dance family!

    ~ Kristy T.

  • The Juliart family has become our dance family. Ms. Niki Kotwicki and her instructors always give my girls a sense of confidence, discipline, and a safe place to gain strength, improve technique, and embrace their passion for dance. The studio has become their home. The dancers lead with respect and integrity. Our girls are 7 and 10 years old and have been dancing at Juliart since they could walk! This year they will both be on the competition teams. Can’t wait to see the choreography and dancers shine on stage!

    ~ Emily G.

  • I have two girls who currently dance at Juliart and we absolutely love our dance family! This is going to be our seventh year dancing at Juliart and each year keeps getting better! We have always been recreational dancers but this is my daughters first year on the mini dance team. Our last recital was so phenomenal to watch that it made the decision to enter competitive dance easy. My daughter is so excited for this year! Juliart welcomes new families and has a very positive and encouraging atmosphere. We absolutely love the staff and our girls have excelled in all areas of dance tremendously throughout the years. We are very thankful to have found Juliart so many years ago and cannot imagine being anywhere else!

    ~ Nicole R.

  • I highly recommend Juliart Dance Studio for all levels of dance (beginner to highly experienced). My family has been part of the Juliart family for over 10 years. My oldest takes classes for recreation and my youngest is part of the mini competition team. All the staff is fantastic with children (and parents, too!).

    ~ Jill G.