Meet the Team

Liz Pike | Founder/Co-Owner

Miss Liz has been teaching for 17 years. She trained at Performer’s Edge and danced competitively as well as with the musical theatre company. She was also a member of G2, the student company of Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre. From there she continued her studies in Ball State University’s Theatre and Dance program. Since college, she has obtained certifications in the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum (Pre-Primary through Level 5) and Progressing Ballet Technique. She still performs and choreographs locally. Her choreography has recently been seen on the stages of the Belfry (Little Women, 2016 and The Sound of Music, 2022) , Hamilton Southeastern High School (Mamma Mia!, 2019; Annie, 2020; Freaky Friday, 2021; Spongebob Squarepants, 2022; Matilda, 2023; Guys and Dolls, 2024; Chicago: Teen Edition, 2025), and Westfield Middle School (The Addams Family jr., 2022). She has been seen on stage with Civic Theatre (Mary Poppins, Fiddler on the Roof, Annie, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) and with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in their annual Yuletide Celebration.

Shawna Graves | Ballet, Company

Shawna did her early training at various studios around the Indianapolis area, including Jordan College Academy of Dance out of Butler University. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Dance Performance from Ball State University. She has been teaching and doing choreography in Central Indiana since her graduation. Shawna has also been a judge for the Indiana High School Dance Team Association for over 20 years.

Melissa Ritchie | DImension, preschool, primary, jazz, tap

Miss Melissa has been dancing since she was three years old! She started her training at the Oak Lawn Park District in Oak Lawn, Illinois before moving to Carmel, Indiana and training under Ron Morgan, Lorenda Carr, and others at Performer’s Edge. She then continued her dance education as a Dance Minor at IU and competed on their Ballroom Dance Team at the Bronze and Silver level. Since graduating in 2011, she has been seen onstage in numerous productions around Indianapolis including at Footlite Musicals, Zach and Zack Productions, and Civic Theatre. Her choreography has also been seen onstage in Carmel Community Player’s productions of Suessical the Musical and Oliver and Carmel Reparatory Theatre’s Little Shop of Horrors.

Michele Amos | Office Manager

I never imagined that dance would become a part of my life, but I'm thrilled that it did. I'm not a dancer myself; I'm a proud dance mom. I started working at Dance Innovations after my daughter had been a student at DI for three years. In that time, I had made some wonderful friends and felt like I found my people. Working at the studio has brought me so much joy and has given me a special opportunity to bond with my daughter through dance even more. Before working at this amazing studio, I was a successful pastry chef for over 20 years. I have a passion for baking and art. In my free time, I enjoy baking, creating art, and, of course, spending time with my wonderful family.

Lorenda Carr | Founder/Co-Owner

Lorenda June Carr is owner and executive director of Circle City Dance Productions, LLC, Circle City Tap Festival, Circle City Tap Company, and co-founder of Midwest Open Rhythm Exchange (M.O.R.E.). Born and raised in Indianapolis, she began dancing at age 3, was a dance performance major at Ball State University, and has been a dance teacher/choreographer for over 30 years specializing in tap. Lorenda has taught competitive and non-competitive classes to all ages, levels and styles. She has been judging dance competitions for 20 years and has even been seen on TV judging for “Dance Moms” numerous times. Other credits include choreographing for numerous high school show choirs and musicals, performing in Tap 24/7’s “In the Pocket,” producer for the Meals on Wheels annual fundraising event “Dancing with Our Stars,” and of course performing with her company, Circle City Tap Company, since 2012.

Paige Strickland | Jazz, Tap, Acro, Company

Paige started her dance training at 3 years old at a small ballet studio in Sun Prairie, WI, before finding her way to Interactive Academy in Zionsville, IN. With a background in gymnastics, Paige trained under various teachers in Tap, Ballet, Jazz, and Acro styles. She first started competing around age 10 with Lorenda Carr and Liz Pike as her primary coaches through the rest of her training, following them to Dance Innovations PAC in 2020 and completing her pre-professional training there in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, Modern, and Musical Theater styles

During her time at Dance Innovations, Paige became a brand ambassador for The Pointe Shop in 2021, modeled for Revolution Dancewear, won multiple regional competitions, and performed as both the Sugarplum Fairy and Dewdrop in DI Goes Nuts! productions.

In addition to standard competition dance, Paige also partook in Irish Dance, becoming nationally ranked and world-qualified before her retirement in 2023. Along with her work at DI, Paige is also actively affiliated with Activate Your Artistry Dance Convention as a professional TRIBE member and Circle City Tap Company as a professional dancer. She is also active with Butler University’s dance club, performing as the March Hare in Alice in Wonderland and taking on a choreography position in the fall. Paige has also received certification through Acrobatic Arts and is super excited to add Acro to DI’s class offerings!

Daniel Korrie | Hip Hop

Robin Moser | Office Staff

I am not a dancer, unless you count synchronized swimming which has been called water ballet. I enjoyed competitive swimming for the majority of my childhood through High school and even gave it a go in college. Then came Elizabeth, (Miss Liz to you) and I became a mom, and about 3 years later a Dance Mom. What a fun ride that was and is. Some of my most cherished times with Elizabeth revolved around dance. Having the opportunity to watch your child do something she loves and is passionate about is a gift. Fast forward to today and my girl is still in love with what she does. She doesn't need me to drive her to class, competitions or performances any more so we had to find a new way for me to support her dreams. So here I am, sitting at the front desk, answering phones, talking to dance moms and dads and simply trying to make Dance Innovations the happiest place on earth. (Aside from Disney that is, )