Welcome to
Strut, U.S.A!
"Where Every Child is a Star"
Our Staff
DIRECTOR/OWNER
Lynn B. Schmitz has been teaching dance and baton for over 30 years. Strut, USA is in its 23rd year in business. During these years Mz Lynn has touched the lives of over 3,000 students. She has choreographed such area musicals as "A Chorus Line", "Oklahoma", "West Side Story", "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", "Quilters" and more. She choreographed and co-produced "Christmas In this Valley" with Bruce Stephens and Choreographed for State Pageants and the Spring Arts Showcase. Her competitive teams and soloists have won area, state, regional and national awards in baton twirling and dance. They have performed at Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Country Music Tonight (Tennessee), The Grand ol Opry, featured on the Tyra Banks Show, televised Liberty Bowl games, Birmingham Barons Baseball games,Birmingham Steeldogs Football games, Atlanta Hawks Basketball games, civic functions, area shopping malls, Home and Heath shows, Southern Womens expos, featured at the 'Year of the Young Child expo', Alabama Chocolate Festival and more. They have been invited to participate in the St. Patrick's Day celebration in Dublin, Ireland; to perform for the Carnival Cruise Lines on board ship and in ports; to perform at half time at the Citrus, Music City and Sugar bowl games.
Mz Lynn is a former solo twirl, 2 baton, strutting, and duet champion. She has danced with the Birmingham Dance Company and trained in Baton and Dance since the age of 6. She has taken master classes with such greats as Mia Michaels, Dave Scott, Brian Friedman, Laurie Gibson, Mallory Grahm, Daryl Retter, Al Gilbert, Jerry Rose, Joe Tremaine, Donald Garcia and more.
Associations include: Certified Instructor for the National Baton Twirling Association, Licensed Judge with the USA National Baton Twirling Judges Bureau, Member of the International Academy of Accredited Twirling Teachers, member of AAU(Amatuer Athletic Union) for Baton Twirling and Dance, member Professional Dance Teacher of America, Dance Educators of America, National Dance Association, Life Member of Kingston's National Registry of Who's Who, Member of Cambridge Registry of Business Women and Member of Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association and member of the Etowah/Gadsden Chamber of Commerce.
Mz Lynn is actively involved in overseeing all choreography at Strut, USA. She hosts the annual "Strut Your Suff" Competition and Miss Strut Queen competition. Her love of half time performers keep her working with area majorettes, colorguards, dancelines and featured twirlers. She is a sought after judge for marching band festivals as well as dance and baton competitions.
STAFF
Liara Steward - Assistant Director - Liara hails from Birmingham, AL. She is known for her outstanding choreography in Tap, Clogging and Jazz as well as ballet, pointe, and lyrical. Liara graduated Jacksonville State University with a degree in Criminal Justice. She has been dancing for 24 years. Liara attended the Alabama School of Fine Arts and majored in Dance. She was trained there by the celebrated team of Dame Sonia Arova, former Prima Ballerina, and the director of the Alabama Ballet co., and her famous husband, dancer and internationally known choreographer, Thor Sutowski. She also studied under Wes Chapman, the previous Artistic Director of the Alabama Ballet.
She holds numerous titles in Jazz and Clogging, as well as other forms of dance. From 2002 to 2004 Liara trained dance teams that achieved Regional and National success. Liara has won Best Choreography awards at both the Regional and National Levels. Most recently, her routine "Come Clean" was named the National Champion Duet/Trio in the Jr. Division of the Platinum Dance Championships.
We are thrilled to have Liara on staff at Strut, USA to work with our tap, ballet, clogging, hip hop and jazz classes as well as our award winning Tap and Jazz Teams.
Julie Batson-Hengeveld - Classical Ballet - 1998 began classical training with the Alabama School of Fine Arts. Summer 1998 (10 years old) was placed in the advanced level at ASFA. 2000, began training with the Alabama Ballet Company. Began 4 times a week classes at the Alabama Ballet Company. Summer 2001 took a 5 week workshop with the company and was placed inthe advanced level. Studied with several professional teachers including dancers from the American Ballet Company. Fall 2001 began training in the apprentice level classes (5 days a week) with the company. Trained in the apprentice level till age 15. Danced in several productions with the company, including the Ballanchine Nutcracker performance in December 2002. In 2003 took with Ballet Magnificent in Jackson, Mississippi. Was placed in the advanced level classes for the duration . After an ankle injury in 2004, took a break from the Alabama Ballet Company and studied privately for a year with Vicki Alexander. Also taught some classes in Vicki's studio. Winter of 2007 became the Dance Teacher and Choreographer for the Jacksonville State University Opera Theatre.
Doris Day - Mother of 3 girls - Megan 13, Erin 6, and Sydney 4. Married to John Day. Currently employed by Attalla City Schools as drama and choral director for Etowah Middle and High School for the past 6 years. EMS and EHS choirs have been rated excellent and superior at district and state choral festivals since 2002. Choir director for the First United Methodist of Attalla for 4 years. Involved with the theatre since childhood, performing with the Theatre of Gadsden, Alabama Regional Theatre, and Carnegies of Birmingham. Graduated from JSU in 1995 with a B.M.E. (Bach. of Music Ed.). Involved with concert choir, show choir, theatre and comm. choir. Worked with vocalists at the Gadsden Cultural Arts Center for several years.
Ms Doris has had numerous students to receive vocal and dramatic scholarships to colleges around the southeast. We are VERY lucky and excited to have her on board! She will begin by working with our 2 Musical Starz Show Choir Groups and teaching private voice lessons.
Miss Leah Dennis. In her 15th year at Strut, USA, Leah is now "Miss Leah" and a wonderful addition to our staff. While still studying her technique in Tap, Baton and Jazz, Leah will be assisting with our KinderDanz, TumbleDanz, Tap and baton students. Leah has taken Master Classes in Tap, Ballet and Jazz. In addition, Leah is a Gold medal winner in the Junior Olympics in baton twirling!!! She has won numerous additional titles and awards in both dance and baton as well as being an award winning former majorette at the "Pride of Southside" marching band. We are so happy to have Leah step up and become a member of the Strut staff.
Miss Jennifer Dover. Jennifer was co captain of the award winning Southside High School Dance line, the 'Crimsonettes'. Jennifer will be sharing her awesome Hip Hop style as well as assisting in Jazz and Kinder classes. Known to many of the young ones as "Barbie", Miss Jennifer will be a joy to work with.
Miss Noelle Millirons. Assisting with Jazz, Tap and Baton, Miss Noelle is a 12 year student of Strut, USA with many Baton twirling and Dance titles to her credit! Her awesome repoire with the students and her patient, loving ways make her someone that the children look forward to seeing!!
Ms Sammye Hill - Theatre Fundamentals, Introduction to Music
(Bio and Picture to follow)
Mr. Clark Barron - Clark has had 15 years of training in dance, gymnastics, baton, voice and drama.He was employed for two years at Six Flags Over Georga as a Singer and Dancer. Throughout his career, Clark has won such titles as Alabama State & Southern Regional Boys Twirling Champion, Twirling Unlimited Regional Boys Champion, Mr. Dance, USA, Mr. Teen Stars of Tomorrow, Most Entertaining Act by the Professional Dance Teachers Association and Most Entertaining Act at the Applause Talent Competition. Clark has performed in televised Bowl Games, at Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Country Tonight, Barons Baseball Games and more. He was named as an "All Star Caravan Kid" and invited to do a 14 city tour with Dance Caravan. He was awarded a scholarship by the Professional Dance Teachers Association to dance with Debbie Reynolds at her studio in N. Hollywood, CA. While in Hollywood, Clark studied also at the "Edge" Dance Center and acting at the National Academy of the Arts. He was selected as a Member of the Dance USA National Dance Team.
Clark has studied in master classes with Barry Youngblood, choreographer to Jordan Knight, Jennifer Lopez and others. Barry awarded Clark his scholarship to study in California. In Atlanta, Clark studied with Darrin Henson, MTV's choreographer of the year. Darrin is known for his "Bye, bye, bye" video for N'Sync. Darrin has also worked with Michael Jackson, Brittney Spears and others. Also in Atlanta, Clark studied with 'Geo', currently on MTV's show "Becoming". He continues to work with such masters as Dena Rizzo and others.
Miss Katelyn Deerman - With over 10 years training in Baton Twirling, Dance & Gymnastics, Miss Katelyn can do it all! Katelyn's choreography for majorettes and dancelines have won numerous Superior Ratings as well as Overall Best in Class and Best in Division Awards.
Miss Katelyn has performed in televised Bowl games as well as in Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. She was selected by audition to perform with Dance Motif Productions out of Birmingham. Her Baton Twirling titles include Miss Strut Your Stuff, Miss Tennessee Valley Twirl Queen, Miss Rocket City Twirl Queen, and Miss Dogwood Festival Twirl Queen.
Miss Katelyn is now a 'Ballerina' at Jacksonville State University and is on staff at Strut, USA as much as we can get her!!!
Mrs. Tammie Roper - Ms Tammie has taught dance in the Continuing Education department of Northeast Alabama State Comm. College in Rainsville as well as Hayden Hodges Studio in Scottsboro, AL. She has choreographed for the Theatre of Gadsden, The Alabama Regional Theater, The Whole Backstage, Snead State College, Northeast Ala State Comm. College and the Scottsboro Players Little Theatre. Ms Tammie has trained with The Ballet Exaltations Performing Arts Center, Northeast Alabama State Comm. College, Hayden Hodges Studio and Scottsboro High School. In addition, Ms Tammie has worked with individuals as they train for auditions for Six Flags, Disney World, AMDA and the Miss Alabama Body Building Competition. Ms. Tammie is on staff as a guest instructor after her husband being relocated to Georgia.
Jaima Young - Jaima is the Dance Teacher for the new Gadsden City High School. Jaima has graduated from the University of Alabama with her degree in Dance Education. Jaima has over 18 years dance training in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern and Tap dance, specializing in Classical Ballet and Pointe. She most recently has been studying Jazz and Modern Dance at the University under Cornelius Carter. Mr Carter was just awarded the National University Professor of the Year award by the Carnegie Foundation in Washington. Jaima studies choreography classes under Edie Barnes, Director of the Dance Program and Professor of Dance. Her ballet professor is Rita Snyder who is currently on tour abroad.
Jaima worked as a counselor for the American Ballet Theatre this summer at their Summer Intensive and also as a Counselor for the New York City Rockette Intensive 2 years ago. She worked with Eileen Grace, an 8 year veteran Rockette and now choreographer for the Rockettes that has been featured on Oprah and All My Children.
Jaima is a member of the Pre-Professional Dance Company at the University of Alabama Repertory Dance theatre and haschoreograpphed Dance Alabama! for the University.
