Meet The Staff

Marlise Cole

Greetings!  I started taking ballet, tap, and jazz classes at Charmaine's Studio of Dance in Roseville when I was about 8 years old.  I kept dancing at Charmaine's through grade school, high school, and while I earned a Bachelors in journalism from Wayne State University, where I received a scholarship in dance.  I've also done post-graduate work in business administration at U of M Dearborn.  Before I became a stay-at-home mom, I worked as an editor and marketing manager in the health care field. 

In addition to the incredible training I received from "Miss Charmaine" and her staff, I have also participated in a variety of jazz and ballet conventions and have taken guest classes from numerous professionals, including prima ballerina Nathalie Krassovska, George Chaffee, and Roger VanFleteran, who got his start at Charmaine's and is now Alabama Ballet Associate Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer.

Although well-versed in tap and jazz, ballet/pointe is my passion and I have been teaching/choreographing for more than 25 years.  In my classes I like to encourage dialogues with the students (more so the older ones) so we can explore concepts and learn from each other, reacing a level of understanding that is beneficial to all.

On the home front, danicing is a family affair.  I have two little girls who take class at The Turning Pointe and a supportive husband who works backstage and "dances" in the winter and spring recitals.  When I am not taking care of my family or teaching/choreographing, I write on a freelance basis for publications that include Dance Studio Life magazine.