Our Staff is committed to providing a safe environment for your child to learn, grow, and have fun!
Youth Protection Association for Dance
Certified Staff
Background Checked (even the owner!)
CPR-Certified
First-Aid Certified
Specially Trained in Injury Prevention, Signs of Abuse, Eating Disorders, Psychology of Dancers, Dancer Wellness, & Industry Best Practices
Natalie Orr-Andrea
Owner & Director
Natalie Orr-Andrea opened Creative Motion Studios, LLC, in 2011. It has been Natalie's lifelong goal from the age of ten to own her own dance studio, and she is happy to be able to realize her dream in her hometown of Akron, Ohio. Natalie has taught various forms of dance throughout Northeast Ohio for the last twenty-five years. Natalie graduated Cum Laude from the University of Akron with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and minors in Dance and Entrepreneurship. She regularly continues her education through seminars, conferences, and workshops in both dance and business in order to best serve her dance families and employees. She is Level I and II certified through MuvMethod, a certified educator through Youth Protection Association for Dance (YPAD), and certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid. Natalie’s collegiate training included studying under former members of the Pennsylvania Ballet, Ohio Ballet, Martha Graham Company, and Jennifer Muller/The Works. While at Akron, she choreographed for and performed in many Choreographer’s Workshop and Spring Into Dance concerts, as well as performing with the University of Akron Dance Company (UADC). She ranked among the top ten percent of all graduating seniors in the College of Business Administration, and she was also a member of the Terpsichore Dance Club, the National Dean’s List, and the Golden Key National Honor Society. Natalie has taught and choreographed for several area studios and performing arts programs during her teaching career. She has also been a featured performer at several establishments in the Northeast Ohio area. She and her husband, Brenton, have choreographed the Akron Children's Hospital Charity Ball Presentation for almost a decade and enjoy being able to use their work to help the community. As the director of the CMS Company, our performance and competition team, Natalie has won several awards for her choreography, including Industry Dance Award nominations. Natalie also has former students studying dance at universities, performing professionally, and teaching in private studios, including at CMS! Natalie strives to continue her own dance education at every opportunity and works hard to constantly challenge her students on all levels. Although she loves to perform, her first love has always been teaching. She believes all dance instructors should continue their education and encourages her faculty to do so. Our CMS Dance Family Values are always at the core of her teaching as well as the heart of the studio, and building a strong sense of community at CMS is extremely important to her. She is proud to be able to share her love of dance while creating safe spaces for her students.
April Simms
Office Manager
Bio Coming Soon!
Caiti Basler
Instructor
Caiti Basler, AFAA-CGFI, DMA, STOTT IMP, is a dance and fitness instructor from the NE Ohio area with over 13 years of teaching experience in the classroom. She has been dancing for over 30 years in many styles, but her first love will always be tap dance. She was fortunate to serve as assistant director of NE Tap Collaborative and had the pleasure of taking class and becoming friends with some of the industry’s top talent. She’s received her grade 1 Certification from Dance Masters of America TTS, and most recently completed the iTap Teacher Certificate Program (Level 1) under the guidance of Hillary-Marie at iTapOnline.com, with a focus on the 5 Fundamentals of Tap Dance. She is also certified by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (NASM) and is a certified STOTT PILATES Instructor. She serves as Lead Master Trainer and Director of Education for Zumbini, an early childhood music and movement curriculum for ages 0-6 created by Zumba and BabyFirst TV. She travels the country for speaking engagements and conducting trainings, providing professional development for early childhood educators. Career highlights include TV credits on TLC and DCTV, traveling to China to launch Zumbini in Asia, presenting at Zumba’s Instructor Convention and being a featured presenter for Parents Magazine. She serves as a certified national competition adjudicator and prides herself on creating an encouraging atmosphere where students feel safe to explore and grow their craft. With a heavy focus on musicality and artistry, she believes that dance and movement are gifts that everyone should enjoy!
Carly Conrad
Instructor
Carly Conrad is a dedicated dance teacher and former student of Creative Motion Studios, where she trained extensively in jazz, tap, ballet, and musical theatre, and competed in various events. A 2023 graduate of Kent State University with a major in psychology, Carly continued her passion for dance throughout her studies by taking university dance classes and teaching early childhood dance. Now working full-time as a sales and design consultant at The Retreat at Rosemont in Fairlawn, Carly brings a unique blend of creativity and professionalism to her role. Outside of teaching, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and attending country music concerts. Creative Motion Studios has been Carly’s dance home for over 10 years, and she remains deeply committed to inspiring young dancers and sharing her love for the art.
Kensi Evans
Instructor
Bio Coming Soon!
Willow Freed
Instructor
Willow Freed is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher, and is currently getting her B.F.A. in Dance Performance at Kent State University. At Kent, she is President of the Student Dance Education Organization and Student Director of the 2023 B.F.A. Senior Dance Concert/Student Dance Festival: Redefining. Her performance credits include the Kent Faculty Concerts 2019-2021, the 2022 ACDA East-Central Conference, and the 2022 Concert Kent Dance Ensemble: No Permission Needed, directed by Gregory King with Guest Artists Hope Boykin, Amy Hall Garner and Stefanie Batten Bland. Willow’s piece “From the Eyes of Girl” premiered at the 2022 B.F.A. Senior Dance Concert/Student Dance Festival: Awakenings and received two awards for outstanding choreography. She recently completed a Seasonal Internship with The Movement Project and has been teaching and choreographing at Creative Motion Studios since 2019, with styles ranging from ballet, jazz, hip-hop, acro, lyrical, and contemporary. Willow is looking forward to graduating and exploring all of the artistic opportunities the future holds.
Anisha Delarber
Instructor
Bio Coming Soon!
Sarah Lakatos
Instructor
Sarah Lakatos began dancing at the age of five, studying ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical through her senior year of high school. Sarah graduated Cum Laude from the University of Akron Honors College in 2010 with a degree in Corporate Finance and a minor in Dance. During her time at Akron, Sarah participated in Touring Ensemble, Spring Into Dance and Choreographer’s Workshop concerts, and the University of Akron Dance Company (UADC). During her first year after college, she realized that a huge part of her life was now missing and was extremely grateful to find Creative Motion Studios when she did. Sarah currently lives in University Heights and works for WTW as a Health and Benefits Associate. She received her MBA from Cleveland State University in 2021. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, Orange Theory Fitness, working out, Cleveland Sports, dancing, trying new restaurants and spending time with her parents and friends. Sarah has realized that to have a hobby that has lasted over 30 years is something special and unique. CMS has become a second home and she is grateful that she gets to share her love of dance with the amazing dance students, as well as the truly kind-hearted staff, of CMS.
Madeleine Mennett
Instructor
Bio Coming Soon!
Madeline Wilson
Instructor
Madeline Wilson began her dance training at age four with Dublin Dance Centre & Gymnastics in Columbus, Ohio. While at DDC&G, her training focused on ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, and modern, and she also took classes in gymnastics, hip-hop, Irish, and stilt dancing. She performed throughout the community with the cast of the holiday show Toyland for six seasons and was a member of the studio’s Repertory Company, taking master classes at Walt Disney World and the Ohio Dance Festival. She earned solos in DDC&G’s annual recitals, portraying Bert in Mary Poppins and the Magic Carpet in Aladdin. She was also a dance captain for Visions Show Choir at Buckeye Valley High School and was a charter member of the school’s International Thespian Troupe chapter, appearing in Singin’ in the Rain, Bye Bye Birdie, Oklahoma!, and more. In 2005 Madeline was accepted to the Baldwin-Wallace College Musical Theatre Summer Honors Institute for high schoolers. She enjoyed the experience so much that she attended Baldwin-Wallace for her undergraduate work. While there, she studied dance under Janiece Kelley-Kiteley, Gregory Daniels, and Sara Whale, and she studied acting under Jack Winget and Karen Sabo. Madeline graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a double minor in Dance and Theatre. Prior to teaching at CMS, Madeline spent nearly three years working with children of all ages at the School Age Child Care program for Buckeye Valley Local School District. Recently, she has taken classes at North Coast Hula in Twinsburg under the direction of Kumu Hula Michelle Taylor. When she’s not dancing, Madeline enjoys reading, knitting, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.