Director
Carole Straub, Director (pictured with grandchildren, Liam and Caroline), has been mentoring dancers since 1967 and believes “the proof is in the pudding.” Her passion for dance and love of children led her into this business, where she believes in providing opportunity and encouragement for each student based on desire, ability and effort. She has an awareness and concern for each and every student and believes in finding the best possible teachers to develop proper technique in a quality environment. Carole feels that details and technique are the hallmark of Straub Dance Center and she is very proud of the staff she has assembled. Her skills and tenacity have landed some dancers with professional and semi-professional performances including 15 students appearing in a Professional Summer Stock Production as well as the Straub Dancers providing (ala Rockettes) a dance line for the Ohio Theatre’s Summer Movie Series, movie premiers of “That’s Entertainment”, as well as performances at Wendy’s International, Busch Corporate Center, Columbus Blue Jackets, United Way, Veterans Memorial Grand Celebration and many more special events, including local charities and nursing homes performances. The Performing Arts Company only goes to quality competitions, as Straub believes you “soar with the eagles or drown with the ducks.” She is also heavily involved in the community, and is actively involved with the St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Westerville Ballet Company, and WARM (the Westerville Area Resource Ministry and Food Pantry). She is a generous contributor to many, if not all, animal rights organizations. Carole Straub is the proud mother of five, grandmother of ten, great-grandmother of seven, and “stand in” mother, mentor and grandmother to many. She resides in Westerville and is very active in the Westerville Community.
Artistic Director
Suzy Straub, Artistic Director and Instructor, has been passionate about dancing since she was a little girl. She loves teaching, and her commitment is evident in her students' achievements. She has had Top Overall Winners in the State for many years and has produced many National Champions, including the Top Junior Line in the Nation for 9 different years. Suzy has also received Top Choreography Awards from Dance Masters of America, KAR, Rainbow, Showbiz, American Dance Awards, Ohio Dance Masters, Legacy, World Class, and On Stage America.
Suzy has trained and coached many award-winning and recognized dancers, including four Radio City Rockettes, several in Broadway shows, three dancers who toured in 42nd Street, and numerous title winners. Another student performed in Germany, as well as Ariel, at Tokyo’s Disney. In 2019, she went to NYC to see her former students performing professionally: Barbara Jo Bednarczuk was appearing in Broadway’s “My Fair Lady”, Beth Johnson was Mona in Broadway’s “Chicago”, and McKenzie McGrath was a new Rockette. In 2020, Suzy's former student, Maria Dalanno, was cast in Mrs. "Doubtfire" on Broadway. Also, former student McKenzie McGrath continues in her outstanding career as a New York City Rockette.
Suzy is a graduate of The Ohio State University, certified by Dance Masters of America in tap, ballet, and jazz, and was certified in Ballet by the Cecchetti Council of America. She has taught and judged for Dance Masters and other national competitions across the country, and has also served as the Choreographer for the Miss Ohio Scholarship Pageant and many other events. Suzy lives in Westerville with her husband, Bill Kiefaber, and their two children, and is actively involved in the community. She is thrilled to be teaching alongside her daughter, Caroline Kiefaber!
Instructor and Office Staff
Ann Boyd has been a member of the Straub Dance Center family since 1978. She studied ballet, tap, and jazz with the Center and competed with the Performing Arts Company. In 1989, Ann started teaching classes at Straub Dance Center and continues to support the Center as a member of the office staff. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University and a very distinguished business professional in Central Ohio. Often considered a daughter to Mrs. Straub, Ann is very much a member of the Straub family. Ann is a dance instructor and manages student accounts and other office tasks. She resides in Westerville, where she serves her community as a City Advisory Board Member.
PAC Choreographer and Instructor
Ohio native, Drew Burgess, made his industry debut on "Live with Regis" during Amazing Kids Week. Upon relocating to California, he trained at L.A.'s best studios, including EDGE, Millennium, Fusion, and the PAC Annex. Drew is highly sought after as a performer, choreographer, guest teacher, dance supervisor, and dance captain. Drew has been on adjudication panels for NexStar, Headliners, American Dance Awards, Dance Educators of America, and 10 different regional DMA chapters. A former competitor, Drew's titles include Master, Junior, and Teen Mr. Dance of Ohio as well as Junior, Master, and Mister Dance of America. Drew is certified by test to teach in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Acrobatics through Dance Masters of America and Dance Educators of America, is an active member in both organizations, and often serves as a member teacher on their faculty.
PAC Choreographer and Instructor
Caroline Straub Kiefaber has been immersed in dance since birth—she attended her first Nutcracker rehearsal with Straub’s Westerville Ballet Company when she was just one day old (her mother is Straub’s Artistic Director, Suzy Straub). After 16 years of training at Straub, her love of dance and her family made the transition from dancer to teacher an easy decision. Caroline is currently an honors student at The Ohio State University studying Electrical and Computer Engineering. On campus, she is an active member of two dance clubs and has been named to the Dean’s List every semester. As both a soloist and a team dancer, Caroline has earned numerous awards, including Dance Masters of America Grand National Champion and First-Place National Tap Scholarship. Since beginning her choreographic journey in the 2022–2023 season, her routines have earned top honors at both regional and national levels, including First Overalls and invitations to the Grand National Championship. Caroline finds daily inspiration in her students at Straub and is incredibly grateful to be part of the amazing SDC staff!
Instructor
Heidi Spiers started with Straub Dance Center at the age of three. Heidi studied tap, jazz, ballet, and pointe with Suzy and Melynda. Her favorite form of dance is tap. Heidi has always been passionate about early childhood development and understands that all children learn differently. Her gentle and friendly demeanor has been a welcome addition to the early childhood classes at Straub Dance Center. Heidi assisted Tara, Lynn, and Christy with instruction and is now an instructor in Studio A. Heidi is married to Scott and has two girls (all pictured here with Heidi). One of Heidi's daughters graduated from Straub in 2026 as a distinguished competitor and another trains and competes in tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, and musical theatre. They are proud to be 2nd-generation Straub dancers. Heidi graduated with honors from Otterbein University in 1998. After college, Heidi worked at Nationwide Insurance as a Senior Systems Analyst until she had children and became a stay-at-home mom. Heidi volunteers many hours at her children’s schools and enjoys watching them play volleyball and cheer. She resides in Powell and adores her four dogs (three Siberian Huskies and one Golden Retriever). Her hobbies include photography, interior design, and chocolate candy making. Heid is passionate about fitness and enjoys taking Zumba, Barre, Yoga and Dance Cardio classes. Straub has always been a second home. It instilled confidence in her at a young age that she cannot wait to share with your children.
Instructor
Tara Leskovac started dancing with Straub Dance Center at the age of three. Tara was trained primarily by Suzy Straub in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, and pointe. She traveled the country as a member of the prestigious “Performing Arts Company,” where she and her teammates (including co-worker Tara Trigg) won many State and National awards and recognition. Tara has taught tap, jazz, and early-childhood classes at Straub Dance Center. Tara is married with two beautiful children. Her daughter is one of Straub's outstanding Performing Arts Dancers and a second-generation Straub Dancer. Tara is thankful for everything she learned during her years of dancing at Straub. Tara graduated from Otterbein. She resides in Sunbury and enjoys spending time with her family and friends, attending her kids' sporting events with her husband, Mike, and volunteering at her children's schools.
PAC Choreographer and Instructor
Michele Rexroad, the former President of Ohio Dance Masters, is thrilled to be a Straub Dance Center instructor. Michele holds a BFA in Dance from The Ohio State University, with a primary focus on ballet, modern dance, and dance education. During her time at OSU, she studied on scholarship with Giordano Dance Chicago, Lynn Dally, and The Jazz Tap Ensemble. Hailing from Newark, Michele trained in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre, and lyrical under the instruction of Joan Wine, former National President of Dance Masters of America. At the age of 17, Michele became Joan's Associate Teacher. Their partnership continued for 31 years. Besides spending time teaching, judging, and choreographing for various entities, Michele also plays the role of Teacher and Dance Mom to her daughter, Riley, who also shares a love for dance. Riley is a talented member of the Straub Performing Arts Company (PAC).
Instructor
Lynn Slomsky has been teaching at Straub Dance Center for more than 25 years and specializes in teaching dancers ages two to six. Lynn started her Straub career as a dance mom and traveled the country with her daughter, Alexa, and the Straub Performing Arts Company (PAC). Lynn is a hit with the young students and dancer parents because of her fun demeanor. She teaches baby dance, pre-dance, creative dance, and beginning tap. Lynn looks forward to another year of educating the youngest Straub dancers!
PAC Choreographer and Instructor
Melynda Straub Lott was a founding teacher at Straub Dance Center, having trained in all forms of dance since age five. When she was 10, Melynda became a Junior Dancer with Columbus’ Christopher Ballet Company, and at 12, she was an apprentice at the Columbus Civic Ballet (the forerunner of Ballet Met). By the summer she turned 16, she had auditioned for Professional Theater and become a member of the professional theater union “Actors’ Equity”. For seven summers, while attending school and teaching dance, she performed across the country with Juliet Prowse, Tommy Tune, Robert Horton, Florence Henderson, and many other stars. Randy Skinner, a famous Broadway Choreographer, was Melynda’s dance partner in his first professional show, “Pajama Game”. Melynda and the Dance Center have maintained a friendship with Randy, and Randy has taught master classes at Straub Dance Center. Randy has hired several Straub Dancers to dance in professional theater. Melynda is certified in Cecchetti Ballet and by Dance Masters of America. Melynda has studied with many great master teachers through the years, notably Duard Farquhar, Russian Tatiana, and Deitzi Nagy. Melynda’s daughter, Christy Wiegand, teaches at Straub Dance Center as one of Straub’s Performing Arts Company instructors and choreographers. Melynda has four grandchildren that she adores: Alex, Sofie, Cooper, and Jaycee, and is also a fantastic Aunt “Nena” to all of her nephews and nieces. Melynda resides in Westerville and is very active at St. Paul's Church.
Instructor
Sydney Spellacy began dancing at the age of three and joined Straub Dance Center at just four years old. She trained primarily under Suzy Straub in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, musical theater, and pointe. An original Tuxedo Tapper and dedicated member of the acclaimed Performing Arts Company (PAC), Sydney traveled across the country to compete, earning numerous state and national awards as a soloist and with her teammates. Her talent and dedication also earned her the titles of Junior Miss Dance of Ohio and Miss Dance of Ohio. After high school, she studied Dance at Wright State University before transferring to Ohio Dominican University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She currently teaches at St. Paul School. Sydney is thrilled to return to Straub Dance Center to share her lifelong love of dance and inspire the next generation of dancers.
Office Staff
Diana Trigg started working at Straub Dance Center in 2014, but has been a part of the Straub community since her daughter, Tara Trigg, who is now an adult, was three years old. She also has an accomplished adult son, TJ. Diana was employed for over twenty years in the sales field and for several years in the office of a physician in Westerville, Ohio. Her pastimes include history, genealogy, and attending artistic events in Westerville, where she resides with her husband, Tom (and their cats). Diana traveled the country with Straub Dance Center and has always enjoyed the incredible talent and kindness of all of the competitors. She has never missed a Straub Dance recital and loves watching the youngest of dancers to the astounding PAC performers shining on stage. Diana currently serves as an office staff member at Straub Dance Center (alongside her daughter, Tara Trigg, and her sometimes co-worker, Jaycee) and is happy to provide great customer service to the Straub families, friends, and dance students.
Office Staff
Tara Trigg started dancing with Straub Dance Center at the age of three. More than 35 years later, she is proud to still be a part of the Straub family (working alongside her mom, Diana Trigg, best friend, Ann Boyd, and second family - The Straub Family). Tara was trained primarily by Suzy Straub in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, and pointe. She traveled the country as a member of the prestigious Performing Arts Company (PAC) where she and her teammates (including co-worker Tara Leskovac) won many State and National awards and recognition. One of the memories she cherishes the most is when her tap group, the "Rhythm Babies," was cast to perform in Walt Disney World during the summer of 1997. Tara has taught tap, jazz, and early-childhood classes at Straub Dance Center. Nothing brings her more joy than sharing her love of dance, especially tap, with children in the Westerville Community. Tara holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Otterbein and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from The Ohio State University, and is employed in local government. Tara knows that there is no other dance studio in Ohio that offers technical training in a family-friendly, loving environment like Straub Dance Center. Tara and many of Straub’s teachers are proof that dance teaches much more than just steps; Tara credits her confidence, time-management skills, and poise to Carole and Suzy Straub. Tara resides in Westerville with her four cats and is an active volunteer in the Westerville and Central Ohio Communities. In 2026, her Goddaughter will put her 'toe in the water' with tap and creative dance, and Tara cannot wait!
PAC Choreographer and Instructor
Christy Lott Weigand (pictured with son, Cooper) is one of Straub Dance Center’s primary teachers and is an outstanding asset for the studio. Christy is the granddaughter of Director Carole Straub and daughter of Melynda Lott (and niece of Suzy Straub). She is a former Pre-Teen Miss Dance of Ohio, Teen Miss Dance of Ohio, and Miss Dance of Ohio. Christy studied with the Kirov Ballet and received a dance scholarship to Wright State University. She was also a member of the Dayton Ballet Junior Company. Christy teaches tap, pre-jazz and jazz, pre-ballet and ballet, contemporary, and hip hop, and is one of Straub Dance Center's outstanding Performing Arts Company (PAC) instructors and choreographers. A teacher at Straub for more than 25 years, Christy is a favorite among the students. Her PAC routines have received her and her dancers state and national recognition. Christy and her husband, Rick, reside in Westerville with their son, Cooper, and dancing daughter (and sometimes office co-worker with Mrs. Trigg), Jaycee.