About
Dance by Design is a recreational studio that offers classes in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, hip hop, Irish, and tumbling. The studio is described as faith-based and Christ-centered, with an emphasis that kids do not dance provocatively or wear revealing costumes. Recital weekend features a show that tells a story and is described as very entertaining.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
Dance by Design’s mission is “to see the Lord glorified through dance in the way we fashion our music, movement, and presentation.” The studio is described as a positive environment where children can explore their gifts, build a positive self image, and freely express themselves, and as a warm spiritual environment.
The leadership team includes Melissa Mahoney (Co-owner & Tap Teacher), Meryn Rathert (Co-owner & Tap Teacher), Kirsten Mullins (Studio Manager), Emily Alesia (Hip Hop, Jazz, & Technique), Gabby Brock (Lyrical & Jazz), Taylor Coryea (Student Teacher: Ballet & Irish), Jessica Morphew (Ballet, Tap, & Jazz), Carin Spalla (Ballet), and Michelle Parks (Choreography). Melissa Mahoney studied tap and jazz with local dance studios over fifteen years, was a four-year member of her schools’ drill and dance teams, and coached dance teams for Central Middle School and Columbus North High School. Emily Alesia was team captain of her high school dance team at Perry Meridian High School and captain of the Butler University Dance Squad. Gabby Brock danced from ages 3–18, studied ballet, tap, and jazz, went en pointe at age 12, was on the dance team at Central Middle School, was a repeat dance ensemble member for musical theater and American Pie at Columbus North High School, and is taking adult dance lessons at DanceWorks in Indianapolis. Jessica Morphew danced locally from 1st–12th grade, participated on the dance team as well as Color and Winter Guard at Columbus North, took dance classes at Purdue including participation in a student-run dance recital, and taught tap and jazz classes in Columbus, IN from 2004–2008. Carin Spalla danced semi-professionally for the Milwaukee Mid-America Dance Company, has been teaching for 30 years, and performed in several Nutcracker productions in “Waltz of the Flowers” and “Snow.” Michelle Parks has 40+ years of combined experience as an instructor, choreographer, director, and past dance studio owner; she has been involved in studio dance, high school and college dance teams, pageants, high school musicals, coaching high school dance teams, and productions and programs at church, and she graduated from UIndy and is a registered nurse (RN) with a 20-year nursing practice. Michelle Parks has received numerous awards and accolades in her roles as instructor, choreographer, director, and past dance studio owner.
Parent testimonials describe Dance by Design as having a variety of classes and caring teachers and staff, and as a faith-based dance studio where kids do not dance provocatively or wear revealing costumes, with a recital weekend that is very entertaining and tells a story. One parent describes the studio as a warm spiritual environment where coaching staff care for each child and are thoughtful and accommodating of a child with alopecia areata. Another parent notes that the studio is Christ centered, mentions that her child has taken ballet, jazz, Irish, and tumbling there and is adding hip hop, and describes it as a place where a child’s spirit is nurtured as well as their body.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
Dance by Design’s mission is “to see the Lord glorified through dance in the way we fashion our music, movement, and presentation.” The studio is described as a positive environment where children can explore their gifts, build a positive self image, and freely express themselves, and as a warm spiritual environment.
The leadership team includes Melissa Mahoney (Co-owner & Tap Teacher), Meryn Rathert (Co-owner & Tap Teacher), Kirsten Mullins (Studio Manager), Emily Alesia (Hip Hop, Jazz, & Technique), Gabby Brock (Lyrical & Jazz), Taylor Coryea (Student Teacher: Ballet & Irish), Jessica Morphew (Ballet, Tap, & Jazz), Carin Spalla (Ballet), and Michelle Parks (Choreography). Melissa Mahoney studied tap and jazz with local dance studios over fifteen years, was a four-year member of her schools’ drill and dance teams, and coached dance teams for Central Middle School and Columbus North High School. Emily Alesia was team captain of her high school dance team at Perry Meridian High School and captain of the Butler University Dance Squad. Gabby Brock danced from ages 3–18, studied ballet, tap, and jazz, went en pointe at age 12, was on the dance team at Central Middle School, was a repeat dance ensemble member for musical theater and American Pie at Columbus North High School, and is taking adult dance lessons at DanceWorks in Indianapolis. Jessica Morphew danced locally from 1st–12th grade, participated on the dance team as well as Color and Winter Guard at Columbus North, took dance classes at Purdue including participation in a student-run dance recital, and taught tap and jazz classes in Columbus, IN from 2004–2008. Carin Spalla danced semi-professionally for the Milwaukee Mid-America Dance Company, has been teaching for 30 years, and performed in several Nutcracker productions in “Waltz of the Flowers” and “Snow.” Michelle Parks has 40+ years of combined experience as an instructor, choreographer, director, and past dance studio owner; she has been involved in studio dance, high school and college dance teams, pageants, high school musicals, coaching high school dance teams, and productions and programs at church, and she graduated from UIndy and is a registered nurse (RN) with a 20-year nursing practice. Michelle Parks has received numerous awards and accolades in her roles as instructor, choreographer, director, and past dance studio owner.
Parent testimonials describe Dance by Design as having a variety of classes and caring teachers and staff, and as a faith-based dance studio where kids do not dance provocatively or wear revealing costumes, with a recital weekend that is very entertaining and tells a story. One parent describes the studio as a warm spiritual environment where coaching staff care for each child and are thoughtful and accommodating of a child with alopecia areata. Another parent notes that the studio is Christ centered, mentions that her child has taken ballet, jazz, Irish, and tumbling there and is adding hip hop, and describes it as a place where a child’s spirit is nurtured as well as their body.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
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