Kristen and Troy Jansen, Co-Directors

Kristen and Troy are certified teachers through Dance Masters and are members of the Dance Masters of America.  They have been invited to judge many dance competitions with Dance Masters of Ohio and Florida.  In addition to dance, Kristen and Troy are blessed with two beautiful daughters, Julia and Jacqueline.

Kristen

Kristen was born into dance, growing up under the guidance of her teacher and mother, Joan Seitz.  She continued her studies at Ohio State University and BalletMet Columbus while simultaneously pursuing a B.S. degree in Pharmacy.  As a dancer, she was a founding member of the JazzMet Dance Company, and performed with BalletMet Columbus, and Opera Columbus.  Most recently, Kristen has been a guest artist at Dansummer in Crested Butte, Colorado and at the Columbus Dance Theatre Ballet Intensive with her husband, Troy.  She has also taught at numerous conventions and dance festivals around the country.

Troy

Troy began his training when he was six under tutelage of Camille Sanfilippo in Westbury, NY.  Professionally he has performed with The Atlanta Ballet, BalletMet Columbus, The Florida Orchestra, Frank Sinatra, The Jazzmet Dance Company, Opera Columbus, The Pan American Games, The Tampa Bay Master Choral, The Yvonne Parente Theatre Company and as Director of the Sound F/X Tap Company.

As a teacher, Troy created and was director of BalletMet’s tap program in Columbus, Ohio, and was Co-Founder/Co-Director of the New Tampa Dance Theatre in Tampa, Florida and Howland Dance Theatre in Warren, Ohio.  Troy has choreographed for the JazzMet Dance Company, the Southeast Chapter of AAA, Bob McGrath of Sesame Street, the Chocolate Nutcracker, the New Tampa Community Nutcracker and various musicals, including Anything Goes, Cabaret, Fiddler On The Roof, The Music Man, Oliver, and Once Upon A Mattress.  He has also been invited to teach and choreograph at numerous schools, churches and dance organizations around the country. 

In addition, Troy has been an adjunct faculty member at Otterbein College, the University of South Florida, and most recently at Youngstown State University. Currently, Troy is Artistic Director of the Jansen Dance Project, the Collective Soles Rhythm Festival and Co-Director of the Children’s Dance Workshop, with his wife and best friend Kristen, in Tampa, Florida.