About Us

Douce Dance
Studios

About Douce Dance Studios...

Since its’ founding in 1943, Douce Dance Studios have become well known throughout the State of Ohio. Today there are dance studios in Marion, Cincinnati, Bucyrus, Delaware, Galion, Mt.Gilead, and Waldo.

In 1943, Martha Douce started the Marion studio in her parent’s home teaching baton twirling to 15 students. While just a teenager, Martha studied ballet, tap, and jazz. In 1950, Martha married Joseph Maniaci and together they studied ballroom in New York City, and added this to their repertoire of dance.

After years and years of dance instruction to thousands of students, Marilyn, LuAnn, and Suzanne, their daughthers, have carried on over five decades of dance to students including Miss Ohio representatives to the Miss America Pageant, major college drum majors, cheerleaders, and performers on Broadway to name a few of their students’ accomplishments.

MARION BRANCH, MAIN OFFICE

Director and Instructor

Marilyn (Maniaci) McBride
Director/Instructor, Marion Studio

Marilyn has been a dancer since the age of 2 and has been teaching dance since the age of 12. She has been involved in many community benefits, regional and national competitions and has been choreographer for a local show choir, pageants & musicals. She was cheer advisor for 22 years and a former Sears Modeling Director.

CINCINNATI BRANCH

Directors and Instructors

LuAnn (Maniaci) Hartman
Director/Instructor, Cincinnati Studio
LuAnn has been dancing since the early age of 2. Since her first shuffle, she has been an avid and successful dancer. At the age of 13, she began teaching dance for her mother, Martha Douce. Teaching children and adults for LuAnn is not a job, but a passion in which she is devoted and energized. LuAnn is also certified by Dance Educators of America.

Heidi (Hartman) Dodsworth
Instructor, Cincinnati Studio
Heidi, daughter of LuAnn, has also been dancing since the tender age of 2. She has been instructing dance since 1996 and has experience as a college cheerleader.

BUCYRUS BRANCH
Director and Instructor

Tammy Harrington
Director/Instructor, Bucyrus Studio

Beginning as a gymnastic student in 1978 and discovered a love for dance. She continues to teach students throughout Crawford County as a certified Dance Educator of America. In 1992, she became the director of the Bucyrus studio and has her students performing spring programs at several nursing homes and at the end of the year dance recital.

MT. GILEAD BRANCH
Director and Instructor

Angie (Smith) Mounts
Director/Instructor, Mt. Gilead Studio

Angie began dancing at age 6. She is a former high school majorette and winter drill team member. She continued her love of baton twirling after graduation as an advisor for both majorettes and color guard. Several of her students have gone on to become high school majorettes and also college dance team members. Angie began attending dance competitions, conventions, and teaching dance classes at age 14. During this time she found a love and passion of working with children and watching their personal growth through dance as well as seeing the many ways dance can provide a positive impact. She has continued as an instructor for the last 32 years and is excited to now be the director for the Mt. Gilead location. Angie grew up and continues to live in Morrow County with her new husband and 2 children. Her youngest will begin college in the fall. Angie feels blessed that her parents enrolled her in dance and hopes to extend that blessing to her students.

GALION BRANCH
Co-Directors and Instructors

Ashley Smith & Jessica Van Horn Teaters
Co-Directors/Instructors, Galion Studio

Ashley has been involved in dance since 1990 at the age of 2. Her dance experience consists of tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, gymnastics and competition cheerleading at Douce Dance Studios.

Jessica has been involved in dance since 1994 at the age of 2. Her dance experience consists of tap, gymnastics, baton, ballet, lyrical, clogging and jazz. Jessica is also a majorette advisor.

Together, as Co-Directors Ashley and Jessica started the Galion branch in 2013.

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Douce Dance Studios is always staying abreast of the latest trends in dance education. They have attended many competitions and National Dance and Cheerleading Conferences where they have taken classes from nationally known instructors.

There’s a wonderful world of dance awaiting you at DOUCE DANCE STUDIOS!!