OUR LEGACY TEAM...
Our Director, Ms. Crystall Winkler
Our Director, Ms. Crystall Winkler
Our Director, Ms. Crystall Winkler
Crystall White Winkler, Director, M.S., B.A., began studying dance at age 8 in Detroit under the direction of Gwendolyn B. Smith at Northwest School of Dance. At age 13, she augmented her training at Marygrove College in Detroit with mentor Madame Penny Godboldo. In 1985, Crystall began the Certificate Dance Program at the prestigious Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York.
Crystall has been featured in countless performances, incorporating all forms of dance including Modern, Jazz, African, Dunham Technique and Ballet at Marygrove College where she has been a featured dancer as well as performing member of the corps. Crystall has also had the rare opportunity to perform with the European Tour of Broadway’s“Black and Blue” where she traveled to Switzerland, Germany and France, performing the world famous choreography of Herny LaTang and Cholly Atkins. Crystall has also toured with, “Tap Girls” in Lake Tahoe, NV, Los Angeles, CA and Atlantic City, NJ. Additionally, Crystall was a performer and guest choreographer for the Los Angeles Academy of Fine Arts Chocolate Nutcracker narrated by Debbie Allen. In addition to all of Crystall’s performing credits she has choreographed, directed and staged numerous recitals, full length dance productions and local performances of the classical ballet, “The Nutcracker”. Crystall is a true dance enthusiast and wishes to share her love of learning and discipline for the great art form of dance with students everywhere.
Ms. Gina Ellis
Our Director, Ms. Crystall Winkler
Our Director, Ms. Crystall Winkler
Gina Ellis, A native Detroiter, Gina danced on the commercial and concert stages in New York for 18 years. She has had the pleasure of working and assisting choreographer’s such as Tony Award Winning George Faison, Louis Johnson, Cab Calloway, Dinhann Carroll, Tremaine Hawkins, Debbie Allen, Melba Moore and Denzel Washington, to name a few. Ms. Ellis has appeared in the Broadway and National Companies of The Wiz, Perlie and the European production of Body and Soul. She was also the assistant stage manager of the national company of Five Guys Named Moe. She has appeared in Spike Lee’s Malcolm X and the HBO’s Josephine Baker Story. Returning to Detroit in 1994, Gina worked on the Super Bowl XL as assistant choreographer for the Stevie Wonder pre-show. Recently retired from Renaissance High School after 20 years last summer she assisted and appeared in the 40th Anniversary of the Broadway and movie celebration of The Wiz.
Ms. Taylor Ester, Esq.
Our Director, Ms. Crystall Winkler
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A professional rhythm tap dancer and choreographer in her own right, Taylor has performed on a plethora of stages ranging from Los, Angeles to Germany. She has had training from several pioneers of the art form, includin: Robert Reed, Dianne Walker, Chloe Arnold, Maud Arnold, and Jason Samuels Smith to name a few. At the age of 15 Taylor became the youngest person to participate in the Jacob’s Pillow dance program and has performed in various Tap Festivals and Showcases across the world as a part of Jacob’s Pillow Dance, St. Louis Hoofers Club, and as a founding member of Tappin’ Soles of Detroit. Taylor began her dance training with Ms. Crystall at Artistry In Motion Dance School, and continues that tradition of dance as a proud teacher at Legacy. Miss Taylor is a practicing attorney and couldn't be happier for her success!
Ms. Michelle Brye
Michelle Brye - Bio Coming Soon!
Ms. Deleah Sharp
Ms. Deleah works in the medical field and has a foundation called Identity Your Dreams. The Identify Your Dreams Foundation was created in 1996 after the tragic death of Dean J. Samuel. The foundation was birthed to not only encourage youth who have violently lost parents to SURVIVE but to also empower them to THRIVE. They teach children that by discovering the gift that is deposited inside each of them, they will begin to unlock the hidden treasure that brings meaning to life through HOPE and PURPOSE beyond the pain. Ms. Deleah teaches our youngest population of Kinderdance I students (ages 3-4) and also our Tiny Tot Hip Hop students (ages 4-8) and they absolutely love her!
Ms. Erica Coleman
Erica Coleman Beckum - Bio Coming Soon!
Ms. Marletta Boyd, II
Mr. Devon Uri Mercury Campbell
Mr. Devon Uri Mercury Campbell
Marletta Marsha Boyd II was born and raised in Northwest Detroit and group up dancing at Artistry in Motion Dance School, teaching her first class at the age of 14. After receiving her B.A. in Finance at Howard University Marletta moved to Seattle Washington to work for Microsoft Corporation as a Finance Manager. Dance being her passion, she immediately joined the dance teams for the NBA’s Seattle Sonics and the WNBA’s Seattle Storm basketball teams, and later joined a traveling West African dance troupe, performing for a local king in rural Ghana. In 2011 Marletta returned home with the goal of being a catalyst of change for the Metro Detroit area. Marletta is the Director of Corporate and Foundation Philanthropy for The Children’s Center and is responsible for developing and growing efforts around corporate engagement. In addition to working at Legacy she assists with the Liturgical Dance Ministry
Mr. Devon Uri Mercury Campbell
Mr. Devon Uri Mercury Campbell
Mr. Devon Uri Mercury Campbell
Devon Campbell known professionally as “Uri Mercury”, has been an active Michigan dancer/choreographer for the past 17 years. Some of his most notable work includes being a featured dancer on “Screamtour 2012” with Mindless Behavior, OMG Girls, and Diggy Simmons, opening for Lil Wayne, back up dancer/choreographer for The Shop Boys, R&B singers: LaBritney, Princeton, Loreal, Rocco, Libra, Ryan Allen, Nielle, Deleante Kareer, Cullen Emadrey, Remington Loyd, JaVon Lewis, Female Emcee B. Focus, Rodney Howard, Male Impersonator: Ric Key, as well as Drag Icons: Kourtney Breeze, and Melanie Von Kruz. Mr. Campbell also had the opportunity to choreograph 17 consecutive sets for Motor City Choreographers Collective, as well as a set choreography for the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade and being a featured dancer in the traveling Opera "Blue".
His signature style is a unique blend of hip-hop, contemporary, and jazz-funk he likes to call “PerFUNKtory” which stands for “Perfect Funk Factory”. Being that his style has a bit of a different approach to mainstream hip-hop, Uri began to develop a following and soon began teaching. He has taught at Michigan Based studios including Michael & Beverly Stone School of the Arts, Angie Hahn’s Academy of Dance, The University of Michigan, Art Lab J, Crowell Recreation Center, Fantasy Fitness Studio, Flex Point Performing Arts Center, Warner Rogers Academy of Art, Kercheval Dance Center, L.A. Dance, Big City Dance Center, Legacy Dance Studio, Synergy Dance Academy, Rhythm n Jump Dance Academy, Wayne State University, Movement Project Dance Center, Novi High School, Mercy High School, as well as Brookfield Center for The Arts, and Studio One Dance Company, both located in Wisconsin.
Outside of studio work and commercial work, Uri’s true love comes from Dance Crews/Companies. His most notable piece of work is his dance company, “Melodic Nocturne Dance Tribe”. Since creating this group, Uri’s work took on a new form spreading to all areas of the Michigan dance scene, Chicago, Ohio, Milwaukee, and abroad. Melodic Nocturne is the longest-running non-collegiate dance organization in the State of Michigan, running 11 years long as of January 19th, 2019. Coming second only to "Hardcore Detroit.
Ms. Tylar Spencer
Mr. Devon Uri Mercury Campbell
Ms. Tylar Spencer
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Tylar Spencer is a recent graduate of the Professional Independent Training Program at The Ailey School, a former company member at Garth Fagan Dance company, and alumna of Wayne State University-- where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA from the College of Fine, Performing, and Communication Arts in 2015.
Due Tylar's quick aptitude towards the anatomy, kinesiology, and movement analysis courses during her tenure at WSU, she was blessed to be sponsored to partake in a Stott Pilates Teacher Certification Course. In addition to academia, she has received dance training via AIM, Fem Fatale, The Zone Dance Center, Marygrove College Intensive, Howard University, Debbie Allen Dance Academy Intensive, Complexions Contemporary Ballet Intensive, and Martha Graham School for Contemporary Dance Intensive. She has also had the opportunity to perform for The James Tatum Foundation, The Woodward Dream Cruise, Wayne State University's Company One, Jeff Rebudal, Amy Chavasse, TJ Hemphill's Perilous Times, the Table of Silence Project under the direction of Jacqulyn Buglisi, and SambaSalsa Entertainment Group.
"I love dance! For me, in my youth, it was my only means of freedom of expression. I continue to dance because it facilitates self-expression and the opportunity to influence the culture of society, simultaneously. I believe dance is a vehicle of social commentary that helps the artist learn, foremost, about oneself, but also, how each of us is connected and mutually affected. It allows one to become more in tune with the connection of body, spirit, and mind; developing an understanding and practice of crucial life skills and indispensable ethical and moral values. I love to spread love and positivity which is why I want to share this passion that dance has impressed upon my heart with others. I am excited to partner with my dance family at Legacy to facilitate great experiences and memories for the children in my charge.”