Michael, a native of Dayton, Ohio, began his dance career in 1982 at Jeraldyne’s School of the Dance. Under the tutelage of Jeraldyne Blunden, he became a member of the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company in 1987 when he was accepted into the first company or performing company. Prior to his acceptance into the company he attended Ohio State University for one year on a dance scholarship. Through his involvement at DCDC he was privileged to work with James Truitte, Dwight Rhoden, Eleo Pomare, Donald McKayle, Tally Beatty, George Faison, Mike Malone and locals Jon Rodriguez, Kevin Ward, Greg Robinson and Debbie Blunden-Diggs. In 1991 after leaving DCDC Michael performed with the New World Dance Co. in Washington D.C. under the direction of Lloyd Whitmore. While in D.C. he also performed for the Congressional Black Caucuses Annual Spouses fashion show, performed with the singing group “The Whispers” and for a performing arts program sponsored by D.C. Arts, in a play called “One Mo Time”. From Washington D.C. Michael returned to Dayton, to make guest appearances in Cleveland, Ohio at the Karamu House and a return visit to DCDC for a tour in Lyon, France and a fall concert. He began teaching in 1994 and has continued to present. He is broadly influenced by many different dance techniques due to the diverse teachers and choreographers he has been exposed too over the years. Prior to his forming and directing SMAG Dance Collective, Inc., Michael was the co-founder and co-artistic Director of the QuaGmire Dance Company, Inc., dissolved. He believes his greatest accomplishment is learning to be a parent to two incredible boys Sean Michael and Gavyn, whom the company is named after. 

Amanda Cothrel, apprentice, is in her first season with SMAG. She comes to SMAG by way of Fishers, Indiana. Amanda began her dance training at the age of 8 at the Academy of Dance Arts under the instruction of Sue Vanvooris and Julie Meyers. When she turned 13 Amanda furthered her dance training, in ballet, at the Jordan College Academy of Dance, through Butler University, with teachers Laura Byram, Jane Wyne, Derek Reid and Natalie North-Lowder. In addition to her ballet training Amanda has worked with Roberta Wong in the Graham Technique. Prior to working with SMAG Amanda has worked with Gregory Hancock�s Dance Theatre for 8 years. She performed many of the company's repertory works including the role of "Sugar Plum" in The Nutcracker. Her dance travels have taken her to Newark, NJ for a performance at the American Telagu Association, Austin Texas for the Ballet Austin Summer Intensive, San Francisco California, for the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance Intensive and Ballet International Summer Intensive programs. Currently Amanda is a senior at Oakwood High School and is participating in the PSEO program at Sinclair Community College. Amanda is thrilled to be apprenticing with SMAG Dance this year and is looking forward to a great season. Her goal as a dancer is to work with a modern or contemporary based dance company so she may reach out to people through dance by entertaining them and telling them her stories through movement.

Elena is beginning her first season with SMAG Dance Collective. Born in Queens, NY, Elena recently received her B.A. in Dance cum laude with a concentration in Choreography from Goucher College in Towson, MD. Elena began her dance training in ballet, jazz and hip hop in New York City at local dance schools as well as Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway and Dance New Amsterdam, but it was not until college where Elena found her true calling as a modern dancer. Since her freshman year at Goucher, Elena has danced in countless faculty and student pieces and worked with many guest artists including Gabriel Masson, Alan Hineline, Roger Jeffrey, William Briscoe, Heather McArdle, Anne Hutchinson Guest, Mino Nicholas and Janice Garret. After college, Elena moved to Dayton, OH to pursue her dreams as a dancer and is thrilled to be working with Michael Groomes and the talented dancers of SMAG Dance Collective.

R.F. Mosley, a Detroit native, comes by way of St.Cloud, MN, where he studied dance and theater at St.cloud State U. He attend the WSU dance program as well and co-founded the WSU hip-hop dance team. Richard has also performed with Dayton Contemporary Dance 2ND Company, Florida Grand Opera, Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theater, South Dayton Dance Theater, Miami Valley Dance Company & Dayton Opera. He also worked with Stivers P.A., Miami U., U.D. and many others. He would like to thank all of those who are here today to show their support, as well as his fellow dancers.