who we are
Meet Adam B. Clark Owner/Director
Adam B. Clark, a Michigan native, began performing professionally in Chicago with Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago in the premiere of the Tin Soldier. During his time with Giordano’s, Adam had the privilege of working extensively with “Jazz Greats” such as Luigi, Matt Mattox, Frank Hatchett, Joe Tremaine and Pattie Obey. Mr. Clark also had the opportunity to perform in several benefit, commercial and industrial shows: AT&T, the McCormick Center, Saks Fifth Avenue, and individuals such as Sherry Zunker-Dow, Mike Ditka and Michael Jordan. While in Chicago, he taught at the Gus Giordano Dance Center and at numerous suburban studios. He returned to Michigan to serve as Assistant Director to Performing Arts Dance Theater and to perform with the Ann Arbor based Jazz Dance Theatre of which he was appointed artistic director in 1993. His award-winning works have premiered on both students and professional companies in the United States and Germany. He has choreographed for several pageant contestants including Miss Michigan 1997 and his work has been seen at the Miss America Pageant. Along with choreographing, Adam has been a judge at Miss Battle Creek and Miss Bay County. Mr. Clark has guest taught and choreographed at numerous studios and universities and was also commissioned by the Midland Center for the Arts Musical Society to teach their week-long annual summer dance workshops for two consecutive summers. In addition to previously directing Jazz Dance Theatre,
Adam also co-owns Dance Alliance and co-directs Dance Alliance Repertory Company with his wife, Lisa. He also served as a founding member and coach for the Saline High School Dance Team in its 2003-2004 season. In addition to his dance and choreography credits, Adam worked with Jackie Sleight where he served as the Production Coordinator for LA Dance Magic’s premier showcase concert “Final Cut” in LA, California from 2006 to 2023. Once again, he will resume his position as Production Coordinator for the concert in July of 2024 along with Directing/Managing National Finals for LA Dance Magic. During his time in LA, he has also had the honor of instructing dancers from all over the country in several Jazz and Stretch classes at studios as well as during “Final Cut”. Adam and his wife, Lisa, were interviewed by Nancy Wozny, a writer for Dance Studio Life Magazine. In the August 2007 issue, look for their personal stories and input on prevention, care and rehabilitation of injuries among dancers. Along with the numerous hours of class and private dance instruction every week, Adam has combined his years of dance training and instructing with his love for physical fitness and became a certified trainer for Title Boxing Club Corporate of Brighton/Ann Arbor where he served as a Trainer then ultimately the Lead/Senior Trainer from 2014 to 2019. Most recently, he has found himself traveling the country on weekends working for LA Dance Magic. This summer, you will find Adam at Dance Alliance with the many talented dancers, instructing at a few different events in MI, and of course, working and spending time in LA and hopefully once again, NYC. On a personal note, Adam and Lisa currently reside in Brighton, and have two sons, Gabriel Adam and Brendan Aubrey. Gabriel recently finished his Graduate Degree in Business Management in December of 2023 as well as just completed and passed his exam for the
National Academy of Sports Medicine in April of 2024. After 4 years of college baseball, Gabe is still busy with baseball this season as the Head Coach for Charyl Stockwell High School. He will also continue this summer with the Detroit Tigers during their summer camp season. Brendan has just finished his Earth Sciences/Paleontology Undergraduate Degree in 3 years from Montana State University. He will continue his Graduate studies in Earth Sciences/Paleontology with a Teaching Assistantship at Montana State University this coming fall. Both Gabriel and Brendan have been recognized for graduating with the highest GPA’s in their graduating classes… #ProudParentMoments!
Meet Lisa Darby Clark Owner/Director
Lisa Darby Clark graduated with highest honors from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Dance Arts. While at U of M, Lisa received the Gertrude Huebner Undergraduate Award in Dance, as well as Friends of Dance Summer Study Scholarships and a Dance Department Merit scholarship. Mrs. Clark was chosen to represent the University at the American College Dance Festival Association where her choreography was featured in the festival’s Gala Concert. Lisa has performed in works by Vaslav Njinski, Martha Graham, Lucas Hoving and Pattie Obey, as well as dancing with Ann Arbor Dance Works. In addition to her extensive performance background in the midwest, she has had opportunities to dance and perform across the United States as well as Germany. Lisa has taught in past summers at Interlochen Arts Academy for the University of Michigan’s All-State program and has also been commissioned by the Midland Center for the Arts Musical Society to teach their week-long annual summer dance workshops. Mrs. Clark also served
as adjunct professor and guest artist for five years at Michigan State University where she taught ballet, modern and jazz for the Theater Department. Along with her husband, Lisa also served as coach for the Saline High School Dance Team during its founding 2003-2004 season. As a youth, Mrs. Clark was also a founding member of Performing Arts Dance Theater and the youngest company member of Northern Ballet Theatre. Lisa currently teaches at Dance Alliance, which she co-owns and directs with her husband, Adam, and also served as both a company member and Co-Director of Jazz Dance Theatre. Lisa and her husband, Adam, were interviewed for an article
on the many issues of injuries among dancers. The article appeared in the August 2007 dance publication, Dance Studio Life. This upcoming summer and dance season, you will find her instructing, choreographing, costuming and organizing all things dance related for her award winning Dance Alliance dancers as well as hopefully once again traveling to LA and NYC. In her personal life, Lisa finds herself always busy as the “Organizer of all Things” for all her boys: Adam, Gabe and Brendan. As mentioned in her husband’s bio above, Gabriel recently finished his Graduate Degree in Business Management in December of 2023 as well as just completed and
passed his exam for the National Academy of Sports Medicine in April of 2024. After 4 years of college baseball, Gabe is still busy with baseball this season as the Head Coach for Charyl Stockwell High School. He will also continue this summer with the Detroit Tigers during their summer camp season. Brendan has just finished his Earth Sciences/Paleontology Undergraduate Degree in 3 years from Montana State University. He will continue his Graduate studies in Earth Sciences/Paleontology with a Teaching Assistantship at Montana State University this coming fall. Both Gabriel and Brendan have been recognized for graduating with the highest GPA’s in their graduating classes…#ProudParentMoments!
