National Dance Week 2025

Mareck Dance

Founded in 2006 by Artistic and Executive Director Karen Mareck Grundy, Mareck Center for Dance, formerly Missouri Contemporary Ballet, has grown into a prominent professional dance company in Columbia, Missouri. Known for its bold and inclusive artistic vision, Mareck Dance presents diverse, high-caliber performances locally, regionally, and internationally. The company, comprising of professional dancers and associate performers partners with the University of Missouri Concert Series and is supported by a dedicated board and community of patrons. In 2020, the organization rebranded to reflect its expansive repertoire and mission, celebrating both dance excellence and community impact.

Be a part of 2025
National Dance
Week - STL!

Master Class
CONTEMPORARY/JAZZ

We invite you to join us for our CONTEMPORARY/JAZZ Class. This class is open to the first 20 students and will be held on Sunday, May 4, 2025 from 1:30p-3:00p at the Annelise Mertz Dance Studio on the Washington University campus.

REGISTER FOR THE MASTER CLASS

Master of Ceremonies

Ryan Cooper

Ryan is honored to be a part of the National Dance Week celebration. A native of St. Louis, he has performed with dozens of theatre companies around the area, most recently appearing as The Barber in the STAGES St. Louis production of Man of La Mancha (where he has also performed in their Theatre for Young Audiences productions of Alice in Wonderland, Seussical, Madagascar: A Musical Adventure, and Disney's 101 Dalmatians). Other favorite credits include the long running Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue and the short-lived Storybook Circus Giggle Gang shows at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Ryan has performed for 14 seasons as Jack Frost with Saint Charles Christmas Traditions, and is the creator and director of the Legends & Lanterns Halloween festival along historic Main Street.