Mno-Bmadsen and Chi Ishobak have teamed up to support Pokagon and other Native American owned small businesses in southwest Michigan and northern Indiana. To encourage the Pokagon community to “Buy Native, Support Local,” a different Native American owned small business will be featured in this column every month. This month we are happy to introduce you to Miss Michele & Co.!
Michele Winchester-Greer is the proud owner of Miss Michele & Co. This dance studio opened in Dowagiac, Michigan in 2005 stemming from Michele’s love of dance. Her plan was to secretly incorporate her children in the business, hoping they’d come back to instruct one day. Michele has a long history of dance. She started dancing at the age of three and spent a summer at North Carolina School of the Arts, Winston-Salem training in modern dance & ballet. Her trainings also include the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, Nan Giordano Certification program and More Than Just Great Dancing.
Miss Michele & Co. has classes ranging from creative movement, combo classes, ballet, pointe, jazz, hip hop, tap, lyrical and tumbling. Classes are available for children starting at two, all the way through eighteen. Michele’s favorite part about the job is having her daughters, Maddie and Jacki, work with her. She also loves to watch the dancers grow into beautiful, strong and successful young ladies. Having the opportunity to be part of a community where she was born and raised in and where our ancestors once lived means everything to her.
At Miss Michele & Co., dance educators believe their job is more than teaching technique and the art of dance. They believe it is their role to inspire children and young adults, instill self-esteem and confidence in each of their dancers, and teach life lessons that will influence them into being the best they can be. They teach with the plan to educate, motivate, and inspire.
Michele is also proud to announce that the dance team just got back from Showstoppers Nationals, where the girls placed Double Platinum’s and Overalls in several of their competition pieces. She is so grateful to have so many past and present tribal families part of the Miss Michele & Co family and knowing that fellow citizens believe in her and her vision gives her great pride.
To find out more information regarding Miss Michele & Co, visit www.MissMicheleAndCo.com/ or contact missmicheleandco@gmail.com.