Our Team
Toni “Mrs. Toni” Battle-Smith
Owner/Director
Toni Sauntia Battle-Smith started her passion of dancing at the age of 4. She performed with Cass Technical High Dance Workshop where she toured in France, All City Dance Company, Detroit Dance Theater, Detroit Windsor 2nd Company. Toni studied dance at Marygrove College where she received her Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree in Education and currently a Doctoral Student studying Educational Leadership and Technology. Toni has taught in the area of Mathematics, Science and Administration for 21 years. She has performed in every Theater in the city of Detroit as well as Jennifer Granholm Mayoral Inauguration. She has over 20 years of experience teaching dance to all ages especially toddlers in the areas of Modern, Jazz, African, Hip Hop, Liturgical and even Ballroom. Toni competed in several Chicago Step competitions where she won many titles. Currently Toni travels and incorporates Dance and S.T.E.A.M to daycares, school districts and even private workshops for church ministers. Her motto is never give up on your dreams anything is possible
Breanna “Ms. Bre” Perrett
Assistant Director
Breanna Perrett, began dancing at the age of 3. She has trained in many different styles including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop and Modern and even joined the Cheer and Pom teams in high school. Dance has allowed her to travel to many different cities around the U.S, including New York City and Los Angeles as well as throughout the state of Michigan. Breanna is certified in many different dance and fitness such as Zumba, WERQ, Strong by Zumba, Zumbini and PoundFit.
Makayla Franks, Dance Major
Geneen Clinkscales, Executive Assistant
G Marie Caruthers, Guest Choreographer
Gabrielle Caruthers, B.S., is a social entrepreneur striving to make a better way for female creatives of color who aspire to achieve greatness. Combining her passion of dance and multi-media studies, Caruthers is fostering a way to make dance education, fitness and wellness more engaging within the Southeast Detroit area.
Caruthers has cultivated her skilled as an instructor for Detroit-Windsor Dance Academy (DWDA)for a decade and other community facilities teaching various styles of dance. Immediate after graduating from the Detroit School of Arts, Caruthers offered her expertise as guest instructor teaching various master classes for DPS Dance Day for over ten years. Caruthers act as adjudicator for All-City’s annual dance performance hosted in the Metro Detroit area. In addition to choreographing for many commercial and creative projects within the metro Detroit area, Caruthers acquired a background in journalism and multi-media studies.
Having studied with the world-renown Maggie Allessee Department of Theater and Dance, she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Dance with a minor in Communications Studies (Wayne State University) furthering her passion for dance, fitness and multi-media. At the moment, Caruthers is focusing on a bigger project that will help aid individuals dealing with grief and loss. Her passion project G Marie Taught Me is “a safe space for conversation, fitness and wellness” offering a host of fitness classes and podcast entries available on all streaming services.
Caruthers strongly believes in empowering female creatives and children of color. Gabrielle has co-authored The Teen Handbook of Self-Confidence (2010) and Single and Loving It: A Guide for the African American Female (2012). Caruthers is celebrating her second year as an entrepreneur, podcast host and producer of the critically acclaimed podcast G Marie Taught Me (Powered by G Marie Media LLC). Caruthers is set to release her first book, “Love, Loss and The Advice I’ve Should’ve Listened to My Damn Self (July 2025)” as she helps others overcome adversity and come out on top.