STAFF
Crystyl Mitchell-Fritz
Owner
Director
Choreographer
Instructor
Crystyl Mitchell-Fritz grew up dancing in Michigan and began working as a teacher directly after high school. She moved to NYC where she studied on multiple scholarships at Broadway Dance Center while working as a dancer and choreographer in the city. Her work spans across every genre of the industry and has been featured in Dancer and Dance Teacher Magazine.
CMF's resume includes the NY Knicks City Dancers, NYC Cher Farewell Tour After-Party, pop group Twenty One, R&B artist Camilla, Wella, Cedar Point Live Entertainment, Make Your Move. In addition, CMF has been a guest choreographer for dance programs, companies and workshops all over the state and country including MSU, Grand Valley, Western Michigan, Lansing Community College, Jamnation, Get Up and Dance, the PROJECT, Broadway Dance Center and many more.
Crystyl counts her students' accomplishments among her greatest achievements. Her students are featured throughout the entertainment industry and have been seen on Broadway in Mama Mia, The Producers, MTV Music Awards, Veggie Tales, The Wade Robson Project, feature films Across the Universe and Batman, Transparent, Lopez, Nickelodeon, VH1, MTV and NFL Halftime showcases to name a few.
She also has students studying all over the country in college dance programs, training in professional companies and contributing to the arts community as instructors and choreographers in LA, New York and more. She has won countless choreography awards and industry dance nominations and is a nationally recognized choreographer. CMF has been directing and training dancers in pre-professional dance companies for the last 20 years.
Crystyl is the proud owner of Great Lakes Dance Factory and Director of Great Lakes Dance Company - one of the premier pre-professional dance companies for talented youth in Michigan. CMF loves working with dancers of all ages and empowering youth to recognize their own unique potential through choreography, creative expression and storytelling.
Marissa Bellinger
Instructor
Great Lakes Dance Factory is excited to welcome Marissa Bellinger to our staff! Marissa grew up locally and danced in a pre-professional dance program for 12 years under the direction of GLDF owner/directory Crystyl Mitchell-Fritz. She has trained extensively in all genres of dance including jazz, tap, contemporary and hip-hop, as well as examined in Cecchetti Ballet throughout her youth. Marissa has participated in countless Regional and National dance competitions/workshops/conventions and has been awarded numerous awards and scholarships from her years as a competitive dancer. Marissa currently attends Oakland University with a major in Communication. While at the University, she is listed on the Dean's List and is projected to graduate in May 2020. She is excited to continue her dance journey at Great Lakes Dance Factory and to inspire a new generation of local youth with her talent, knowledge and love for dance.
Natalie Carr-Lengyel
Instructor
Natalie is from a small town, Hubbard, Ohio where she grew up Dancing and began her Teaching at the young age of 16. Upon Graduating High School, she auditioned for the Dance Program at The University at Buffalo, State University of New York, in Amherst, New York. She graduated in 2003, Magna-Cum-laude with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts Degree with a focus on Performance and her Thesis Research in Dance Certification/Teacher Training in the Studio Setting. She has performed with The Zodiaque Dance Company under the Direction of Tom Ralabate and has performance credits with Dancer Ensemble and A Chorus Line, under the direction of Lynne Kurzdiel-Formato where she understudied the lead role, Cassie. She has taught at many studios in the Buffalo area, as well as a Teaching Assistant at The University at Buffalo and has attended Dance Masters of America, Teacher Training School. Her Ballet Training from the University consists of Cecchetti, ABT and Vaganova Techniques as well as Horton, Graham, Limon and Cunningham Modern Techniques. Her Jazz studies include Phil Black, Luigi, Matt Mattix, and Fosse.
While living in Columbus, Ohio she met her husband Ted Lengyel. They decided to move to Howland, Ohio as they began their future and were married in September of 2005. Natalie and Ted have three beautiful daughters, Ava age 14, Alivia age 12 and Violet age 7 who are all dancers as well. They have recently decided to relocate from Howland, Ohio to Linden, Michigan due to Natalie’s Husband's job transfer to General Motors Flint Truck and Bus. Prior to their move Natalie was the Ballet Instructor at Jamie’s Dance Force in Boardman, Ohio for ten years, where she worked with both Regional, National Dance Teams as well as Recreational classes teaching Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern and Tap. Her dancers there have been decorated with Best Technique Awards, Genre Elite in Junior, Teen and Senior, Soloblast Senior Winners, and National Mini and Junior Champions from Conventions and Competitions such as JUMP, NUVO, 24/7, Radix, West Coast Dance Explosion, Velocity, Hall of Fame and many more throughout the country. She has students that have gone on to work on Cruise Ships, Disney Cruise Lines, Disney Theme Parks, Las Vegas, New York City, IAF, The Rockettes Summer Intensive, Ohio State Dance Team, Bowling Green Dance Team, Busch Gardens and some have also been accepted to the Joffrey School of Ballet in New York City, as well as the Pre-Professional Program at Generation IV.
Natalie recently furthered her training and became certified in Progressing Ballet Technique in June 2019. She is eager to share her experience, knowledge and passion for Dance and the arts with all of her students.
“Greatness Comes from within, YOU only need to Believe, the Rest is Hard Work, Dedication and Perseverance!”
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Accounting
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Photographer
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Bookkeeper
Emily Hudson
Instructor
Emily Hudson grew up dancing locally in a pre-professional youth company under the direction of Crystyl Mitchell-Fritz. Emily was a stand-out soloist and was awarded top honors and scholarships at multiple dance competitions throughout her youth. Upon graduating she received a dance scholarship to Grand Valley University. Emily has additional experience working with children of all ages as a youth caregiver and she loves sharing her talents within our recreational program here at GLDF. We are so grateful and lucky to have her with us!