dance alliance

As some may already know, Dance Alliance was purchased in 2004 by local, well-known dancers and choreographers, Adam B. Clark and Lisa Darby Clark. Their dance stories both began at the young age of three. They have spent the last several decades doing all of the things that dancers do to prepare themselves for a lifetime commitment to dance and this industry. 

Adam and Lisa didn’t cross paths until they were fifteen, which is where the story truly begins. The two began training and performing together at a studio in Howell, Michigan where they were also part of a youth dance company, Performing Arts Dance Theater (PADT) which was co-created by Lisa’s mother, Jean Darby, and a couple of other “dance moms”. Performing Arts Dance Theater and Dance Alliance Repertory Company (the in-residence youth company of Dance Alliance in Saline) did joint concerts together. The couple spent the remainder of high school training and teaching together until they parted ways to continue their dance educations in different cities. 

Adam moved to Chicago where he began training with the world-renowned Gus Giordano Dance Center/Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago and shortly after, set in motion his professional dancing and teaching career. Lisa continued her studies in Washtenaw County with the acclaimed dance faculty at the University of Michigan and also began her venture into the professional world of performing and instructing. Adam returned to Michigan to dance with the Ann Arbor based jazz company, Jazz Dance Theatre; he later became artistic director in 1993. This is where the two reunited for a lifetime commitment both personally and professionally. 

Adam and Lisa were married in August of 1994. For over twelve years, they taught seven days a week and spent many hours on the road commuting from Ann Arbor to teach at the many studios and universities where they were on faculty. They instructed in Lansing at Michigan State University, Ypsilanti at Eastern Michigan University, Howell, Brighton, Fenton, Livonia, Ann Arbor and of course, Saline.