Our Mission

At Eclipse Dance Collective our mission is to provide a diverse dance curriculum for students of all ages and experience in a safe and comfortable environment. Our classes instill strong technique while encouraging artistic freedom and self-expression. By emphasizing our passion for creativity, self-love, and mental and physical health, we believe students will be empowered to reach their highest potential as dancers and individuals.

Meet Our Staff

Samantha Penive
Director/Instructor/Front Desk

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Samantha Penive is a dance instructor and choreographer who has grown up in the Metro Detroit dance community. She began her career as a competitive dancer and is now a Wayne State University (2022) graduate with her Bachelor's of Science in Dance. In 2022, she completed an internship with Churchill High School's CAPA Dance program under Director Wendy Kwiatkowski. Samantha also dances professionally with Fun Girl Dance Company (2022-present) under Director Chloe' Gray.

Samantha has choreographed multiple shows for the Garden City Theatre Department (Mamma Mia, Elf the Musical, Newsies) with Director Alan Bennett. She is also an Early Childhood Educator in Westland.

Along with choreography, Samantha is passionate about mental health advocacy and creating a safe space for dancers to grow technically and artistically.

Abby Givens
Instructor

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Abby Givens graduated from Wayne State University's Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance in 2020 with her Bachelor's of Science in Dance. During her time there she trained extensively in the STOTT Pilates method. She has had the privilege of dancing in pieces by BAIRA, RAS Mikey Courtney, Bosmat Nossan, Biba Bell, Brandon Koepsell, and many of her peers. Abby's passion is teaching dancers how to use their bodies safely and efficiently while enhancing their artistic expression.

Lexi Brown
Instructor

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Lexi Brown grew up dancing on a competition team where she fell in love with various styles of dance. After graduating from a successful competitive career she moved on to Madonna University, where she is working toward a BFA in dance.

Ellen Houseman
Instructor/Front Desk

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Ellen Houseman is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and student in the BFA Dance Performance program at Madonna University. She is also a member of the MUse Dance Ensemble under the direction of Susan Panek, and a member of the MU Dance Team. She received the majority of her training with Katie Stull at Excel Dance Centre Kalamazoo MI, where she trained in a large variety of dance styles.

Ellen Houseman is dedicated to the art of dance and continues to seek out new opportunities and knowledge to share in her dancing, teaching and choreography.