Meet the Instructors
"Miss Mandy" Boothe
Founder & Director
Email:
Address:
Lighthouse Performing Arts
c/o The Community House
4095 Grand Haven Rd
Norton Shores, MI 49441
About Mandy Boothe
Founder and director Mandy Boothe, a native of West Michigan, discovered her love for dance at Cassell Dance & Gymnastics. Her journey led her to achieve Grade V in the Cecchetti ballet method and earn a BA in Musical Theatre with minors in Dance and Music from North Central College in Naperville, IL.
Following her studies, Miss Mandy immersed herself in Chicago's vibrant arts scene, performing professionally before settling in Kansas City. There, she directed children's theater productions, taught private voice lessons, and showcased her talents across musical genres as a solo jazz singer and member of a pop country band.
Together with her husband, Daniel—an accomplished singer, musician, and improvisational comedian—Mandy returned to Michigan to start their family and establish Lighthouse Performing Arts. For six years, Mandy also founded and directed the Theatre program at Calvary Christian Schools, where she brought her expertise and passion for the arts to shape young minds.
Mandy and Daniel are proud parents to Oliver, Marietta, and Rosalie. They cherish the opportunity to teach and inspire their local arts community, rooted in Christian values.
Mandy's philosophy centers on the transformative power of storytelling and the arts on personal and communal growth, believing they are essential for developing well-rounded
individuals who are curious, critical thinkers, and productive members of society with strong moral foundations. She is committed to helping young artists realize their God-given talents and inspiring the next generation of performers to grow in their faith and their craft.
At Lighthouse Performing Arts Academy, we are dedicated to nurturing talent, fostering creativity, and making a lasting impact for the Kingdom through the arts. Join us on this journey of artistic and spiritual discovery and growth!
About Dani DeBone
Miss Dani discovered her love of music and performance when she joined the cast of The Wizard of Oz as a munchkin with the local community theatre at age 10. From there she continued to be a part of community and school theatre productions through high school, where she met her now-husband in the cast of Seussical the Musical! He asked her to the prom, and they've been together ever since.
Dani has a degree in English from Central Michigan University, but has spent the last fifteen years teaching piano lessons and group music classes, and as a worship director for local churches. She also homeschools her four amazing children, all of whom love participating in Lighthouse productions.
Dani love to see how kids light up when they have those "ah-ha!"moments that grow their confidence and belief in themselves, because she truly believes that the Lord designed us to do infinitely more than we can think, ask, or imagine when we walk with Him!
About Anna Gradwohl
Miss Anna began her dance training at age four in Chanhassen, MN, and has been teaching and choreographing for the past 18 years. She holds a Dance Performance degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University and a Master of Arts degree in Dance Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Anna has directed dance programs in both Pasadena, CA and Ann Arbor, MI. After moving to West Michigan 6 years ago, she has invested in local studios working with all ages. Anna specializes in advanced Jazz, contemporary, worship dance, improvisation, ballet, and tap. She is passionate about training dancers to grow in technique, confidence, artistry, and performance quality while maintaining a high-energy and Christ-centered classroom environment. Outside of the studio, she is a proud wife to her husband, Brian, and mom to three adorable boys (Everett, Quinton, and Waylen). She is honored to join the team at Lighthouse this year!
