Meet Our Staff
Miss Mishannda Hissam
Director
Miss Mishannda Hissam was brought up in Madison, Ohio. She began her twirling career at age 8 by becoming a part of the Twilight Twirlers. She continued as a twirler through the summer of 2012 when she officially became an instructor. She was the featured twirler of this parade unit from 2010-2012. Mishannda also twirled competitively with Mirage Twirling Corp under the direction of Denetra Sherman. Although she was just starting in the competition scene, Mishannda won her very first pageant at Twirling Unlimited's 2011 Regional Championship. Since then, she has also won various other international, regional and state titles. High school also gave Mishannda a place to twirl. Mishannda was a Madison High School Majorette for all three years of eligibility. She attended Notre Dame College where she received a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Early and Middle Childhood Education with concentrations in English Language Arts and Political Science. She also twirled 5 seasons with the Notre Dame Fighting Falcon Marching Band as a feature twirler. She advised both the Notre Dame College Auxiliary and Fairport Harding High School Auxiliary from 2017-2019. She coached the Madison Middle School Regular Season and Competition Cheerleaders from 2015-2021 winning many Champion Cheer Central national titles and sportsmanship awards. Mishannda was the building substitute at Madison Middle School from 2017-2019. Then she landed a full time position at Painesville City Local Schools where she taught 7th grade World History for one year and 8th grade American history for two years. While at PCLS she also coached the 7th and 8th grade cheerleaders for the 2021-2022 school year. Currently, Mishannda teaches 6th grade English language arts and social studies at Buckeye Online School for Success. With her passion and love for coaching, choreography, and performing, Mishannda plans to provide all members with incredible opportunities and take Twilight Studios to new heights!
"Make yourself proud & never give up!"
"Make yourself proud & never give up!"
Mrs. Stephanie Poling
Instructor (Former Director)
Miss Stephanie Cline was born and raised in Madison, Ohio. She began her twirling career at age 8 by taking part in the parade unit Emerald City Twirlers under the direction of Janet Gibbon. She continued to twirl with this team until the age of 17. During this time, she was also twirling as a majorette. Stephanie was a Madison High School Majorette for all three years of eligibility granted at Madison High School. Also at the age of 17, she became the assistant coach of the Twilight Twirlers and continued to be such until she was given the team in 2007 at the age of 22. At the time she was given the team, she had also just graduated from Notre Dame College with a Bachelor's Degree of Arts in Integrated Language Arts and a minor in Adolescent/Young-Adult Education. Since then, she has become the Majorette Advisor of her alma mater. She has been coaching the majorettes at Madison High School since the fall of 2010. She also coached the Notre Dame College Majorettes fall of 2016. Stephanie has high hopes to continue twirling throughout her life.
“There is freedom waiting for you, On the breezes of the sky, And you ask "What if I fall?" Oh but my darling, What if you fly?”
- Erin Hanson
“There is freedom waiting for you, On the breezes of the sky, And you ask "What if I fall?" Oh but my darling, What if you fly?”
- Erin Hanson
Miss Makenzie "Mak" Healy
Instructor
Miss Makenzie Healy began twirling in 2001 with the Northeast Flashettes and joined Twilight in 2012. She has done everything from parade, team and solo competition twirling earning titles with Twirling Unlimited. After high school, Makenzie was feature majorette at local university later joining their colorguard line. Makenzie was Twilight’s feature twirler for the 2015 parade season. Since, she has coached Berkshire High School’s majorette line and provided private lessons to local students who've had an interest in twirling baton. Makenzie is returning to Twilight in 2022 to coach as she plans to continue her twirling career and coaching for many years!
“Know what sparks the light in you. Then, use that light to illuminate the world.” - Oprah Winfrey
“Know what sparks the light in you. Then, use that light to illuminate the world.” - Oprah Winfrey
Mrs. Mariah Pausch
Dance Consultant
Mrs. Mariah Pausch has been dancing since she was 3 years old and has explored many difference styles including ballroom, tap, ballet and hip hop. When she's not dancing, she enjoys crafting, reading and spending time with her husband and two cats. Mariah has an associates degree in Graphic Design and a Bachelors in Communications from Cleveland State. She is currently the Marketing Manager at MUM Industries. However, ballet has always been her passion and she is so excited to share her technique and skills with Twilight Studios!
"Life may not be the party we'd hoped for. But while we're here, we might as well dance." - Unknown
"Life may not be the party we'd hoped for. But while we're here, we might as well dance." - Unknown
Miss Adriana Perkins
Feature Twirler/Student Coach
Miss Adriana Perkins is from Ashtabula, Oh where she is a senior at Edgewood High School. She began twirling in 2019 when Miss Gabby brought her for “Bring-A-Friend” Day. She started on the blue team of our parade unit and worked her way up through the senior team and eventually become our feature twirler in 2022. From the second Adriana caught her first front walkover it was a dream of hers to claim the Twilight Feature Twirler position. In addition to the parade team, Adriana has also participated in our colorguard and intro to majorette recital classes. Adriana also began competing for Twilight Studios in 2020 on dance twirl, strut, novelty, and pom. Adriana holds many Twirling Unlimited titles including TUI Basic Skills Pageant 15+ 2022 winner, Ohio State Solo Regional Champ 2022, and Miss TU New York Regional Majorette 15+. She has also won many TU regional duet titles with her various duet partners. This year Adriana will be assistant coaching the intro to feature twirler recital class as well as the silver parade team. Adriana loves the sport of baton twirling and the Twilight family. She enjoys working with the team and seeing them accomplish new things. Some fun facts about Adriana are that she loves Canes, Mexican food, her favorite subject in school is government, and her favorite season is summer. Overall, Adriana has high hopes of reaching new goals, titles, and abilities as she moves forward in her twirling career.
"Do what you can with what you have where you are." - Theodore Roosevelt
"Do what you can with what you have where you are." - Theodore Roosevelt
Miss Gabrielle "Gabby" Russell
Student Coach
Miss Gabby Russell was born and raised in Ashtabula, Ohio. Gabby started twirling when she was 8 years old and she has been with Twilight Studios since 2017. As a twirler for Twilight, Gabby participates on the parade unit and competition team. She competes with her team on pom, strut, novelty, and dance twirl at the senior level as well as individually and in duets. Through Twirling Unlimited, she holds three regional basic skill pageant titles and is the basic skill miss holiday pageant winner for 2022. Gabby will be assistant coaching the intro to majorette recital class as well as the silver parade team and well as assisting with the mini competition team. Outside of Twilight, Gabby was also a majorette at Lakeside High School her sophomore year prior to going to the Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus for cosmetology. After graduation, Gabby plans to be a cosmetologist as well as continue her twirling career and coaching.
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” —Walt Disney
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” —Walt Disney