PICKAWAY COUNTY, Ohio — Local dance educator and studio owner Heidi Rogols has been recognized as the 2025 Ohio Dance Masters Member of the Year, an honor celebrating outstanding achievement, leadership, and dedication within the professional dance education community.
The award is presented by Ohio Dance Masters (ODM), a professional, certified membership organization of artists and educators committed to elevating the art of dance and advancing innovative artistic experiences worldwide. The distinction is voted on by members of the Ohio Dance Masters Executive Board and is considered one of the organization’s highest honors.
Rogols is the owner and director of Charmion Performing Arts Center, which she founded in 2010. For more than 15 years, the center has provided dance education to children ages 2½ through college, as well as adult classes and a full-service women’s fitness center. Instruction includes ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, cheer, tumbling, and fitness training, with a strong emphasis on education, wellness, and personal growth.
A lifelong dancer, Rogols began studying dance at the age of three. Her training includes ballet, tap, jazz, baton, and tumbling, with early instruction at the Janis School of Dance. She later studied under nationally recognized professionals, including Danielle Kellis, a professional entertainer, and Techla Murphy, a professional ballerina. Her education also includes training with instructors from the Los Angeles Ballet Company, the University of Oklahoma’s dance program, and choreographers from Chicago, Hollywood, and New York City.
In 1986, Rogols earned certification to teach dance education through Dance Educators of America in New York and also holds a Dance Masters Certification, regarded as one of the highest credentials in dance education.
In 2010, Heidi purchased Charmion Performing Arts Center with only 50 students. By the end of her very first season, the studio had tripled in size, establishing CPAC as a fast-growing, vibrant training center for the performing arts. Her mother, Suzonne Morse, was instrumental in those beginning years, offering encouragement and support that helped set the foundation for CPAC’s success.
In addition to directing CPAC, Heidi is the Owner and President of Encore Talent Productions National Dance Competition, where she provides dancers, teachers, and families with a positive, professional competition experience. She also serves on the Executive Board for Ohio Dance Masters, contributing her expertise to advance dance education throughout the state.
Heidi’s lifelong commitment to teaching has influenced generations of dancers, many of whom have pursued professional careers, including work with Disney, on international cruise lines, and as collegiate dance educators.
“I am deeply honored to be recognized as Ohio Dance Masters of America Member/Teacher of the Year, an award voted on by my peers,” Rogols said. “This distinction is especially meaningful because it reflects the respect and confidence of fellow certified dance educators who are committed to preserving excellence in dance education.”
Rogols has been a member of Ohio Dance Masters for more than 15 years and has served on the organization’s Executive Board for the past five years. She was also appointed Co-Chair of Junior Members, where she mentors and educates young dancers aspiring to become future dance educators.
“This recognition reinforces my lifelong commitment to dance education, leadership, and service to the dance community,” Rogols added. “I volunteer for all events that ODM offers. Dance Masters of America is the highest level of dance education you can obtain, and the teacher training school held each New Year provided some of the best education I’ve ever experienced.”
Community members and colleagues praised Rogols for her dedication to students, her leadership within Ohio Dance Masters, and her lasting impact on dance education in Pickaway County and beyond.
Family remains central in Heidi’s life. She is the proud mother of three grown children—Royce, Stephanie, and Dylan—and grandmother to her step-granddaughter Benita and four grandsons: Austin, Hunter, Grayson, and Kasey. She is also blessed with two great-grandchildren, Brylin and Shyla.
