Denise Hawkins - Owner and Director - Email Denise

• Denise has been dancing since the age of three, studying many forms of dance including Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Tumbling, Pointe and Hip Hop
• Studied and performed in Kansas City and around the world
• Winner of many regional, national, and international awards for her dance competition teams and choreography and also was named the Professional/Amateur Teacher of the Year by Rainbow Connection Talent Competition
• Former member and captain of the Olathe South Golden Girls dance team in high school and captain of Indian Trail Junior High Cougarettes
• Graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Elementary/Middle School Education with minors in French and Social Studies.
• Lead choreographer for her college sorority
• Represented the state of Kansas at the Dance Teachers' Summer Conference in New York City. Has trained with the top dance masters in the country, including the New York City Radio City Rockettes, Ian Carlson, the lead dancer in the Broadway show, Movin' Out, Luigi, Debbie Dee, Jermaine Browne, and Beth Bogush - the choreographer for the Nickelodeon TV show The Backyardigans and many others.
• Sole representative from the Midwest to participate in the Showstoppers' Dance Teacher Seminar held in Hollywood, California led by Debbie Roberts where she attended seminars on creativity in children, choreography, and many other topics
• Performed at the Helzberg National Sales Meeting in Marco Island, FL
• Mom to two boys

Jeni Coe - Email Jeni

• Has been dancing since the age of 4 - most of her training has been done in Wichita at the Wichita Children's Theatre and Dance Center, Wichita State University, and the Metropolitan Ballet of Wichita
• Instructor at DDA for 7 years - teaches tap, jazz, ballet, production, and lyrical.
• Co-Director of the Competition Team Program at DDA
• Currently a full-day Kindergarten teacher at Mahaffie Elementary School in Olathe, KS
• Has won numerous awards for performance and choreography. Most recently, Miss Jeni was the Choreography National Winner at Stage One Productions in Branson, MO in tap.
  
  
  

Liz Crocker - Email Liz

• Trained for 15 years in tap, jazz, lyrical, pom, ballet and hip hop
• Instructor at DDA for 8 years
• Co-Director of the Competition Teams Program at DDA
• Currently a 2nd Grade Teacher at Clearwater Creek Elementary School in Olathe, KS and sponsor for the drill team
• Former member of Frontier Junior High School Dance Team and Olathe South High School Golden Girl Drill Team. During her senior year, held an officer position for the team
• Has won numerous awards in dance - Liz's favorite award was the "Dance Spirit Award" she won two years in a row at Rainbow Dance Competition. Has also won the Drill Down award at camp in high school.
• Recently completed her Master's Degree in Educational Technology and enjoys being a part of the leadership team for her Sunday school classes at church.
  
  

Nadine Price-Rojas - Email Nadine

• Instructor and Ballet Mistress at DDA since 1994
• Has performed professionally for 18 years
• Performed in 23 different countries
• Performed in the West End (London, England) in the productions of Cats & Me & My Girl
• She was the Lead Dancer and Line captain on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Princess, Carnival Cunard & Sally Lines
• She has been featured in Several Commercials/TV & Films in Europe
• Performed with Julio Englasias & Kathy Lee Gifford
• Danced in front of her Majesty The Queen (of England)
• Opened Union Station in KC, MO with Dance Company
• Director and Founder of "En Pointe" Dance Company - a professional dance company comprised of DDA dancers who perform at numerous venues around Kansas City
• Danced with Mikhail Baryshnikov and the White Oak Dance Project for a special performance
• Works full-time as a physical therapist
• Owner and instructor of her own yoga studio

Dr. Kate Stanley - Email Kate

• Has over 23 years dance experience in jazz, tap, lyrical, pom, and ballet
• Instructor for DDA for 11 years
• Co-Director of Competition Teams for DDA
• Former member of Frontier Trail JHS and Olathe South HS Drill Teams
• Graduated from University of Kansas with Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Biology
• Graduated from University of Missouri Kansas City with a D.D.S. degree
• Practices as a general dentist in Olathe, KS
• Has won numerous awards for her performance and choreography skills at both regional and national competitions
• Mom to two boys
  
  
  

Stacy Holland - Email Stacy

• Has over 35 years of dance training - began dancing under the instruction of Betty Tillotson at the Kansas City Dance and Musical Comedy Dance Company.
• Spent many summers extending her dance education studying tap under the direction of Jack Stanley in Tampa, FL. Also has trained with Dennis and Kathy Landsman at the American Dance Company in Overland Park, KS.
• Has competed in the Dance Masters of America, both regionally and nationally, and received numerous awards in both solo and group numbers. Has also performed locally at the Renaissance Festival.
• Enjoys being a full-time mom to her four children.
• Instructs combo classes and our adult tap performance group
• Mom to four children - two boys and two girls
  
  
  

Melissa Charest - Email Melissa

• Dancing for 25 years - has trained in ballet, pointe, jazz and tap in Jacksonville, FL and at the University of Florida.
• Captain of UF's Color Guard and Dance Team and taught at local high schools during college
• Auditioned and was offered a position as a dancer for Walt Disney World in college
• Graduate of University of Florida with both a Bachelor and Master of Education Degree
• Taught 4th grade in Atlanta, GA and was a ballet instructor at En Pointe School of Dance. Miss Melissa also performed in the Atlanta area for 6 years with the Christian Dance Company, Praise in Motion, under the direction of former Atlanta Ballet dancer, Kathy Thomas-Law and Rhonda Oltjenbrun
• Continues to train in KC and is currently the Director of Dance Ministries at the Heritage United Methodist Church in Overland Park
• Mom to 3 children - two girls and a boy

Kristyn Antonucci - Email Kristyn

• Has 14 years of dance/cheerleading experience - in hip hop and jazz
• Co-Captain of Olathe South Cheerleading squad
• Member of the Olathe South Golden Girl and Frontier Trail Drill Team
• Graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Communication Studies.
• Member of the Unity Hip Hop Dance team at KU which performed at Late Night with Roy Williams/Bill Self, basketball events, Homecoming, Football Games, and KU Promotional Events
• Rock Chalk Revue Dance Crew Member - danced for the KU Philanthropy chosen through Kappa Delta Sorority
• Trained with Masters of Hip Hop Conventions and numerous other companies
• Was a featured Dancer for the Helzberg National Sales Meeting in Marco Island, FL and was featured in a commercial filmed along the beach
• Currently works for Aerotek Energy Services as an Engineering/Architecture Recruiter for local and nationwide firms within the energy/power market

Marci Farrar - Email Marci

• Has been dancing for 25 years and trained in tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical and pom
• Instructor at DDA for 8 years
• Former member of Frontier Trail JHS and Olathe South HS drill teams
• Officer of OSHS Golden Girls Drill Team during senior year
• Currently a lead teacher for preschool/Kindergarten for a local learning center
• Has won numerous awards for performance at both Regional and National Competitions
• Was a featured dancer for the Helzberg National Sales Meeting in Marco Island, FL and also featured in a commercial filmed along the beach
• Has performed in several shows locally with Miss Nadine's production company
• Mom to 3 beautiful girls and one on the way!

Ashley Miner - Email Ashley

• Prior to becoming a staff member, Ashley was a former student DDA for 9 years
• Also studied dance at Miller-Marley for 4 years
• Former Member of Johnson County Community College Golden Girls Dance Team
• 2006 National Hip Hop Champions
• 2007 Second Place Collegiate Hip Hop
• 2006 Super Star Kick Top 5 in the Nation
• Member of Avila University Glitter Girls where they placed in the 2007 UDA College Nationals Championships-6th place Open Jazz, 2007 UDA College Nationals Championships-6th place Hip Hop, and 2007 Heart of America Championship 1st place Hip Hop
• Trained in Master classes with Barry Youngblood who has worked with Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Pink, and many more artists.
• Currently studying Radiological Sciences and Business Administration at Avila University

Courtney Smith - Email Courtney

• Has danced at DDA for 15 years
• Trained in tap, jazz, lyrical, pom, ballet, and hip hop
• Captain of the cheer squad at Blue Valley High School
• Winner of numerous performance awards - both regionally and nationally
• On staff at Beauty Brands
• Attended Pittsburgh State University
• Currently a student at Kansas State University studying Graphic Design
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Angela Mitchell - Email Angela

• Angela has been actively involved in cheerleading and gymnastics for over two decades
• Angela has received numerous awards, including “Best Jumps” by Kent State University two consecutive years, winner 2002 “Captain’s Award”, and the Western Reserve Conference “First Team All-Academic” award
• Competed at cheerleading’s Nationals at Walt Disney World, taking second and being featured on ESPN
• Made the Universal Cheerleader’s Association “All Star” squad two consecutive years
• Attained two Varsity letters while being a scholar athlete for maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or above
• Directed multiple cheerleading camps, clinics, and try outs which included heading all instruction, choreography, and performances. 
• Angela has also been a competitive gymnast with training beginning at age three.
• Angela is currently the founder of the non-profit Breaking Ground, which provides help to single mothers, in addition to being an instructor at Wright Career College
• Angela has her BA in Sociology from MidAmerica Nazarene university and enjoys being active in her church
• Angela is the proud mother of one son    
  
  
  

Kristen Basgall - Email Kristen

• Kristen has been dancing for seven years.
• She danced at Olathe South High School where she served as an officer my senior year.
• Danced at Johnson County Community College for two years from 2007-2008
• 2007 Super Star Kicks
• 1st in the nation
• 2007 Second Place Collegiate Hip Hop UPA
• Danced at Avila University for one year 2009
• At Avila we placed 3rd in the nation in hip hop in 2009 UDA collegiate Nationals and sixth in the nation for Jazz.
• Currently studying Elementary Education at Avila University and student teaching 2nd grade in the Spring Hill District
• Co-Choreographs for our hip hop competition teams - who won many awards at both Regional and National Competitions

 

Shelley Roberts - Email Shelley

• Bio Coming Soon