Ms. Katy - Katherine Overby Howland studied ballet with Halcyone Perlman and Michael Simms in Columbia, Mo. Early training included study at the Banff School of Fine Arts. She received her B.F.A in Dance from Stephens College. She studied ballet, modern, jazz, character and tap in London, England and New York City. In London she completed professional level Cecchetti ballet exams. In New York she studied ballet with David Howard, Finis Jhung, and Gabrielle Darvash, and modern at the Hawkins school. Katy taught, performed and choreographed while at Stephens, for the Perlman school and Mid-Missouri Dance Theatre, and was ballet mistress at DanceArts of Columbia. Ms. Katy has choreographed for numerus local musicals, operas, show choirs, and has directed ten full length productions of The Nutcracker. Nineteen years at Dancers’ Alley have been the very best!
Ms. Clara - Clara Howland Bigelow is a 2008 graduate of Stephens College with a degree in Human Development/Child Studies and dance. She studied ballet with Halcyone Perlman, ballet and modern with Katy Howland, and tap with LuAnn Madsen. At Stephens she studied Modern, Ballet, Tap, Spanish Flamenco, Irish Step Dancing, and Russian Character and took many master classes. Clara has performed with the Mid-Missouri Dance Theatre, DanceArts, Dance Concepts, and Dancers Alley. She loves teaching all of her students and managing the front desk.
Ms. Kristina - Kristina Schaefer-Mills began dancing at Ibsen Dance Theatre in Kansas City, training in jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, and was an assistant teacher. She participated in community musicals and was a member of her high school’s nationally ranked dance team. Kristina received her BA in Textile and Apparel Design from UMC and served as dance director for her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega. She studied at DanceArts in Columbia and was on staff starting in 2002. Kristina was head coach of the Hickman High School Dance Team from 2007 to 2018. She joined the Dancers' Alley Staff in 2005 and is Jazz Director and Competition Team Co-Director. She has choreographed several award winning competition pieces. Kristina is lead instructor at FIT CENTRAL in Columbia certified in Les Mills Body Pump, Body Step and CXWORX. Kristina is honored to be an instructor at Dancers’ Alley and has enjoyed teaching so many wonderful and talented students throughout the years
Ms. Liz - Liz Hansen Vanderfeltz is a Jefferson City native. She studied tap, jazz, ballet, modern and hip hop at Dancers' Alley. She performed with the Helias Dance Team, in numerous recitals and productions of "The Nutcracker", and attended competitions and conventions. She choreographs for Helias spring musicals and has coached their dance team, is involved with TLTJC and Capital City Players, and enjoys attending the St. Louis Tap Festival. She is a 2009 Louisiana State University History and Political Science graduate and in 2013 completed her M.A. in Teaching from Columbia College. Liz is a middle school Social Studies teacher at St. Peter Interparish School.
Ms. Dara -Dara Schlesinger native from Dayton, Ohio. She began her dance training at age of three at South Dayton School of Dance. Her studies started with her mother Gigi Gardner formally with Dayton Ballet and Elizabeth Karns formally with American Ballet Theatre and her aunt Gina Walther formally with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. At the age of seven she was invited to perform with DCDC for a charity arts benefit hosted by Oprah Winfrey. In 2008 she joined the South Dayton Dance Theatre. SDDT is a pre-professional dance company and honor member of Regional Dance America Northeast. She has been recognized with many scholarships and awards. Her studies have been with Cincinnati Ballet, Pennsylvania Regional Ballet, National Choreography Intensive, Point Park University summer intensive, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and Boston Ballet. Dara continued to pursue her dream of dance by attending Point Park University under the direction of Garfield Lemonious and has trained with Susan Stowe, Jason McDole, Kiesha Lalama, Juila Erickson, Dana Arey, Kiki Lucas, Rocker Verastique and Daniel Karasik. Dara graduated with honors and received her B.F.A. in Dance in Spring 2021.
Ms. Kalley - Kalley Schollmeyer is a Jefferson City native who grew up studying ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and hip-hop at Dancers’ Alley, and was a long time competition team member. She was an assistant teacher during High School and helped with many classes. She is a sophomore at Columbia College pursuing an education degree. Kalley participated in numerous dance recitals, community performances, and The Nutcracker.
Mr. Nathan- Nathan Crewe-Kluge hails from La Grange IL. Growing up near Chicago he most notably trained under Claire Bataille in the Lou Conte Scholarship Program, and received additional training from programs with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Giordano Dance Chicago, DanceWorks Chicago, and River North Dance Chicago. He has also danced at programs with Alonzo King LINES Ballet and Dark Circles Contemporary Dance. In 2019 Nathan had the privilege of studying classical ballet abroad at Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts. Nathan graduated summa cum laude from SUNY Purchase College with a BFA in Dance Performance & Composition in 2021. Nathan has danced previously with Chicago Repertory Ballet and Winifred Haun & Dancers. Nathan has performed works by renown choreographers such as Joshua Blake Carter, Rena Butler, Merce Cunningham, Kristopher Estes-Brown, Martha Graham, José Limón, Katlin Michael Bourgeois, Joshua L. Peugh, Jerome Robbins, Helder Seabra, Doug Varone, and Leigh Warren. Nathan is looking forward to a wonderful 3rd season with Mareck Dance!
Ms. Sarah – Sarah Sponsel is a Jefferson City native. She studied tap, jazz, ballet, and modern at Dancers' Alley, and was a student teacher/assistant throughout high school. She performed in numerous recitals, community dance performances, and productions of "The Nutcracker". She has participated in productions with TLTJC and Capital City Players. Sarah is a French teacher at Capital City and Jefferson City High Schools.
Ms. Taylor- Taylor Winkelman is a Jefferson City/Linn native who grew up studying ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and hip-hop at Dancers’ Alley. She was an award winning competition team member, and an assistant teacher throughout high school. She attended Kansas City Ballet and Louisville Ballet summer intensives. Taylor was a member of the Helias Dance Team Explosion. She has participated in many high school and community musicals, numerous dance recitals, community performances, and performed lead rolls in The Nutcracker. Taylor is a second year business student at Linn Tech, planning to attend the physical therapy assistant program.