KDC STAFF 2022-2023

Miss Kelley discovered her love for dance at the age of four. She has studied Tap, Jazz, and Ballet, and competed in many regional and national dance competitions, including Dance Masters of Michigan and Showstopper. Years later, Miss Kelley immersed herself in her first love, Tap. She enjoyed her Advanced Adult Tap classes so much, she pursued a career as a Tap instructor. From 2006-2013, Miss Kelley was the Competition Director, Competitive Tap Team Choreographer, and Office Manager for Neu Wixom Dance Academy in Wixom, MI. After moving in 2013, Miss Kelley taught at The Dance Academy in Westland, MI as a Competition Team Choreographer for the next 5 years. She has led her Solos/Duets/Trios and Groups to numerous awards and accolades over the past 18 years including “Innovative Concept”, “Tip Top Tappers’, “Excellent Execution”, "Sassy Taps", "Clean As a Whistle", “Future Rockettes”, and "Crystal Clear", as well as multiple Top Overall achievements, Title Winners, and 2 Video of the Year nominations. Her dancers consistently place in the top 10 at competition. 

In 2016, Miss Kelley’s Mini Tap Team "Going To The Chapel" won 1st Place Overall National Champions at Hall Of Fame Dance Nationals in Virginia Beach. In 2018, she had a huge highlight in her career winning a Best Tap Choreographer award at Platinum Dance Competition.  In 2019 (Miss Kelley's first year as a Studio Owner/Director), KDC was a two time winner of the ADCC Studio of Excellence Award. KDC won the award again in 2021 and 2023. She was also the Head Coach for the 2019-2020 Walled Lake Western Pom Team. In 2022, Miss Kelley's Tap Soloist, Gianna DeGolyer "Little Secret", went on to become a 1st Place Overall, National Champion at ID Nationals in Sandusky. In 2023, her Shining Stars Tap Team "Shake The Room" won 1st Place Overall National Champions at Groove Nationals in Atlantic City, NJ.

Miss Kelley is a proud resident of Wixom, residing with her husband- John (a Wixom Firefighter and Inspector for MDOT). She is the proud Mom of daughter-Gabi (who also teaches at KDC), and son-Logan. 

Through dance, Miss Kelley also gets to live out her other passion- working with children. She is a former preschool teacher with a great love for teaching dancers of all ages. She hopes to instill in your child a love for dance, and the determination to never give up on your dreams. 

Miss Kelley would like to welcome all of the KDC families to our 6th season with open arms! 

Miss Gabi began dancing at the age of 3. She has trained in Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, Modern, Lyrical, Cecchetti, and Pointe, dancing for 15 years and competing for 9. During her years as a dancer, she assisted and choreographed multiple dances for many ages, and her teams consistently placed in the Top Ten. Over the past 5 dance seasons, Miss Gabi's Musical Theatre Teams have won multiple top 10 placements and special awards including "Personality and Musicality" and "Broadway Bound". For the past 5 years, she co-choreographed a finale production with Miss Bri for KDC’s annual recitals and is choreographing a third Jazz line with Miss Bri as well. She recently had a new addition to her family and is now a proud mom to a little boy! Miss Gabi is so proud to teach in a place she called home for many years, and is excited to help her students grow in poise, grace, and confidence as dancers.  She looks forward to continuing to grow the KDC Musical Theatre program for her 6th season, and teaching her students how to become characters on stage! 

 Miss Bri began dancing at the age of 3. She has studied many styles including Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Lyrical, Pointe, African, and Hawaiian. She began to compete regionally at the age of 7 and nationally at the age of 14, winning numerous awards during her 10 years as a competitive dancer.  Throughout her last 5 years as a competition choreographer, her groups and soloists have placed in the overalls consistently at every competition. Her competition students have received many special awards including “Technique Standout”, “Ultimate Entertainment”, and “Artistic Vision”. She has also received multiple choreography awards. Currently, Miss Bri is a student at Wayne State University earning a Bachelor’s degree in Dance with a minor in Business Administration. During her time at Wayne State, she has studied under artists such as Meg Paul, Lisa LaMarre, and Della Hamby. This summer, she will be finishing an internship with The Dance Academy, where she is shadowing the owner Amber Gilbert to expand her knowledge about being a studio owner. While teaching at Kelley’s Dance Craze, Miss Bri is able to train and help her students advance in their comprehension of dance, as well as their physical abilities. With a strong focus on technique, building her students' passion for dance, and assisting them to grow in their fluidity and strength in movement, Miss Bri is delighted to begin her 6th season with KDC! 

 Miss Chrissy’s love for dance started in her first ballet class at age three, and she continued to foster that love when she began competing regionally and nationally at age thirteen. During her time as a student, she studied a variety of styles including ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, modern, musical theatre, and hip hop. She then added tap and Hawaiian to her repertoire as an adult. At twelve years old, she accepted her first assistant teaching position and continued with multiple styles and ages leading up to her graduation. During her senior year of high school, she served as Dance Captain and Assistant Choreographer for her school’s production of The Beauty and the Beast. Post-graduation, she has taught varying styles and ages, both recreationally and competitively, at Kelley’s Dance Craze for five seasons, while also studying through Progressing Ballet Technique and the National Dance Education Organization. In this time, her dancers have had numerous top ten placements and judge awards, such as “Visual Poetry”, “Undeniably Adorable”, and mutiple “Best Costume” awards. She also served as Assistant Coach and Co-Choreographer for the Walled Lake Western Poms team alongside Kelley Paronish and Gabrielle Young. She had the honor of choreographing four of the opening ballet productions for KDC’s annual recital. In July of 2021, she was appointed as Chapter Sponsor for KDC’s National Honor Society of Dance Arts program. In July of 2022, Miss Chrissy welcomed her daughter to the world and is so excited to add “Dance Mom” to her bag of tricks! Miss Chrissy is thrilled to take on Season 6 of Kelley’s Dance Craze and continue to push her students to be their best selves, both inside and out of the classroom, using our collective passion and hard work to make this season the best one yet!  

Miss Dani began dancing at the age of 3. She trained in the styles of Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Tap. Miss Dani began assisting Hip Hop classes at the age of 12, and continued to assist in both Jazz and Hip Hop classes throughout her high school years. She has won several 1st place overall awards in the elite category for solo, duet/trio, and group dances. She has traveled around the USA for Nuvo Dance Conventions, winning the Breakout Artist Award four different times, and continually won the Core Performer Award at the Radix Dance Convention. Miss Dani’s students have won many placements and titles, including many 1st overall placements, dancer of the year title winners, judge's choice awards, and many other placements in the overall award ceremonies. This past 2023 season, she had an amazing highlight as a choreographer. Three of her dances took home 1st place overall national championships. These dances (a Junior Jazz Duet, a Junior Jazz Trio, and a Teen Large Group Lyrical) were her first national championships as an instructor and choreographer. Miss Dani truly enjoys being a competitive and recreational instructor at KDC. She is currently on a talent scholarship at Wayne State University working toward her degree of earning a Bachelor of Science in Dance, with a minor in Business Administration. Throughout 2023, Miss Dani remained on the dean’s list for both semesters of her Junior year. She studies several styles of dance, as well as dance education courses, throughout her journey at Wayne State University. She looks forward to sharing her love and passion for dance with her students. Experiencing their growth, and being a part of their training, is what gives her the most joy as an instructor and choreographer.  

Miss Kylie began dancing at the age of 3. Her passion for dance grew quickly once she started competitive dancing at Debbie Felton’s Academy of Dance in Livonia, MI. She furthered her dance career at Western Michigan University and graduated with her BFA in Dance in 2019. Miss Kylie has trained in a variety of styles including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary, Pointe. She also has performed professionally in Chicago and the Metro-Detroit area with Alluvion Dance Chicago, ArtlabJ, and ConteXture Dance Detroit. Miss Kylie toured Europe with Artlabj in the Fall of 2022 at the Tanzhafen Festival in Linz, Austria where she performed and taught classes to dance students in Austria. Miss Kylie has choreographed for Michigan State University's Orchesis Dance Society, Grand Valley State University's Elite Dance Club, and Suttle Dance Company. She has also had the honor to choreograph for Churchill High School’s CAPA dance program where her choreography was chosen to perform in the 2022 Oakland Dance Festival College Showcase. In 2022, Miss Kylie won the Emerging Choreographers Project competition and created a new work on the dancers of Young Dancer’s Initiative in Ann Arbor. Currently, Miss Kylie is working towards her MA as a Dance Teaching Artist at Wayne State University. Along with teaching, she works as an administrative assistant for ConteXture Dance Detroit where she performs locally in Detroit. Miss Kylie also has a personal training and fitness instructor background to cross train with her dancing. She focuses on safe ways to train the body physically while making mental health in the studio a priority. Miss Kylie’s goal is to inspire her students as much as they continue to inspire her. Kylie has developed such a passion for teaching throughout her two years at KDC and is looking forward to another incredible season!  

Miss Kim graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training/Sports Medicine from Central Michigan

University in 2005 and continued on to complete her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Oakland

University in 2009. She furthers her clinical knowledge by participating in continuing education: she has

completed training in Kinesio Taping® and Mulligan Concept as well as certification in Graston

Technique. Kim has in-depth experience working with high school athletes, patients in acute trauma,

post-op orthopedic patients and is the clinical director for the ATI in Canton, MI.

Miss Ava began dancing at the age of 3. She has trained in the styles of Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Pointe, and Tap. She started dancing competitively at the age of 11. She has won many overall awards, both regionally and nationally, along with many title awards.
Miss Ava began assisting Tap and Ballet classes at the age of 13. This year she will be student teaching a preschool tap class under the direction of Miss Kelley. She is so excited for this opportunity! 

Miss Milana started dancing at the age of 5. Since then, she has trained in the styles of Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Musical Theater, Ballet, and Pointe. She started dancing competitively at the age of 13. Throughout her years on the KDC Competition Team, she has won many overall awards, as well as title awards, both regionally and nationally. At 15, Miss Milana started assisting classes such as Tap, Jazz, and Ballet. Outside of the studio, Miss Milana loves furthering her dance experience and knowledge by attending college dance team clinics, Oakland Dance Festival, master classes, and conventions. Miss Milana is very happy to be a part of the KDC family! 

Miss Harley has been dancing since the age of three. Since then, she has trained in the styles of Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop, Contemporary, and Lyrical. She started competing when she was 10 years old, and hasn’t stopped since! During her time on the KDC Competition Team, she has placed multiple times, both regionally and nationally. At 15 years old, Miss Harley started assisting classes at KDC. She continues to work hard in her dance classes every day, and attends dance clinics and conventions whenever she can. 

Miss Zayda started dancing at the age of 3. She has trained in the styles of Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, and Hip Hop. She started dancing competitively at the age of 12. Throughout her years on the KDC Competition Team, Miss Zayda won many regional and national overall placements and title awards. She began assisting classes at the age of 13 with multiple classes in the styles of Tap, Jazz, and Ballet. Miss Zayda was a Student Teacher this past season for a Preschool Tap class, teaching and choreographing their recital dance, under the direction of Miss Kelley. She is currently a student at Oakland University as a dance major. Miss Zayda is very excited to continue to be a part of the KDC staff! 

Miss Meghan found her love for dance at age 5. Since then, she has trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Modern, Pointe, Lyrical, Hip Hop, and Musical Theatre. At age 11, Miss Meghan began assistant teaching, and was substitute teaching in multiple styles by 15. Throughout her time on the KDC Competition Team, she has won many overall awards and titles, both regionally and nationally. During the 2022-23 dance season, Miss Meghan was given the opportunity to be a student teacher under the direction of Miss Gabi, where she taught and choreographed a Preschool Ballet dance. After graduating high school, Miss Meghan interned with ConteXture Dance Detroit, under the direction of Tracy Halloran, and performed a work choreographed by Rebecca Otmanowski. Currently, she is studying Dance Theatre at Amda College of the Performing Arts’ New York City campus where she is on a talent scholarship. Miss Meghan hopes to continue to learn and grow as an artist, and is so happy she gets to continue to be a part of the KDC family!