KDC STAFF 2024-2025

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. KDC also won the "Studio Spirit" award in 2024 at ID Dance Competition. She was also named as 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. In 2024, her Solo "Great Balls of Fire"created for KDC dancer Makayala Lucas, won for Best Choreography.

Miss Kelley is a proud resident of Wixom, residing with her husband- John (a Wixom Firefighter and Inspector for MDOT). She is also the proud Mom of daughter-Gabi (who also teaches at KDC), and son-Logan, as well as becoming a Grandma in 2023 to her sweet grandson- Maverick.

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 7th 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 6 dance seasons, Miss Gabi's Musical Theatre and Jazz routines have won multiple top 10 placements and special awards including "Personality and Musicality", "Broadway Bound", and “Ultimate Entertainment.” 

For the past 6 years, she has co-choreographed a finale production with Miss Bri for KDC’s annual recitals and is choreographing a fourth Jazz line with Miss Bri as well. 

She is a proud mom to a little boy, and is so grateful to teach in a place she calls her second home. 

She is excited to help her students grow in poise, grace, and confidence as dancers and looks forward to continuing to grow the KDC Musical Theatre program for her 7th season! 

Miss Bri began dancing at the age of 3. She has studied many styles including Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Lyrical, and Pointe. 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. 

After her journey as a competitive dancer, she continued her dance education at Wayne State University, earning her Bachelor of Science in Dance, with a minor in Business Administration. There, she worked with many artists including Meg Paul, Lisa LaMarre, and Della Hamby. 

She has also completed an internship with Amber Gilbert, the owner of The Dance Academy in Westland Michigan, to expand her knowledge of studio ownership. 

Throughout her last 6 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. 

As well as being an instructor and choreographer at the studio, Miss Bri is also the studio seamstress, and is excited for her new opportunity this season of being co-director of 

NHSDA alongside Miss Chrissy. 

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 

7th 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 six seasons, while also studying through Progressing Ballet Technique, the Godfrey Method 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 and she is very excited to welcome Miss Bri to the program and work alongside her. 

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 7 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 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 is a professional dancer and Administrative Assistant with ConteXture Dance Detroit where she performs locally around the Metro-Detroit area and most recently became the Artistic Director of ConteXture’s youth program. 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 Wayne State University, 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 and 2023 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. Miss Kylie’s students at KDC have achieved numerous top ten placements and special judges awards. Currently, Miss Kylie is working towards her MA as a Dance Teaching Artist at Wayne State University and will graduate with her thesis essay, “The effects of the creative process – dance composition, improvisation, and choreography for teen and young adult dancers: A qualitative and interpretive inquiry on well-being.” 

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. She has developed such a passion for teaching throughout her three years at KDC, and is looking forward to another incredible season!  

Miss Ava began dancing at the age of 3, and starting dancing competitively at age 13, while also assisting numerous Tap, Ballet, and Jazz classes. She has trained in the styles of Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Pointe, and Tap. She has won many overall awards, both regionally and nationally, along with many title awards. 

Miss Ava was a Student Teacher this past season for a Preschool Tap class, choreographing and teaching their recital dance under the direction of Miss Kelley.

She graduated high school this past year, and will be attending Oakland University as a BFA Dance Major. This Summer she had the opportunity to work with ConteXture Dance Detroit in their Pre-Professional Program which helped further her dance training before her collegiate career begins.
She is so excited for the opportunity to teach in KDC’s 7th Season! 

Miss Zayda started dancing at the age of 3. She has trained in many styles including Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Contemporary, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, and Hip Hop. She went on to dance competitively for many years. She danced at Kelley’s Dance Craze in Wixom, Michigan for almost the entirety of her competitive dance career. 

Throughout her years as a competition dancer, Miss Zayda won many regional and national overall placements and title awards. She began assisting classes at the age of 13, and continued to do so until her senior year, in a variety of styles and age groups. She also started subbing when she was 16, and became a Student Teacher her Senior year of High School.

 Miss Zayda has taught several different styles of dance and age groups over the past two years, such as Tap, 

and Creative Movement. 

She is currently a student at Oakland University working towards a BFA in Dance. Miss Zayda enjoys going to extra dance events outside of school whenever possible, which most recently includes: ConteXture Dance Detroit’s 2023 Winter Workshop, Eisenhower Dance Detroit’s 2024 UProotEDD Summer Intensive, and any open/master classes that she is able to attend. 

Miss Zayda is very excited to continue to be a part of the KDC staff!  

Miss Ava began dancing at the age of 3, and starting dancing competitively at age 13, while also assisting numerous Tap, Ballet, and Jazz classes. She has trained in the styles of Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Pointe, and Tap. She has won many overall awards, both regionally and nationally, along with many title awards. 

Miss Ava was a Student Teacher this past season for a Preschool Tap class, choreographing and teaching their recital dance under the direction of Miss Kelley.

She graduated high school this past year, and will be attending Oakland University as a BFA Dance Major. This Summer she had the opportunity to work with ConteXture Dance Detroit in their Pre-Professional Program which helped further her dance training before her collegiate career begins.
She is so excited for the opportunity to teach in KDC’s 7th 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. Miss 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. 

She will add to a part-time faculty position this year, teaching soft tissue mobilization techniques in the PTA program at Washtenaw Community College for the fall semester.  

Miss Marisa is the proud dance Mom of competition team dancer, Gianna.   A competitive Tahitian team dancer herself growing up, Marisa was thrilled when Gianna decided she wanted to compete!
Marisa has been associated with KDC since Miss Kelley opened her doors and Gianna started taking lessons.  This is Miss Marisa’s third year working on the front desk.  She loves hanging out with our wonderful dancers and meeting all the dance families.
Miss Marisa is a married mom with three, two-legged kids and a beloved dog-mom of 5 fur babies.  These are a few of her favorite things:  Talking about dogs, reading, concerts, crafting, talking about dogs, and cheering on the fabulous dancers at Kelley’s Dance Craze!

Miss Thea is a proud dance mom of Libby and Kaycie, both of whom enjoy the world of competitive dance at Kelley’s Dance Craze. She has been an elementary/middle school teacher for the past 26 years, and loves working with children. 

Miss Thea also found her love of dance at the young age of three taking Ballet, Tap, and Jazz. She quickly realized Tap was her most favorite style, and competed many tap solos 

over several years. 

Miss Thea and her family reside in Wixom. They love the welcoming community and beauty that it has to offer.  

Miss Thea’s favorite hobbies are spending time with family, watching movies/tv series, loving on her pets, and watching all the talented dancers from KDC take the stage! 

Miss Shea has been both a dancer and a dance mom here at Kelley’s Dance Craze. She has been in the recital three times, most recently for Hip Hop. Her daughters, Harley and Paige, both dance on the KDC Competition Team and Miss Shea is currently serving as the secretary for the

 KDC Boosters as well. 

Outside of the studio, Miss Shea is a teacher in Northville. She’s been teaching for 25 years and has taught preschool-8th grade. Currently, she works with students in grades 6-8. 

Her hobbies include: traveling, attending concerts, gardening, working on creative projects, and rooting on the KDC Competition Team!

Miss Suzi is a proud dance mom to Competition Team dancer, Bianca, who is in her 5th year of competitive dance. She is married with 4 kids and a dog, and enjoys spending time with her family. She has worked in child care for over 25 years, mostly with infants and toddlers.

Miss Suzi also enjoys dancing herself! In the past, she has taken Adult Ballet, and most recently performed in the Adult Hip Hop routine in last year's recital.

Miss Suzi looks forward to meeting new dance families, while helping out at the front desk for season 7 at KDC!

This year, Miss Paige will be a sophomore at Northville High School, and she has been dancing for the seven years at Kelley’s Dance Craze. Miss Paige began dancing at age 2, and has continued to train in various styles including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Pointe, etc. 

She has been a part of the National Honors Society of Dance Arts for 3 years, and took on the roles of both Secretary and Treasurer this past year. 

This will be Miss Paige's second year assisting at KDC. Miss Paige loves to compete and attend conventions and has won many overall awards during her years of dance. 

She is looking forward to spending season 7 with her KDC  dance family. 

Miss Whitney began dancing at the age of 5. She has trained in the styles of Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Pointe, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Contemporary and Hip Hop. 

Miss Whitney has been competing for seven years and can’t wait for this next season of dance! She has been a proud member of the National Honor Society of Dance Arts for several years. 

Miss Whitney loves attending competitions and can’t wait to compete at nationals this year. She has won many overall and title awards. Her biggest accomplishment was placing 1st place overall, winning the Teen title and highest overall score of the day with her solo “ Ring Them Bells” choreographed by Miss Gabi, at Applause Talent in Grand Rapids. 

Miss Whitney is very excited to began her student assisting journey for season 7!

Miss Marissa has been dancing since she was 2 years old. She has been competing for 8 years ,starting at the age of 7. She has trained in many styles including: Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop, and Ballet. She has also been a member of the National Honors Society of Dance Arts (NHSDA) for 4 years. 

Miss Marissa loves to attend conventions and competitions. She has won many overall awards during her years as a competition dancer. 

Miss Marissa began student assisting for Kelley’s Dance Craze in season 6.

She is so excited to assist for her 2nd year for season 7!

Miss Libby has been competing for 8 seasons, seven of them at Kelley’s Dance Craze. She has trained in various styles including: Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, and Pointe. 

This will be Miss Libby’s second year assisting Miss Kelley in tap class! She has also been included in the National Honor Society of Dance Arts for the past 3 years. 

Miss Libby is always happy to lend a hand when 

anyone needs help. 

Her biggest accomplishment is winning the KDC "MVP" at  our competition team banquet last season. 

Miss Libby is very excited to attend conventions, competitions, and nationals at Virginia Beach this year! 

She is also very eager to start season 7! 
 

Miss Grace has been dancing since the age of 3. She has trained in the styles of  Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop, and Lyrical. She started competing at the age of 7. She has won multiple overall placements and titles through the years she has competed, including her favorite moment- winning 1st Runner Up for Title at Nationals for her Musical Theatre Solo in 2021.

Miss Grace's favorite dance styles to perform are Musical Theatre and Tap, though she really loves it all! She has been working really hard and improving as a dancer every year, and has a goal of dancing on Broadway one day! 

Miss Grace is very excited to begin her first year as an assistant teacher at KDC!

Miss Mackenzie has been dancing since she was 3, and competing since she was 7. She has been dancing at Kelley's Dance Craze since the studios first year. During her time here she has trained in numerous styles including Lyrical, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Musical Theater, Ballet, and Pointe. She has won many top awards, including regional first overalls and a national first place overall.

Miss Mackenzie takes private acro lessons every summer to further her dance ability. She has also taken part in the National Honor Society of Dance Arts for the past 4 years.

 Dance is Miss Mackenzie's passion, and she cannot wait to share her love of dance in season 7!  

Miss Gianna has been dancing since the age of 4, and she has competed for the past 6 years. She has trained in many styles including: Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Ballet, Pointe, Hawaiian, and Tahitian. 

Miss Gianna has also taken part in the studio's National Honor Society for Dance Arts program for the past 3 years. 

She loves to attend dance competitions and conventions. Miss Gianna has won many overall awards, and is a 2 time National Champion at ID Dance Competition. She works very hard, and takes private lessons, and attends Master Classes 

whenever she can.

This is Miss Gianna's first year assisiting, and she is very excited! She cannot wait to share her passion in dance for season 7.

Miss Bianca has been dancing since she was 4 years old. She has also done cheer/pom for the Walled Lake Braves for 4 years. She joined the KDC competition team when she was 10 years old, and has been dancing competitively for four years. Miss Bianca is well trained in a variety of dance styles including: Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre, and Pointe. She works hard to perfect her technique in every style, and also has a variety of 

tumbling skills.
Some of her biggest achievements are placing in top Overalls for her Solos and winning 2 National Championships for her group Lyrical routines. 

She is also going into her fourth year being a part of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts.

Miss Bianca is very excited for our upcoming competitions and conventions, and can’t wait for this next season at KDC!

Bio coming soon!

Miss Chloe has been passionate about dancing since the age of 5, and began competing at age10. With 7 years of experience at KDC, she has been training in various styles, including Jazz, Hip Hop, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Tap, and more! 

Additionally, she has been a proud member of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA) for the past 2 years.

Miss Chloe has achieved numerous regional and national awards throughout her dancing journey. Her most cherished memories revolve around the bonds she has formed with her dance family.

Miss Chloe is thrilled and eager to begin her 1st year as an Assistant in season 7!

Miss Meghan began her dance journey at age 5. Since then, she has trained in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Modern, Lyrical, and Musical Theatre. She began assistant teaching at age 11, substitute teaching at age 15, and was a Student Teacher her Senior year of High school. While on the KDC Competition Team, Miss Meghan won many titles and overall awards. 

After Graduating high school, Miss Meghan went on to intern at Contexture Dance Detroit and has since been promoted to an apprentice company member. She has performed works choreographed by Rebecca Otmanowski, Joella Fitzpatrick, and Contexture’s Artistic Director Tracy Halloran. 

Currently, Miss Meghan is a student at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York studying Dance Theatre, and will graduate from their conservatory program in the Spring of 2025. While at AMDA, she has been able to train not only in dance, but in voice and acting as well. She has also worked with many dancers and choreographers such as Rebecca Arends, Casey Colgan, Ramon Galindo, Nicole Hagen, Nic Thompson, and Jena Vanelslander. Miss Meghan has also had the opportunity to learn and perform repertorie from Broadway shows such as A Chorus Line, 42nd Street, Cats, and Bob Fosse’s Dancin’. 

Miss Meghan is always so grateful to remain a part of the KDC family as she continues to grow as an artist and performer.