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SLAD

Instructors

SLAD Dance Instructors and Staff

Kacy
Kacy

 - Kacy Voskuil

Owner, Artistic Director

Owner and artistic director, Kacy Voskuil began her dance training at St. Louis Academy of Dance with founder Linda Green. She studied under Ms. Green and other instructo...[ MORE ]

Owner and artistic director, Kacy Voskuil began her dance training at St. Louis Academy of Dance with founder Linda Green. She studied under Ms. Green and other instructors such as Stanley Herbert, Jim Akman, Ludmilla Dukoudovsky, Tracy Speller, and Kathy Thiele. Miss Voskuil went on to complete SLAD's teaching apprentice program and has been instructing all levels and disciplines of dance at SLAD ever since.

"When I hear music, I see dance..." She is a choreographer and director of Pazazz Performers and has choreographed numerous musicals in the St. Louis area. A Pazazz alum herself, Ms. Voskuil has an extensive performance career including Webster University Dance Ensemble and BFA concerts, High School and Community theater musicals, and hundreds of Pazazz performances.

As an accomplished Clayton High School graduate, Ms. Voskuil completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance at Webster University under the direction of Gary Hubler and Beckah Voigt, with guest instructors including Jennifer Medina, Kristine Kardell, Nick Pupillo and Eddie Ocampo; studying ballet, tap, jazz and modern, plus improvisation, composition and dance pedagogy. In 2005, Miss Voskuil took the position of Associate Artistic Director of SLAD, becoming Artistic Director in 2006.
Emily
Emily

 - Emily Edwards

Co-Director

Emily, Assistant Director, began her dance career at St. Louis Academy of Dance with founder Linda Green at the age of 3. Emily is a proud Pazazz alum and went on to rece...[ MORE ]

Emily, Assistant Director, began her dance career at St. Louis Academy of Dance with founder Linda Green at the age of 3. Emily is a proud Pazazz alum and went on to receive her BFA in dance from Stephens College where she graduated Cum Laude. After graduation, Emily moved to New York and worked in many areas of the dance world while studying at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway. Emily has studied with Jan Miller, Mary Rotella, Deborah Carr, Gail Gilbert, Katherine Kingsley and Liliana Morales. She has had extensive training in Ballet, Modern, Musical Theatre and Tap along with a wide variety of world dances. Emily is the current Assistant Director of Pazazz.
Renée
Renée

 - Renée Austin

Teacher

Renée Austin, a Chicago native, began dancing in 2004 at Mayfair Dance Academy under direction of Peggy Sutton. She has additionally trained at Diverse Elements Dance Stu...[ MORE ]

Renée Austin, a Chicago native, began dancing in 2004 at Mayfair Dance Academy under direction of Peggy Sutton. She has additionally trained at Diverse Elements Dance Studio, Encore Dance Center, Arizona School for the Arts, Velocity Dance Center, and Spectrum Dance Theater under direction of Donald Byrd in their Academy Program. A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis with a BA in Dance and minor in Psychology (2023), Renée explores her artistry through the relationship between dance and other art forms, merging various dance styles, and how the human experience informs her movement. She has learned from and worked with renowned artists including Anthony “Redd” Williams, Antonio Douthit-Boyd, Tiala Taylor, Aaliyah Weston, MJ Imani, Ashley Tate, Melanie George, Eva Stone, Keyes Wiley, Cecil Slaughter, David Marchant, Joanna Dee Das, Erin Morris, Maria Majors, Caroline Gonsalves Bertho, Ryadah Heiskell, Elinor Harrison, Kendra Key, and Heather Beal. A choreographer, teacher, and performing artist, Renée teaches around the St. Louis area and has worked with numerous organizations including COCA, Anheuser-Busch, Keshon Campbell Films, Festival of Nations, STL Rhythm Collaborative, St. Louis Academy of Dance, Pack Dance, Utopia Experiences, The Black Rep, and St. Louis Artist’s Guild. She also performs and choreographs for RnB artist Kbthesinger; she performed with him at Summerfest 2023 in Milwaukee, at City Winery STL, and creative directed and starred in his music video for his single “Rock!” Renée recently collaborated with artist Jasmin Savoy Brown for her upcoming music video, and has worked with numerous artists including Blanca, Keshon Campbell, Hana Canhasi, Faith Miller, and Aaliyah Weston. In July 2024, Renée was chosen to perform at the triennial ELCA National Youth Gathering for an audience of over 16,000 people at Smoothie King Stadium in New Orleans. She is a company artist of two prominent St. Louis dance companies: RESILIENCE Dance Company and Kode Redd Dance Company. You can also find her teaching at Yes Honey on Fridays. Renée is excited to join SLAD faculty this year!
Abigail
Abigail

 - Abigail LeBaube

Instructor

Alyssa
Alyssa

 - Alyssa Diamond

Instructor

Ann
Ann

 - Ann Dryden

Administrate Assistant

Carly
Carly

 - Carly Vanderheyden

Instructor

Originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, Carly attended the University of Iowa where she graduated with honors and earned a BFA in Dance, BA in Health and Human Physiology, ...[ MORE ]

Originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, Carly attended the University of Iowa where she graduated with honors and earned a BFA in Dance, BA in Health and Human Physiology, and Certificate in Arts Entrepreneurship. While pursuing her BFA, Carly performed works by Autumn Eckman, Marc Macaranas, Armando Duarte, Melinda Jean Myers, Eloy Barragàn, Jesse Factor, and Martha Graham. Carly has trained in intensives at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, DanceWorks Chicago, the Martha Graham School, American Dance Festival, and the Kirov Academy of Ballet. Carly is a certified teacher with the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum for pre-primary through level five, as well as a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance. Beyond dance, Carly is also a Certified Health Education Specialist through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, and a freelance photographer. Carly was a trainee with The Big Muddy Dance Company last season, and she is excited to return for the 2018-19 season as an apprentice, while also serving as the company's Communications Coordinator.
Catherine
Catherine

 - Catherine Rogers

Instructor

Catherine Rogers comes to St. Louis Academy of Dance after a decade of experience as a dancer, teacher and choregrapher. Catherine grew up in St. Louis where she trained...[ MORE ]

Catherine Rogers comes to St. Louis Academy of Dance after a decade of experience as a dancer, teacher and choregrapher. Catherine grew up in St. Louis where she trained at COCA. Upon graduating from Cor Jesu Academy, she spent two years at Butler University studying ballet and creative writing. After her sophomore year, she left to attend the Joffrey Ballet School and pursue her dream of dancing in New York City. Catherine toured nationally and internationally and danced professionally in Chicago and Madison. Most recently, she danced with Chicago Repertory Ballet and Madison Ballet. Throughout her career, Catherine performed the works of George Balanchine, Gerald Arpino, Robert Joffrey, Robert Battle, Antony Tudor, Merce Cunningham and Sharon Eyal. While in Wisconsin, Catherine had the pleasure of teaching at Spotlight Dance Academy for seven years. At Spotlight, she led the ballet program and choreographed many works for recital and competition. Her pieces received numerous awards for choreography and judge’s preference. Most importantly, audiences loved watching and dancers loved dancing her work. As a teacher, Catherine believes in collaboration and joy within the structure of discipline and respect. She loves to connect with and mentor students to encourage their success in and out of the classroom. Catherine graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in Psychology is 2022. She loves to spend time with her lovely husband, Joe. Her greatest joy is her son, Max.
Colin
Colin

 - Colin Ellis

Colin

Danielle
Danielle

 - Danielle Mertz

Teacher

Debbie
Debbie

 - Debbie Fischer

Administrative Assistant

Miss Debbie has over 40 years of administrative experience, plus a love of dance and music. Now that she is semi-retired she is able to live her dream of working in an ar...[ MORE ]

Miss Debbie has over 40 years of administrative experience, plus a love of dance and music. Now that she is semi-retired she is able to live her dream of working in an artistic, joyful atmosphere surrounded by children of all ages.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth

 - Elizabeth Lloyd

Instructor

Originally from North Carolina, Liz Lloyd began her dance training at Ballet Spartanburg, in Spartanburg, South Carolina She then spent two years at University of North ...[ MORE ]

Originally from North Carolina, Liz Lloyd began her dance training at Ballet Spartanburg, in Spartanburg, South Carolina She then spent two years at University of North Carolina School of the Arts before being invited to train at the San Francisco Ballet School at the age of sixteen. After completing her studies in San Francisco, she joined Oregon Ballet Theater as a trainee in their Professional Division. In 2014 she joined Saint Louis Ballet as a company dancer where she performed for eight seasons, dancing numerous soloist and principal roles such as “The Queen of Hearts” in Alice in Wonderland, and “Fairy Godmother” in Cinderella. While dancing with the company she also taught students of all ages at the Saint Louis Ballet School and completed her Bachelor’s degree at Washington University in St. Louis. After spending the past year in New York City, she is thrilled to return to the St. Louis dance community and to share her love of dance and movement with the students of SLAD.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth

 - Elizabeth Mitulski

Teacher

Emily
Emily

 - Emily Small

Teacher

Emily Small grew up in Newport, RI training at The Academy at Newport Contemporary Ballet. She holds a BFA in Dance and BS in Public Health from University of Massachuset...[ MORE ]

Emily Small grew up in Newport, RI training at The Academy at Newport Contemporary Ballet. She holds a BFA in Dance and BS in Public Health from University of Massachusetts Amherst (2019). Emily is currently performing as company dancer with Resilience Dance Company and Ballet 314. She has also performed with the St. Louis Dance Theatre, Newport Contemporary Ballet, and Emily Duggins Dance Collective. Additionally, she is the social media coordinator at Resilience Dance Company. She’s had the pleasure of performing choreography by David Dorfman, Cassie Wang, Maria Blanco & Yariana Baralt Torres of LOUD BODIES, Mike Esperanza, Rosanna Tavarez, Miki Ohlsen, Danielle Genest, Emily Duggins Ehling, Emilia Sandoval, Thomas Vacanti, Barbie Diewald, Goeff Alexander, Paul Dennis, Betsi Graves, Jackie Nowicki, Johnnie Cruise Mercer, Staycee Pearl, and Ted Thomas & Francis Ortiz. In the spring of 2022, Emily choreographed a duet titled "Just Now" which premiered at the Chapel Venue. In February of 2024, Emily’s piece “Role Reversal” premiered on the St. Louis Dance Theatre Trainees. In addition to choreographing, Emily has been teaching dance and Pilates since 2019. Currently, you can find her at Turning Pointe Academy of Dance, Central Studio, St. Louis Academy of Dance, and Freeman Pilates.
Emily
Emily

 - Emily Haussler

Teacher

Garrick
Garrick

 - Garrick Johnson, II

Instructor

Garrick Johnson, II (G2) is a native of Saint Louis, MO, and has danced since the age of 12 years old. He pursued hip-hop dance during his tenure with the Anointed Feet ...[ MORE ]

Garrick Johnson, II (G2) is a native of Saint Louis, MO, and has danced since the age of 12 years old. He pursued hip-hop dance during his tenure with the Anointed Feet Christian Dance Academy of the Arts and has never stopped. While balancing his career as an engineer, he founded a youth dance-mentoring program called the Multicultural Family Center Hip Hop Kidz in Dubuque, IA, became a member of Dreaming Allegiance Dance Crew, taught dance as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Dubuque, choreographed the Madagascar Jr stage play at Dubuque’s Grand Opera House, and opened up for various artists and dance companies — including, but not limited to, Chicago Dance Crash and Las Vegas’s Michael Jackson LIVE. Garrick returned to Saint Louis at the end of 2018 and has continued to share his passion for the fine and performing arts. He teaches in IL and MO as a competition dance coach and instructor and works with up-and-coming artists from both regions.
Halle
Halle

 - Halle Lawson

Instructor

Jordan
Jordan

 - Jordan McDaniel

Instructor

Karly
Karly

 - Karly Pierce Lystad

Instructor

Karly's unique perspective as a Midwest native has influenced her approach to dance education, emphasizing the importance of community and collaboration in the creative ...[ MORE ]

Karly's unique perspective as a Midwest native has influenced her approach to dance education, emphasizing the importance of community and collaboration in the creative process.

As a self-proclaimed "brain nerd", she is passionate about the transformative power of movement on the brain and body. Drawing from her background in kinesiology, special education, psychology and early childhood development, it was only natural that she found her purpose in teaching early childhood movement and music, and adaptive dance classes.

When Karly isn’t teaching, she uses her creative and artistic abilities as a digital content creator for Revolution Dancewear. Her additional contributions include working as the Communications Manager and research development for Rhythm Works Integrative Dance and Intellidance® Method, as well as creating adaptive choreography for Darby's Dancers.
Katherine
Katherine

 - Katherine Kennedy

Instructor

Katherine Kennedy is a St. Louis based professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer in her fifth season with the Modern American Dance Company (MADCO). Katherine grew ...[ MORE ]

Katherine Kennedy is a St. Louis based professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer in her fifth season with the Modern American Dance Company (MADCO). Katherine grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, extensively studying ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and contemporary. She graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in dance and a BBA in management from Western Michigan University in the spring of 2019. Some of her career highlights include performing original choreography by Joshua Manculich, Monique Haley, Christian Denice, Carl Flink, and Arianna Russ and in restagings of works choreographed by Roni Koresh, Aszure Barton, and Lindsey Thomas. Katherine is passionate about sharing dance with her community as MADCO’s Education Director and is thrilled to be teaching SLAD students of all ages!
Keenan
Keenan

 - Keenan Fletcher

Teacher

Lauren
Lauren

 - Lauren Bakula

Instructor

Libby
Libby

 - Libby Salvia

Teacher

Lilly
Lilly

 - Lilly Hetz

Teacher

Madison
Madison

 - Madison MAjors

Madison

Maria
Maria

 - Maria Majors

Instructor, STLRC director

Maria has been teaching dance throughout the St. Louis area for over 25 years. Maria began her professional career in New York with the touring performance ensemble, Manh...[ MORE ]

Maria has been teaching dance throughout the St. Louis area for over 25 years. Maria began her professional career in New York with the touring performance ensemble, Manhattan Tap, under the direction of world renowned tap dancer and musician, Heather Cornell. Maria joined the ensemble for their European and North American tours. During that time, she had the extreme honor of touring with late tap dance great, Dr. Buster Brown, and was an original cast member in Manhattan Tap’s “Excursion Fare,” a full production featuring the musicians of Keith Terry and Crosspulse and premiered at the Joyce Theater in New York. Since returning to St. Louis in 1999, Maria has been on faculty with many area dance programs and has served as a consultant for dance education programs throughout the region. Maria was on faculty at COCA (Center of Creative Arts) in St. Louis, MO for 10 years, where she worked with students and families as Tap Program Coordinator, COCAdance Company Associate Director, and Pre-Professional Program Director. She was invited to work alongside the late Professor Robert L Reed for the production of the St. Louis Tap Festival, which she attended annually for 20 years and served on the Board of Directors. Maria and the members of moSTLy TAP were honored to partner with Anthony J. Russo for the Show Me Tap Fest in 2018 and work on faculty. Maria founded moSTLy TAP in 2017, following her passion to create performances that would boost enthusiasm for tap dance and encourage audiences to enjoy rhythm in new ways. In 2018, under the leadership of Phillip Russo, moSTLy JAZZ was formed. Together, the ensembles began producing live music and dance performances at community engagements and venues throughout the area. In response to a growing need for accessible performing arts education opportunities in both music and dance, Maria developed STL Rhythm Collaborative in 2019. The nonprofit organization has growing music and dance education programs, free community engagement events for all ages, and continues to present live music & dance performances through the professional ensembles, moSTLy TAP & moSTLy JAZZ. The unending passion, support, and expertise of the moSTLy TAP & moSTLy JAZZ artists are the driving forces behind the Collaborative. In addition to her work with STL Rhythm Collaborative, Maria is honored to be an adjunct professor of dance, teaching jazz and tap dance at Missouri Baptist University, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, and Washington University, St. Louis.
Mikayla
Mikayla

 - Mikayla Farwig

Mikayla was born and raised in St. Louis and began dance and tumbling at 11yrs old. She fell in love immediately and joined her studios competition team at 14 years old w...[ MORE ]

Mikayla was born and raised in St. Louis and began dance and tumbling at 11yrs old. She fell in love immediately and joined her studios competition team at 14 years old where she was provided with numerous, performance opportunities as well as the ability to learn an array of different styles from many different teachers and choreographers throughout the years. Upon graduating she studied dance at UCM and enjoyed taking any and every opportunity to attend masterclasses and other educational opportunities to further her knowledge of dance. She began her journey as a teacher at 19 and has never looked back. Though she has experience teaching numerous styles she feels most comfortable in jazz and contemporary and specializes in acro/tumbling, technique and strength and conditioning training. Most recently she performed with Consuming Kinetics Dance Company and believes the best teachers are the ones that always remain students themselves.
Nyna
Nyna

 - Nyna Moore

Instructor

Renee
Renee

 - Renee Billman

Instructor

Sam
Sam

 - Sam Gaitsch

Instructor

Sarah
Sarah

 - Sarah Crawford

Instructor

Sean
Sean

 - Sean Sessions

Instructor

Sean Sessions is from Baltimore, Maryland, where he began his dance training under Dona Pidel. He is currently a dancer with Saint Louis Ballet, he has danced in product...[ MORE ]

Sean Sessions is from Baltimore, Maryland, where he began his dance training under Dona Pidel. He is currently a dancer with Saint Louis Ballet, he has danced in productions with Suzanne Farrell Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet and Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. Sean has trained with Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and at Butler University. He has had the privilege of studying internationally at The Polish National Ballet School and at Jacob’s Pillow Ballet Program. Sean is excited and grateful to be passing along his love a ballet to the students of Saint Louis Academy of Dance.
Sophia
Sophia

 - Sophia Franiak

Instructor

STLRC
STLRC

 - STLRC

Teacher

Weiwei
Weiwei

 - Weiwei Fu

Teacher

Ms. Weiwei Fu has received professional dance training from China (Shanghai Dance Academy, BA) and US (Lindenwood University, BFA). She danced professionally since she wa...[ MORE ]

Ms. Weiwei Fu has received professional dance training from China (Shanghai Dance Academy, BA) and US (Lindenwood University, BFA). She danced professionally since she was 18 and has received a variety of national and international awards. After retirement from 15 years of full-time professional dancing, Weiwei became passionate about passing her knowledge and understanding of dance arts to the next generation as dance teacher. She is an active member of the local Asian American community and her students have been performing traditional / fusion Chinese dances in all major cultural events in the Greater St. Louis area since 2013.
Weiwei
Weiwei

 - Weiwei Fu

Weiwei