Meet Our Steppin' Out Staff:

                      Teaching Staff at Steppin’ Out The Studio

Phyllis Balagna-Demoret

          A life-long resident of Lee’s Summit, MO, she has devoted most of her life to the performing arts.  She is trained in all phases of the performing arts, and has received choreography awards in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, and musical theatre over the past 18 years.  Phyllis has a BS in Education in Theatre, and has directed and choreographed such musicals as Annie, Li’l Abner, Oklahoma, Carousel, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, The Boyfriend, Funny Girl, Pippin, The Wiz, 42^nd Street, Titanic, Steel Pier, Wonderful Town, Anything Goes, Parade, Once Upon a Mattress, and The Pirates of Penzance.  She appeared in the National Tour of The Music Man, and has performed many roles, including Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie, and The Narrator in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

            A trained singer, dancer, and actress, Phyllis performed for four years at World’s of Fun in Kansas City, was a singer/dancer for industrials and conventions for Long John Silvers, Pizza Hut, Kansas City Chiefs, General Motors, and has recorded over 15 jingles for radio and television.  In 1997, she was proud to be featured in a promotional video for Carnival Cruise Lines with Kathie Lee Gifford.

            For the past 18 years, she has been the owner and director of Steppin’ Out – The Studio, one of the Midwest’s largest and most reputable performing arts schools.  In 2005, her studio was selected as one of the “Top 50 Schools in the country on the move” by the publishers of Dance Spirit and Dance Teacher Magazines.  Highlights of her career include winning the 2005 Starpower Victory Cup in New Orleans. In 2006, she had two students win junior national titles, and choreographed a routine that involved over 93 parents.  On September 29^th, the biggest moment of her career came when Good Morning America did a live broadcast from her studio.  Over 50 dads and 55 daughters came out to show the benefits of dads and daughters dancing together.  It was one of the GMA staff’s favorites, and her studio continues to receive national recognition due to this opportunity.  She is a sought-after judge for numerous talent competitions, and teaches,choreographs, and judges  each summer for a national talent competition.

            Committed to Kids, Families, and Dance is her motto, and having fun is what it’s all about.  She is a master teacher, mentor, coach, and second “mom” to her many students.  Her endless energy and enthusiasm is contagious, which is why so many families have chosen Steppin’ Out as their dance homes.  She currently teaches over 26 hours per week.

            Ms. Phyllis, as she is known to her many students, is proud to have former students performing professionally throughout the entire country.  Her own daughter, Jennifer, is currently Dance Captain for the Broadway Touring Company of Wicked.   Jill, her youngest, currently tours with a national competition, working in marketing and retail.  Her students can be seen everywhere:  in Broadway shows, on cruise ships, in regional and summer stock theatre, on dance teams, in high school  productions, and serving as teachers/choreographers for schools and studios.

 Jennifer Balagna

            Currently on tour with Wicked, she returns to the studio as often as possible as a guest teacher and choreographer.  A product of Steppin’ Out, Jennifer was a national award winning choreographer at the age of 18, and was featured in the October 2001 Issue of Dance Spirit Magazine as one of the top competition dancers of the year.  Upon high school graduation, she moved to NYC and attended Marymount Manhattan College on a dance scholarship for two years. She was also invited by Joe Lanteri to tour with New York City Dance Alliance as an assistant teacher. She did this for four years, and had the privilege of working with some of the industry’s best teachers.  In 2005, she received her business degree from Walden University, and an associate in fashion from the Fashion Institue of Technology in NYC.  Her passion is choreography, and her routines continue to win regional and national awards.

 Erica Blount

            Began dancing at the age of four at a local performing arts studio, and moved to Steppin’ Out at age of 10.  She performed in Dance Company for eight years, and upon graduation, started assisting Ms. Phyllis in her tap and jazz classes, and with Jennifer Balagna in lyrical. At age of 19, Erica began doing choreography, and has since become not only an outstanding teacher, but an award-winning choreographer, as well.  She teaches many of the recreational classes, and assists with and does choreography for Dance Company Classes.  Although very well-rounded, her strengths are in lyrical and tap.

 Kendra Burke

            Began dancing at the age of seven with Ms. Phyllis.  As a dancer, she was beautiful on stage, and was always poised, confident, with a smile that was contagious.  She is currently in her 17^th year with the studio, and is the Director of the Little Steppers Preschool Dance Program.  Her strength is in introducing young children to the world of dance, and every child that takes her class is always made to feel special. Kendra also is co-director of the Superstars Cheer Program.

 Ashley Carrignan

            Is in her second year as a vocal instructor at Steppin’ Out.  She comes to the studio with much knowledge and experience in performing arts.  She has performed on Cruise Ships, in NYC, and was Branson’s Female Vocalist of The Year. Her energy and southern charm bring life to her passion for working with children.  She currently teaches private vocal, as well as works with the Musical Theatre Program.

 Karen Cunningham

            Has been teaching Adult Tap at Steppin’ Out for over 10 years.  Her classes are always full, and her teaching style is respectful to all levels of adults that wish to learn to tap. 

 Alyssa Hill

            Joined the teaching staff in August of ’06.  She was a KC Chiefs Cheerleader for the 2006 season, and teaches jazz, hip-hop, tumbling, and cheerleading at the studio.  She’s a bundle of energy, and is very sincere in her teaching methods.  Her classes are exciting, organized, and the kids love her! 

Alexandra Wilson

            Has been teaching Ballet for five years at the studio.  An ’06 graduate of UMKC’s dance program, Alex is outstanding with our intermediate level dancers.  She manages an excellent ballet class, and students enjoy taking her classes.   

Shauna Keyhill

            She has been with the studio for 14 years, and currently teaches the junior high and high school recreational dancers.  She has been dancing herself for many years, and is an amazing teacher!  Her tap style is fun, her jazz is exciting, and her choreography is always a hit at recital.  She has served as a judge for numerous competitions, and is well-respected by her peers.

Bobby Nichols

            In her first year as teaching tumbling at the studio.  She has an extensive background in acrobatics and tumbling, and the students enjoy her classes. 

Ashley Nowlin

            Has been with the studio for 14 years, and performed in company for 10 of those years.  During that time, she has had the opportunity to work some of the industry’s finest choreographers, including assisting Mia Michaels when she was at the studio.  She has been Ms. Phyllis’s tap and jazz assistant for four years, and this year, was given the opportunity to try her hand at group choreography.  Proudly enough, Ashley has already had a routine win a “Critics Choice,” and is establishing herself as a young, up and coming choregrapher.  She’s a great role model for the students, and a true example of “committed to kids and dance.” 

Jennifer Owen

            It is a real honor to have Jennifer on staff at Steppin’ Out.  A former dancer with the Kansas City Ballet, Jennifer teaches and inspires the advanced level teens and seniors.  Her training and professional experience can already be seen in the students, and she is a class act.  She has just formed her own dance company:  The Owens/Cox Dance Group.   

Victoria Piatczyc

            Joined the teaching staff two years ago.  She currently assists Kendra with the Little Steppers Preschool Program, and teaches several classes of her own.  As a parent of a nationally recognized dancer, she has a strong sense of dance, and brings to her classes structure and discipline. She’s able to relate to the young student, and has fun introducing them to dance.

 Lisa Thorn

            It is a true privilege to have Lisa on staff, where she’s been teaching ballet for over 10 years to our upper level students.  Kansas City audiences have had the opportunity to watch Lisa dance for many years with the Kansas City Ballet, where she is currently the Associate Ballet Mistress.  Lisa’s passion for ballet is evident in her classes, where she encourages students to reach their full potential.

 Scott Weyrauch

            Has worked with our competitive cheer program for six years.  His knowledge in stunting and tumbling, as well as enthusiasm, has been instrumental in the building of the cheer program.  His ability to motivate the students is his strength. 

Guest Instructors:

            The following teachers and choreographers have worked with the students at Steppin’ Out throughout the years:

            *Mia Michaels – Has been a guest instructor twice, and has choreographed two award-winning pieces on our students in both 2001 and 2005.

            *Danny Wallace – Tap instructor and choreographer from NYC.  Has done master classes for students, as well a choreography for the seniors.

            *Christopher Windom – Original Broadway Cast Member of “Fosse.”  Taught Musical Theatre at our intensive in 2006 and will be returning in 2007. 

            *Chris Moss – Hip-Hop instructor from LA. Recently taught guest classes, and will be teaching at our intensive in August 2007.    Currently appearing in the movie “Music and Lyrics” with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore.

            *Lauren Adams – Contemporary jazz instructor from NYC.  Creative and innovative. 

            *Pamela Bolling – High energy jazz instructor and choreographer from Orlando, Florida.  Taught for two years (2001 and 2002) at our intensive, held each year in August.

            *Karen Hebert – Ballet instructor and choreographer.  Instructor at our intensive in August of 2001 and 2002.

            *Jimmy D – Jazz and hip-hop teacher and choreographer.  High energy teacher with a strong technical background. 

            *Travis Wall – Hip-hop teacher, who taught at our annual intensive in August of 2005. He will be returning to teach in August of 2007.  An amazing talent! 

Others include:  Gregg Russell (tap), Dennis Caspary (Jazz), Mandy Moore (Lyrical), Judy Rice (Ballet), Jeffry Williams (Tap), Carla Curatola (Jazz and Partnering), and Nick McCleod (Jazz and Partnering).