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GDC Staff



Mrs Kenzie May Tapia



Owner/Choreographer/Ballet 1-3, Modern 2-3, Tap 2-3, Jazz 2-3, Acro 1-3, Hoops, and choreography Teacher/GDc Company director



Kenzie trained at Carol Lloyd's School of Dance from 1986-2001. She started teaching at Carol Lloyd's in 1999. She was on the University of South Alabama Dance team, The Prowlers, in 2001-2002. She taught at Kimberleigh's School of Dance in 2002. Kenzie went to the University of Southern Mississippi in 2003 to study Dance Education. When she returned from USM she auditioned for and became a member of Alabama Contemporary Dance Company, which was a touring and performing modern dance company. She performed with the company for three years. She has taught dance to kids at the YMCA, Strickland Youth Center's GROWTH program, and the Boys and Girls Club. She has choreographed for Fairhope High school's Drill Team and the University of South Alabama's theater department. She has won eight choreography awards. Kenzie was the assistant director of Ashley's Angels Dance Studio for two years and then became the director of Dixie's Dance Studio for two years. In 2006 she was the guest artist for a summer dance workshop in Vermont. In January of 2008 Kenzie opened Grace Dance Center. Kenzie is a certified Acrobatics Arts and Aerial Arts Hoops instructor. In 2019 she won a Grind Award for her impact as a small business owner for over ten years. She is the current choreographer for Faith Academy's Theater department.



Mrs Peyton Myer Yancey



3-6 yr old, jazz 1, modern 1, tap 1 teacher/GDC Company Assistant



Peyton trained with Mrs. Kenzie at GDC for 5 years and was a member of the GDC Company for 2 years. She was also on the Faith Academy Dance Team her senior year of high school. Peyton taught dance at CC Dance Studio for two years. Mrs Peyton also currently works with Faith Academy Theater Dept. assisting Mrs Kenzie in teaching her Choreography.



Mrs Lindsay Curtis



Hip Hop Teacher



Lindsay trained at Debbie's School of Dance for 10 years and Fame Dance Center for 2 years. During her time at the University of South Alabama, she served as the assistant in the dance department and Vice President of the dance club. She also enjoys judging local dance tryouts and pageants.



Mrs Katleyn Nelson Hickman



Baton Teacher



Katelyn began dancing at Contempo during the 2005-2006 year. She trained with Mrs Kenzie at GDC from 2010-2017. She was Dancer of the Year at GDC in 2015. She was a member of the GDC Company 2015-2016. She was privately coached in baton twirling by Kim Mason 2014-2017. Katelyn was a member of the Citronelle High School Majorette Line 2015-2017. During her freshman year at Troy University, she was a member of the Sound of the South Dance Line. Katleyn is a professional member of the United States Twirling Association and is a USTA Certified Level 2 Coach. She has served as a baton clinician for high school twirlers and has choreographed for the majorettes of Mattie T. Blount High School.



Other Staff



Mrs deborah May



Mrs Deborah is our business manager and works our front desk. She is Mrs Kenzie's mother.



Miss Madisyn Brown



Assistant for our 3-6 yr old classes, petite company and Acro 1&2. Madi has trained with Mrs Kenzie at GDC for 10 years. She is a member of our Teen Dance Company and she was dancer of the year at GDC in 2021.



Grace Dance Center



kenzie@gdcdance.com | Phone: 251-234-7982