Meet The Team

Emma Young

Emma began dancing at age four in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Upon relocating to the U.S., her passion for performing lead to three professional contracts with Radio City Entertainment as Clara in the Christmas Spectacular. Her love for dance drove her to strive for excellence; she further advanced her dance technique by attending American Ballet Theatre summer programs, Complexions Contemporary Ballet Intensive, The Sessions, Point Park University’s Intensive and classes at the National Ballet of Canada.

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Through dedication and training, she excelled in competitive dance while attending Juliana’s Academy of Dance in Madison Heights, Michigan. She has won numerous regional and national overall top soloist awards and national titles with Showbiz, Star Systems, West Coast Dance Explosion, and Hollywood Connection, among others. She was also a 4 time semi-finalist at the prestigious Youth America Grand Prix International ballet competition.

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She is honored to have worked with amazing teachers and mentors like Desmond Richardson, Wes Chapman, Stephanie Tooman, Valentina Barsukova, Chris Jacobsen, Michael Lemanski, and many other esteemed dance professionals. In addition, she received her vocal and musical theatre training in New York City with Bob Marks.

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She was excited to be accepted into the Dance Conservatory program at SUNY Purchase. While studying there, she was a soloist in a Jessica Lang repertoire piece and performed as Clara in The Nutcracker ballet. During this time, she was also a member of the Detroit Dolls dance team.

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Emma moved to Kansas City in 2017 upon graduating from Texas Christian University and has thrown her energy into teaching students of all ages and abilities. She continues to advance her dance teacher education with certification in Progressing Ballet Techniques, as well as, Acro and Silks training.

Ashtyn Toepfer

Ashtyn is a dancer and visual artist originally from a small town in Western Kansas. She began dancing at age 3 and immediately fell in love with the art. She began competing at age 5, and received training in many styles, including Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Hiphop, Lyrical, and Acro.

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Throughout high school, Ashtyn spent every free moment she had either in the studio training, or traveling to intensives, workshops, conventions, and master classes.  She attended AMDA Los Angeles Summer Intensive in 2017, and Go Pro in 2016 and 2018, where she performed at the Clay Cooper Theatre in Branson, MO. She also began teaching dance in high school, and has not stopped ever since. 

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After high school, Ashtyn continued her dance training at American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in Los Angeles, CA from 2018-2019. At AMDA, she received training from many working professionals in the dance industry in a variety of styles. Since returning home, she is in the process of receiving a bachelor’s degree in Visual Art Education from KU, and plans to become an Elementary Art Teacher, while continuing her dance training and dance instructing.

Dana Hunt

Dana has more than 25 years of experience in the dance/theater industry. She began her dance journey at age 3 & started teaching at just 14 years old in Nebraska! Dana attended college at the University of Kansas & has lived in Overland Park ever since! She has partnered with multiple theater companies & dance studios all across the country & throughout the Kansas City metro!

“My favorite style to dance is jazz, tap, lyrical and modern. I LOVE teaching all styles and I’m extremely passionate about teaching proper technique and giving dancers the tools they need for success in and out of the dance studio.”

“I want my students to look forward to coming to class and have an opportunity to express themselves in a supportive & positive environment where FUN is the number one rule. I’m so blessed to be part of this awesome studio family!”

Sonja Schulz

Sonja Schulz is a dancer, aerialist, gymnast, teacher, and choreographer currently located in the Kansas City area. She is originally from Elk Grove Village, IL, and studied at the University of Iowa. She graduated with her BFA in Dance, BA in Economics, and 200-Hour Hatha Yoga Teaching Certification in May of 2019. She is currently performing professionally alongside teaching dance, yoga, and barre fitness classes.

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Sonja is currently dancing with KC Contemporary Dance and performing at events with Quixotic throughout the year. Some of her past performances include SOMNUS (KCCD's 2020 Fall Show), Terra Luna 2020 (Quixotic's Walk-Through at the OP Arboretum), Holidays Come Alive 2020 (Quixotic at Union Station), and Open Stage at the J (2020).

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She is grateful for the performances she has been able to be a part of and loves teaching younger dancers all over Kansas City. Additional studios and programs Sonja has taught at include Kansas City Ballet School, Encore! at the J, VidaDance Studio, and OutSchool (virtual teaching).

Madeline Brown

Madeline has been dancing since the age of three. She was trained in classical ballet with the Kansas City Ballet School for 15 years, where she also received training in modern, contemporary, and jazz. In high school, Madeline danced with the Kansas City Youth Ballet for three years. She also had the opportunity to perform alongside the company in The Nutcracker with the Kansas City Ballet for seven years. In The Nutcracker, she danced the roles of a polichinelle, a soldier, the party scene, Clara, lead ginger, and a marzipan. She spent one year at the Kansas School of Classical Ballet under Juan Trujillo and Stefani Schrimpf, where she performed in the corps and a pas de trois in the ballet La Bayadere.

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Madeline attended two summer intensives, one at Ballet Chicago in 2012 and the other at Next Generation Ballet in Tampa, Florida, in 2014.

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After graduating high school, Madeline attended Benedictine College for two years on scholarship with the Benedictine College Dance Team. During this time, she gained experience in contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, and jazz. She was also apart of the completion team, where they placed top 5 in the region.

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Madeline is excited to be teaching and share her love of dance with children, and is looking forward to what the year has to bring!

Tina Robertson

Tina started dancing at the age of 3 and immediately at her first recital won most improved dancer out of the entire studio, that's when she knew she was meant to dance. She then went on to compete from 2nd grade until she graduated high school and began competing solos in 5th grade. Tina danced and competed with Denise's Dance Academy for 15 years where she was trained in Ballet, Jazz, Jazz Character, Lyrical, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop, and Pointe. 

While competing, Tina won multiple national championships and was selected to compete in the Shootout for Stage One, Quest for the Best for Starquest, and Parade of Champions for Talent on Parade at nationals numerous times starting from 6th grade. She also was selected for special opportunities through dance competitions such as Top Starz and Kidz Roc at the Clay Cooper Theatre in Branson, MO. Other than competing, Tina danced with Kidz Bop, in Disney World, at the Royals FanFest, and performed at halftime for the Harlem Globetrotters and Miami Heat. During high school, Tina was also a part of the Blue Valley Southwest Glitter Girls all 4 years where she competed in the State Championship for Kansas and nationals in Orlando FL.  

Tina's love and passion for teaching and choreographing dance began during her freshman year of high school when she assisted in teaching for one of her studio's most advanced and successful junior groups. She then went on to assist with choreography starting her sophomore year and even choreographed her own solo senior year. Teaching and choreographing is so fulfilling for Tina because she takes great pleasure in being a role model and sharing her love for dance with everyone. She couldn't be more excited to join the Danceworks KC family and looks forward to sharing something she's passionate about!

Elizabeth Torres

Elizabeth has been teaching dance for about 8 years now and choreographing for various dance teams for 4 years. She graduated with my Bachelor of Arts in Dance in 2020 from KU. When She's not teaching or choreographing, she is dancing for the KC Comets soccer team and being on the promotional team for the KC Current. 

Lydia Holland

Lydia grew up as a competition dancer for 15 years in Overland Park then decided to continue her training at Theater Arts Preparatory School where she studied in dancing, singing and acting. Since then, she has performed Mary Poppins, Wonderland (swing), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (staring David Archuleta), Tarzan (swing and assistant dance captain), Hunchback of Notre Dame, and the regional premiere of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. She is trained in numerous styles of dance and has experience performing, teaching and choreographing all around the US.

Kelly Edgar

Kelly trained at Legacy School of the Arts with former members of Kansas City Ballet for 15 years and also trained at the Culture House as well. She received her degree in Music and Theatre from K-State in 2018 and has been teaching ever since!

Audrey Holland

Audrey has more than 20 years of dance experience & trained extensively in all genres of dance. She danced competitively throughout her life which led her to attend Theater Arts Preparatory School (TAPS) in Las Vegas! Audrey has choreographed all across the nation & has worked in many theater/film projects. She has also performed all across Kansas City in venues such as Music Hall, Folly Theater, & the Lyric Theater. Most recently, Audrey was in “Rocky Horror Picture Show” performed in Las Vegas!