LINDSEY CORDER
POLLY TALLAS
AARON ULMER
KRISTY BLAKESLEE - OWNER & FOUNDER
AUDREA COWAN - artistic director
AARON ULMER - BUSINESS OPERATIONS & BILLING
LINDSEY CORDER - plano/Frisco OfficeS
POLLY TALLAS - FRISCO OFFICE
Administrative Faculty
FACULTY
Abigail Hardy
Courtney hart
CLAIRE WOLFORD
kaitlin kinsey
ALFONSINA TRENEMAN
madeleine meyer
ALYSON PENNINGTON
RACHEL ALEXANDER
Hana alford
BRANDON JOHNSON
CORY FINN
PETER CHURSIN
BROOKE WENDLE
emily igoe
SARAH NOLAND
Katey finazzo
Audrea cowan
Kristy blakeslee
Sue Benn
Faith Lane
Kelsey Stroh
Kennedy Cowan
Kristy Ulmer Blakeslee is a third generation studio owner who fell in love with the performing arts from family members who were musicians, actors, and dancers. After attending Texas Tech University, Kristy began her first studio in Carthage, Texas in 1981. Kristy returned to Plano to teach dance and gymnastics for ten years at Tap N’ Toe with her mother Shirley Williams. In 1993, she started KJ Dance and began the amazing journey of making dreams come true for young dancers.
Kristy's formal training was steeped in the study of classical ballet, jazz, and tap. Over the past 50 years Kristy gained a broad foundation of training from many artists from all over the world. She had formal training under Gus Giordano, Frank Hatchett, Jackie Sleight, Joe Tremaine, Doug Caldwell and many more.
Over the past 33 years, Kristy has created beautifully staged KJ Concerts alongside her incredible faculty. Kristy has also choreographed musicals in the community for Pamela Hurt at Prestonwood Christian Academy. Kristy choreographed the following musicals: 42nd Street, Little Women, The Drowsy Chaperone, Into the Woods, and her favorite, Crazy for You. She has choreographed and staged the annual children's cancer fund luncheon and the Ms. Collin County and Mrs. International pageants. In the early days of the Plano Television Network, Kristy enjoyed creating choreography for the recycling campaign. Kristy choreographed the Biblical Arts musical theater adaptation of Via Delarosa at the center in Dallas. Kristy has been a guest judge for national competitions and other studio auditions.
Kristy's passion for the art of dance and her desire for mentoring young dancers is evidenced in all that happens at KJ Dance Studio. Kristy loves to train young dancers to be disciplined, to adhere to strong values, and to develop a selfless "others focused" mentality. “You cannot become a brilliant artist all alone, you must incorporate, learn from and share with others along your journey.” Most recently Kristy has had the great honor of celebrating the alumni of KJ by visiting many university dance program graduations and performances. Many of the KJ students are dancing professionally and teaching the art of dance to the next generation.
Kristy is married to Andy Blakeslee and is blessed with a large family of eight children, their spouses and ten grandchildren. Her family is her first priority and she enjoys sharing the enormous KJ family with her loved ones.
Kristy Blakeslee – Teaching Philosophy
As a dance educator of over 45 years, my mission has always been rooted in more than movement—it’s about shaping young hearts with grace, poise, and selflessness. I am deeply committed to providing a nurturing and disciplined environment where each student is not only trained as a dancer, but guided to become a kind, confident, and respectful human being.
I am honored to partner with parents, our incredible faculty, and esteemed guest educators and masters in raising students who carry themselves with quiet confidence, who lead with compassion, and who understand that true artistry comes from within. Through the language of dance, we aim to instill life lessons—humility in achievement, strength in vulnerability, and beauty in discipline.
KRISTY ULMER BLAKESLEE
Katey Weibring Finazzo is a dynamic and multi-talented actress, dancer, choreographer, and educator. Originally from Dallas, TX, she began her training at KJ Dance under the guidance of Kristy Ulmer Blakeslee, where her passion and talent for performing arts quickly took root. Katey later moved to Los Angeles to pursue a professional dance career, training and working with some of the most respected names in the industry, including Justin Giles, Jackie Sleight, Desiree Robbins, Mark Meismer, Doug Caldwell, and Keith Young.
Her professional performance career began with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, where she served as a soloist in the productions Rock on Broadway and Flashback. Katey’s stage experience also includes touring the U.S. with The Wiggles, dancing in Love Notes with Soul Escape, Thriller with Odyssey Dance Theatre, the Mary Kay Convention, and performing as a backup dancer in the LA and NYC Jingle Ball Rock Concerts. She has also been featured in numerous productions for Disney and national commercials for brands such as Old Navy, Big Lots, and Toshiba.
Beyond the stage, Katey is a passionate and dedicated educator. She has taught and choreographed at studios, workshops, and intensives across the U.S., as well as internationally in Canada and Costa Rica. Katey has proudly served as the Director of KJ Pulse’s Competitive Company, where she leads with vision, heart, and a deep commitment to excellence. Returning to KJ Dance—a place that shaped her as both an artist and a person—has been a full-circle moment in her journey. Her teaching philosophy blends high expectations with heartfelt mentorship, helping dancers grow not only in technique and performance, but also in confidence, character, and passion for the art form.
Katey currently resides in Frisco, TX with her husband, Cory, and their two children, Ryder and Phoebe—where spontaneous living room dance parties are a regular occurrence. Married since August 13, 2011, Katey also channels her creativity through photography, capturing the emotion and artistry of dance behind the lens. She feels deeply grateful to share her passion while shaping young dancers not only as artists, but as kind, confident, and resilient individuals.
Katey Finazzo – Teaching Philosophy
My mission as a dance educator is to inspire, encourage, and challenge dancers of all ages—helping each student grow into the strongest, most confident version of themselves both on and off the dance floor. I believe that every dancer’s journey is unique, and that growth doesn’t look the same for everyone. Whether it's a big breakthrough or a small step forward, every win is worth celebrating.
I strive to create a space where each student feels seen, supported, and valued, because I truly believe every dancer brings something magical to the room—there is only one of each of us in the world, and that is our greatest power.
KATEY WEIBRING FINAZZO
As a proud educator at KJ Dance, my mission is to guide and inspire dancers through the powerful lens of movement, grounded in the core values of Character, Competence, and Compassion. I am committed to nurturing not only technical excellence and artistic growth, but also shaping kind, confident, and resilient individuals.
Through thoughtful instruction and intentional mentorship, I strive to create a safe and empowering space where dancers are encouraged to lead with integrity, pursue excellence with humility, and support one another with empathy. My goal is to help each student discover their fullest potential — as dancers, and as extraordinary human beings.
AUDREA COWAN
Sarah Noland started dancing in her hometown of Kansas City, Missouri before relocating to Phoenix, Arizona at the age of 13. Once in Arizona, she began training at Royal Dance Works. During her time there, she was a part of performances in the Capezio 125th Anniversary Celebration at the New York City Center and in Nigel Lythgoe’s annual Dizzy Feet Foundation Gala at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, both under the direction of Mandy Moore. After high school, Sarah lived in Los Angeles where she was a member of Royal Flux Dance Company, and she has travelled to assist Jaci Royal at various studios and universities. In addition, she spent time working closely with Erica Sobol in her seven-week training intensive, The Gypsy Project. After her time in LA, Sarah returned to Arizona to dance with Dana Metz’s contemporary company and begin her teaching career. Most recently, she has spent the last few years working with Justin Giles and SoulEscape The Company.
Sarah joined KJ Dance in Fall 2019 and feels fortunate to be part of such a welcoming and community-oriented environment!
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY:
As a teacher and choreographer, I celebrate individuality in movement and create a safe, inclusive space where dances can grow together. My goal is to inspire each person to push their creative limits while honoring their unique voice, building trust and connection through shared exploration, I strive to empower each dancer to discover and express their truth, knowing that growth comes from both challenge and connection.
SARAH NOLAND
Emily began her dance training at age 11 In Durham, NC under the direction of Lindsay Tilley. At the age of 15, She moved away from home to study ballet at Virginia School of the Arts under the direction of Petrus Bosman and Tyrone Brooks. Emily then trained and graduated high school form The University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem, NC under the direction of Ethan Steifel. She has spent several summers training with University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Atlanta Ballet Carolina Ballet, Charlotte Ballet (formally known as North Carolina dance theater, and many others around the country. While training, Emily has danced works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Agnes de Mille, Anna-Marie Holmes, Melissa Hayden, Robert Weiss, Debra Austin, Alonzo King, Christopher Huggins, Lorraine Graves, Galina Panova, Jennifer Medina, Armando Luna, Heather Maloy, Tyler Walters, and Jennifer Archibald among many others.
Emily graduated college from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC with a BFA in Dance. While in college, Emily trained under the direction of Galina Panova, and Timour Bourtasenkov. She has performed in every East Carolina's main stage production.
After graduation Emily moved to Austin and taught for Ballet Austin before moving to dallas to dance with Avant Chamber Ballet. Emily danced with ACB for four seasons.
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY:
I strive to inspire and nurture young artists through the beauty and discipline of ballet, fostering a supportive environment where each student builds confidence, embraces creativity, and develops a lifelong passion for dance. I push to empower my students, instilling in them self-worth and resilience, as they learn not only the art of movement but also valuable life skills through dedication and collaboration.
EMILY IGOE
Cory Finn is originally from Southern California where he trained and had the honor to work with such tap legends as Gregory Hines, Henry LeTang, Sam Webber, Mark Mendonca and his own father Freddie Finn. He has performed with various tap companies and stage productions including Rhapsody in Taps, Power Tap and Men at Work. Some of his commercial credits include Toyota, Dr Pepper, Taco Bell, and Disney. He has also taught for numerous national convention circuits including LA Underground, LA Dance Magic, NUVO, Hollywood Vibe and Pacific Coast Dance Fest and is currently touring with Dance Makers Inc. Cory’s Passion for tap dance paired with his enthusiasm and encouragement in his classes has made him highly sought after. His Dynamic and energetic choreography and his ability to make tap fun and accessible has fostered a genuine love for the art form amongst his devoted students. Cory is thrilled to be at KJ and looks forward to making some amazing memories and spreading the joy of tap dance to the next generation of dancers.
CORY FINN
A former Radio City Rockette and Plano native, Brooke Wendle has been dancing, choreographing and creative producing live shows for Broadway and television since 2002 for powerhouse brands such as Dancing with the Stars, America’s Got
Talent, American Idol, Cirque Du Soleil, Franco Dragone, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Adam Lambert, Atlantis The Royal Dubai, Disney, Condé Nast, MTV Video Music Awards, American Music Awards, E*Trade, Super Bowl Halftime Show XXXIV, Paramount +, HBO, Netflix and the NBA.
BROOKE WENDLE
Maria Alfonsina Treneman was born in Argentina, where she trained as a Ballet dancer with the “Instituto de Danzas Jairo Benitez”. At the age of 17, she was invited to study in Brazil at the “Escola de Dancas Maria Olenewa”. She trained under the direction of Dennis Gray, Sergio Lobato, Jorge Teixeira, Luis Carlos Nogueira, Emilio Martins, Tatiana Helene Leskova and Maria Angelica Fiorani, Brazil. Later she became a professional dancer at the “Companhia de Ballet da Cidade de Niterói” and the “Companhia Brasileira de Ballet,” among others. She is also a trained Ballet teacher since 1996 and has worked as such for the “Petite Dance Escola de Ballet” in Brazil, Tuzer Dance Center, in Richardson Texas and the Texas Ballet Theater School. From 2019-2023, she was part of the Master Faculty team for Joffrey Ballet School. As well, Mrs. Treneman works as an international Guest Ballet Master in the UK, Italy, Portugal, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, and Brazil. This year she joined the Guest Master Teachers at Dallas Black Ballet Company, and she is excited and eager to be a new faculty member at KJ Dance.
alfonsina treneman
Peter Chursin grew up in Pacifica, CA and trained to become a professional dancer in Half Moon Bay with Shely Pack Dancers. He earned a scholarship to NYU and after his freshman year, Peter was cast as an original company member in the 1st National Tour of Wicked the Musical. Here is where he met his wife, Brooke Wendle, and in all they have appeared in over 20+ Broadway, national, and international productions between them. Since then, Peter has toured internationally with Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Twyla Tharp Dance. He was most recently seen on Broadway in Bob Fosse’s Dancin’ (marking his principal debut), on television in FX’s Fosse/Verdon, Netflix’s Halston, and will be seen in the upcoming feature film Kiss of the Spider Woman starring Jennifer Lopez.
Peter CHURSIN
Hana Alford, a native of Colleyville, Texas, grew up dancing competitively in local DFW studios and training in high school on KJ’s PULSE company. She has been an assistant for 10 years with Dupree Dance Convention, where she has assisted renowned master teachers from LA and New York such as Thayne Jasperson, Ellenore Scott, Jon Rua, Kobi Rozenfeld, Terrill Mitchell, and more. She graduated with honors in December of 2020 with a BFA in Dance Performance, BBA in Business Management, and a minor in Musical Theater from Southern Methodist University, where she performed modern, jazz, and contemporary works from notable choreographers such as Robert Battle, Moncell Durden, Mark Burrell, Christopher Dolder, and Brandi Coleman. During her time at SMU, Hana led her peers as Vice President of her sorority Chi Omega and received the Outstanding Achievement in Dance award, a faculty-nominated honor given to one graduating senior from the rigorous dance program at SMU. Some notable venues Hana has performed in for various concerts and events include Alice Tully Hall NY, The Music Center LA, The Joyce Theater NY, AT&T Stadium, and American Airlines Center. Recently, Hana was a company member of Zion Dance Project for the 2020-2021 season, performing original, faith filled works by Vincent Hardy across Texas and Oklahoma. She loves fulfilling her longstanding desire of integrating her faith and dance all for the glory of God. Hana is thrilled to continue teaching at KJ Dance, hoping to share with others her love for dance that was nurtured in these same studios.
HANA ALFORD
Alyson Pennington is originally from Dallas, Texas and graduated from Sam Houston State University with a BFA in Dance. She trained at Dance Industry Performing Arts Center training in Ballet, Contemporary, Tap, Jazz, and Hip Hop, while also competing with their performing company. Alvson has attended summer intensives such as The Joffrey Ballet School, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. She has been fortunate enough to perform at festivals including Wanderlust Dance Festival, Austin Dance Festival, and American College Dance Associations* regional and national festivals. As well as performing professionally with NobleMotion Dance. Over the years Alyson has performed works by Chelsea Ainsworth, Gregory Dolbashian, Kiley Dolaway, Roderick George, Fransisco Graciano, Jess Hendricks, Matt Luck, Travis Lake, Andy Noble, Jessica Smith, Micaela Taylor, Chelsea Thedinga, and many more. Alyson is excited to continue training, performing, and teaching. She will be teaching at K dance in the fall and is very excited for this next part of her dance journey.
ALYSON PENNINGTON
Courtney Hart (Allen, TX) first began her dance training at Allen Conservatory of Dance under the direction of Stefanie M. Best. She continued her training with several different Texas based studios over the course of 10 years. During this time, Courtney had the privilege of working with many renowned choreographers including Shannon Gillen, Jess Hendricks, Matt Luck, Justin Giles, and Al Blackstone. In 2017, Courtney was accepted into Point Park University's Conservatory of the Performing Arts, where she furthered her dance training while pursuing a minor in business management. In addition to Point Park University's faculty, Courtney has studied with 8and1 Dance Company, New Dialect, SoulEscape the Company, and The Pillow Projects. In 2020, Courtney was able to create her own choreographed work for Point Park’s Student Choreography Show, where she discovered her newfound interest for choreography and editing music. After receiving her BFA in dance and minor in business management from Point Park, she became a company artist with Nova Linea Contemporary Dance in Milwaukee, WI, where she danced professionally and got the opportunity to experiment with both her voice and dancing for 2 years. She also taught and choreographed at various studios in the area, sharing all that she has learned with the youth. She just recently released her EP, "The Host", on music streaming platforms in October of 2023. In March of 2024, Courtney took a trip to NYC where she was able to work with choreographer and director Chelsea Thedinga on her first music video, as well as accompany a class for her at Steps On Broadway. Currently, Courtney resides in Plano, Texas where she teaches dance at KJ Dance and Ambition Dance Productions. She is also a company member and musician with Soulescape, a project based contemporary dance company run by Justin Giles. Courtney hopes to continue creating unique collaborations between music and movement, and connecting people through all different forms of art.
courtney hart
Kaitlin Kinsey is from Dallas, Texas, and has 20 years of dance training in ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, and hip-hop. In her pre-professional years, she trained in Dallas under the direction of Camille Billelo and performed works by Andrew Winghart, Dana Foglia, and Jenna Johnson. She has performed at the Dallas Cowboys Halftime Show both in 2010 and 2011, and danced in Wanderlust Dance Project’s concert in 2016 and 2018, under the direction of Addison Holmes, in works by Giovanni Allen, Brian Stevens, and Chad Vaught.
She went on to graduate from Sam Houston State University with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance in May of 2019. She performed in various concerts with the dance department during her college career, in works by Jennifer Pontius, Joshua Manculich, and Jared Doster. As a dance instructor since 2012, she has taught classes in ballet/tap/tumble, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, musical theatre, and lyrical.
She is currently teaching and choreographing in Dallas and is so excited to continue her fifth season as a company dancer with Zion Dance Project, under the direction of Vincent and Abigail Hardy.
kaitlin kinsey
Claire Wolford is a Lincoln, Nebraska native. She spent four years cheering for the Dallas Cowboys and is a current Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader all-star. In her time as a cheerleader, she was a leader, traveled to South Korea to perform for the USO, and performed with artists like Dolly Parton, Jonas Brothers, Luke Combs, Queen and Kane Brown. She was also featured on Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders as well as CMT’s DCC Making The Team. Prior to cheering, Claire competed and won Bronze 2x with the Arizona State University Dance Team and danced for the University of Nebraska Scarlets. Aside from dance, she is a pilates instructor and the host of her own podcast, Sweet As Honey. Claire has an incredible passion for teaching and building up the next generation of dancers!
claire wolford
Madeleine grew up in Austin, TX training at The Dance Spot and performing with Rise Dance Company under the direction of Quinton Weathers. Her passion for dance later took her to the east coast to train at the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College located in New York. She had the pleasure of performing works by Larry Keigwin, Kevin Wynn, Merce Cunningham and Sue Bernhard. She then graduated Summa Cum Laude with her BFA in Dance Performance and minor in Arts Management.
After graduation, she began her professional performance career in New York City freelancing with various companies including LaneCoArts, Smashworks Dance, Drye/Marinaro Dance Company, Patmon Dance Project and others. She had the honor of performing at venues such as New York Live Arts, Bryant Park, Triskelion Arts, and Lincoln Center. Happy to come back to her Texas roots, Madeleine then moved back to Texas to dance with Ad Deum Dance Company for two seasons.
Madeleine relocated to Dallas in the summer of 2021 to dance with Zion Dance Project and join the KJ Dance family! Madeleine adores KJ Dance and is grateful to share her love of dance with the next generation and couldn’t imagine a better place to do it.
madeleine meyer
Abigail Hardy is a professional dancer, choreographer, and director with a career spanning performance, education, and arts leadership. Since 2021, she has been a member of the faculty at KJ Dance, instructing students ages 2–18 in ballet, tap, jazz, and contemporary styles. From 2016 to 2021, she served as the Director of the Ballet Program at Epicenter for the Arts, where she developed curriculum, and mentored students. Abigail is the Co-Founder and Director of Zion Dance Project, a Dallas-based professional dance company established in 2017 alongside her husband, Vincent Hardy. Under their leadership, Zion Dance Project has grown into an international platform for professional dancers, offering year-round training and producing original works that illuminate the art of dance. Her performance career includes touring and performances with Zion Dance Project, international touring with Bal Mahada Dance Company, including appearances at the Busan International Dance Festival in South Korea and the Alabama Dance Festival. She has also performed as a freelance artist with Chadash Contemporary Dance Movement since 2016, and has worked as a guest choreographer and performer both nationally and internationally. Abigail’s training includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Belhaven University, where she graduated with honors and received awards for artistic achievement and outstanding service. Her technical foundation was established at The Conservatory of Dance and Performing Arts. She has studied under master teachers and choreographers from Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Houston Ballet, José Limón, Milwaukee Ballet, Dance Company Mooe, Nederlands Dans Theater and The Royal Ballet.With a deep commitment to cultivating excellence and purpose in the next generation of dancers, Abigail continues to pour into students and professionals alike through performance, mentorship, and arts education.
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY:
As a dance educator, I believe in cultivating not only technical excellence but also integrity, creativity, and confidence within every dancer I teach. My approach is rooted in the belief that dance is a powerful form of communication—one that shapes the individual just as much as it moves the audience. I aim to foster a training environment where students are
challenged, inspired, and supported, both as artists and as individuals. My teaching is shaped by years of professional performance, choreography, and directorship—particularly through my work with Zion Dance Project. I bring these experiences into the studio to create classes that are both disciplined and encouraging, offering students the tools they need to set and achieve new goals. I am deeply passionate about investing in the next generation— celebrating milestones both big and small, and encouraging growth not just in a dancer’s technical ability, but in their confidence, work ethic, and overall character. Whether preparing students for advanced training or guiding them toward personal achievement, my goal is to leave them stronger,
more resilient, and inspired to continue pursuing their potential.
Abigail Hardy
Born and raised in Plano, Rachel has been a member of the KJ family since she was 3 years old. After growing up at the studio, she attended Texas Tech University and was a three year member of the Pom Squad dance team. Rachel led her team to their first National Championship in school history during her senior year. After college, she moved back home to Dallas to pursue her dreams of becoming a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. She cheered on the sidelines for 4 seasons and then did 2 additional seasons as an All-Star cheerleader. She has been training KJ’s youngest dancers since 2017 and is so excited to be leading the Junior DCC program this year!
RACHEL ALEXANDER
Brandon Johnson has 20 years experience and is J.O. certified to coach compulsory-optional/elite gymnastics. Brandon has worked at the home of olympians Nastia Luikin and Simone Biles, coaching at both WOGA and World Champions Centre in the state of Texas.
Throughout his career he has gained skills to plan practice, asses development and ability, and enhance performance in practice and competition.
Brandon absolutely loves what he does, getting to meet and build relationships with some really wonderful people. He thoroughly enjoys training athletes as if they were his own, in addition to collaborating, learning, and growing professionally. He's goal-oriented to perfect skills enabling move up ability, and teach the importance of teamwork through team building assignments. Being able to have some part in the athletes development is really at the heart of why Brandon coaches.
BRANDON JOHnson
Sue Benn was born in Utah and grew up training in a variety of styles, including jazz, ballet, and pom. Her professional career began at age 16, when she won Miss Drill Team Utah, going on to win Miss Drill Team USA International in 1983. Soon after, she toured nationally as a backup dancer for Donny and Marie Osmond before joining the University of Utah Aggiettes, where she performed for two years.
In 1987, Benn became a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, bringing her to Dallas, Texas, which she has called home ever since. During her three years with the DCC, she was part of the prestigious Show Group, touring the globe on USO and DOD tours to places including Korea, Bahrain, Honduras, and Panama. She also served two years as a group leader before shifting her focus to family life, raising three children with her husband.
In 2020, Benn embraced the “second act” of her dance career, and began training in International
Latin Dance at Dance With Me studios under the guidance of world-class professionals such as Val Chmerkovskiy, Yulia Zagoruychenko, and Ferdinando Iannaccone. Competing in Pro-Am with her partner Ricardo Freire, she has earned numerous first-place titles, including at the WDO Pro-Am Latin International, the South American Open Latin Championship, and the American Open Dance Championships. Now in her fifth year as a competitor, Benn is eager to share her passion and experience with the next generation of dancers.
Sue Benn
Faith was born and raised in Pennsauken, New Jersey, where she discovered her love for dance watching the worship team at her church. At 12, she began training at Halliday Dance under Tony Rhodes, whose holistic approach inspired her to pursue dance beyond high school.
At 16, she was accepted as a summer intensive trainee and second company member at Philadanco!, marking the start of her formal training in codified techniques. Faith earned her B.F.A. in modern dance from Point Park University in 2023, performing works by Jason McDole, Rennie Harris, Kiki Lucas, Pearlann Porter, Marc Spaulding, and Martha Nichols.
She recently completed her second season as a second company member with Zion Dance Project in Dallas, TX. Faith is grateful to her family, friends, and alma mater for their support and looks forward with excitement and trust in what God has planned for her future.
Faith Lane
Kelsey Stroh was born and raised in Frisco, Texas, and is currently a senior at Reedy High School. She has been dancing since the age of three and fell in love with the art early on. After training at another studio, Kelsey joined the KJ family in 2015 as part of the very first Petite Company. Over the past 12 years at KJ, she has dedicated countless hours to dance training, competing, and attending intensives to grow as both a performer and artist. Kelsey will graduate in May 2026 and plans to attend a four-year university, where she intends to continue her dance journey while double-majoring in Dance and Psychology. For the past two years, she has had the privilege of assisting classes and is thrilled to be stepping into a new role this year—teaching her own classes and working one-on-one with dancers to inspire and help them grow. She looks forward to sharing her passion for dance and helping young dancers build confidence, skill, and a love for movement.
Kelsey Stroh
Kennedy Cowan was born and raised in Frisco, Texas, and is currently a senior at Frisco High School where she serves as Varsity cheer captain. She has been dancing since the age of two and fell in love with the art early on. Kennedy has been at KJ her entire life and over the past 18 years at KJ, she has dedicated countless hours to dance training, competing, and attending intensives to grow as both a performer and artist. Kennedy will graduate in May 2026 and plans to attend a four-year university, where she intends to try out for the school’s pom team. For the past two years, she has had the privilege of assisting classes and is thrilled to be stepping into a new role this year—teaching her own classes and working one-on-one with dancers to inspire and help them grow. She looks forward to sharing her passion for dance and to guiding young dancers as they build confidence, develop their skills, and discover their own love for movement.
Kennedy Cowan
Aaron Ulmer officially joined KJ in 2018, but the studio has always been close to his heart since his mom, Kristy Blakeslee, founded the studio in 1993. A proud UT Dallas graduate, Aaron balances life at the studio with his favorite roles as husband to Heather and dad to Hayley (7), Hunter (5), and Addison (3). At home, their English cream golden retriever, Summer, keeps everyone entertained. When he’s not with family or at KJ, you’ll probably find Aaron cheering on his favorite Dallas sports teams or staying active in the gym or outside.
