Stefanie Allen – Dance Director

Stefanie, born and raised in Mishawaka, IN, quickly found her passion for dance at the age of 7, while attending Flint’s Dance Studio. Under the Direction of Jerry and Donna Flint, she dove into multiple techniques including Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, and Tap fueling her early dance education.

Upon high school, Stefanie, was very active in the dance arts; she continued her dance education at Lou Conte Dance Studio in Chicago, IL and was invited to perform in several concert performances with Indiana University South Bend Theatre and Dance Department.  She was accepted into a small performance and competition group of dancers, New York Dance Connection, who participated in dance competitions throughout Indiana, Michigan, and Chicagoland areas. These opportunities led Stefanie to her next stage in the performing arts at Ball State University.

Stefanie attended Ball State University and received her degree in Dance Performance. While attending Ball State, she was the recipient of several upper-classman scholarships and participated in many performances with the Ball State Dance Theatre under the direction of Lou Ann Young. During her time at Ball State University, she had the opportunity to work with faculty including Michael Worcel, Audra Sokol, Michelle Kriner as well as other notable choreographers. Additionally, she was invited to perform in American College Dance Festival Association at Ohio University in faculty and student choreography.

Following graduation, Stefanie accepted her first professional contract to dance with Wellspring/Cori Terry and Dancers in Kalamazoo, MI. In 2008, Stefanie continued her professional career in Indianapolis with several companies including, Motus Dance Theatre and The White Rabbit Cabaret’s in house performance group and Hassenpfeffer. From 2018-2020 she co-founded and directed Flourish: a modern dance series that brought Indianapolis dance and visual artists together to present their art to the Indianapolis community.

Stefanie joined Indy Dance Academy at its inception, in 2009, as a Dance Instructor choreographing for the recreational and Company levels. Her choreography has won many distinguished awards throughout the National dance competition circuits.   She assumed the role of Indy Dance Academy Dance Director in 2013.  Throughout her time at I.D.A., her dancers have been nationally recognized for their technical skill set, artistic qualities, and overall entertainment values. Stefanie’s passion for dance, exceptional work ethic and quality instruction have been passed along to her dancers who have excelled in university and professional level dance programs throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Outside of the dance world, Stefanie loves spending time with her husband, Scot, her darling daughter, Carmen and the family pup, Maple. She enjoys cooking, sharing coffee and conversation with friends, hiking, and exploring the outdoors.

Denise Cardenas – Instructor

Denise Cardenas has a BA degree in Dance from Butler University and an MBA from the University of Sarasota.  While at Butler University she studied ballet and modern under Peggy Dorsey, Bud Kerwin, Betty Gore, William Glen and Betty Butterball.  She performed in the “Nutcracker”,  “Afternoon of a Faun”, “Cinderella”, “Scheherazade”,  along with numerous student productions.    Some of her theater credits at Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre include performances of “George M. “, “Westside Story”, “Fiddler on The Roof”, “Damn Yankee’s” and “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown”.   She has received Regional, State and National first place awards in New York, Las Vegas and Chicago. While in these cities she studied under the following tap and jazz masters:  Shirley Jones, Tommy Sutton, Al Gilbert, Luigi, Eli LeTang, Pat Rico, Danny Daniels,  Joe Tremaine, and Gus Giordano.   Denise has taught master classes at Purdue University, Oasis of Indianapolis and specializes in movement and dance for ice skaters and theatre majors.  She loves the IDA community and has been with the studio since its inception in 2009.    Her passion is teaching children and adults beginning thru advanced levels.   Dance and movement develop not only the physical aspects, but studies have shown that it also encompasses the kinesthetic, rational, musical and emotional sides of the dancer.

Katherine Robinson Clemme

Katherine Robinson Clemme, originally from Hartford City, IN, grew up dancing at Premiere Dance Center, for 15 formative years. She has also received training with from the Boston Conservatory and Zion Dance Project, working with artists William Isaac, Sidra Bell, Michael Trusnovac, and Vincent Hardy.
Katie is a recent graduate from Indiana University with a BFA in contemporary dance. At Indiana University, she has performed in works by many talented professional artists such as; Liz Shea, Robert Burden, Selene Carter, Evelyn Wang.
She has participated as dancer and choreographer in student run shows, including Junior Choreographic Projects, Student Led Independent Projects, and New Moves. Since Spring 2023, she has collaborated with Revelations Dance Company in Indianapolis as both dancer and choreographer.
Katie has a love for many styles of dance, Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Modern and Improv. She has a certification in Mat Pilates and Dance for Parkinsons Training. She has taught dance as a healing outlet and as an enjoyable experience during her collegiate time in Bloomington, In.
She is excited to be on faculty at Indy Dance Academy!

Jenna Cole – Instructor

Kylie Gerberding – Instructor

Kylie was raised in Vancouver, Washington. She grew up in the dance studio setting and competed with her youth teammates in the dance arts. She graduated from Boise State University with her BA in Theatre Arts and Dance.
While in Boise she danced professionally with Idaho Dance Theatre and choreographed for several of their shows. Recently, she has traveled around the U.S. as an instructor for Universal Dance Association.
Kylie is getting married and moving with her husband to Indianapolis area. She is excited to share her energy and dance knowledge at IDA!’

Allie Hamilton – Instructor

Miss Allie began dancing at TC Dance in Kendallville, Indiana in 2004. As a former competition dancer, she has trained in tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, musical theatre, hip hop, and ballroom. Allie has been a dance teacher for many different age groups and skill levels, and enjoys teaching everything from baby ballet, youth and adult tap, jazz and hip hop styles, as well as competitive tap and hip hop. She also possesses a Master of Science degree in Psychology at the University of Indianapolis.
Allie feels fortunate that she has the opportunity to spread her passion for dance to the hardworking dancers at Indy Dance Academy!

Bree Harbin – Instructor

I started my yoga journey in 2010 as part of a physical rehab program after completing the two-week trial at a local studio in Carmel. I felt the renewed energy and joy I experienced years prior while practicing yoga in graduate school. In addition, my body was beginning to heal, stretch and connect internally. Working in health care as a women’s health nurse practitioner with a doctrine in nursing, promoting health and wanting to share this life altering experience with others is what led me to certified yoga teacher training in 2013.

The healing power of yoga and the complementary benefits to daily life balance as well as fitness training; specifically, increased strength, range of motion and endurance. Yoga encourages you to begin slowly, practice regularly, breathe deeply, pay attention, and build on the small, gradual changes you experience. Yoga practice is truly beneficial to all ages, sizes, levels of athleticism.

I love to see others discover themselves on the mat and the inspiration we can provide to one another; come share your light and let’s make this community brighter one breath at a time!

Namaste

Maddie McLaughlin – Instructor

Maddie ‘s family is from a small suburb of Chicago, where she began dancing at W Dance Studio at the age of 3. She received training in tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, and modern; however, her love for tap was evident when she put on her very first pair of tap shoes!
Throughout high school, she trained at the Chicago Human Rhythm Project and Chicago Tap Theater.

She attended Purdue University where she received her bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering. While at Purdue, she served as the President of the Purdue Tap Club, Footnotes, and led the tap program at Dance Moves and Gymnastics in Lafayette, IN, teaching tap technique and choreographing award-winning competitive routines for all ages and levels.

Maddie is currently in the Medical Scientist Training Program at Indiana University School of Medicine and Purdue University where she is working towards her MD and her PhD.

She is so honored and excited to be able to share her love of tap with the students at IDA!

Mary Lyn Moore – Instructor

Jessica Piechocki – Instructor

Jess began competitively dancing at the age of 9 in Daytona Beach, Florida. During high school, she was the Captain of a 3-time UDA National Championship team for 4 years, winning titles in jazz, prop and pom. In 2007, she was privileged to dance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
Jess attended the University of South Florida where she was a part of the Sundolls Dance team for 3 years. She performed during USF football and basketball games, competed at UDA Nationals in Orlando, Florida, traveled to perform at collegiate Bowl Games in Canada and North Carolina, and performed on ESPN many times.
This is not Jess’s first time at Indy Dance Academy, she was first in the studio as an IDA Instructor, choreographing at both the team and recreational levels! Jess is excited to get back into the studio and share her energy with all of you!

Outside of dance, Jess loves to spend time with her wife Katy and two children, Connor and Sloane.
She is a licensed clinical social worker, working with middle school youth.
On any given day you can find her eating sushi, reading, or hanging out with her pug, Lilou.