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The Faces Of DCDS
Halley Ketchum
Halley Ketchum is currently employed as a Research Technician with Yeshiva University's College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York, and dances with the Kelley Donovan and Dancers Company in downtown New York. This follows four years of study at Webster University in St. Louis, MO where she graduated cum laude with two degrees, Bachelor of Science in Biology, and Bachelor of Arts in Dance, and was awarded departmental honors in biology. She began dancing at the age of 3 under the direction of Janet Cripe, and the following year became one of Dance Creations Dance Studio's first students of dance. During her 15 years with DCDS, she was awarded many dance honors and scholarships from the numerous dance competitions and conventions she attended with fellow DCDS dancers. She taught at Dance Creations dance Studio from 1999 to 2002 and while attending Webster University, she was also a dance instructor for Star Bound Dance Studio. Halley is fulfilling both her dreams - biologist and dancer.
Gwen Meeker
Gwen Meeker is an alumni dancer from DCDS. Gwen is well known for her intensity and passion for the art of dance. She has studied all genres of dance, and is an incredible choreographer. She has studied with internationally known instructors such as Brian Friedman, Dave Scott, Chris Judd, Mia, Michaels, Sonya Teyah, and Shane Sparks to name a few. In 2000 Gwen attended The Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angelos, California. Gwen is a 2009 cum laude graduate of Lindenwood University with a major in Dance Management.
While Gwen continues to be on staff at Dance Creations Dance Studio, she has also taught at several dance centers in the St. Louis area including Taylor’s Academy of Dance and Maryland Heights Community Center. She is currently at Turning Pointe Academy of Dance where she teaches a variety of dance genres’. Gwen is a member of the Turn of Change Dance Collective as well as Atrek Dance Collective performing around the St. Louis area.
Gwen has received great acclaim as her choreography has won numerous awards.
Gwen is highly regarded as one of Springfield’s best.
Karen Pruitt
The former Karen Williamson is an alumni dancer from DCDS who began to study dance at the Sansone School of Dance under the direction of Janet Cripe. She has studied ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and tumbling.
She was a member of the original DCDS competition team. While competing with Dance Creations Dance Studio she became an all star dancer and cast in the 1996 Fed/Ex Orange Bowl Half Time performance in Miami, Florida. As a UDA All Star dancer, Karen performed in the 1999 New Years Parade in Paris, France. She has also been awarded numerous awards at nationally known dance competitions. Karen has a Bachelors degree in Recreation & Park Administration. She also was the assistant director of the Nelson Center Summer Camp Program.Her enthusiasm and high energy is mirrored by the students at Dance Creations Dance Studio.
Mary Coats
Mary Coats is currently a student at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. She is majoring in Apparel Design, Merchandising, and Production with an emphasis in Creative Design. Mary is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and participated in Yell Like Hell this fall. She also volunteered at Kappa Alpha Theta's annual Chili Dinner to raise money to support CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). Mary will serve as KAΘ's historian for 2009. Mary is currently a sandwich artist at Subway in Ames. During the summer, she works at Camp Ondessonk in Ozark, Illinois, as a camp counselor. She has worked at the Trading Post, as a lifeguard, and most recently as the Boating Coordinator. Mary is also involved with a service group at Camp Ondessonk called Lodge. She was the Springfield Lodge Princess for one year and continues to volunteer with the group. Mary enjoys painting and making jewelry in her spare time. She continues to do custom painting as a part time job. Mary now dances on her own and in college classes.
Kara Humphrey
Kara Humphrey graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology in December of 2003 and currently works as a Disease Investigation and Intervention Specialist at Southern Nevada Health District in Las Vegas, NV. Kara began dancing at Dance Creations Dance Studio in 1992 and ended her dance career in 1998. Her most memorable dance recitals include "Jump Street" and "Grease".
Bethany Gasperin
Bethany is a 2006 DCDS alum and a recent graduate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. While there, she studied History and English, with a concentration in pre-law. Bethany is currently working at TASC, Inc. in Urbana, Illinois as a Case Manager. Bethany is planning on attending law school in Fall 2010. After law school, Bethany would like to work in the areas of family law or public interest. In her free time, Bethany enjoys to read, workout, and to go out dancing.
Halley KetchumHalley Ketchum is currently employed as a Research Technician with Yeshiva University's College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York, and dances with the Kelley Donovan and Dancers Company in downtown New York. This follows four years of study at Webster University in St. Louis, MO where she graduated cum laude with two degrees, Bachelor of Science in Biology, and Bachelor of Arts in Dance, and was awarded departmental honors in biology. She began dancing at the age of 3 under the direction of Janet Cripe, and the following year became one of Dance Creations Dance Studio's first students of dance. During her 15 years with DCDS, she was awarded many dance honors and scholarships from the numerous dance competitions and conventions she attended with fellow DCDS dancers. She taught at Dance Creations dance Studio from 1999 to 2002 and while attending Webster University, she was also a dance instructor for Star Bound Dance Studio. Halley is fulfilling both her dreams - biologist and dancer.
Gwen MeekerGwen Meeker is an alumni dancer from DCDS. Gwen is well known for her intensity and passion for the art of dance. She has studied all genres of dance, and is an incredible choreographer. She has studied with internationally known instructors such as Brian Friedman, Dave Scott, Chris Judd, Mia, Michaels, Sonya Teyah, and Shane Sparks to name a few. In 2000 Gwen attended The Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angelos, California. Gwen is a 2009 cum laude graduate of Lindenwood University with a major in Dance Management.
While Gwen continues to be on staff at Dance Creations Dance Studio, she has also taught at several dance centers in the St. Louis area including Taylor’s Academy of Dance and Maryland Heights Community Center. She is currently at Turning Pointe Academy of Dance where she teaches a variety of dance genres’. Gwen is a member of the Turn of Change Dance Collective as well as Atrek Dance Collective performing around the St. Louis area.
Gwen has received great acclaim as her choreography has won numerous awards.
Gwen is highly regarded as one of Springfield’s best.
Karen PruittThe former Karen Williamson is an alumni dancer from DCDS who began to study dance at the Sansone School of Dance under the direction of Janet Cripe. She has studied ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and tumbling.
She was a member of the original DCDS competition team. While competing with Dance Creations Dance Studio she became an all star dancer and cast in the 1996 Fed/Ex Orange Bowl Half Time performance in Miami, Florida. As a UDA All Star dancer, Karen performed in the 1999 New Years Parade in Paris, France. She has also been awarded numerous awards at nationally known dance competitions. Karen has a Bachelors degree in Recreation & Park Administration. She also was the assistant director of the Nelson Center Summer Camp Program.Her enthusiasm and high energy is mirrored by the students at Dance Creations Dance Studio.
Mary Coats
Mary Coats is currently a student at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. She is majoring in Apparel Design, Merchandising, and Production with an emphasis in Creative Design. Mary is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and participated in Yell Like Hell this fall. She also volunteered at Kappa Alpha Theta's annual Chili Dinner to raise money to support CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). Mary will serve as KAΘ's historian for 2009. Mary is currently a sandwich artist at Subway in Ames. During the summer, she works at Camp Ondessonk in Ozark, Illinois, as a camp counselor. She has worked at the Trading Post, as a lifeguard, and most recently as the Boating Coordinator. Mary is also involved with a service group at Camp Ondessonk called Lodge. She was the Springfield Lodge Princess for one year and continues to volunteer with the group. Mary enjoys painting and making jewelry in her spare time. She continues to do custom painting as a part time job. Mary now dances on her own and in college classes.
Kara HumphreyKara Humphrey graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology in December of 2003 and currently works as a Disease Investigation and Intervention Specialist at Southern Nevada Health District in Las Vegas, NV. Kara began dancing at Dance Creations Dance Studio in 1992 and ended her dance career in 1998. Her most memorable dance recitals include "Jump Street" and "Grease".
Bethany Gasperin Bethany is a 2006 DCDS alum and a recent graduate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. While there, she studied History and English, with a concentration in pre-law. Bethany is currently working at TASC, Inc. in Urbana, Illinois as a Case Manager. Bethany is planning on attending law school in Fall 2010. After law school, Bethany would like to work in the areas of family law or public interest. In her free time, Bethany enjoys to read, workout, and to go out dancing.
