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Our Staff
Renee Brice - Director, Owner

Renee Brice, a transplant from San Jose California, is the owner and director of Bluegrass Dance Center and loves to call Kentucky her home! Renee is a former U.S. National Professional American Rhythm Dance Finalist, and U.S. National Professional Rising Star American Rhythm Champion. Trained in ballet, tap, jazz, baton and ballroom and latin dancing Renee brings to Richmond Kentucky a well-rounded professional  dance background. While opening her first dance school at the age of 26 she traveled the nation competing and performing while receiving many top professional achievement awards and all the while continuing her dance education.

Bluegrass Dance Center is a facility unlike another of you will find in the state. Renee strives to offer a well-rounded dance education in a fun and supportive environment while maintaining a professional quality to everything she does. No matter what your desire from recreational dance lessons – to competitive or professional career training Renee is motivated to offer everyone that comes through the doors of Bluegrass Dance Center a beautiful facility and well thought out dance instruction. In January of 2011 Bluegrass Dance Center completed its third renovation, is now an 8,000 square foot dance center offering 4 classrooms, plenty of waiting areas, and a new dance shop. We are ready to provide an artistic dance experience for the residents of Kentucky!

For the 2011-12 season Renee will spend her time overseeing the classes and students of the children's program and the adult ballroom/fitness programs. In addition she will be in the classroom, her favorite place to be, teaching children and adults how to dance. If there is ever a time you have questions about the dance classes here at Bluegrass Dance Center, or want to know more about what you can do to help your child succeed in dance class, please ask at the front desk to arrange an appointment with Renee.

 

 

Ashley Stivers - Competition Team Coach and Creative Consultant

Ashley Stivers, from Versailles, Kentucky has taught with Bluegrass Dance Center since the facility opened in 2006. Trained in ballet, tap, jazz and Hawaiian for 14 years, Ashley has a well-rounded dance education that began at Jane's School of Dance. While training as a young adult she participated in competition and performance dance lines for 10 years winning many awards including several with Dance Masters of America with whom she was a junior member.She has also participated in many plays at the Woodford Co. Theatrical Arts Association, and been in several independent films in Kentucky and Indiana.

Ashley's articulate influence can be seen and felt throughout Bluegrass Dance Center. She helped create the studio's musical theatre program and continues to be a significant force behind our Competition Dance Team. She attended the Dance Life Teacher's Conference in Boston and continues to implement the new elements she learned. She is an organized and motivated dance teacher and we are pleased to have her teaching again this year.
 
 

 
Mary Alice Todd - Instructor

Mary Alice Todd, from Jacksonville, FL comes to Bluegrass Dance Center with many years of training in tap, jazz and ballet dance that began as a youngster. She spent time on the competition team while studying dance at the Buddy Sherwood School of Dance in Florida, as well as dancing in College in Florida. As a current student at EKU, Mary Alice continues her dance training and performing while participating with EKU Dance Theatre under the direction of Marianne McAdam.

At this time Mary Alice is pursing her Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy. Her studies in this area brings a certain awareness to body movement and mechanics that allows for some wonderful experiences for the students in the classroom. We are certainly happy to have Mary Alice with us this year!
 
 

Jenni Webb - Instructor, Twirling Coach

Jenni Webb, from Ironton, Ohio is a former UK Feature Twirler (1998-2000) and the current coach of the University of Kentucky majorettes. A versatile dancer and baton twirler, Jenni trained under the direction of Cyndi Roth/Teresa Belcher, Dale White, and Tony Denbo and was an instructor at Cyndi's Studio of Dance for two years. She is a US Twirling Association Level II Instructor, a licensed USTA professional member, and a former U.S World Trials Twirling Team Member (1999).

We are so excited to have on board someone with such wonderful and diverse dancing and twirling experience at Bluegrass Dance Center. This will be another wonderful year of building the wonderful art of baton twirling here in Richmond. Jenni will share her love of this special activity that incorporates all the great aspects of dancing, and the added challenge of hand and eye coordination that twirling demands!
 
 
   

 
Naomi Day - Instructor

Naomi Day, from Williamsburg, Kentucky has danced since elementary school. She had the unique opportunity to train under the direction of Kelly Fischer, former owner of The Dance Centre, and frequent dance teacher at EKU here in Richmond. A multi-talented dancer with experience in modern, ballet, jazz, tap, creative dance and movement styles she brings a diverse background to Bluegrass Dance Center.

A Liberal Arts Major with a Minor in Dance, currently pursuing a Visual Arts path at EKU, Naomi is an active participant with EKU Dance Theatre. She is an officer, dancer and choreographer for the group. It is during one of the performances last year that Naomi's work was observed by Renee the owner of Bluegrass Dance Center. Her intricate detail to choreography and awareness of space and music are an asset that we are certainly pleased to have her share with us.
 		  

Shawn Benton

Shawn, from Lexington, Kentucky, is a ballroom dance teacher with Bluegrass Dance Center. Trained under the direction of Renee Brice and Ray Rivers, Shawn is a well versed ballroom dance instructor in both the American and International Styles of dancing. He has taught ballroom dancing for several years in Lexington and Richmond. Shawn has enjoyed many competitive experiences with his students in the ballroom dancing circuit, and enjoys sharing his love for dancing with anyone that wants to hear him talk about! We are very glad to have Shawn as a part of  the Bluegrass Dance Center!