The faculty at On Your Toes is one of the best one can find in the St.Louis area. All staff members have several years of teaching and professional experience, have traveled all over the world to teach and perform and are dedicated to providing your family with the care and attention they deserve.
Kelly Kirkpatrick (Owner/Artistic Director)
Having discovered her passion for teaching at a very young age, Kelly entered into the business of studio ownership at the age of thirteen out of her home. Knowing the path her passion for dance instruction was going to take, she graduated from Webster University’s prestigious dance program in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance while already owning and operating On Your Toes Dance Studio, established in 1998.
With a focus on a versatile dance education for both the recreational and competitive/pre professional dancer, Kelly has established one of the most recognizable names in dance education in Saint Louis, Missouri. Her students consistently take away the training necessary to continue dancing at the university level and on the professional stage. Previous students have been accepted to both major/minor in dance with some of the most reputable university programs in the United States, such as Oklahoma City University, Webster University, University of Oklahoma, Lindenwood University and Missouri State University. In addition to this, many of her students have gone on to work professionally both regionally and nationally. From LA to New York, students that have trained with On Your Toes Dance Studio encompass the technique and discipline needed to work in the current professional industry. Credits include, but are not limited to, The Radio City Rockettes, The Muny, Stages of St.Louis, Royal Caribbean Cruise lines, several Branson shows, St.Louis Rams Cheerleaders, several area college dance teams, music videos and both regional /national commercial work.
An innovative and creative choreographer, Kelly challenges students to push themselves both stylistically and technically in her classes and competition numbers. She is known for her ability to give her dancers both the polish and finesse necessary to help them excel in their performances. Her choreography has won countless regional high point and choreography awards. Through her instruction and constant attention to technical detail, current students are consistently recognized by way of title awards and scholarships in the competition and convention circuit.
Bringing family and dance together is important for Kelly and not only does she teach dance but continues to play a mentor role for many young dancers. Teaching dancers not only about dance but about life lessons is a goal of hers within the classroom.
Stephanie Benware
Lois Enders
Lois Enders has been teaching and dancing professionally for over 15 years. After receiving her B.A. in Dance from Webster University, she danced aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines. Lois performed 5 seasons as a Radio City Rockette in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. She was a Swing and Assistant Dance Captain for the first national tour of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. Lois has also been in productions for several regional theatres including Stages St. Louis, The Muny (also Assistant Choreographer for 2010’s Beauty And The Beast) and Riverside Theatre. She is proficient in many styles of dance, and when not performing enjoys teaching. Lois is a proud member of Actors’ Equity and American Guild of Variety Artists. Lois is still a performer in the St.Louis area and On Your Toes is honored to have her as part of their staff for the upcoming season.
Ellen Isom
Ellen Isom has been teaching dance for over thirty years and she has had the unique opportunity of teaching students of all ages and levels from toddlers through professionals. Her goal is to inspire passion for dance in all her students. Ellen began her dance training as a child, and began crafting her skills as a teacher when she began assisting ballet classes while in high school. Ellen began teaching in earnest while attending college, and after receiving her B.A. in Dance from Webster University, she began her career as a dancer/choreographer/teacher. Exceptionally versatile training allowed her to dance professionally with such companies as MADCO, Webster Dance Theatre, and Chicago Dance Medium as well as perform in Musical Theatre productions across the United States. Ellen has danced around the world aboard Royal Viking and Royal Cruise Lines where she also served as assistant choreographer. She has choreographed for many theatres in the St. Louis area including STAGES ST. LOUIS, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, The New Jewish Theatre, and Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre. Ellen is a member of Actors’ Equity, the professional actors union as well as several dance organizations including NDEO (National Dance Educators’ Organization ) and IADMS (International Association for Dance Medicine and Science). In addition to teaching children’s classes, ballet technique and musical theatre dance at On Your Toes, she is an adjunct professor at Webster University where she teaches Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Musical Theatre Dance. Ellen created the dance program at Visitation Academy where she serves as instructor and choreographer for school musicals and concerts, and is a guest artist and program coordination for the Education department of the MUNY. She especially enjoys bringing her experience and expertise to her children’s classes which are fun, yet disciplined, classical, yet creative. She believes that the youngest of students can be the most passionate about dance and the foundation we set for them can lead them to success not only as dancers, but as confident individuals who have developed respect for both their bodies and their creative spirits.
Ally Lamkie
Ally is an On Your Toes Dance Studio graduate and is studying to earn her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance at Webster University. She began dancing when she was 10 years old at On Your Toes, then joined the competition team the following year. Once Ally graduated high school and began her career at Webster University. Her goal is to continue to create new choreography and be able to share that experience with as many dancers as possible and help grow young dancers.
Megan Melville
Born and raised in St. Louis, MO, Megan is a Point Park University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. Megan has been fortunate to perform all over the world as a Dancer, Model and Magician’s Assistant. Favorite credits include: The Donny & Marie Show, The Bodyguard (1st National Tour), Vegas! The Show, America’s Got Talent, Mat Franco: Magic Reinvented, Holland America Cruise Line, The Magic of Rob Lake and the film Love and Other Drugs. Since returning to Saint Louis, Megan has enjoyed teaching master classes for Community Arts STL and various studios around the city. Currently, Megan is passionate about helping the next generation of dancers find the joy of dance through a positive and balanced approach!
Brenna Mickley
Brenna Mickley began dancing at the age of two, competed at a young age and trained until she graduated high school in 2020. She is fluid in jazz, ballet, contemporary, hip hop, lyrical, tap, acro, musical theater, and pom.
Brenna was a Junior Trainee for the Ashleyliane Dance Company for two summers when she was 14 and 15 years old. She has had the opportunity to perform at events such as the Veiled Prophet Parade, Muny Pre-Show, Dancing in the Streets, Ciao STL Second Annual Carnevale Grand Masquerade Ball, and more.
Brenna cheered at St. Pius X High School in Festus, MO her freshman and sophomore years, and was on the dance team her sophomore through senior years. She was captain of the dance team her junior and senior years and led them to a 5th place finish at state her senior year.
Brenna will soon be graduating from Lindenwood University with degrees in Dance and Elementary Education. She was on the Lion Line Dance Team for two years and holds two national championship titles with them. She enjoys choreographing for dance teams and studios, and teaching classes in various styles. She recently choreographed a piece that was performed at the American College Dance Association. Brenna is looking forward to becoming a school teacher and continuing to teach dance and choreograph.
Sarah Ochs
Bringing over 19 years of dance training to the staff of On Your Toes, Sarah’s energetic teaching style and stylized choreography is a dynamic addition to the staff of OYT. With over 10 years of teaching experience in both the studio and the national dance team circuit, Sarah is sought after to teach and choreograph throughout the Midwest. Along with teaching tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary/lyrical, hip hop, and poms at On Your Toes. In addition, she teaches master classes and does freelance choreography for several dance teams in Missouri and Arkansas.
Prior to graduating from Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Studies, Sarah was Co-Captain of the Diamond Girls Dance Team, a member of the Inertia Dance Company in Springfield, Missouri, a staff member/instructor with the Universal Dance Association and Dance Craze Studios, and performed with the dance company at Missouri State University. Her extensive and diverse background in the dance industry has carried over into her teaching style and has been recognized countless times in the dance competition circuit with her time as staff member at On Your Toes. Sarah is thrilled to be entering into another year of teaching at the studio and is looking forward to continued competitive success.
Lara Turek
Lara holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance and a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Arts Management and Leadership from Webster University (St. Louis, MO). Lara has been a member of the On Your Toes community since OYT was created. Miss Kelly K. played a pivotal role in shaping her journey and achievements in dance and life. With nearly two decades of experience teaching dance and movement, Lara has honed her teaching philosophy. Deeply rooted in the Studio Habits of Mind, Lara emphasizes not only the development of dance technique in her classroom but also nurtures dancers’ abilities to reflect, explore, observe, envision, express, cultivate their craft, engage and persist.
She is a certified Level 1 Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) instructor and a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200). Alongside her teaching commitments, Lara has showcased her talent as a professional dancer, performing with local and regional production companies like STAGES St. Louis. Most notably, she has had the privilege of performing as a Radio City Rockette in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
Lara’s choreography has been featured at the American College Dance Festival Gala (Central Region). Furthermore, she proudly maintains memberships with AEA (Actor’s Equity Association) and AGVA (American Guild of Variety Artists), further underscoring her dedication and involvement within the performing arts community.
Dodie Yount
A graduate of Webster University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, Dodie has been educating dancers and gymnasts for over 11 years. Prior to her professional teaching career, she was a competitive dancer and a certified USGFA gymnast. She has studied with choreographers such as Eddie O’Campo of Guss Giordano Dance Company and Michael Utoff of Dance Saint Louis. Dodie is also a member of Dance Masters of America Chapter 21 and teaches tumbling and dance at various studios in Saint Louis and Illinois.
Kristine Pickens
Miss Kristine has been a dancer at On Your toes as I have been student at the studio from age 3 until I graduated high school. She is currently at Logan University working to complete her work. She continues to work through her masters program, help coach Seckman Dance Team and works teaching young minds at the studio as much as she can.
Alicia Love (guest teacher)
Alicia is from St. Louis, Missouri and is studying to achieve her Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance at Lindenwood University. She started her dance training at the age of five at On Your Toes, was a part of the competition team, and began teaching recreational classes at 16. Alicia was a member of her high school dance team for four years and had the honor of being captain her senior year. She is now continuing her dance team journey at Lindenwood University by being a member of the Lion Line dance team. In the future, Alicia would like to perform on cruise ships and travel.
Megan Muench (guest teacher)
Meg Davis has a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance from the Ann Lacy School of American Dance
and Entertainment at Oklahoma City University. Over the course of her training, Meg has studied dance
extensively in the areas of jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, and musical theatre. Her
performance career has taken her around the country and her favorite credits include: Hairspray,
Holiday Celebration, It’s Magic!, Home for the Holidays, and any more. Meg’s industrial work includes
performing with pop artists: Pentatonix and Todrick Hall, and being a featured extra on the USA Network series Royal Pains. Recently, she served as Head Coach for the NDA nationally ranked Truman State University Showgirls Dance Team. Meg is thrilled to be back at the place where it all started. On Your Toes Dance Studio sculpted Meg into the dancer, performer and teacher she is today!
Kelly Daughtery (guest teacher)
With years of professional choreography and performance experience, Kelly Stevens brings a cutting edge style and dynamic energy to On Your Toes Dance Studio. Having been recognized countless times for her unique and entertaining choreography both regionally and nationally, she maintains that the magic lies in the hands of the artists executing her work. A product of diverse training with some of the best choreographers in the United States, Kelly has developed a style and method of composition that compliments the abilities of dancers at all stages of growth and development.
A passionate competitor, when Kelly is the driving force behind some of the most reputable and award winning high school dance teams in the nation. Her teams consistently place in the top 5 nationally and are recognized for their choreography and outstanding technical execution. Her work has been deemed “Innovative” and “Most Memorable” throughout the last seven competitive seasons.
Kelly has been fortunate to train, perform, and choreograph throughout the Midwest and on the East Coast. Following college graduation, she continued to build her technique and composition skills at Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, and PeriDance in NYC. While training in New York, she served as a demonstrator for several choreographers and was frequently requested to assist in work shopping new musicals and dance shows coming to the Broadway/Off-Broadway Stage. She has also performed professionally in Saint Louis and Branson, Missouri. Currently, she choreographs the main stage productions at Six Flags, Saint Louis in addition to setting material for studios throughout the country. Prior to her professional career, Kelly graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science: Emphasis in Dance degree.
Carly Lawrence (guest choreographer)
Miss Carly is originally from St.Louis Missouri and is an up and coming artist pursuing a professional dance career in LA. Carly started her dance training at On Your Toes Dance studio at the age of 4, was part of the competition team and at the age of 15 started teaching recreational hip-hop and jazz. Now she guest teaches and choreographs for On Your Toes when the studio is lucky to have her around.
Miss Carly already has a professional resume which includes dancing with The Chainsmokers on the American Music Awards & danced with Halsey on The Voice. She has worked with some of the top choreographers in the industry including Will “Willdabeast” Adams and Janelle Ginestra on a commercial for the well known JBL audio brand. She has also had the opportunity to dance for the opening act for Nelly, Chrisette Michelle and performed at Super Jam.
Carly has always understood the value of continuous learning and never forgets her “St.Louis roots” which built her foundation of dance while competing at a local studio. She spent additional time training under Ashley Tate & Anthony “Redd” Williams. She also attended multiple conventions learning from choreographers like Brian Freedman, NappyTabs, Ian Eastwood, Dave Scott, Cris Judd, Laura Edwards, JaQuel Knight , Rhapsody James and many more .
Alongside Carly’s dancing she is choreographing and teaching at multiple studios and building her name with her own movement. Capable of teaching multiple styles such as hip hop, jazz, contemporary, jazz funk and more. As she continues to grow, she hopes to share her passion of dance with all of those looking to learn from her experiences.