11 Patterson Plz Florissant, MO 63031

314-921-5800

est. 2006

Darci K. Ward ~ Owner/Director - An avid lover of dance and performance from an early age, Miss Darci began taking lessons from the Parish School of the Performing Arts located in Jerseyville, IL at the age of three. Studying ballet, jazz, tap, pointe, and tumbling until the age of 18 under the direction of Linda Parish, Miss Darci received several regional and national awards through varies talent competitions such as Regency, Showbiz, Starlight, and Rising Star competitions. During the years of competitive dance, Miss Darci received several high point and overall titles, including Best Overall and Senior Soloist Awards in 1996 with Starlight Productions in St. Louis. While in high school, the Jersey Community High School Cheer Team competed regionally and statewide in the Illinois Cheer Coaches Association competition circuit. Miss Darci was recognized at a Universal Cheerleaders Association summer camp as an All-Star and was also asked to tryout for the UCA Staff. Miss Darci was on the UCA Staff for three years and was asked to choreograph summer camp material for the Midwest Region.

 

When Miss Darci entered Missouri Valley College in Marshall, MO, the fall of 1997 she majored in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and minored in Dance, studying under the direction of Patricia Downey. While a full-time student, Miss Darci cheered on the coed competitive cheer squad and taught dance at the Marshall Dance Academy under the direction of Russian ballerina, Tatiana Toliver. At the Academy, Miss Darci directed the Senior Competition Team as well as teaching general combination classes for ages 8-18. As a junior, Miss Darci was asked to recruit and coach the Missouri Valley College Dance team. Miss Darci coached the team for her last two years at Missouri Valley College. After graduation, Miss Darci headed back to the St. Louis Area where she taught at several different studios while completing her MBA at Lindenwood University, finally settling at Bridget James “The Studio Art of Dance” in Florissant where she served as a Director/Teacher for the Company students before purchasing the studio and changing the name to DK Dance Productions.

 

Miss Darci has attended JUMP, Dupree, West Coast, Tremaine, Co. Dance, and Adrenaline dance conventions as a student and a teacher. Recently, she has danced at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA and at world renowned The Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood, CA.

 

Miss Darci currently teaches the Rock Star Performing Company, Adv. Ballet Tech, Adv. Contemporary, Toddler and Parent class, Adv. Hip Hop, Elite Hip Hop, Ballet/Jazz Technique, Poms II and adult fitness, as well as, technique classes for local high school dance teams.

Amy Mogelnicki ~ Assistant Director – Miss Amy has been dancing since the age of two.  She has studied dance in the disciplines of tap, ballet, jazz, tumbling, and hip hop.  Other studies have included competitive high school cheerleading and Theater.  She has attended Co. Dance, West Coast, Dupree, JUMP, and Adrenaline dance conventions and Starpower and Showbiz dance competitions, winning various awards at each. 

 

Amy began teaching her own Performing Company classes in 2004 and currently teaches ages three to fifteen, including Rising and Shooting Stars Performing Companies, Musical Theater, Turns and Leaps, Pointe I & II, and 3-4 year old and 7-9 year old combination classes. Miss Amy is also the Assistant Director and Choreographer for the Alumni Musical at Trinity Catholic High School each year.

 

During the day, Miss Amy is a full time Optician in St Charles. Miss Amy currently resides in O’Fallon, MO and will wed her fiancé, Jake on October 2, 2010.

Carly Mogelnicki – Miss Carly began dancing at the age of three at Bridget James Dance Center. She has attended West Coast, Co. Dance, Dupree, and JUMP dance conventions and Starpower and Showbiz dance competitions. Miss Carly was also a part of the Ambush Dancers, Trinity Catholic High School’s Danceline, and the performing Concert Chior. She was involved in many musicals since the age of eight and had the pleasure of performing the lead role of “Maria” in “The Sound of Music” at Trinity Catholic High School Alumni Musical.

 

Miss Carly currently teaches the 3-4, 5-6, 7-9 year old combination classes, intermediate and advanced tap, intermediate tumbling, adult fitness, and Zumba.

 

Miss Carly is currently is attending Florissant Valley Community College as a full time student. She hopes to be able to move on to Maryville University to earn her Masters in Occupational Therapy.

Samantha O’Keefe - Miss Samantha has been dancing for twelve years and teaching for three.  She has participated in numerous competitions since the age of ten including Nexstar, Kids Artistic Revue, Masquerade, Starpower, and Rainbow Connection.  Miss Sam has also attended dance conventions such as JUMP! Dance Convention and Adrenaline Dance Convention.  In January of 2010, Miss Sam received a scholarship from Adrenaline Dance Convention to attend classes the next year free of charge.  Her lyrical solo won 4 ¾ stars out of 5 stars at Starpower Dance Competition in 2010, and her jazz duet with friend and fellow dancer, Ashley Gentle, won platinum at Starpower Dance Competition with their own choreography.  Miss Sam also took Incarnate Word Academy’s first Choreography and Performance dance class and participated in the end of the year dance showcase which featured a lyrical routine of her choreography.  She recently graduated from Incarnate Word Academy and will be attending Lindenwood University in the fall of 2010.  She has made the Lionettes Dance Team at Lindenwood, where she plans on double majoring in Dance and Business. 

 

Miss Sam began teaching the Intermediate Combination class in 2007 and began teaching the Rising Star Company’s ballet technique class in 2009.  In the 2010-2011 dance year at DK, Miss Sam will be teaching the Stardust Company, Beginning and Intermediate Contemporary, Advanced Combo, 5-6 year-old combination, and a Toddler and Parent class in addition to the Intermediate Combo class and Rising Star’s ballet technique, which she currently teaches

 

 

 

Mary Georgen - Miss Mary has been dancing for 16 years.   She has taken classes in the disciplines of ballet, hip hop, jazz, lyrical, poms, and tap. While in high school at Incarnate Word Academy, Miss Mary was on the dance team all four years and her senior year she was the captain of the varsity team where she lead the team to a second place state title.  She has performed in several Special Olympics opening ceremonies and has traveled to Walt Disney World to perform in the National Dance Team Competition. Miss Mary has attended West Coast, Co. Dance, and Dupree dance conventions and Masquerade dance competition winning several awards at each.    

 

Miss Mary is currently a sophomore at St. Louis University where she is majoring in occupational therapy. Miss Mary also coaches the junior varsity dance team at Incarnate Word Academy.

Ashley Gentle – Miss Ashley has been dancing since the age of three, first at Bridget James Dance Center and then at DK Dance Productions. She has attended Dupree, JUMP, West Coast, and Adrenaline dance conventions, as well as, Starpower, Rainbow Connection, and Masquerade dance competitions. Miss Ashley and Miss Samantha recently received platinum for their duet they co-choreographed.

Miss Ashley is currently a senior at Hazelwood West High School, member of the Rock Stars Performing Company, and the Head Assistant Teacher at DK Dance Productions.