Kristie (Wright) Smith

Kristie is the owner & director of KWSD.  She began training at the age of seven with Betty Hayes. While at Hayes School of Dance, she trained as a dancer and a teacher. She has also trained with Ellis-DuBoulay School of Ballet, Margaret Saul, Joyce Sheitze and Eleanore Brown. Over the years, she has attended numerous dance teaching conferences including The Cecchetti Ballet Summer Teacher’s Course. Kristie is a certified teacher member of the Cecchetti Council of America, having completed the professional level Grade 6 teacher examination. During her dancing and teaching career, she has been active in the community, doing choreography for the Junior Miss Scholarship Program, performing in and choreographing for many Kokomo Civic Theater productions and taking dance to elementary schools, retirement homes and various other organizations. Providing young people with opportunity to experience dance is one of her greatest joys.

Amii McCord

Amii began dance classes at the age of five at Jeanne Marie’s School of Dance in Illinois—and absolutely fell in love! She danced all through school and became certified through Dance Educators of America to teach tap, jazz and ballet/pointe after graduating in 1987. She then taught for Jeanne for two years before moving to Logansport to marry the love of her life, Mike McCord. She taught for Pat’s School of Dance for four years before taking time off to raise a family. In 2003 started taking dance classes with Kristie and it re-ignited a flame! She began teaching for Kristie in 2004 and quickly passed the Cecchetti teacher exams I-IV. Amii enjoys the fact that she can spend her evenings passing on her love of dance to others. Getting to listen to fun music, dance, and sprinkle fairy dust with students of all ages is a dream job!

Chari Deyoe

Chari found KWSD in June of 1994 when her oldest daughter Alexandra went to see a friend in the recital. When asked if she wanted to take dance Alexandra said, “Do they get to keep the costumes?” Chari answered, “Yes.” Alex followed with, “Do they get to keep the headpieces too?” She again answered, “Yes.” Alexandra replied, “I want to take dance.” Chari has been a dance mom ever since! Her four daughters danced at KWSD for 22 years and were part of the performing company nearly as many. Chari herself danced as an adult for about 10 years. In 2011, Chari became the office manager for both studios, and thoroughly enjoys sharing her love and knowledge of dance with the incoming parents and dancers.

April Atherton

April, a Butler University grad, has taught and choreographed for studios across the nation. Originally from New Albany, Indiana, she continues to teach and choreograph at the nationally acclaimed studio DanceWorks since 1998 specializing in Ballet, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary, & Jazz. After putting down roots in the Indianapolis area, April has also been with KWSD since 2005, teaching technique across all levels as well as choreographing for Stage Struck. Her passion for dance began when she trained at Louisville Ballet and continued as she became certified through Cecchetti Council of America passing her teacher examinations I-V. In 2009 she was an R & B Scholarship recipient and an instructor at Retter’s Academy of Dance in Agoura Hills, California, has performed with the Bridge Company in LA, was an I Love Dance Sweetheart and Scholarship recipient and won regionally and nationally as a student. Continuing her career as a teacher/choreographer she has won Choreographer of the Year at Applause Talent Productions and Kids Artistic Revue. She has been awarded Al Gilbert Tap Excellence numerous times and National Top Teacher. She continues to be recognized for her choreography with award winning routines both regionally and nationally.

Dawn (Hall) Mykut

Dawn grew up studying dance with Kristie Wright and Betty Hayes. During that time she also studied in Chicago with Richard Ellis and Catherine Duboulay, both former members of the British Royal Ballet,. Dawn was active in the Kokomo Civic Theater, performing in “Hello Dolly,” “Oklahoma,” “Oliver” and was Assistant Choreographer in “Show Boat.” She also performed in the “Nutcracker” with the former Indianapolis Ballet Theatre. While attending Penn State University she was a member of the Orchesis Dance Company, the student dance company on campus. Dawn was a member of the teaching faculty at the Arts Conservatory of Central Pennsylvania (formerly the Ballet Theatre of Central Pennsylvania) under Andrea Hill for nine years. While at the ACCP, Dawn was involved in teaching, choreography, performances, syllabus development and was Assistant Director of the Preschool and Beginning Ballet programs. She has participated in many master classes from guest artists such as Robert Steele, Cheri Noble and members of the Philadanco, Joffrey, Harrisburg Ballets and American Ballet Theatre dance companies. Dawn attended the Teacher Intensive at CPYB and under Kristie Wright Smith has completed the Cecchetti graded Teacher Exams I-V. She became certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), Level 1 in 2023.

Karen Rigle 

Karen has the joy of teaching ballet, pre-pointe, jazz, tap, Cecchetti Grades I, II, III, and choreographs for Logansport Stage Struck. She studied under under Betty Hayes at Hayes School of Dance as well as Kristie Wright School of Dance where she has taken and passed her Cecchetti Grades I,II, and III Teacher’s Examinations. She continues to study ballet, tap, jazz, and pointe. She served on the board of Civic Players of Logansport for 12 years, as well as directed, choreographed and performed in many of their productions. She was the assistant coach for the award-winning LHS Dance Team for seven years and was the choreographer for the Logansport High School Theatre program and Junior Civic Theatre, serving on the LCT Board of Directors. When not in the studio, she can be found riding her bike.

Alison Waterman

Alison teaches many classes in the primary program. She began taking ballet lessons when she was four years old in Muncie, Ind. Upon moving to Kokomo, she studied under Betty Hayes for 10 years. Dance has helped Alison find comfort in her own skin and more confident in expressing herself. Some of her favorite memories are in a dance studio—discovering she could do things that she didn’t think she would be able to do, working with friends to make sure dances looked the best they could be, and listening to instructors tell stories from when they were young. She loves exploring rhythm through tap dancing and thrives on the structure and form that ballet provides.

Magdalene Mastin

Magdalene began her dance training at the age of five with Betty Hayes, teaching younger movers by her 9th grade year, and most recently studied under Maxine DeBruyn, Alicia Diaz, and Anne-Rene Petrarca, among others, while receiving her degree from Hope College in Holland, MI. In addition to years designing and constructing costumes for dancers, Magdalene has choreographed for the Calvin (College) Theatre Company, and her most exciting dance moment was performing alongside dear friends in her own original piece outdoors in Times Square. Maggie is passionate about movement that reflects the human experience, especially in relation and response to the Divine.

Anna Williams

Anna began dancing at Kristie Wright School of Dance (KWSD) the summer she turned eleven. During her time at KWSD, she completed her Cecchetti examinations through Grade 5 and taught other students before graduating highschool. Anna went on to earn a BFA in Dance at Stephens College in Columbia, MO where there was an emphasis in ballet, modern (Charles Weideman/ Doris Humphrey technique), and musical theater with the addition of world dances. She studied under the instruction of Mary Rotella (Director of Dance/musical theatre), Jimmy Hao  (ballet), Jan Miller (ballet), Deborah Carr (modern/choreography), and a variety of guest artists. While at Stephens, Anna was a part of the dance department's performing company that performed for events both on campus and in the community.  She also performed in Babes in Arms (the musical) in collaboration with the city of Columbia, MO and the Stephens College Theatre/Dance Departments. Anna has taught at Kristie Wright School of Dance, The Pink Slipper (Noblesville, IN), Tonanzio's Cedar Lake Lodge (Guthrie, MO), and homeschool classes at Mercy Hill Church (Munster, IN).

Stephanie Berghoff

Stephanie loves working behind the desk at the dance studio! She has a passion to work with people and create beauty which makes serving the dancers and their families a great fit. After growing up in Crawfordsville, Stephanie graduated from Indiana State University, where she met her husband, Jerry, on a blind date. They married, had 3 children, lived in Muncie, then moved to Kokomo. Her working resume includes piercing ears; working at WIPB Muncie, the studio that recorded the Bob Ross tv series (yes, she met him!); sign language interpreter; ministry coordinator; & tornado recovery social worker. In the past, her passion to create has led her to dance lessons, acting, singing, and dancing in school and civic musicals, learning to paint, and writing. Her passion to serve people motivated the start of a helping ministry at a large, local church. And Stephanie loves ballet!

Stephanie Shrader

Stephanie came to Kristie Wright School of Dance 14 years ago when her daughter Katie started dance. Her daughter Lily started two years later. She has enjoyed watching the progress of her daughters and all the girls with them as they mature and improve. Stephanie has worked at the desk for 4 years and especially enjoys making the parents feel comfortable and now watching her granddaughter dance.

Samantha Hunnicutt

Samantha started coming to Kristie Wright’s when her daughter Molly started dancing at the age of 3. Almost 10 years later and being at the dance studio 4 nights a week it just made sense to start working the front desk at the studio. Samantha volunteers on the board for Logansport Junior Civic Theater where she is the Executive Director. In her free time she loves to spend time with her husband and their three children.

Mandy West

I was introduced to the studio through Miss Amii and Miss Dawn at the fairgrounds. Both of my daughters have danced for quite a few years now. I have enjoyed watching dance encourage confidence and poise in our girls. I never had the privilege to take dance and am thankful our girls have the opportunity. I also enjoy being able to watch them every night they’re at the studio from the desk and seeing all the kids come in and out. I am a homeschool mom of four that loves to read and taxi my kids to dance and baseball.