Catherine Kutemeier – Owner
A dancer since the age of five, Catherine has trained in jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, modern, hip-hop, musical theatre, and pom. During her years of dance education, Catherine showcased her talent at several performances including Stars at Sea Royal Caribbean Cruise, Indy 500 Parade, Brickyard 400 festival, Indianapolis Colts half-time shows and various regional and national competitions winning high scores and top awards. At the age of 15, Catherine began to fulfill her life-long ambition of teaching dance and choreographing. Since that time, Catherine has taught at several studios throughout Indiana working with students of all ages in both a recreational and team capacity including being a staff member of DCS for over 15 years before becoming the owner. Catherine continues to choreograph routines and teach for numerous school dance teams, theatre, talent shows, and showcases, and other events. In 2007 Catherine earned a degree in Business Management and Web Design graduating with honors.
Ashley Boylan – Instructor
Ashley was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ. She began dancing at the age of 3 and was trained in many styles, including tap, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, and musical theater. Ashley spent many years teaching and assisting all types of classes at her local studio and was a member of her high school cheer and dance team. She continued her education at Butler University and is currently working towards her Masters in Social Work from IUPUI. Ashley is passionate about serving children in all capacities and is so excited to return to her dance roots!
Megan Geib – Instructor
Megan was born in raised in Olympia, Washington where she began her training at the age of three at Ballet Arts of Olympia. She has trained in ballet, jazz, modern, tap, musical theatre and many other styles. Megan graduated from Central Washington University with a BA in Theatre Arts with an emphasis on Costume Design and a double minor in Dance Education and Dance Performance. While in college, Megan was a member of Orchesis Dance Company as both a dancer and a choreographer. Her choreography has been showcased twice at the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance National Dance Gala in San Diego, CA and Charlotte, NC. Megan has guest performed with Studio West Dance Academy and danced principal roles with Central Washington Dance Ensemble including Ariel in The Little Mermaid.
Lauren Hamilton – Instructor
Lauren has held soloist positions with the Montgomery Ballet and Northwest Florida Ballet. In addition, Ms. Hamilton has been a company member with the Connecticut Ballet and Ballet des Ameriques and held principal status with CONNetic Contemporary Dance Company of Hartford, CT. She has performed principal and soloist roles in such productions as Nutcracker Ballet, Dracula, Cinderella, Don Quixote and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She has also performed leads in various contemporary works such as Bob Fosse’s Rich Man’s Frug and The Great Gatsby. Ms. Hamilton received a full dance scholarship to the Dance Theatre of Harlem of New York and Birmingham Southern University – where she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. In addition to her professional performing career, Ms. Hamilton has been a dance educator and choreographer with various professional studios. She danced the role of Bertha Mason in Artistic Director Sherri Davis’ original ballet of Jane Eyre and the lead role of Sugar Plum Fairy in Georgia Dance Theatre’s Nutcracker Ballet where she just finished her third season as a professional company member of Georgia Dance Theatre. She and her husband relocated to Carmel and has been a member of the Ballet Theatre of Indiana.
Ava Kester – Instructor
Ava is a DCS alumni of 10 years trained in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, & contemporary. She is a current student at Purdue University and a member of the Higher Ground Dance Company.
Taylor Kleinschmidt – Instructor
Taylor began her dance training at the age of 3 and started dancing competitively at the age of 9. Taylor was a GSTC Performing Troupe member for 5 years until she graduated in 2010. Taylor was also a member of the Zionsville High School Dance Team and captain of the team her senior year. Taylor continued her education at Purdue University where she received Bachelors of Science degrees in Accounting and Management as well as a minor in dance. While at Purdue, she was Head Choreographer and Treasurer of Higher Ground Dance Company where she choreographed group dances and duets/trios in jazz, lyrical, and tap. Taylor was also a member of the Purdue Contemporary Dance Company, which focuses on partnering and modern dance styles. While attending college Taylor taught tap, ballet, and jazz classes at local studios as well as led jazz technique classes for Higher Ground Dance Company.
Shay Mackenzie – Instructor
Shay is originally from Lafayette, IN, but now lives in Carmel. She is a graduate of IUPUI with a Bachelors degree in Tourism, Event, and Sport Management. Shay started dancing by joining her middle school dance team and later competing with IHSDTA for her high school team, as well as at Studio b. At Studio b she competed in several competitions across the state and assisted teaching classes. In college, she joined The Moving Company at IUPUI and Xiphos Corp. She competed at a World of Dance competition and performed in many showcases, while also being an officer for The Moving Company. She’s trained in many styles, but loves contemporary, jazz, and hip hop. Shay’s absolute favorite thing to do is choreograph and show others her passion for dance.
Molly O’Malia – Instructor
Molly started dancing at the age of 3 years old in Carmel. Over the years she has been trained in jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop and modern. She was a member of Central Indiana Dance Ensemble (CIDE) for seven years where she performed in 6 Nutcracker performances, Peter Pan and Cinderella. Molly has competed in many local and national competitions winning numerous titles, dance scholarships, and special awards. She has traveled to attend camps and workshops in Los Angeles, Blue Lake, Orlando, Hollywood, St. Louis, Kansas City and Interlochen. While attending Cathedral High School, Molly was a member of the dance team and was captain her last two years. In 2015, she graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a BA in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management.
Rebecca Robbins – Instructor
Becca comes to us from Julestarz Academy for the Performing Arts in Lithia, Florida where she danced for many years. During her high school years, she was a teaching assistant in ballet, tap, jazz, and acrobatics. She was a competitive dancer and has a strong background in all forms of studio dance. Rebecca is a 2019 Butler University graduate.
Hannah Sanders – Instructor
Hannah is originally from Mishawaka, IN where she grew up dancing at Flint’s Dance Studio and trained in the styles of jazz, ballet, pointe, and competitive poms. Hannah graduated from IUPUI with a bachelor’s of science in kinesiology and a minor in dance. At IUPUI, Hannah had the opportunity to dance with The Moving Company and gained experience in dance styles of contemporary, jazz, ballet, and modern. She was a preceding president, member, and choreographer of the company. Recently, she began dancing with local nonprofit organizations around the Indianapolis region. Hannah is currently working on her master’s degree in athletic training and hopes to continue pursuing dance medicine and education upon her graduation in the spring of 2024.
Grace Shortridge – Instructor
Grace is a DCS alumni trained in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, & contemporary. She is a current student at Purdue University and a member of the Higher Ground Dance Company.
Andy Wahyudhi – Instructor
Rhonda Kaspar
Rhonda opened Dance Class Studio in 1989 when she saw there was a need for a small personal studio to cater to families that wanted their children to be cared for, educated, treated with respect, and be taught dance in a safe, healthy environment. She was sure she could provide this because she felt that was the type of studio she had grown up in and that she had great role models and support in her life to create this vision. Fast forward, the vision for Dance Class Studio has stayed true to the values that it began with. In fact, as more and more dance studios have popped up, costumes have become smaller and dance movements can become somewhat questionable, DCS stands strong to continue to be a place where our young children and young adults are being respected and encouraged. We are proud to always offer age-appropriate movements, costumes, and music.
Rhonda has a strong dance education background that began when she was four years old with her first tap class. That passion never waned and she knew dance was her path. She studied every type of dance available to her and often went to New York to study with the great father of jazz, Luigi, and take classes at Broadway Dance Center and Steps. In college, Rhonda continued to dance and performed with The Ball State University Singers and graduated with a Telecommunication major and Marketing minor. She continues her dance education even today by attending annual workshops to bring the latest styles and techniques to her studio.
Professional credits include King’s Productions, Walt Disney World Productions, Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre, World Cup Gymnastic Opening Ceremonies, Union Station Entertainment Company, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Pop Goes Vegas, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Guys and Dolls, Indiana NBA Pacemate and in several regional television commercials and print ads.
Several of her students have won numerous regional and national awards, as well as, going on to major in dance in college, own dance studios, become Indiana Pacemates, Colts Cheerleaders, work professionally in the dance industry, and even become Disney Princesses in Orlando and Hong Kong! While very proud of all these wonderful accomplishments, she can be found at the studio clapping enthusiastically and giving high fives to the youngest of students who mastered their first dance step as well as the advanced dancers leaping through air winning high awards!
Professional Dance Affiliations:
Dance Educators of America
Dance Kaleidoscope Board Member (former)
Ballet International Board Member (former)
Adjudicator for Cathy Roe Productions