Our Dance Instructors are a blessings to our Students
Dancing. Teaching. Inspiring.
Our dance instructors teach dancers of all ages and levels to grow in their love of dance and community with one another!
Learn more about our instructors below!
Catherine Stephenson
Co-Owner/Dance Instructor
Catherine is the owner of Catherine’s Dance Studio. She is from Parkville, MO and started dancing at the age of three. At 14, Catherine became passionate about teaching dance and began giving lessons out of her house. She attended St. Pius X High School and was a member of their dance team. Catherine taught dance out of her home through high school and college. She attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City and was a member of the UMKC dance team. At UMKC, she graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. She has a passion for teaching children and dance, and believes every child should be taught in a fun, loving and creative environment. Catherine has choreographed pieces that have won entertainment, choreography, and technique awards.
Her favorite part of teaching dance is watching her dancers grow, develop technique, all the little hugs she gets, and watching her girls kill it on stage.
Judy Murray
Co-Owner
A mother-daughter team, Catherine and Judy own Catherine’s Dance Studio. When calling on the phone, Judy will usually be your first contact. Family is the most important aspect of life to Judy. She loves spending time with her husband Tom, daughter Catherine, son T.J., her grandkids Claire and Charlie and son-in-law Brad. Judy believes with her entire heart and soul that children are our future and she loves children. Judy and Catherine work tirelessly to make Catherine’s Dance Studio a place where dancers feel like they are a vital part of the studio (part of Catherine’s Dance Studio family).
You can’t walk into the studio without seeing or hearing: “Nothing is Impossible for God.” Dancers tend to be high achievers and excel at public speaking, the definition of failure is not getting knocked down, but not getting up again. This is who we are at Catherine’s Dance Studio and we love what we do.
Kristen Le
Dance Instructor
Kristen grew up in Kansas City, MO and started dancing at the age of three and never stopped. She attended St. Pius X High School and was on the dance team there. After graduating high school, Kristen attended Northwest Missouri State University to get her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Early Childhood Education. While she was there, she was a member of the Northwest Dance Company for four years. For two of those years, she also took on the role of being a choreographer for the dance company.
After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she began teaching and became an instructor at Catherine’s Dance Studio in Fall 2015. Kristen also has a year of experience coaching for the St. Pius X JV dance team. Kristen completed her Master’s degree in Reading from Park University and currently teaches first grade. Kristen teaches all ages of hip hop and a variety of jazz classes. She feels so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful studio environment. Kristen truly looks forward to the recitals, where she can watch all of her dances shine and show off everything they have learned throughout the dance year.
Ballet | Jazz | Acro Dance | Dance Troupe | Dance Company
Abby Palmer
Dance Instructor
Abby is from Platte City, MO and was a member of the Platte County high school dance team. Abby began taking dance lessons from Catherine when she was 12, while Catherine was still teaching from her home. After graduating high school, Abby attended Park University, where she was a member of the Spirit Squad her freshman year and later started the Park University Crimson Dancers. As the founder of the Crimson Dancers, Abby choreographed routines, led practices, and managed the team’s appearances and performance schedule.
While in college, Abby auditioned and made the Kansas City Royals KCrew team, where she would make public appearances, sing, and engage and interact with fans. Abby teaches many of the little girl classes and many competitive dances. Abby enjoys teaching younger students because she loves watching the dancers grow, learn, and find their passion and love for dance like she did!
Leigh Benton
Ballet Program Director
Leigh is originally from Chicago, Illinois where she trained at Summers Academy of Dance and Berkshire Ballet Theatre in ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, and contemporary. While a member of the BBT Company she performed leading roles in Cinderella, Coppelia, Giselle, and The Nutcracker. She danced at Milwaukee Ballet Summer Intensive, Joffrey Ballet Summer Intensive, and Chicago Dance Connection on a full scholarship before venturing off into the world.
Leigh has a Bachelor’s in Dance from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. While a student there she was able to work closely with choreographers from various companies such as Chieko Imada (Ballet Tucson), Michael Phillips (Pascal Rioult), Thang Dao (Thang Dao Dance Company), and Amanda Edge (NYCB). In addition, she was also one of the few dancers to be brought on an international tour that included cities in Germany, France, and Denmark. Upon graduation from college, Leigh joined the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble in Detroit, Michigan as a company member until moving down to the Kansas City area with her husband in 2011.
Leigh enjoys instilling a passion and appreciation for ballet into our dancers every single class!
Madi Guerra
Dance Instructor
Madi was born in Chicago, Illinois and now lives in Parkville, Missouri. She has been dancing since she was 3 years old recreationally and competitively. She was on the Park Hill South high school dance team and was a captain her junior and senior year. She also made the All American Cheer Team her freshman year and the All American Dance Team her sophomore, junior, and senior year. Madi was one of a couple students who founded the Sparkle Effect Team at PHS high school. She taught the special needs students how to dance and cheer and follow their dreams of getting to perform on the sidelines and at assemblies.
After high school graduation, she made the Kansas City Chiefs Cheer training team. She then got her associates degree at Maple Woods Community College. Madi is currently attending nursing school at the University of Saint Mary’s and is captain of their dance team. After nursing school graduation, she plans on furthering her education and becoming a nurse practitioner. Madi is now teaching our little girl classes and hopes to have a positive impact on their dance experience. She enjoys teaching the little girls because she loves seeing their pure passion and enthusiasm for dance.
Jamie Fender
Office Manager
With a background in dance, Jamie lives and breathes the mission and vision of Catherine’s Dance Studio. Jamie started dancing when she was three years old. She danced in high school and was on the dance team during her Junior and Senior years. She was also a cheerleader during her Senior year and was even offered a full-ride dance scholarship. Her daughter dances at Catherine’s and loves it!
Jamie assists with the operations at Catherine’s Dance Studio. If you are new to our dance studio, Jamie will find the best class fit for your dancer and her goals.
Contact Jamie for more information, a studio visit, or to schedule your daughters’ classes.