Meet the Instructors!
Meet the Instructors!
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First Day of Dance is Wednesday, September 4, 2024!
Kirby is the Owner and Artistic Director of Starstruck Academy, where she has been fulfilling her passion for dance since opening the studio in 2009. With over thirty years of experience, Kirby began dancing at the age of four and holds a B.A. in Secondary Education from Youngstown State University.
She is a nationally recognized dancer with awards in both solo and group categories, and has received numerous dance scholarships. Kirby was a member of the 2004 Grand Prix de España US National Dance Team and World Cup Champions, as well as the 2005 Grand Prix de Italia US National Dance Team and World Cup Champions. She was also crowned Miss Dance Ohio in 2004.
In addition to her competitive achievements, Kirby was a cheerleader at Lakeview High School and a member of the Y.S.U. Dance Ensemble. She has also served as an 8th and 9th grade cheerleading advisor for Lakeview High School.
Under Kirby’s leadership, Starstruck Academy’s competition team has thrived, winning many regional and national overall awards. She is celebrated for her choreography, having received accolades such as the Directors Award for Technical Excellence, Choreography, Studio Sportsmanship, Entertainment, Best Costumes, and the FDC Judges Choice Award. Kirby feels incredibly blessed to teach and inspire young dancers and looks forward to many more successful years with her academy.
Nikki began dancing at the age of four and boasts over thirty years of experience in the field. A former regional and national award-winning dancer, she has garnered numerous accolades and scholarships throughout her career. Nikki was honored as Young Choreographer of the Year in 2003 and 2004. She holds a B.A. in Education from Youngstown State University and a B.A. in Business Management and Marketing from Kent State University. Currently, she teaches in the Warren City School District and is a former advisor for the Warren G. Harding majorettes. Nikki is cherished by students of all ages.
Hannah is a 2018 graduate of Warren G. Harding High School, where she served as a majorette in the Warren G. Harding Marching Band for two years. She has been immersed in the dance world since 2004 and joined the Starstruck Dance Academy Competition Dance Team in 2012. There, she distinguished herself as an award-winning dancer and titleholder.
Hannah has had the privilege of learning from renowned dance professionals such as Alex Wong, Fik-Shun, Erik Yanez, and Gaby Diaz. Her passion for dance, nurtured by her mentors at Starstruck, has been a driving force in her career. Since 2018, she has been a member of the National Dance Education Organization and has been teaching and choreographing at Starstruck. Her expertise in jazz, lyrical, and hip-hop has led to numerous award-winning performances.
Hannah is dedicated to sharing her love for dance and values the close-knit community of dancers she considers family at Starstruck Dance Academy. Her contributions have made her an invaluable member of the staff.
Jordan, a 2019 graduate of Lakeview High School, was a dedicated competitive dancer with Starstruck Dance Academy from the age of 8 until her graduation. During her competitive career, she earned numerous overall high score awards, Judges Awards, and scholarships. In addition to her dance achievements, Jordan was a Varsity Cheerleader at Lakeview High School. We are thrilled to welcome her back to the studio as a teacher. Jordan has been an outstanding addition to both the Gymnastics program and the Starstruck staff.
In Loving Memory:
DJ was a talented competitive dancer with Starstruck Dance Academy. She began dancing at just 2.5 years old and started competing at 5. DJ mastered various dance forms, particularly excelling in Lyrical, Contemporary, and Jazz. Her achievements include numerous overall high score awards, dance titles, and scholarships to prestigious institutions in New York City and Chicago. Known as the "Princess of Pirouettes," DJ was invited to join the American Dance Team in 2009, 2010, and 2012. In 2012, she also received the Mark Marino Scholarship for Excellence in Dance from Dance USA. After earning her Nursing Degree from Kent State University, DJ's life was cut short when she passed away on February 14, 2022, from breast cancer at the age of 27. Her contributions to the Starstruck staff and the countless dancers she taught will always be remembered with fondness. Her legacy will live on at Starstruck Dance Academy.
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