Priscilla and Dana's School of Dance

       

Priscilla Brogoto: Co-owner

    Click on Priscilla's picture to see her in action

Priscilla began teaching her friends’ children in her own basement in 1968.  She has turned her business into a large, award-winning studio due to her outstanding talent, patience and heart.  She was a regular on the television show American Bandstand, appeared in the movie "April Love" starring Pat Boone and choreographed for many musical shows.

Dana McGuire: Co-owner

Dana graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia and was a member of the Golden Girls Dance team for four years and captain/choreographer for two of those years.  She was selected as a Collegiate All-American for Dance.  Dana is a former Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleader, choreographer and captain and was selected to represent the Kansas City Chiefs at the NFL Pro Bowl in 1996.  She is a master teacher for various camps, studios and conventions including Dance Masters of America.  Dana is a sought after judge for regional and national dance, cheer, and talent competitions throughout the United States as well as the Miss America system.  She has received numerous choreography awards at the regional and national level. When not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons.

Teri Day

Teri is a graduate of William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri.  She is a former Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleader, choreographer and captain and was selected to represent the Kansas City Chiefs at the NFL Pro Bowl in 1997.  She teaches jazz and tap for P&D and has also choreographed for many collegiate and high school dance teams and studios from Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Kentucky.  Teri has received numerous awards for her choreography, including the National Capezio Tap Dance Choreography Award.  She is a faculty member of Showbiz’s “The Class” dance convention

Joni Hall

Joni is a graduate of William Jewell College and also earned a Master's degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.  She teaches ballet and lyrical for P&D and has trained with Ballet West, Dallas Ballet, Maria Tallchief and Marjorie Tallchief.  Ms. Hall has choreographed and performed in many theatre productions in Kansas City and Columbia.  She performed with the Kansas City Ballet and the Lyric Opera for four years.  Joni judges for regional national dance and talent competitions throughout the United States, including the Miss America system.  Ms. Hall is also a master teacher for various camps, studios and conventions, including Dance Masters of America and Starpower’s Dance Power Express.  When she is not teaching, Joni loves to spend time with her husband and two children as well as Lulu and Gracie.

Andi Abernathy

Andi has been a teacher and choreographer for twelve years at Priscilla and Dana's and grew up training there since the age of five. She is currently the modern teacher and choreographer, but also teaches hip-hop, ballet and jazz. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Missouri, Kansas City in 2006. She has worked with several modern and jazz choreographers around the country including the Kansas City based modern dance company: Seamless Dance Theatre.  Ms. Abernathy is known throughout the United States for her choreography, which has received several awards and recognitions at regional and national levels. She has choreographed for numerous college and high school dance teams throughout the Midwest as well as multiple Showbiz National Opening Numbers.  Andi has also worked in Los Angeles, among many other places, with nationally known choreographers including Doug Caldwell, Mark Meismer, Chris Jacobsen, and Dee Caspary. She judges for many dance competitions and showcases.

Stephanie Ruch

Stephanie started her dancing career at the age of 3 with Priscilla and Dana's School of Dance.  She continued training in jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, modern, and hip-hop until she graduated in 2004 from Oak Park High School.  Throughout these 15 years, she was the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships at dance conventions and competitions.  In 2004, Stephanie began assisting and traveling with modern choreographer Chris Jacobsen around the country at dance studios, workshops/intensives, and conventions.  She has also been teaching modern, jazz, ballet, and hip-hop for the last 6 years at P&D.  She and her sister, Andi, work together as a team in a majority of their work and have won various awards for their choreography.  Stephanie is a graduate of UMKC Conservatory of Music & Dance with a BFA in Dance Performance.  She currently dances with Seamless Dance Theatre and Wylliams Henry Dance Theatre plus choreographs for numerous high school and college dance teams in Missouri.

Cassie Brammer

Cassie graduated from the Mizzou in 2006 where she was a Golden Girl and a member of Gamma Phi Beta.  She currently teaches Early Childhood Special Education.  Dance has been a passion of Cassie's for as long as she can remember. Cassie danced competitively at Priscilla and Dana's for nine years. One of her most memorable moments was winning the "Future Star" award her senior year in 2002 at Showbiz Nationals.  Cassie also choreographs a variety of routines for many high schools and universities.

Beth Benak

Miss Beth has extensive training in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical and tumbling, and operated her own dance studio in Kansas for over ten years. Before owning her own studio, she lived in San Diego, California and was the chosen dance instructor for the children of the Navy. Beth is originally from the area and was a cheerleader at the University of Kansas.  Beth’s former students have performed at Starlight Theater, Shawnee Mission Theater in the Park, and trained with such companies as Alvin Ailey. One student performed a tap solo choreographed by Beth on the television show "Showtime at the Apollo" in New York City.  Beth specializes in teaching young children, and instructs a variety of classes for students age 3-12.

Kelly Anderson

Kelly has been a Priscilla and Dana's teacher for seven years and was a competitive dancer herself.  Now, she specializes in teaching children ages 3-8. She is a graduate of UMKC and keeps herself busy with her full time job as a supervisor in international sales at Smithfield Foods Intl.  Her favorite time of the day is when she walks into the studio and is greeted by all the little smiling faces.

Courtney Davison

Courtney was a P & D dancer for 15 years.  After graduation from Park Hill South High School, she went to MU where she received a degree in Elementary Education.  During her time in Columbia she was an MU Golden Girl, dance head coach for her sorority, and an instructor for a local studio.  She is currently a Head Instructor for NDA (National Dance Alliance).  Courtney has choreographed dance and cheer routines for local teams.  When she is not teaching at the studio, she is teaching 2nd grade at an elementary school.

Carrie Donnelly

Carrie started dancing at age 3 with Miss Priscilla and continued dancing at Priscilla & Dana's throughout high school. She is a graduate of Missouri State University.  During her time in Springfield, she was a Sugar Bear dancer, captain and went on to be their coach.  Carrie spent several summers as an NCA Dance instructor and also spent time as a Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleader.

Kristi Swob

Kristi teaches jazz for P&D.  During her career, she has appeared in numerous videos and performed live with artists Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, Prince, Brian Setzer Orchestra and Taylor Dayne.  She has performed in various award shows and also travelled across the United States and internationally to perform for companies such as Reebok and Skechers.

Brittany Duskin

Brittany is our newest faculty member, and we are honored to have her on our staff. She is currently pursuing a dance degree from UMKC.  Specializing in ballet, jazz and modern, Brittany won numerous awards throughout her competitive dance career including the national Future Star award.  She was one of seven dancers chosen nationally for “Dance with the Force” last summer.