Hanford: 13103 13th Rd Hanford CA 93230
Kings Dance Center Kings Dance Center
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Our Teachers

Meet Our Staff

Stacie Souza
Owner/Director

Stacie Souza

Stacie Souza has over 30 years in the dance business and over 20 years of teaching experience. She began dancing at KDC at age 8. As a dancer she performed at Nickelodeon Studios in Hollywood, CA as well as Pepperdine University for several dance showcases for Encore Performing Arts. Stacie has trained under choreographers such as Rhonda Miller, Keith Clifton, Tina D'Amato, Adam Parson, Jeff Amsden, Martha Kelly-Fierro and Michael Rooney. She has been the recipient of numerous dance scholarships from Hollywood Connection, LA Dance Magic and LA Underground.

At the age of 16 she became a competition team coach for KDC's Dancers Unlimited. She has won choreography awards from Hollywood Connection, Spotlight, Nexstar, Starbound, Encore and Starpower and her routines have won many 1st Overall Awards. She became Miss Kings County in 2006, ran for Miss California, and is currently the President of the Miss Kings County & Outstanding Teen Program. Stacie received her Bachelors Degree in Interior Design in 2007 from Fresno State and moved with her husband Chad to Champaign, IL. There she worked as a dance teacher for Christine Rich Studio and Art In Motion Dance Studio, as well as an Interior Designer during the day. While there, she was given the opportunity to choreograph principal dancers from the Joffrey Ballet company. Stacie moved back to Kings County in 2009 and assisted with running the Dancers Unlimited competitive dance team for KDC. She took over as owner of the studio in 2014. Since becoming the owner, she has made several changes at the studio, including building a brand new, state of the art dance facility that opened in July of 2020. Stacie enjoys focusing on performance, flexibility, technique and building confidence in her dancers.

Abigail Salyer
Dance Instructor

Abigail Salyer

Abigail has been dancing at Kings Dance Center since she was just a year old and has been part of the Dancers Unlimited Competition Team since the age of 6. She is at a student at California State University, Fresno majoring in Dance. She has been trained in several styles of dance including Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Tap & Hip Hop. Dancers Unlimited has allowed her to perform her talents at many places including Disneyland and the Miss California Pageant. Abigail has been awarded numerous scholarships from Hollywood Connection, Nexstar Talent Competition, Thunderstruck and Believe Talent Competition. She became Miss Kings County Outstanding Teen in 2018 which brought her to the Miss California Stage and earned her a Talent Award for her musical theater solo. She was also honored to be chosen as KDC Dancer of the Year 2019.

Amy King
Dance Instructor

Amy King

Amy is originally from Pasadena, Texas where she started dancing at the age of five. Amy’s dance career was facilitated through Dance Magic dance studio in Lancaster, California where she took classes and began teaching in 2002. She has taught dancers from the ages of three to adult in the tap, jazz, and ballet disciplines. Amy was also a member of three dance companies, which allowed for extensive growth in ballet and contemporary. She danced with the Antelope Valley Ballet, under the direction of Kathleen Burnett, for five years where she danced the part of Snowflake and Flower in several productions of the Nutcracker, Giselle’s Friend and a Wili in Giselle, and a swan in Swan Lake where she was featured with three other dancers as a big swan. She also participated in other annual spring shows that were a collaborative work of the artistic director and other notable choreographers from the area. Amy was also a part of the dance company through the local community college, Antelope Valley College, where she studied dance with several instructors. She also danced with a new modern company with a small number of rising talents of the area, Hidden Entropy Movement Project, in several shows. Dance continues to be a passion of her life!

A passion of Amy's has always been dance! She started young at the age of five and has continued to have dance as a large part of her life. She has taught ballet, jazz, and tap for a total of almost 20 years to students ranging in age from three to adult. A highlight of her dance background includes dancing with the Antelope Valley Ballet Company, where she performed in several ballets such as Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Giselle. Amy was also one of the first members of a new contemporary company in Lancaster, CA Hidden Entropy Movement Project. Teaching dance is a way for her to pass on her love of dance to the younger generations!

Brooke Faria
Dance Instructor

Brooke Faria

Brooke Faria graduated from Jefferson Charter Academy as a fluent bilingual student and currently attends Sierra Pacific High School. She has been dancing since the age of 2 and joined Kings Dance Center Dancers Unlimited Competition Team at the age of 7. Brooke has received training in Tap, Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, Pointe, Jazz and Hip Hop. She has been the recipient of several dance scholarships from Hollywood Connection. Brooke has been a teacher's assistant for 4 years and has enjoyed assisting in classes from tiny tots to tweens. Brooke cannot wait to share her training and love of dance with others!

Christine Chapman
Dance Instructor

Christine Chapman

Christine is a graduate student at Fresno state, working towards becoming a Doctor of Physical Therapy. She has been dancing since she was 2 years old. She has trained in Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, and Hip-hop. She started dancing competitively at the age of 6, where she won numerous awards at both the regional and national level. She was on the KDC competition team, Dancer’s Unlimited, for 5 years before going to college at the University of California Riverside where she received a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Dance. She has taught Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip-hop, Contemporary, and Lyrical and worked with dancers ages 3-18. She is very excited to be back in the studio teaching again.

Dance Instructor

Claire Fierro

Bio Coming Soon

Courtney Fontes
Dance Instructor

Courtney Fontes

Courtney Fontes walked into her first ballet class at the age of 3 and at 8 years old, joined the very first Dancers Unlimited Mini’s Competition Team. Courtney has trained in various styles of dance including, Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Lyrical, and Tap and began teaching at age 15. As a member of Dancers Unlimited for 9 years, she was the recipient of several scholarships from competitions/conventions like West Coast Dance Explosion, KAR, Encore, LA Underground, and 1st Overall Awards for her solos. She was also a member of Martha Kelly-Fierro’s company Altered Modalities for 2 years before moving to Los Angeles for college. While pursuing a career in the film and television industry, she taught at a handful of local dance schools and was a cast member at Disneyland Parks, performing in the 50th Anniversary and Christmas parades. Courtney earned a Bachelor's Degree in Cinema and Television Arts with a focus in Television Production from California State University, Northridge. Her knowledge and experience in production is broad, she has held many titles like production assistant, editor, camera operator and producer, to name a few. She has worked on short and long-term projects for companies like Mandeville Films (Walt Disney Studios first look), Sony Pictures, Madison Gate Records, Toyota, Facebook/Instagram (Meta), MTV/Vh1 and Comedy Central. Courtney also fell in love with aerial arts and has been training in silks, lyra and hammock for 8+ years, and has been an instructor for 6 years. After moving back to Lemoore, Courtney completed a Nutritional Therapy Program and is now a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. She is also excited to be back at her home studio sharing her love of dance with her students.

Darian Cunha
Dance Instructor

Darian Cunha

Darian Cunha is a Veterinary Technician student at San Joaquin Valley College. She has been dancing at Kings Dance Center since she was 15 months old. Darian has also been a part of the Dancers Unlimited Competition team since the age of 4. She has trained in numerous styles of dance including, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Lyrical, Ballet and Tap. Darian has taken class from many professional dance instructors and has been awarded scholarships from Hollywood Connection Dance Convention. She has also performed on the stage of Disney’s California Adventure and the Miss California Pageant. Darian was crowned Miss Kings County’s Outstanding Teen in 2019 and won the Talent award at the Miss California competition where she performed her musical theater solo. She was also Fresno County Outstanding Teen in 2022. Darian cannot wait to share her experience of dance with her students!

Jillian Rogers
Dance Instructor

Jillian Rogers

Jillian Rogers is a student at West Hills College and is a graduate of Fresno Nursing Assistant Training Academy.    She has been dancing at Kings Dance Center for over 15 years and was a member of the Dancers Unlimited Competition Team for 11 years. Previously, Jillian has performed with the Sacramento Ballet as the lead role of both Fritz and Clara in their production of the Nutcracker. Jillian has also studied with the American Ballet Theater and Alonzo King Lines Ballet. She was names KDC "Dancer of the Year" in 2020! As a competition team coach, her routines have won multiple 1st Overall awards! Jillian was Miss Kings County 2022 and competed at the Miss California Pageant. She enjoys all styles of dance and is excited to share her love of performing with the younger dancers.

Maddy Golden
Dance Instructor

Maddy Golden

Maddy is a student at College of the Sequoias working towards a degree in Child Education. She has been dancing since the age of 5 and joined the competition team, Dancers Unlimited at the age of 7. She has trained in all styles of dance and has received dance scholarships from Hollywood Connection and NUVO. She is excited to join the teaching staff at KDC and share her love of dance with her students.

Martha Kelly-Fierro
Dance Instructor

Martha Kelly-Fierro

Martha Kelly­-Fierro has traveled the country and abroad choreographing, instructing, and showcasing her contemporary dance company.  Her unique style of dance was nurtured by assisting and touring with such world renown choreographers as Mia Michaels (So You Think You Can Dance), Keith Clifton (The Edge Dance Studio, Hollywood), and Jeff Amsden (A Few Good Men Dancin' ­ Broadway, NYC).

Her contemporary company, Altered Modalities, has been in existence for over 14 years and has performed in New York, Houston, Washington, Arizona, and throughout California. She has won several awards, including the new choreographer award at the Dance Under the Stars and the prestigious Gold Leo award at the Jazz Dance World Congress in 2000. Several of the dancers she has trained have gone on to dance, choreograph, or instruct professionally. She toured the United States as a faculty member with West Coast Dance Explosion and has been sought after as a master teacher because of her passion for movement and growth.
Currently, Martha and her husband reside with their seven children in Visalia, CA.

Meghan Verheul
Dance Instructor

Meghan Verheul

Meghan Verheul is working on her Masters Degree at California State University, Fresno and has been dancing at Kings Dance Center since the age of 3. She has trained in numerous styles including ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and tap. Meghan has also been competing with KDC's Dancers Unlimited from a young age, winning various awards such as the Fame award and Icon Runner-up from Hollywood Connection as well as a scholarship to AMDA performing arts college. In addition, she auditioned for and was accepted into the Joffrey Chicago Ballet summer intensive. She was also named KDC "Dancer of the Year" in 2017!  She looks forward to sharing her love of dance with her students.

Mia Chennault
Dance Instructor

Mia Chennault

Mia Chennault has been dancing at Kings Dance Center since the age of 2, and has been a member of the Dancers Unlimited competition team since she was 5. Mia has also preformed with the Sacramento ballet in their production of the Nutcracker as the lead role of Clara, as well as several other supporting roles. Mia was Miss Kings County’s Outstanding Teen 2022, and competed at the Miss California’s Outstanding Teen pageant where she won 3rd runner up. She was also awarded KDC’s “Dancer of the Year” title in 2022! In addition to her experience in dance, Mia has also been on the Hanford West Varsity cheer team for 3 years. She is very excited to share her love of dance with her students!

Michelle Clevenger
Dance Instructor

Michelle Clevenger

Michelle Clevenger has been dancing for 30 years and has studied all genres of dance. She has been teaching for over 12 years and was part of the KDC Dancers Unlimited competition team for 6 years. She was part of the KDC Nutcracker and performed in the Waltz of the Flowers, Snow, Spanish Tea, Marzipan & Arabian Soloist. She also traveled to Oregon doing The Nutcracker for the Northwest Pacific Ballet performing in Waltz of the Flowers, Snow & Marzipan. Michelle and her family lived in Illinois for a while where she was teaching competitive dance teams.  She has studied musical theater and lighting production and was seen in the play "Carousel". Michelle has taken class from many award winning choreographers and has traveled to dance conventions all over California. She enjoys teaching various styles and age groups and currently resides in Lemoore, CA with her husband and 5 children.

Sarah Verheul
Dance Instructor

Sarah Verheul

Sarah Verheul has been dancing at Kings Dance Center since she was 4 years old. She has trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and hip-hop. Since she was 14, she has been a teacher’s assistant for the Creative Dance and Dancing Tots programs. She was also on the KDC competition team, Dancer’s Unlimited, for seven years. In addition to being heavily involved in dance, she is also a graduate of California State University, Fresno in Speech Pathology with a minor in dance. She currently works as a Speech Pathologist in Clovis, CA.  At Fresno State, she was also a member of the school’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble, who has put on numerous shows throughout the community, as well as traveling to the American College Dance Association where they placed in the top 10 out of 40 numbers in 2017.  She looks forward to continuing her teaching career and sharing her love of dance.

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