1500 S Jackson St., Frankfort, IN 46041

765-659-1954

Follow Us

1500 S Jackson St., Frankfort, IN 46041

765-659-1954

Follow Us

Faculty

Bernadette Bricker

Studio Director

Bernadette Bricker grew up in Frankfort and started ballet at the age of four with Kirsten Maish. She then continued dance at the Tap Academy for 10 years, up until her senior solo in 2009.

She attended IU and earned a degree in Elementary Education. She worked at Clinton Central for 7 years and helped create their PreK program. She is now taking some time off to stay home with her baby girl, Mable. Her passion is early childhood, and she is excited to be helping Stage I use that passion with dance!

Kim Galloway

Instructor


Kimberly Galloway Originally from Sidney, Ohio, Kimberly began her dance training at Sharon’s School of Dance under the direction of Sharon Eikenberry. She graduated with honors from Indiana University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a concentration in Contemporary Dance and a minor in Exercise Science. She has attended summer intensives at the former Jordan Academy of Dance through Butler University, Cincinnati Ballet, American Dance Festival and the Trinity Laban Conservatory of Music and Dance in London, England on a summer study scholarship from the IU Hutton Honors College. Kimberly has been dancing and choreographing professionally for nine years. She has previously performed and created works for Project 606 Dance, Trifecta Dance Collective, and as a freelance artist. Her choreography was selected to be performed at Inaside Dance Chicago’s Choreographic Sponsorship event in 2019 and at Trifecta Dance Collective’s “A New Light” emerging choreographers showcase in 2023. She is currently a company member with Simantikos Dance Chicago. In addition to performing, Kimberly enjoys sharing her love of movement by training and educating dancers of all ages and experience levels. She has been teaching dance around the midwest for 16 years, in the styles of ballet, pre-pointe, pointe, tap, jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary. Most recently, she was the Co-Owner/Co-Artistic Director of Principle Dance for five years, alongside her husband. At Principle, she taught, choreographed, and was the director and producer of five full-length Nutcracker ballet performances and four storyline recitals: Land of Oz, Dancing Through The Decades, Poppins, and Wonka’s Golden Ticket. Additionally, she co-directed and choreographed for the studio’s preprofessional performance group, Momentum. Her contemporary work “Edge of Seventeen” was selected to be performed by the Momentum dancers at the 2021 Metamorphosis: Fearless Evolution convention in Chicago. Kimberly is in her third season as the Varsity Assistant Coach and JV & Varsity Technique Coach for the Oak Park River Forest High School Drill Dance Team. Combining Kimberly’s background in kinesiology, Core Power Yoga 200-hour teaching certification, and experience dealing with significant hip injuries in her career, she is particularly passionate about dance training that emphasizes safe alignment, mindful movement practices, proper strength and endurance principles, and injury prevention. She is currently pursuing continuing education certifications through the National Academy of Sports Medicine in order to provide further support and education to her students.

Sarah Bruton

Instructor

Sarah Bruton started dancing when she was three years old at DMG in Lafayette. At age 7, Sarah started dancing with Lynne Brinkley at The Tap Academy and continued through graduation. Sarah quickly fell in love with dance, with a special interest in ballet. Being a 2020 graduate, she unfortunately had an abrupt exit from the studio leaving her longing to dance again, so she is thrilled to have been given the opportunity to work for Stage I! Sarah can hardly wait to meet all of you and share her love of dance!

Jeremiah 29: 11-13


Katie Stahlhut

CEO & Executive Director

Katie Stahlhut has the distinct honor of carrying on Ms. Beverly’s legacy of dance excellence. Ms. Beverly passed the torch after 55 years of ownership. Katie has been a part of Stage I Dance Academy since elementary school. She was privileged to be a part of Stage I’s Performing Company and participated in many excellent performance opportunities during her time as a dancer. Katie has a degree in Business Management from the Kelley School of Business. She is also a graduate of Leadership Johnson County’s class of 2018.

Her passion is providing a nurturing environment for children to develop as not only dancers, but young ladies and gentleman. Her priority is maintain a high standard for morals and values. She does so by continuing to provide quality training with age appropriate movement and costuming. Her favorite aspect of dance is giving back to the community by performing at nursing homes and other community opportunities. Katie feels blessed to have the opportunity to be a positive role model in today’s youth.


Morgan Johnson

Instructor

Morgan Johnson’s dance training began in Greenwood, Indiana under the guidance of Beverly Smithey for the duration of fifteen years. After six years of weekly jazz and tap classes, Johnson joined the performing company with Stage 1 Dance Academy competing with dances of many genres, including jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, and musical theatre.

Throughout her college career at Indiana University, she has balanced performing various guest artist works, such as Radio Show by Kyle Abraham, Suite from Psalm by José Limón, and D-Man in the Waters by Bill T. Jones, and teaching and choreographing for young dancers in the Bloomington community. Upon graduation, she has returned home to Stage 1 Dance Academy to continue teaching the same lessons and values she was humbly taught by the instructors before her.

Lynne Brinkley

Founder of The Tap Academy

Lynne was born and raised in New Jersey. She studied dance for 14 years. After High School graduation, she studied nursing. Upon graduation from Nursing school, she moved to Indiana and focused her attention on Obstetrical nursing. Lynne met her husband, Brian, on his first day working at the same hospital. In 1995, Lynne was blessed to see her childhood dream come alive with the opening of The Tap Academy.

She became a certified member of Dance Educators in 1998. This year, 2020, is the 25th anniversary for The Tap Academy. This journey has been incredible. I love to see children grow in their dance skills and as individuals. At this time, I could not be more thrilled for the future of the Academy! Ms. Katie is so gifted in all aspects of directing dance schools! I can't wait to see all the exciting opportunities that await the academy students here in Clinton and surrounding counties.

Testimonials

My daughter completed her first year at stage 1 dance academy and loved it! She learned so much! Ms. Bernadette is an extremely patient and loving teacher and my daughter looked forward to seeing her every day. Thank you stage 1!

Rebekah S.

This is our 2nd year at this studio! We love it! My older daughter takes 2 classes (lyrical and tap/jazz) and my younger takes the ballet/tap combo class for preschoolers. They love their dance teachers and are excited to go every week!

Meggie C.

Contact Us

ADDRESS

1500 S Jackson St

Frankfort, IN 46041

Monday CLOSED

Tuesday 5:00-8:00pm (Boutique Open)

Wednesday : Classes Only

Thursday: 5:00-8:00pm (Boutique Open)

Friday : Closed

Saturday: Classes Only

Sunday : Closed

I agree to terms & conditions and privacy policy provided by the company. By providing my phone number, I agree to receive text messages from the business.

Our mission is to partner with families to cultivate an environment for sound character development by loving, encouraging and empowering.

ADDRESS: 1500 S. Jackson St., Frankfort IN 46041

Email: stage1frankfort@gmail.com


Telephone: 765-659-1954

©2023 Stage 1 Dance Academy. All Rights Reserved.