Stage Door Dance Arts
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Stage Door Dance Arts
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Classes & More
  • Gallery
  • Contact Us
  • Stage Door Collective

About our studio

In the fall of 2015, Stage Door Dance Arts was founded by Kevin & Michelle Knell alongside their daughter, Haley in Conway, AR.  Michelle and Haley have shared the love of dance for over 20 years, and have set out to share it with hundreds of students. Former owner, Michelle Knell, spent years as a professional ballerina and 25 years as a master teacher of technique across multiple disciplines.  Haley, both a professional tap dancer and teacher of master classes, is considered by many to be the best young tap, hip-hop, and modern/contemporary teacher and choreographer in Central Arkansas.


In 2023, Haley Ashford, alongside her husband Shaun, followed in her parents' footsteps as the new owners of SDDA. It has been a privilege for Haley to carry the same vision out 10 years into co-founding the studio with her family. They have continued the story and vision of the studio, and continue to pursue sharing the love of dance with students of all ages.  


At Stage Door Dance Arts, we believe that dance is not just about learning steps, but about self-expression, creativity, and personal growth. We strive to create an environment where our students can explore their passion for dance, develop their skills, and build friendships that will last a lifetime. We teach more than just dance classes – we teach each child valuable life lessons about self-confidence, teamwork, integrity, and the importance of knowing that they are “fearfully and wonderfully made.”  

meet studio owners

Shaun & Haley Ashford are the dance studio owners and directors of Stage Door Dance Arts in Conway, AR.


Haley has a degree in Social Work with an emphasis on concert dance from UALR.  She has 27+ years of dancing/teaching experience and is certified from the Ann Lacey School of American Dance Arts & Management.


Haley has shared the stage with world-renowned dancers from "So You Think 

You Can Dance," and is a tap dancer/choreographer for UnTapped,  a professional tap company in Little Rock, Arkansas. With 20+ choreography awards, she has led SDDA teams to numerous national championships. Haley received certifications in Acrobatic Arts, American Council on Exercise Group Fitness, Barre Above, and Schwinn Cycling, and is training toward MuvMethod. She has also completed training in nutrition coaching, injury prevention, anatomy and biomechanics and 

corrective exercise.


Haley is also a regional and national dance competition judge, a master teacher for the Little Rock Tap Festival and a choreographer for the Conway High Varsity Dance Team.


Shaun helps behind the scenes running the day-to-day operations, finances & facilities. He is also the official prop master and loves supporting both Haley and the students.  He received his Associates of Applied Science in Refrigeration Technology. He is a senior lead service technician at Freyaldenhoven Heating and Cooling, where he has worked for 6 years. 

meet our sdda staff

Jamie dallas office manager

Katherine Hinojosa DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Jamie dallas office manager

B.S. in Early Childhood Education 


Masters in Special Education Instruction 


15 years experience in Retail Management and Customer Service


20+ years as a dance mom

Laura Crabtree dance instructor

Katherine Hinojosa DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Jamie dallas office manager

Studied at  John Brown University, Magna Cum Laude

Over 15 years of dance training across all disciplines

Specializes in teaching beginning and intermediate levels of ballet, tap, jazz & clogging

KYLIE DALLAS dance/acro instructor

Katherine Hinojosa DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Katherine Hinojosa DANCE INSTRUCTOR

15+ years of studio dance training in all disciplines

Studied with master teachers Kathryn McCormick & Dejan Tupic

Current choreographer for the 8th/9th grade dance teams. Former member of Conway HS dance team. Background in musicals, competitive cheer & acrobatic arts

Katherine Hinojosa DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Katherine Hinojosa DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Katherine Hinojosa DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Studied political science and dance at the University of Alabama


 Trained in ballet, jazz, & ballroom, Was VP of competition & social ballroom dance organizations. Represented Team USA at the IDO World Championship, Trained with the Radio City Rockettes and Joffrey Ballet School at summer intensives 

Courtenay Pierce DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Kaylee Munnerlyn DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Courtenay Pierce DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography from the University of Southern Mississippi

Trained with Atlanta Ballet, Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, & more


Performance credits including The Nutcracker, halftime at the Liberty Bowl, and more

Helena Rawlings dance instructor

Kaylee Munnerlyn DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Courtenay Pierce DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Studying at the University of Central Arkansas


3  years as a Honey Bear Dance Team member at UCA


Began her journey with dance at 10 years old dancing competitively in pointe, lyrical, contemporary, jazz, & hip hop

Aspen Powell Dance Instructor

Kaylee Munnerlyn DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Kaylee Munnerlyn DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Degree in Criminology & double minor in Business and Sociology from the University of Central Arkansas


2 years as a Honey Bear Dance Team member at UCA competing in the NDA Nationals twice


18 years of dance training in a variety of disciplines and 5 years of dance teaching experience 

Kaylee Munnerlyn DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Kaylee Munnerlyn DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Kaylee Munnerlyn DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Studying at the University of Central Arkansas, Elementary Ed


16 years of training in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, musical theater, hip-hop, and pointe


SDDA’s Elite Team for 8 years,  Performed with Untapped, and was a member of the Untapped Youth Ensemble in high school

ANNELIESE CORMIER student instructor

ANNELIESE CORMIER student instructor

ANNELIESE CORMIER student instructor

Seven year member of SDDA'S Elite Team with SEVEN National titles. Three years experience teaching dance

Studied at Central Arkansas Ballet prior to SDDA training 

HUNTER FUSILIER dance instructor

ANNELIESE CORMIER student instructor

ANNELIESE CORMIER student instructor

Bachelors degree in Mathematics & minor in Communications from Arkansas Tech University 


4 years as a Golden Girl Dance Team member at ATU


20 years of dance training in ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical

addison holley dance instructor

ANNELIESE CORMIER student instructor

addison holley dance instructor

Bachelor of Science in Applied Exercise Science from Oklahoma State University. Currently studying for her Doctorate in OT at UCA


ACSM certified personal trainer with 3 years of experience and Interned in group fitness and strength and conditioning coaching  


13 years of dance experience

meet our student interns

AVERY RIBBING STUDENT ASSISTANT

AVERY RIBBING STUDENT ASSISTANT

SDDA student since it opened in  2015


Six year member of the SDDA Elite Team with THREE National Titles

Member of Conway Junior High Dance Team

Megan Arnold Student Assistant

AVERY RIBBING STUDENT ASSISTANT

Two year member of the SDDA Elite Team


 Three year member of Conway High School Dance Team program, 2 years of assistant teaching experience 

JOHANNA SMITH STUDENT ASSISTANT

SDDA student and studies additionally with Ballet Arkansas: Performance credits include The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet

Two year member of the SDDA Elite Team with two National Titles

lizzie thorNton STUDENT ASSISTANT

Five Year Member of SDDA Elite Team


Two National Titles


Lover of all things dance and her SDDA Family

pricing & policies

Registration Fees

  • Due upon enrollment at the beginning of each season (School Year/Summer)
  • $30 for first student, $10 for each additional family member


Tuition

  • Based on weekly enrollment for the entire school-year season, divided into 9 monthly payments, posted and payable on the 1st day of each month
  • Tuition is considered late after the 5th of the month & will be assessed a $10 late fee


Costumes

  • November 15 | 1st costume payment due 
  • December 15 | 2nd costume payment due
  • January 15 | Remaining balance due
  • Refer to the recital handbook for full details


Recital Performance Package

  • $155 for the first student, $105 for second, $80 for each student thereafter
  • 1/2 posted and due September 15, balance posted and due October 15
  • ALL production expenses
  • Commemorative Recital T-Shirt
  • Two recital tickets
  • Recital Award
  • Media Fee (Unlimited Downloads of Videography and Professional Action Photography


*See pricing & policies for full tuition schedule

Pricing & PoliciesSdda handbookview classesclass dress codeRegister/ Log-In

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    A Conway dance studio- ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, acro & more

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