Ballet Arts Center

BALLET ~ POINTE ~ JAZZ ~ TAP ~ THEATRE

Mrs. Kimberly Gavin Anderson:   Founder & Artistic Director of the Ballet Arts Center

Mrs. Anderson began her dance training in her hometown of Kirkwood studying ballet, jazz and tap at Rapp's Dance Studio.  As a young dancer, she performed in the St. Louis Muny Opera; the Missouri State Fair with an award winning tap line; the St. Charles Civic Ballet; and the Opera Theatre of St. Louis at Loretta Hilton.  She later became a full-time student of Nathalie LeVine and Gary Hubler.  She performed in the Metropolitan Ballet of St. Louis where she was partnered with a guest artist from the National Ballet of Canada in the Blue Bird Pas de Deux from Sleeping Beauty; and a guest dancer from Russia dancing the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker.  She had the opportunity to participate in summer dance programs at the Ruth Page Foundation and at Ellis-Du Boulay, both in Chicago; and at the American Ballet Theater School in NYC.

Now in her 33rd year operating the BAC, her teaching accomplishments include the founding and directing of the Young People's Performing Arts Theatre.  She taught dance at Mineral Area College for the Upward Bound Program; and choreographed countless musicals for the theater department.  She has twice been a recipient of a "Resolution" from the Missouri House of Representatives acknowledging her outstanding work in the arts and the community.  She was most recently recognized with the prestigious Frederick H. Laas Memorial Award from the Missouri Citizens for the Arts acknowledging her artistic efforts in a small community.

She has taken her students to study with nationally recognized teachers in St. Louis, Chicago and New York City.  Her students have been invited to Master Ballet Classes with The Miami City Ballet, and the Paul Taylor 2 Modern Dance Company.  Several of her students have gone on to dance professionally as an International Ballroom Champion;  a dancer/singer on a Cruise Ship; the St. Louis Ballet;  the St. Louis Muny Opera;  6-Flags Over Mid-America; Rams Cheerleader;  and teachers for various professional schools.

In her 33rd year as the Artistic Director of the Ballet Arts Center, Kimberly Anderson oversees all aspects of the dancers training working closely with the teachers in each discipline of dance that they teach.

Mrs. Mary Gantz:  Elementary Jazz and Elementary Tap

Mrs. Gantz is a native of the Mineral Area where she began her dance training with Kim Anderson at the age of five years.  During her years at the BAC she received extensive training in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz and Tap.  She danced in Musical productions of the Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, and ballets such as the Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and The Nutcracker.  Ms. Gantz danced for four years on her Sr. High School Dance team and continued with competitive dance for two years in college.  While a student at M.S.U., she showcased dance routines taught to her by graduate students of the dance program.  Upon completing her B.A.S. Degree in Elementary Education, Mrs. Gantz returned to the Mineral Area where she teachers 2nd grade at Bonne Terre Elementary, as well as sponsoring the High School Dance Squad.  Ms. Gantz is now returning to the BAC year for her fourth year on the teaching staff.

 

Mrs. Dawn Fuemmeler:  Elementary Jazz and Elementary Tap

Mrs. Fuemmeler grew up in Keytesville, Missouri where she began her dance training at a young age, then opened her own dance studio in her high school years.  She attended Missouri Western State College on a dance scholarship where she performed and traveled with the "Dance Company".  She is very active in Community Theater performing most recently in South Pacific; Annie Get you Gun;  The Music Man;  The Wizard of Oz;  Nunsense;  Into the Woods;  A Christmas Carol;  Smokey Joe's Cafe;  Fiddler on the Roof; and the Nutcracker Ballet.  She has also choreographed community musicals such as Seussical and Yellow Submarine.  Most recently, Ms. Fuemmeler received rave reviews for her leading role in the stage drama Steel Magnolia's.  She is now in her tenth year teaching at the BAC.

Mrs. Maggie Jeude Haupt:  Advanced Jazz and Ballet

Mrs. Haupt returns to the B.A.C. where she trained for 15 years under her mother Kimberly Anderson. She grew up performing in the local Nutcracker Ballet where she had the opportunity to partner with several professional dancers over three seasons; as well as invited to participate in the Arts and Letters ballet competition in St. Louis, and take guest class with the Miami City Ballet. She continued her dance training in St. Louis with Nathalie LeVine, and studied and performed with St. Louis Ballet. She had the opportunity to participate in both Chicago and New York and then landed a professional job as a dancer/performer on a Mediterranean Cruise Ship -- Costa Victoria. After seven months at sea, she returned to the U.S. and obtained a degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia. From there, she moved to Topeka, Kansas, where she worked, danced with the Ballet Midwest, and taught Ballet, Jazz, and Theater classes at Barbara's Conservatory of Dance. Maggie has moved back to St. Louis and is now in her second year of teaching with her mother at the B.A.C.

Mrs. Nancy Silvey:  Jazz and Advanced Tap

Mrs. Silvey grew up in the Mineral Area where she studied ballet, tap and jazz. She attended Webster University where she studied under Gary Hubler and jazz and tap under Mark Krupinski. She later continued her dance training in Columbia, MO. At the same time she taught at the Dance Arts Studio and performed with "M.U. Dancers". She received a degree in Social Work and a minor in Therapeutic Recreation with an emphasis in Dance Specialization at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Mrs. Silvey most recently studied jazz and tap at the Broadway Dance Center and participated in her seventh "Summer Tap Intensive" in St. Louis with international professionals. Mrs. Nancy Silvey is returning to the B.A.C. for her tenth year to teach jazz and tap.