Meet our Staff
Lauren Reel
Meet our owner! Mrs. Lauren was born and raised in Kernersville, NC. She has danced since she was three years old and started teaching at a local dance studio when she graduated high school. While teaching, she studied Early Childhood Education at Forsyth Technical Community College. Her knowledge of early childhood helps her excel in teaching our younger dancers!
Owning a dance studio has been her lifelong dream, and in August of 2020, she decided to make her dream a reality!
Mrs. Lauren has been happily married to her husband for 13 years and has two boys.
A note from Mrs. Lauren:
Teaching dance is my passion. I love being creative and watching the dancers grow year after year. Being a positive role model is very important to me. I had some great dance teachers growing up, and I always looked up to them. My hope is that the dancers walk away from class each week knowing they are loved, special and always welcome back!
Jordan Wallen
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Hey y’all! My name is Jordan Wallen and I was born and raised in Kernersville, North Carolina. I currently attend UNC-Greensboro and I am pursing a degree in Birth-Kindergarten Teacher Education. I have been doing gymnastics since I was 5 years old and was a member of a trampoline and tumbling team from when I was 9 years old to 14 years old. I was the Trampoline Regional Champion, 2x Tumbling State Champion, and Double Mini State Champion. After that, I coached gymnastics and the trampoline and tumbling team for 5 years. I love working with kids and I enjoy teaching, helping, and watching kids grow while doing the things that they love!
Melanie Fitts
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Hi! My name is Melanie, and I'm from Holly Springs, North Carolina. I am currently a junior at High Point University with a double major in dance and psychology. I have been dancing for 15 years, and I grew up dancing at Main Street Dance. I have gotten to perform with the Carolina Ballet, and at ACDA, and I have been choreographing for 5 years, for competitions in high school and the spring concert for my dance program. I am so excited to continue that journey teaching dance here! My favorite styles are contemporary and jazz, but I like exploring any style of dance! A fun fact about me is have a rescue cat named Tre!
Madison Forbes
Ms. Madison was raised in Kernersville, NC and discovered her passion for dance while participating in her high school dance program. The positive experience she had within public school dance inspired her to become a dance teacher! She graduated from UNC-Charlotte with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance Education in 2020, and taught dance at Hilton Head Island Elementary School for the Creative Arts in South Carolina from 2020-2022. Her favorite dance styles include contemporary, jazz, hip-hop and ballet. Ms. Madison enjoys working with children of all ages, and is excited to continue her dance journey with Kernersville Dance Company!
Sam Bridge
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My name is Sam Bridge and I am a dance teacher and choreographer from High Point, North Carolina. I graduated from High Point University with my degree in dance in May of 2022. I have been dancing for 15 years; I started dancing at Dance Edge of High Point and continued my studies at Penn Griffin School for the Arts. I was a founding member and taught weekly classes for The High Point University Dance Company. I have performed at the American College Dance Association conference and have had my choreography adjudicated there as well. I have also performed at the North Carolina Dance Festival and many High Point University Dance Concerts. I teach a variety of styles, jazz, hip-hop, ballet, and contemporary. I have a huge love for teaching and choreographing dance and love sharing my passion for creative movement with other dancers!
Adrienne Rogers
Mrs. Adrienne is thrilled to be teaching here at KDC. She has been dancing since she was three and has continued to dance since then. She graduated from Lees-McRae College with a BA in Dance and Musical Theatre and has been teaching dance in the public school system for 18 years. Mrs. Adrienne has been married to her college sweetheart for 15 years and they have a beautiful daughter. She loves watching her daughter’s love for dance grow each year. She can’t wait to share her love for her dance here at KDC.
Kalyn Alston
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​Ms. Kalyn of Greensboro, NC started dancing in Roanoke Rapids, NC at the age of two. She’s a senior at Appalachian State University majoring in middle grades education, with a science concentration. Dance has been such an influential part of Kalyn’s life and has taught her so many life lessons, as well as skills that have inspired her to share her love of dance with her students! She enjoys choreographing and teaching tap, clogging, jazz, and ballet! Ms.Kalyn’s approach to teaching young dancers is through imagination. She loves using imagination, creating stories, and watching young children fall in love with learning to dance.
In 2020, Ms.Kalyn cheered in London, UK while holding the title All-American Cheerleader! She is so excited to start her journey here, at KDC!
Katie Ballard
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​Katie Ballard began her dance journey nineteen years ago in Winston Salem, NC. She has expansive training and teaching experience in many different styles such as Irish, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Tumbling, Hip Hop, and Musical Theatre. She took part in many musical productions in her early years, not only on the stage but also in the roles of Dance Captain and Assistant Choreographer. She began teaching dance seven years ago, leading her to pursue dance at the higher education level. She majored in Dance Studies and minored in Somatic Sustainability at Appalachian State University. While in Boone she served as Director of the Anyone Can Dance Program and she had the opportunity to choreograph for the Spring Appalachian Dance Ensemble. Katie graduated Summa Cum Laude from Appalachian after completing her honors thesis in the Spring of 2022. She is hopeful to continue her education in the coming years with a Masters and a PHD both in related dance fields. She currently teaches dance in different regions of North Carolina and she is so excited to have the opportunity to grow with such a wonderful studio!
Grace Cox- Front Desk Attendant
Heather Whicker- Accounting Assistant
Studio Policies
DANCE CLASS ATTIRE
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Please see our 'class descriptions' page to see what is required for each class. When registering, you will also receive detailed information about the required dance attire.
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OTHER DANCER EXPECTATIONS
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Hair secured in a ponytail and out of face
Ready to listen and learn
A smile and good attitude
Please write name in all dance shoes
Please use the restroom before class to help with fewer disruptions
KDC does not allow midriff or crop tops to be worn alone. Please wear a leotard under them if you choose to wear them.
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STUDIO GUIDELINES
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All of our classes will meet at 112 South Main Street, Downtown Kernersville. Please use our back door. Our front door is our wheelchair accessible entrance only.
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Dancer drop-off- Please arrive on time for class. Classes will start right on time. Have your dance attire and shoes on BEFORE class.
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Please make sure your dancer uses the bathroom right BEFORE class. *Especially our little dancers!** This helps with fewer disruptions during classes.
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Parents may watch from the lobby or run an errand. Please do not stand and watch at the front windows. Please keep your volume down in the lobby.
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Please be respectful of others in the lobby and our surrounding businesses. Please watch your children.
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All children must be accompanied by an adult in the lobby.
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Remember to throw away any trash outside or inside. Thank you for helping us keep our space clean.
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After class, dancers are not permitted to exit the lobby without an adult. If someone other than you is picking them up, PLEASE let us know. We want to keep everyone safe. Please be on time to pick-up your dancer. If a child is not picked up on time, they will remain with the teacher until a parent arrives.
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If a class enrollment drops to less than 3, KDC has the option to cancel that class. If this happens, students will be asked to join another class.
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Attendance is important. We understand that sickness and other events come up. Excessive unexcused absences may require payment and scheduling of private lessons.
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We expect our dancers and parents to be kind and respectful to one another.
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Parents, we ask that you please represent our studio in a positive way. Children learn from what they hear and see so we ask that you set a good example.
HEALTH AND SAFETY INFORMATION:
Here are some of the ways we are continuing to keep our dancers and their families safe:
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Mats and teaching aids are sterilized frequently.
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Hand sanitizer is available.
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Please stay home if you are not feeling well.
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We will continue to update our safety precautions as needed.
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