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Miss Jean
Hi!!! My name is Jean Patee-Merrill and I am the owner and director of A Step Ahead Dance Company. I have had a love for dancing since I was a little girl. A love that has never left me. Many years ago I attended Missouri Western State College on theater, dance and cheer scholarships, leaving in 1978 to marry my college sweetheart. I have been active in volunteerism for many years including being both a Boy Scout and Girl Scout Leader, have worked with local youth groups, community organizations, and as a substitute teacher for the Maryville RII schools as well as spending thousands of hours attending sporting and school activities for my husband and children. I am currently an Election Judge for Nodaway County, a position that I have held since 1992. I am married to Sgt. David L. Merrill (MSHP, retired) and am the mother of David, DJ, Danielle, Derek, Dakota, Dannen, and Debrielle, and the grandmother of Delaney, Drake, Paige, Landen, Miles, Chase, William, Caleb, Emma, Abigail, Michaela, Tyler, Lillian. Ellie & Carter. |
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Miss Taylor.
Hi everyone!! My name is Taylor Merrill and I am a jazz and tap instructor at A Step Ahead Dance Company. My husband, Dannen (Miss Jean's son), and I are proud Spoofhound and Bearcat alumni. I graduated from Maryville High in 2011. I attended Northwest Missouri State University where I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Child and Family Studies in 2015 and a Masters of Education in Guidance and Counseling in 2017.
In previous years, I was a School Counselor at the Maryville Early Childhood Center. I absolutely loved working with our youngest learners and helping them both in school and at the studio! Now a-days you will find me at home with our sweet son Carter or on the sideline at a Bearcat sporting event! I am the first ever head spirit coach for Northwest Missouri State University overseeing the Bearcat Steppers and Bearcat Cheerleaders. Go Cats!! I danced for 20 years both recreationally and competitively and have taught dance for 16 years. I am proud to say that while attending Northwest I was a very active member of Phi Mu, a Bearcat Stepper, and in the Northwest Dance Company. This will be my 12th year instructing at A Step Ahead Dance Company and love every opportunity I have to share my knowledge of dance with our students. I cannot wait to see what the studio's 13th year has in store for our dance family and to watch our students grow in their technique, ability, and love for the sport! |
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Miss Debrielle
Hello! My name is Debrielle Merrill and I am so excited to start my 13th season at A Step Ahead Dance Company! My favorite style of dance to teach is clogging, but also teach tap, jazz, lyrical (my second favorite style of dance), contemporary, ballet, hip hop, musical theater, and tumbling classes!
I am a proud graduate of Maryville High School and Northwest Missouri State University. During my time at Northwest I cheered on the Bearcats to 5 national championships as a Bearcat Cheerleader (2 years) and Bearcat Stepper (3 years) where I was also captain my senior year. While at Northwest I worked as a UDA Staffer for 3 years, teaching dance camps across the Midwest, was active in my sorority, Alpha Sigma Alpha, and as a member of the NWMSU Student Senate, was honored to be elected as their treasurer and vice president. Competing in the Miss America Organization, I was able to earn over $30,000 in scholarships as well as being named Miss Missouri 2019 1st runner up. Currently working as a Senior Tax Associate for CBIZ, I am busy studying for my CPA exam later this year. In my spare time I like to take long walks with my golden retriever Kitty. Our 13th year will be the best year yet and I look forward to watching all of our students grow as dancers and tumblers!!! |
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Miss Chloe
Hi everyone!! My name is Chloe Tomney and I’m so excited for my second year teaching at A Step Ahead Dance Company! I love teaching lyrical and contemporary but I also teach jazz, hip hop, tap, ballet, and tumbling!
I’m from Kansas City, Missouri where I graduated from Liberty North High School and I am now a sophomore at Northwest Missouri State University! I am majoring in Applied Health Science and minoring in Business. This is my second year as a Bearcat Stepper where I’m currently our head of media and team bonding! I am also a Tri Sigma where I’m our Ritual Manager and Junior Panhellenic Delegate! I’ve been dancing since I was 2 years old and I trained competitively at Studio 320 Dance in Kansas City, where I also taught numerous classes! While home in Kansas City I continue to teach at Studio 320 and hold private lessons to help dancers grow towards their full potential! I’ve been a choreographer for around 4 years now teaching routines to numerous high schools and routines at ASADC! This past summer was my first summer as a UDA staffer where I’ve traveled across the states teaching at many dance camps! Here’s to a great season ahead!! |
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Miss Ameris
Hi Everyone!
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Miss Cheyenne
Hi Everyone! My name is Cheyenne Downing and this is my 4th year teaching at ASADC! I will be going into my Senior year at Northwest studying Exercise Science!
I have been dancing since I was 10 years old and joined A Step Ahead when I was 17! I also cheered through high school and one year as a Northwest Cheerleader! I mainly teach Acro but also love to do dance classes! I am looking forward to this new year at ASADC! |
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Miss Braley
Hi everyone! My name is Braley Peterson! I’m from Savannah, MO, This is my second year teaching acro at A Step Ahead! I’m going into my sophomore year at Northwest. I am majoring in Business Management and I’m in a sorority Tri Sigma. I teach acro here are the studio and I love it! I did competitive cheer for 12 years. I have a lot of experience with tumbling and acro. Acro is my specialty and I love getting to teach students new skills! |
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Miss Paige
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Miss Paisley
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Miss Josie
Hello everyone! My name is Josie Schreck and I am so excited for my first year teaching at A Step Ahead Dance Company!
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Miss Mac“Hello everybody!! My name is McKenzie Black, otherwise known as Mac Black, and this will be my second year with A Step Ahead Dance Company and I could not be more excited! I love teaching hip hop, sassy jazz, musical theatre, and tumbling, however I love to get out of my comfort zone and do contemporary and lyrical.
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Miss Julia |
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