KDA Contact Info Phone: 719.325.6234 Email: kdafrontoffice@gmail.com
Jeni Kemper
Founder/Artistic Director
Jeni Kemper graduated from the University of Arizona in May 2005 with a BFA in Dance. Her early training in ballet, jazz, modern and tap came from several studios in Colorado Springs, CO. She has had the opportunity to work with Mia Michaels, Debbie Allen, Bill Hastings, Sherry Zunker and several other world-renown choreographers. Jeni received a full scholarship to Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, as well as the opportunity to study intensively with River North Dance Company. Upon graduating, Jeni worked for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line as a dancer and dance captain in the production shows. She has choreographed for the Colorado Children’s Theatre Productions, D-11 Productions and many more rewarding experiences. Jeni has been a mentor and instructor to many students throughout the U.S. and enjoys sharing her love for the performing arts. She has received many Top Choreography Awards at numerous dance competitions. Many of her students have received scholarships and top awards throughout the US. Jeni Kemper’s main focuses for the studio is help students with either their career as a dancer or help them realize they are able to stay in the dance world but not have to be a dancer (i.e. PT, Agents etc.) Jeni was never directed in the right direction while she was growing up and only thought dance as a hobby. When she was accepted to the University of Arizona it opened her eyes that dance is not just a hobby. All the hard work and money Jeni’s parents put into dance can be well spent. Jeni wants to help her students realize these things. Plus with the many connections she has, Jeni can help her students make great connections while they are still trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives. Her greatest pride is seeing her students grow and getting into a college or seeing them push for something they really believe in.
Rachelle McDaniel
KDA Company Director/Instructor
Rachelle McDaniel, a.k.a. Shelly, has been at Kemper Dance Academy since November 2014. Shelly came from her home town of Memphis Tennessee where her mother still owns 2 studios, so instead of going to daycare she went to dance classes. She was the only two year old in the advanced classes, she was even used as a prop a few times at recital. Since she was always at the studio she started assisting and teaching at a young age and got her certification to teach, from Southern Association of Dance Masters, in ballet and jazz at the young age of 13. From there she continued her training every year receiving new certifications. Shelly ran the daycare program at her moms studio, where she would have to dress up in whatever costume was available to go pick the kids up and get them excited for class. Still to this day it is one of her favorite classes to teach. Shortly after she started taking on the gymnastics program and co-teaching with top instructors. By the age 17, Shelly was running her mother's second studio which included planning for events, setting the curriculum and directing the staff. Shelly decided it was time to branch out from her southern small city (she had lived in her whole life) to push herself in her dancing career. She was 19 and moved half way across the country to a new place and decided to see what the style of teaching was on the west cost. And it was worth the move getting a whole new perspective and bringing it back to her mothers studio when she guests teaches and bringing some elements into her studio home. One of Shelly's favorite memories is dancing along the side of Goofy at Disneyland. Shelly loves working with all the KDA dancers and loves seeing them grow them every single day.
Devon Burchfield
KDA Company Director/Instructor
Devon Burchfield grew up in Colorado Springs dancing at a couple local studios and graduated through Summit Dance Works in 2016. Her time at the studio was spent improving in technique in jazz, lyrical, acro, ballet, and various other styles. She was apart of their apprenticing program where she learned alongside the instructors. After graduating she went to Western Michigan University where she studied dance and fashion merchandising. At the same time, she was on WMU’s Dance Team competing at National Dance Alliance where she was awarded the All American Award multiple times. Her time since then has been spent teaching at local studios growing her knowledge of lyrical, acro, jazz technique, and strength training for dancers. She has also gained skills in business, event planning, sales, and class management.
Ron "Future" Jules
KDA Hip Hop Director/Instructor
Ron “Future” Jules was born in West Palm Beach Florida. In 2008 he graduated from Penn State University. While he was at Penn State he was on the Track Team and as well studied dance. Ron is an all style dancer, freestyler and choreographer. He specializes in hip-hop, popping, locking, break dance, krump, and house. He was the co-founder/Vice president of R.A.M SQUAD, Penn State Hip-Hop Club. Ron worked as a Hip Hop instructor for Penn State, Woodward Camp and YMCA. His influences are Mr. Wiggles, Electric Boogaloos, The Lockers, Tight Eyez, Elite Force, Monsters of Hip-Hop, World of Dance, R.A.M Squad and many more. Ron has been a 2 time Winner of Rhythm Spotlight/Allstyle Judge, won 3rd place in Mr. Wiggles All-style online contest and can be seen in the special features of Step Up the movie DVD. Ron is excited to be sharing his knowledge and talents with the all the dancers at Kemper Dance Academy.
Katie Zezula
KDA Tap Director/Instructor
Katie Zezula grew up dancing in her hometown of Colorado Springs, CO. Katie graduated with her MBA from Johnson & Wales University in Denver, CO. Growing up in Colorado Springs, she was part of Synergy Dance Academy's Elite Competition Company through grade school and by age 14 started teaching tap and jazz. In 2008, she tap danced on board Carnival Cruise Lines with John Tesh's Live Concert Series. Katie was accepted into Tap Kids Summer Intensive and performed solo in the annual Showcase. She has taught various styles of dance at many competition studios, elementary schools, and cheer gyms across the greater Denver region. Katie served as Rehearsal Director, tap choreographer, and company member with The Damsels Dance Company. She was a frequent performer at The Mezzanine and with the Colorado Springs Conservatory, plus choreographing and and performing as a company member of Industrial Dance Alliance. Katie loved attended and performed with Big Apple Tap Festival, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, and St. Louis Tap Festival. Currently, Katie is a choreographer and company member of Rocky Mountain Rhythm tap company. She is so excited to work with the KDA dancers and continue to push them to their best ability.
Tomi Lee Daly
KDA Company Director/Instructor
Tomi Lee Daly was born and raised in Orange County, California, her love for the performing arts started at an early age. She began her training at Huntington Academy of Dance, where she committed herself to a rigorous ballet program known world-wide as the Cecchetti method. She spent 7 years training under the Cecchetti method, attending summer intensives across the country and completing 7 graded Cecchetti exams, passing with honors as a pre-professional student. Her performance history includes 8 years in The Nutcracker, receiving the lead role as “Clara” in 2003 where she danced with principal dance artist, Aram Manukyan of the Sarasota Ballet of Florida. She also performed roles in classical ballets and variations such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia and Gizelle. Her training extends beyond ballet as she has been a competitive dancer since the age of 8 in tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical and contemporary, receiving numerous awards as both a soloist and group competitor. She began her teaching career at Orange County’s Impact Dance Center, at the age of 16 where her love for teaching grew into a passion. After graduating highschool she continued her training into college becoming a member of a pre-professional modern dance company, Leverage Dance, from 2009-2013. As a college student, she decided to move across the state to Northern California where she continued her education at California State University, Chico earning a B.A. in Communication Studies. She continued her teaching career at Hype Dance Studio, teaching a variety of styles and choreographing for their competitive team. In 2022, She took on a new adventure and moved with her husband and two kids to Colorado Springs where she found Kemper Dance Academy. She is so happy to be a part of the Kemper family, and to continue sharing her love for dance with students.
Ayana Kjonaas
KDA Company Director/Instructor
Ayana Kjonaas is a recent graduate of The Boston Conservatory at Berklee with a BFA in Musical Theatre. She is an alumni of the Zamuel Ballet School and began her dancing career at the age of 6 and has since expanded to work as an actress, singer, and dancer. She has had the privilege of performing for Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliott, Andre de Shields, Alex Lacamoire, Alysha Umphress, Alan Cumming, and Jessica Castro. Additionally, she has performed and attended masterclasses with Sutton Foster, Emily Koch, Jim Hogan, Roberto Sinha, as well as members from the Broadway casts of Hamilton, Cats, Mean Girls, West Side Story, Candide, Dear Evan Hansen, Miss Saigon, and Side Show to name a few. She is excited to continue working on her career as an educator and performer both on and off the stage.
Caelyn Fletcher
KDA Company Director/Instructor
Caelyn Fletcher has been dancing since the day she figured out how to stand on her own two feet. She has grown up dancing in Colorado, first in Denver and then Colorado Springs and has extensive training in multiple styles of dance: Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Ballet, Hip-Hop and Modern. She has worked closely with a number of world class choreographers including Desiree Robbins, Liz Imperio, Teddy Forance, Gregg Russel, and Ivan Koumaev. Over the years, Caelyn has received full ride scholarships to the Alvin Aly Summer Intensive, Giordano Dance Chicago, and EDGE Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, was recruited to be an assistant with Dance League in their inaugural year and was also awarded a scholarship and automatic acceptance into The American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Caelyn is studying sports psychology and business at Mississippi State University but keeps her dance training up while completing her studies. The opportunities and connections she has made during her 19 years dancing have made a huge impact on her and are some of the things for which she is most grateful. Her biggest goal working with young dancers is to help them find confidence in their own abilities and performance while exploring new ideas that can push their growth to new heights. She puts everything she has into every opportunity brought to her, no matter how big or small.
Cindy Kaminski
Adult Program Dance Instructor
Cindy Kaminski started tap lessons at the age of 5 and continued through grade school. In High school, she was on drill team and then a cheerleader. At Oregon State University, Cindy took classes is Ballet, Modern, and folk dancing, which she was in a performing group for 2 years. Cindy was also on the OSU dance team called the “Raindrops”, for 3 years. Besides doing danced at games, she did some molding for dept. stores and toured. Cindy went to places like Mexico City, where she performed at military bases, games and on TV. She also did a duet with 1 other girl that could tap, because none of the other 19 girls could, on that trip. Cindy has taught at The Dance Center for about 34 years, Kids combos, Acro, Tap and Jazz. She did competitive groups in tap, jazz, and Lyrical, plus solos, duets and trios in these. In the 90s and early 2000s, she taught 20 classes a week, plus privates. Cindy have been teaching teen-adult tap at KDA since the summer of 2016.
Kayla Suyatna
Dance Instructor
Kayla Suyatna was born and raised in Colorado Springs. She started dancing at the age of 4 years old with Miss Jeni and is an alumni of Kemper Dance Academy. She is well rounded in all styles but her favorite style is Hip Hop. She has worked with artist like Randi Kemper, Hefa Tuita, Ade Obayomi, Ivan Koumaev and the list goes on and on. Kayla is currently a student at UCCS and loves that she can continue to help the KDA dancers find their passion in dance.
Danielle Grimaldo
Dance Instructor
Danielle Grimaldo has been dancing for over 19 years. Danielle danced on her high school dance team competing in different UDA (Universal Dance Association) and NDA (National Dance Association) competitions and camps. Following high school Danielle began coaching the dance team at Doherty High school for 10 years. During that 10 year time Danielle received multiple coaching certificates and accolades through both UDA and NDA, the dance team was also invited to UDA national championships where the team placed in the top 10 in their category. Danielle recently joined KDA where her children also participate in dance at our KDA studio!
Marchelle Elliott
Yoga and Fitness Instructor
Marchelle was born and raised in Chicago, IL, Marchelle's fitness career began in 1992. She began teaching yoga in 2007 but her yoga practice did not commence until 2011. Marchelle's approach to yoga teaching is light-hearted and fun. While having studied several styles of yoga, you will find that she is most connected to Vinyasa Yoga. From Gentle Yoga to Power Yoga, you will always leave her class feeling nurtured and grounded in the breath and movement of the class. She believes that yoga is for anybody and any body. Marchelle is very passionate about healthy living inside and out. When she isn't teaching Yoga, you can find her teaching Indoor Cycling or enjoying home workouts. Outside of fitness, she is a proud mom of three beautiful, athletic children and adored wife of her retired Navy husband of more than 26 years.
Debi Kemper
Everyone's Grandma and Costume Designer
Debi started her passion in costume designing when her daughters were in dance. She loved the design, the materials and the rhinestones that come with dance costumes. Her passion and love for dance comes through her costumes. She has won many top awards for her costumes at many various events throughout the United States. Along with her passion for costumes, she is everyone's favorite grandma. When you see Grandma Debi in the studio, stop and give her a big hug. It will cure all your worries for the day!
Jaime Swope
KDA Front Desk Manager
Bio Coming...
KDA Contact Info Phone: 719.325.6234 Email: kdafrontoffice@gmail.com