Instructors 2021-2022
Vanessa Diaz began her career in dance at the age of five. At the age of seven, Vanessa visited the U.S.S.R., Denmark, and Sweden on a dance tour. At age nine, she joined a dance troupe and has competed and traveled to many places including Orlando, Dallas, Nashville, Las Vegas, Anaheim, and New York. Vanessa has taken classes from the Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway. She is a graduate of CMSU (now UCM) with a Bachelor of Science in Education – Special Education degree. Vanessa has been teaching dance for twenty-three years, and is currently teaching her 19th year at By Grace. She continues to further her dance education each year by attending convention classes specifically designed for dance instructors. Vanessa is also pursuing her Masters Degree. She is a co-owner of the By Grace Performance Studio and has been teaching for the Clinton School District since the Fall of 2006. Miss Vanessa is a Co-Director of the By Grace Performance Team and the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team.
Jessica LaRue began dancing at the age of two and has been dancing ever since. Starting competitive dance at 12, she quickly grew into a prominent member of her studio and began teaching at 14. Jess went on to dance and choreograph for her high school dance team while being co-captain and captain. She made the all star team both her junior and senior years and was invited to dance with the UDA team (United Dance Association) in the 2005 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and the 2005 London New Year’s Parade! After graduating, Jess opted for a smaller school experience and went to Missouri Valley College where she studied business marketing and dance. She competed with the college dance team at the NAIA nationals all four years. Jess was also part of the Repertory Dance Ensemble, performing and choreographing for the fall and spring concerts each year. She became the school’s first dance major and went on to coach dance and cheer in Nebraska. She took a non-competitive team to nationals and placed 2nd in their first ever competition! After a year, she came back to Missouri to start her life with husband, Austin. Stepping back from dance full time, she continued to do freelance choreography in her spare time. In 2020, Jess joined By Grace as a substitute teacher and now begins this year as a full time teacher on Tuesdays!
Alexis Meyers started dancing at the age of 2 at a dance studio owned by her grandmother. She started competing and traveling with her studio’s dance troupe at the age of 8, going places such as Las Vegas, Florida, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Nebraska. She traveled to New York to spend a summer at Broadway Dance Center on a scholarship won at Dance Americas Dancer of the Year competition in 2009. Along with her studio dancing, she performed on her high school dance team from 2011-2015 in her hometown of Blue Springs Missouri. She has been a member of the IPush Hip Hop crew since 2015 and has competed with them ever since. Alexis was a judge for the Mrs. Missouri Pageant and has judged for many studio performance team auditions, and for multiple dance competitions in the KC Metro area. Alexis has also taught master classes at a number of studios throughout Missouri and Kansas and has choreographed competition team dances for those studios as well. She is a returning past By Grace teacher and choreographer, and she can't wait for the 2021-2022 season! Alexis will be the Co-Director of the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team!
Melanie Strong is originally from Branson, Missouri. She began dancing at the age of 2. She has danced for 19 years in all styles! Ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, hip hop, pointe, and even folklorico (traditional Mexican dance). Melanie has danced with multiple companies all through Missouri such as MWDR dance company, Springfield Dance Alliance, competed in dance teams and even performed in multiple shows. She was invited to perform at Disney’s Christmas Parade in 2015, perform in the 2016 London’s New Years Parade and in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in 2017 through UCA (Universal Cheer Associate). She recently graduated from Missouri State University in May of 2021 with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Spanish. She got married to her high school sweetheart in the summer of 2021. Now enjoying her first year of teaching at Clinton Intermediate School and being the assistant coach for the Crimson Girls Dance Team. She is joining By Grace as the Co-Director of the By Grace Performance Team.
Gracie Dudley began dancing at the age of five and has done it ever since. She is a junior in high school. Gracie is enrolled in tap, ballet, jazz, and Pointe. Dance is one of her many passions followed with helping little kids. After high school, she plans to move to Bolivar and start a new journey at SVU to get a degree in elementary special education and work at a dance studio on the side. Gracie is also the captain of the Clinton Crimson Girls. She enjoys representing her school on the field/court. Gracie’s number one goal is to have a little kids enjoy dance just like her dance teachers taught her. She is excited to begin the season!
Maycee Wray has been dancing since she was 5 years old. She is now 15 years old and a sophomore at Clinton High School. Maycee has been on the Clinton Crimson Girls Squad for two years. This is her 4th year on the By Grace Performance Team and will be her 3rd year on the MATS team. She is enrolled in Pointe, tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical/contemporary, and tumbling. She loves helping in any way she can, especially with little kids. Maycee would love to do this for many years and continue to teach younger students throughout her career. When Maycee graduates, she plans to attend college and become a PTA (Physical Therapist Assistant).
Parker Cochran began dancing at the age of three. She is 16 years old and a Junior at Clinton High School. She is currently a lifeguard and swim team coach. She took By Grace cheerleading classes when she was younger, later inspiring her to try out for the Clinton High School cheer squad her freshman year. She has been a member of the Varsity squad for all three years, and this year serves as a Captain of the cheer squad. She is looking forward to helping others in starting their cheerleading journey, and hopefully many will be inspired to join the Clinton High School cheerleading squad when they get older! After High school, Parker plans on joining a college cheer team and pursuing a degree in the Medical Field.
Alex Markham is 15 years old & is a Freshman at Clinton High School. Alex has been in tumbling since preschool and is very passionate about it. She loves tumbling and hopes to help others enjoy it as much as she does. Alex has been an apprentice for 3 years and has been a member of the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team for 4 years. Alex plays the trumpet in band and is on the Cheer Team. When Alex graduates from high school, she plans on pursuing a career in physical therapy.
Vanessa Diaz began her career in dance at the age of five. At the age of seven, Vanessa visited the U.S.S.R., Denmark, and Sweden on a dance tour. At age nine, she joined a dance troupe and has competed and traveled to many places including Orlando, Dallas, Nashville, Las Vegas, Anaheim, and New York. Vanessa has taken classes from the Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway. She is a graduate of CMSU (now UCM) with a Bachelor of Science in Education – Special Education degree. Vanessa has been teaching dance for twenty-three years, and is currently teaching her 19th year at By Grace. She continues to further her dance education each year by attending convention classes specifically designed for dance instructors. Vanessa is also pursuing her Masters Degree. She is a co-owner of the By Grace Performance Studio and has been teaching for the Clinton School District since the Fall of 2006. Miss Vanessa is a Co-Director of the By Grace Performance Team and the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team.
Jessica LaRue began dancing at the age of two and has been dancing ever since. Starting competitive dance at 12, she quickly grew into a prominent member of her studio and began teaching at 14. Jess went on to dance and choreograph for her high school dance team while being co-captain and captain. She made the all star team both her junior and senior years and was invited to dance with the UDA team (United Dance Association) in the 2005 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and the 2005 London New Year’s Parade! After graduating, Jess opted for a smaller school experience and went to Missouri Valley College where she studied business marketing and dance. She competed with the college dance team at the NAIA nationals all four years. Jess was also part of the Repertory Dance Ensemble, performing and choreographing for the fall and spring concerts each year. She became the school’s first dance major and went on to coach dance and cheer in Nebraska. She took a non-competitive team to nationals and placed 2nd in their first ever competition! After a year, she came back to Missouri to start her life with husband, Austin. Stepping back from dance full time, she continued to do freelance choreography in her spare time. In 2020, Jess joined By Grace as a substitute teacher and now begins this year as a full time teacher on Tuesdays!
Alexis Meyers started dancing at the age of 2 at a dance studio owned by her grandmother. She started competing and traveling with her studio’s dance troupe at the age of 8, going places such as Las Vegas, Florida, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Nebraska. She traveled to New York to spend a summer at Broadway Dance Center on a scholarship won at Dance Americas Dancer of the Year competition in 2009. Along with her studio dancing, she performed on her high school dance team from 2011-2015 in her hometown of Blue Springs Missouri. She has been a member of the IPush Hip Hop crew since 2015 and has competed with them ever since. Alexis was a judge for the Mrs. Missouri Pageant and has judged for many studio performance team auditions, and for multiple dance competitions in the KC Metro area. Alexis has also taught master classes at a number of studios throughout Missouri and Kansas and has choreographed competition team dances for those studios as well. She is a returning past By Grace teacher and choreographer, and she can't wait for the 2021-2022 season! Alexis will be the Co-Director of the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team!
Melanie Strong is originally from Branson, Missouri. She began dancing at the age of 2. She has danced for 19 years in all styles! Ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, hip hop, pointe, and even folklorico (traditional Mexican dance). Melanie has danced with multiple companies all through Missouri such as MWDR dance company, Springfield Dance Alliance, competed in dance teams and even performed in multiple shows. She was invited to perform at Disney’s Christmas Parade in 2015, perform in the 2016 London’s New Years Parade and in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in 2017 through UCA (Universal Cheer Associate). She recently graduated from Missouri State University in May of 2021 with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Spanish. She got married to her high school sweetheart in the summer of 2021. Now enjoying her first year of teaching at Clinton Intermediate School and being the assistant coach for the Crimson Girls Dance Team. She is joining By Grace as the Co-Director of the By Grace Performance Team.
Gracie Dudley began dancing at the age of five and has done it ever since. She is a junior in high school. Gracie is enrolled in tap, ballet, jazz, and Pointe. Dance is one of her many passions followed with helping little kids. After high school, she plans to move to Bolivar and start a new journey at SVU to get a degree in elementary special education and work at a dance studio on the side. Gracie is also the captain of the Clinton Crimson Girls. She enjoys representing her school on the field/court. Gracie’s number one goal is to have a little kids enjoy dance just like her dance teachers taught her. She is excited to begin the season!
Maycee Wray has been dancing since she was 5 years old. She is now 15 years old and a sophomore at Clinton High School. Maycee has been on the Clinton Crimson Girls Squad for two years. This is her 4th year on the By Grace Performance Team and will be her 3rd year on the MATS team. She is enrolled in Pointe, tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical/contemporary, and tumbling. She loves helping in any way she can, especially with little kids. Maycee would love to do this for many years and continue to teach younger students throughout her career. When Maycee graduates, she plans to attend college and become a PTA (Physical Therapist Assistant).
Parker Cochran began dancing at the age of three. She is 16 years old and a Junior at Clinton High School. She is currently a lifeguard and swim team coach. She took By Grace cheerleading classes when she was younger, later inspiring her to try out for the Clinton High School cheer squad her freshman year. She has been a member of the Varsity squad for all three years, and this year serves as a Captain of the cheer squad. She is looking forward to helping others in starting their cheerleading journey, and hopefully many will be inspired to join the Clinton High School cheerleading squad when they get older! After High school, Parker plans on joining a college cheer team and pursuing a degree in the Medical Field.
Alex Markham is 15 years old & is a Freshman at Clinton High School. Alex has been in tumbling since preschool and is very passionate about it. She loves tumbling and hopes to help others enjoy it as much as she does. Alex has been an apprentice for 3 years and has been a member of the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team for 4 years. Alex plays the trumpet in band and is on the Cheer Team. When Alex graduates from high school, she plans on pursuing a career in physical therapy.
Apprentices 2021-2022
Miss Gracie see above.
Miss Maycee see above.
Miss Alex see above.
Miss Jasmyn is eleven years old and is in the 6th grade at Clinton Middle School. She has been dancing for ten years! Jasmyn is enrolled in tap, jazz, ballet, tumbling, Pre-Pointe, lyrical, hip hop, ballet technique, stretch & strength/leaps & turns. She is a member of the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team and a 6th year member of the By Grace Performance Team. Jasmyn says she wants to be an apprentice to help others. She likes to be around little kids a lot. Jasmyn says she wants to be a preschool teacher when she grows up.
Miss Ashlyn M. is eleven years old and in the 6th grade at Windsor Elementary School. She has been dancing for five years. Ashlyn is a third year member of the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team and the By Grace Performance Team. She wants to be a tap, jazz, and ballet teacher when she grows up.
Miss Jazsneelia started dancing at the age of four and is now 14 years old. She has been competitively dancing for four years. Jazsneelia is enrolled in tap, jazz, ballet and is a member of the By Grace Performance Team. She wants to encourage and help little kids get better. When she gets a job, she wishes to be a preschool teacher and a half-time dance teacher Monday thru Friday.
Mr. Onlee has been dancing for four years. He is 11 years old and goes to Leesville R4 School. Onlee is a member of the By Grace Performance Team. He says he wants to be an apprentice because he likes helping people.
Miss Harper began dancing at the age of six and she still is at the age of ten. She is a second year member of the By Grace Performance Team. She previously was on the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team for two years. She is enrolled in musical theatre, tap, jazz, ballet, ballet technique, stretch & strength/leaps & turns. Harper wanted to apprentice because she loves working with little ones so they can become better. She is the the 5th grade at Clinton Intermediate School.
Mr. Benjamyn is nine years old and started dancing at the age of three. He is a member of the By Grace Performance Team and the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team. Benjamyn loves to do hip hop, jazz, tap and musical theatre. He is in 4th grade at the Clinton Intermediate School. Benjamyn says he is willing to help!
Mr. Tyler is 13 years old and in the 8th grade at Windsor High School. He has been on the By Grace Performance Team for two years, competing in group dances and as a solo dancer. Tyler says he loves to apprentice little kids to help them get ready to move up in dance and tumbling. He is currently enrolled in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre, hip hop, tumbling, ballet technique, stretch & strength/leaps & turns.
Miss Leddie is 11 years old and in the 5th grade. She was eight years old when she started dance. Leddie is enrolled in tap, jazz, ballet, tumbling she is a member of the By Grace MATS Team. She started apprenticing because she really likes kids and likes to help out the teachers at By Grace.
Miss Gracie see above.
Miss Maycee see above.
Miss Alex see above.
Miss Jasmyn is eleven years old and is in the 6th grade at Clinton Middle School. She has been dancing for ten years! Jasmyn is enrolled in tap, jazz, ballet, tumbling, Pre-Pointe, lyrical, hip hop, ballet technique, stretch & strength/leaps & turns. She is a member of the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team and a 6th year member of the By Grace Performance Team. Jasmyn says she wants to be an apprentice to help others. She likes to be around little kids a lot. Jasmyn says she wants to be a preschool teacher when she grows up.
Miss Ashlyn M. is eleven years old and in the 6th grade at Windsor Elementary School. She has been dancing for five years. Ashlyn is a third year member of the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team and the By Grace Performance Team. She wants to be a tap, jazz, and ballet teacher when she grows up.
Miss Jazsneelia started dancing at the age of four and is now 14 years old. She has been competitively dancing for four years. Jazsneelia is enrolled in tap, jazz, ballet and is a member of the By Grace Performance Team. She wants to encourage and help little kids get better. When she gets a job, she wishes to be a preschool teacher and a half-time dance teacher Monday thru Friday.
Mr. Onlee has been dancing for four years. He is 11 years old and goes to Leesville R4 School. Onlee is a member of the By Grace Performance Team. He says he wants to be an apprentice because he likes helping people.
Miss Harper began dancing at the age of six and she still is at the age of ten. She is a second year member of the By Grace Performance Team. She previously was on the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team for two years. She is enrolled in musical theatre, tap, jazz, ballet, ballet technique, stretch & strength/leaps & turns. Harper wanted to apprentice because she loves working with little ones so they can become better. She is the the 5th grade at Clinton Intermediate School.
Mr. Benjamyn is nine years old and started dancing at the age of three. He is a member of the By Grace Performance Team and the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team. Benjamyn loves to do hip hop, jazz, tap and musical theatre. He is in 4th grade at the Clinton Intermediate School. Benjamyn says he is willing to help!
Mr. Tyler is 13 years old and in the 8th grade at Windsor High School. He has been on the By Grace Performance Team for two years, competing in group dances and as a solo dancer. Tyler says he loves to apprentice little kids to help them get ready to move up in dance and tumbling. He is currently enrolled in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre, hip hop, tumbling, ballet technique, stretch & strength/leaps & turns.
Miss Leddie is 11 years old and in the 5th grade. She was eight years old when she started dance. Leddie is enrolled in tap, jazz, ballet, tumbling she is a member of the By Grace MATS Team. She started apprenticing because she really likes kids and likes to help out the teachers at By Grace.