Instructors 2023-2024
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 and a Masters of Science in Education - Elementary Math Specialist. Vanessa has been teaching dance for twenty-five years, and is currently teaching her 21st 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 Education Specialist 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 and this year will be teaching classes and co-directing the Performance Team and the M.A.T.S. Team.
Rikki Mesh started dancing at the age of 2, and she attended Clinton Dance Academy and By Grace Performance Studio. During high school she was a member of the Flags Squad with the Cardinal Pride Marching Band. During her senior year she was captain of the team, and led them through a successful competition season. She attended the University of Missouri where she attained both a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Education in Learning, Teaching and Curriculum, and she has been teaching since 2012. During her undergrad, she was a member of the Mizzou Ballroom Dance Team. This experience allowed her to travel to other universities to compete. During this time she was also able to further her study of ballet at Studio B in Columbia. Upon graduating from Mizzou, she coached the John Boise Middle School and Warsaw High School cheerleaders for 2 years, and then became the coach of the Clinton Crimson Girls Dance Team until the end of the 2022 season. During her time as head coach of these squads, she took her teams to regional, state, and national competitions where her teams earned top placements and championships. Rikki began teaching at By Grace in the winter of 2022, and is excited to return for another season..
Emily Meeker - coming soon!
Catheryn Guterman is originally from Branson, Missouri. She was in a group called American Kids for eight years. Catheryn has been dancing since the age of 10. She has danced in many disciplines including jazz, ballet/pointe, ballroom, modern, contemporary, lyrical, and a little bit of tap. Catheryn trained at and was a graduating Senior of Sunshine Dance Academy, and has done many shows including the kick line in front of the Branson Christmas tree with Santa. She has worked with kids for many years, both in dance and in equestrian disciplines. Catheryn is in her Junior year of college at Liberty University. She plans on pursuing a career in veterinary. Catheryn began teaching at By Grace in the Fall of 2023.
Maycee Wray has been dancing since she was 5 years old. She is now 17 years old and a Senior at Clinton High School. Maycee has been on the Clinton Crimson Girls Dance Team for four years. She has been on the By Grace Performance Team for 4 years and on the MATS team for 3 years. She is enrolled in Pointe/ballet, tap, and jazz and has been trained in lyrical/contemporary, and tumbling for many years. 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 she graduates high school, she will be attending State Fair Community College to get her LPN & RN license.
Alex Markham is a Junior at Clinton High School and has been in tumbling classes since preschool. She loves tumbling and hopes to help others enjoy it as much as she does. Alex has been an apprentice for 5 years and was a member of the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team for six years. Alex plays the trumpet and french horn in band and is on the Varsity 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 and a Masters of Science in Education - Elementary Math Specialist. Vanessa has been teaching dance for twenty-five years, and is currently teaching her 21st 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 Education Specialist 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 and this year will be teaching classes and co-directing the Performance Team and the M.A.T.S. Team.
Rikki Mesh started dancing at the age of 2, and she attended Clinton Dance Academy and By Grace Performance Studio. During high school she was a member of the Flags Squad with the Cardinal Pride Marching Band. During her senior year she was captain of the team, and led them through a successful competition season. She attended the University of Missouri where she attained both a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Education in Learning, Teaching and Curriculum, and she has been teaching since 2012. During her undergrad, she was a member of the Mizzou Ballroom Dance Team. This experience allowed her to travel to other universities to compete. During this time she was also able to further her study of ballet at Studio B in Columbia. Upon graduating from Mizzou, she coached the John Boise Middle School and Warsaw High School cheerleaders for 2 years, and then became the coach of the Clinton Crimson Girls Dance Team until the end of the 2022 season. During her time as head coach of these squads, she took her teams to regional, state, and national competitions where her teams earned top placements and championships. Rikki began teaching at By Grace in the winter of 2022, and is excited to return for another season..
Emily Meeker - coming soon!
Catheryn Guterman is originally from Branson, Missouri. She was in a group called American Kids for eight years. Catheryn has been dancing since the age of 10. She has danced in many disciplines including jazz, ballet/pointe, ballroom, modern, contemporary, lyrical, and a little bit of tap. Catheryn trained at and was a graduating Senior of Sunshine Dance Academy, and has done many shows including the kick line in front of the Branson Christmas tree with Santa. She has worked with kids for many years, both in dance and in equestrian disciplines. Catheryn is in her Junior year of college at Liberty University. She plans on pursuing a career in veterinary. Catheryn began teaching at By Grace in the Fall of 2023.
Maycee Wray has been dancing since she was 5 years old. She is now 17 years old and a Senior at Clinton High School. Maycee has been on the Clinton Crimson Girls Dance Team for four years. She has been on the By Grace Performance Team for 4 years and on the MATS team for 3 years. She is enrolled in Pointe/ballet, tap, and jazz and has been trained in lyrical/contemporary, and tumbling for many years. 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 she graduates high school, she will be attending State Fair Community College to get her LPN & RN license.
Alex Markham is a Junior at Clinton High School and has been in tumbling classes since preschool. She loves tumbling and hopes to help others enjoy it as much as she does. Alex has been an apprentice for 5 years and was a member of the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team for six years. Alex plays the trumpet and french horn in band and is on the Varsity Cheer Team. When Alex graduates from high school, she plans on pursuing a career in physical therapy.
Apprentices 2022-2023
Miss Maycee see above.
Miss Alex see above.
Miss Jasmyn is twelve years old and is in the 7th grade at Clinton Middle School. She has been dancing for eleven years! Jasmyn is enrolled in tap, jazz, ballet, tumbling, Pre-Pointe, lyrical, ballet technique, stretch & strength/leaps & turns, and musical theatre. She is a member of the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team and a 7th 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 twelve years old and in the 7th grade at Windsor Junior High School. She has been dancing for six years. Ashlyn is a fourth 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, with lots of awards.
Mr. Benjamyn is ten 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 5th grade at the Clinton Intermediate School. Benjamyn says he is willing to help!
Mr. Tyler is 14 years old and in the 9th grade at Windsor High School. He has been on the By Grace Performance Team for three 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, lyrical, tumbling, ballet technique, stretch & strength/leaps & turns.
Miss Ashlyn S. has been dancing at By Grace since she was four years old. Ashlyn is now 15 years old, a freshman at Clinton High School, and has been on the By Grace Performance Team for seven years. She is also a member of the Crimson Girls Poms Squad at CHS. She is enrolled in tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, and lyrical. Ashlyn likes being an apprentice to help others. When she gets older, she wants to be a psychiatrist/therapist and be a dance teacher.
Miss Madison has been dancing since she was four years old. She is now 16 years old and a Junior at Clinton High School. This is Madison's 8th year on the Performance Team. In the summer of 2018, she was invited to the Chia Arts School of Dance Summer Intensive in Chicago, IL, which was directed by Kelsey Carpenter. By doing that, she was exposed to people of all nationalities. Madison is currently enrolled in tap, jazz, ballet, Pointe, and lyrical. She says she loves being around and teaching little kids and watching them grow to love dance as much as she does. When Madison graduates, she plans to attend Truman State University to study to be an LPN in Pediatrics.
Miss Haysel is nine years old and in the 4th grade at Leesville R-IX. She has been on the Performance Team for five years and has competed in group numbers, trios, duets, and is a soloist. Haysel is also a tumbler and has competed with the M.A.T.S. Team for six years. She is currently enrolled in tumbling class, jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, lyrical, and musical theatre. Haysel is excited to work with our younger students! She loves working with little kids and making friends and winnings awards!
Miss Julia is 10 years old, in the 4th grade and is homeschooled. She has been dancing for 5 years and is currently enrolled in tap, jazz, ballet, stretch and strength/leaps and turns, and ballet technique. She is a second-year member of the By Grace Performance Team. Julia loves helping her teacher with the little kids. She would like to dance professionally when she gets older. After she retires from professional dance, she’d like to be a dance instructor.
Miss Maycee see above.
Miss Alex see above.
Miss Jasmyn is twelve years old and is in the 7th grade at Clinton Middle School. She has been dancing for eleven years! Jasmyn is enrolled in tap, jazz, ballet, tumbling, Pre-Pointe, lyrical, ballet technique, stretch & strength/leaps & turns, and musical theatre. She is a member of the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team and a 7th 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 twelve years old and in the 7th grade at Windsor Junior High School. She has been dancing for six years. Ashlyn is a fourth 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, with lots of awards.
Mr. Benjamyn is ten 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 5th grade at the Clinton Intermediate School. Benjamyn says he is willing to help!
Mr. Tyler is 14 years old and in the 9th grade at Windsor High School. He has been on the By Grace Performance Team for three 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, lyrical, tumbling, ballet technique, stretch & strength/leaps & turns.
Miss Ashlyn S. has been dancing at By Grace since she was four years old. Ashlyn is now 15 years old, a freshman at Clinton High School, and has been on the By Grace Performance Team for seven years. She is also a member of the Crimson Girls Poms Squad at CHS. She is enrolled in tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, and lyrical. Ashlyn likes being an apprentice to help others. When she gets older, she wants to be a psychiatrist/therapist and be a dance teacher.
Miss Madison has been dancing since she was four years old. She is now 16 years old and a Junior at Clinton High School. This is Madison's 8th year on the Performance Team. In the summer of 2018, she was invited to the Chia Arts School of Dance Summer Intensive in Chicago, IL, which was directed by Kelsey Carpenter. By doing that, she was exposed to people of all nationalities. Madison is currently enrolled in tap, jazz, ballet, Pointe, and lyrical. She says she loves being around and teaching little kids and watching them grow to love dance as much as she does. When Madison graduates, she plans to attend Truman State University to study to be an LPN in Pediatrics.
Miss Haysel is nine years old and in the 4th grade at Leesville R-IX. She has been on the Performance Team for five years and has competed in group numbers, trios, duets, and is a soloist. Haysel is also a tumbler and has competed with the M.A.T.S. Team for six years. She is currently enrolled in tumbling class, jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, lyrical, and musical theatre. Haysel is excited to work with our younger students! She loves working with little kids and making friends and winnings awards!
Miss Julia is 10 years old, in the 4th grade and is homeschooled. She has been dancing for 5 years and is currently enrolled in tap, jazz, ballet, stretch and strength/leaps and turns, and ballet technique. She is a second-year member of the By Grace Performance Team. Julia loves helping her teacher with the little kids. She would like to dance professionally when she gets older. After she retires from professional dance, she’d like to be a dance instructor.