Jordan is the Director of our Starz Performance and Mini Starz program as well as the Director of the Hip Hop and Jazz Company Teams at StarMakers. Jordan is a graduate of Dorman High School, where she was a leader on the Blue Belles dance team. Jordan has been teaching ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop at StarMakers since 2003, and currently teaches the competitive hip hop, and jazz teams. Jordan has had the privilege of teaching at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind where she is able to share her passion of dance. As of 2019, Jordan was given the opportunity to become the Assistant Coach of the Wofford College Dance Team along with the head coach, our very own, Christi Stanton. When not at StarMakers, Jordan is the office administrator for Bird Paving & Upstate Grading.

Jordan Says: “I have danced for as long as I can remember, in many different places…Disney World, Dollywood, Bowl games and more! Dance is such a passion for me, and I also love kids, making this the best job ever! I have always had an aspiration to teach children and the best feeling in the world is knowing that I am using my talent to reach out to children and teach them the art of dance!” She is happily married to the love of her life, Hunter, and they have a beautiful daughter named, Huntly, who is also a dancer for the SMDC Co. Teams.

Taylor Connolly is an instructor, the Director of the Tap program for StarMakers, and a staff member/bus driver for StarKidz After School and Summer Camp. Taylor became a member of the StarMakers family in 2007 at the age of 15; however she discovered her passion for the art of dance when she was 11 years old, living in Simi Valley, California. During her years in California, she was classically trained in Ballet and Pointe, along with Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Lyrical, and Contemporary. Alongside dance, she also was trained in Musical Theatre for 8 years. After four years of competing in Southern California, and one year in Pikeville, Kentucky, Taylor’s family packed up and moved to South Carolina where she was pointed into the direction of StarMakers Dance Company. From 2007 to 2012, Taylor had the opportunity of competing in numerous solo routines along with competing on the local, state, and nationally ranked Jazz, Tap, Clogging, Hip Hop, Irish, and Sudden Impact Top 5 company teams. Since 2007, Taylor and her teammates have made numerous appearances on Your Carolina with Jack Roper, Fox Carolina News, and on Carnival Cruise Lines. In 2010, her Top 5 clogging team was granted the opportunity to travel to New York and audition for Paula Abdul’s reality show, Live to Dance. Also in 2010, Taylor was hired on as an instructor and staff member and has since moved up to become an Instructor for the Jazz, Tap, and Hip Hop Company Teams at StarMakers. During her time at StarMakers, Taylor has won numerous choreography awards for tap, jazz and contemporary, and in 2023, led her Jr. Tap Team to the World Dance Championships in New Jersey where they placed in the Top 5! While at Worlds, she received the “Excellence in Choreography” award. In addition to StarMakers, she was also hired as a staff member at StarKidz After School & Summer Camp Program and, in 2017, became CDL-certified to drive busses, pick up children from school, and bring them to our facility in the afternoons. StarMakers has not only been a place to further her career as a dancer/dance instructor but has become a true second home and second family. Taylor could not be more thankful for all of the open doors that dance has provided in her life.

In 2010, Shauna married Jeremy Hines, and together they have three wonderful children: Ryan, Jaydon, and Shaylee. In 2014, they decided to leave the army.  After thirteen years, Shauna returned to the sport she so passionately loves. Shauna has been coaching the power tumbling and trampoline program for 9 years at StarMakers.  This program has had athletes qualify for Nationals every competition season.  With multiple State and Regional Champions.  Shauna was named the Developmental Coach of the year for North and South Carolina in 2019 and USAG State Chair for South Carolina for 2019-2020.  

Ashley Cloonan is a graduate of Clemson University. During college, she taught hip-hop and clogging at local dance studios and for Clemson University’s Clemson Dancers. Ashley is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, clogging, Irish step, and hip hop beginning at age 5. She was a

member of all StarMakers Senior dance teams from 2001-2004

where she also served as a class assistant. By 2015, Ashley was hired on as an instructor at StarMakers, and currently teaches studio level Ballet/Tap Classes, Mini Starz Tap, and the competitive Petite Tap team. Her daughter, Aly Grace, is also a member of the SMDC Co. Dance Teams. Ashley’s goal is to provide her students with a strong foundation in dance and to grow their passion for this amazing artform. In addition to dance, she’s an elementary school teacher in Spartanburg’s District 5 where she strives to incorporate dance and the arts into her regular classroom curriculum. Ashley currently resides in Spartanburg with her husband, Ryan, and their two children, Aly Grace and Henry.

Hoyt Starkey has been clogging for 41 years and teaching for the past 36 years, and is the Director of the Award Winning STARZ ARTISTIC CLOGGERS. Throughout his clogging career he has had the opportunity to perform at The Grand Ole Opry, on Hee Haw, Club Dance, The Miss South Carolina Pageant and Disney World. Hoyt has had many High School pageant winners as well as Miss South Carolina pageant preliminary winners. His Clogging Team opened for Minni Pearl in Punta Gorda, FL at their Tricentennial Anniversary. In 2012, Hoyt was inducted into the America’s Clogging Hall of Fame where he also serves on the advisory board for the organization. Hoyt had the privilege to travel abroad with the Bailey Mountain Cloggers from Mars Hill University to Palma de Mallorca, Spain and Paderborn, Germany to participate in the International Folk Dance Festivals. We are blessed to have Hoyt as a part of the StarMakers staff!

Caitlin began her dance journey at the age of 5 at StarMakers. Studying in all styles of percussive dancing, clogging became a passion. After graduating from Dorman High School in 2012, Caitlin was off to North Carolina where she spent 4 years at Mars Hill University, and 5 years with the well known Bailey Mountain Cloggers. While with BMC, she was able to travel the world performing in multiple countries in both South America and Europe. After graduating from Mars Hill, majoring in Physical Education, Caitlin moved to Tennessee where she performed as a member of the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Show in Pigeon Forge. After 2 years in Tennessee, Caitlin moved back home to South Carolina and became a part of the SMDC Staff, teaching the upper level competitive clogging teams. Caitlin now lives in Spartanburg with her two daughters, Bryleigh and Brently.

Courtney Frost is an instructor of the Irish program at StarMakers. Courtney is a 2008 graduate of Byrnes High School and currently has an Associates Degree in Science as well as a degree in Cardiovascular Technology. Dance became a huge part of Courtney’s life at the age of two, when she began her first class. She immediately fell in love, and that love and passion for dance continues

to this day. Courtney began her life of dance at StarMakers Dance Company in 1999, when she became a Company Team Member at the age of ten.

She has won numerous overall awards when she was competing as well as the title of SC State Dancer. Some awards that her competitive teams have won are Overall Entertainment, Overall High Score of the day, and First Place Overalls.

Courtney has also danced in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Walt Disney World and in Ireland; been seen on Your Carolina, and performed at many other local venues. Courtney currently works in the Cath Lab at Spartanburg Regional as a Invasive Cardiovascular Technologist and teaches when she can.

Mr. Karl has studios in Alabama, China, Florida, Georgia, Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. Drake Irish Dance, one of the most prestigious Irish Dance Schools in the United States, was founded in 1990 in Atlanta, GA by Dublin Ireland native, Karl Drake. Since it’s beginning, Drake Irish Dance has branched out across the southern states. After establishing itself in five southern states, Karl Drake went global by expanding into Mexico and China. Drake Irish Dancers have a record of competitive achievements to include Regional and National Champions as well as World Medal holders.
In addition to competitive achievements, The Drake Irish Dance Troupe traveled all the way to Shangai China in March 2013 where they performed at Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre and Dulwich College Shanghai, China.
Currently they hold the title of World Champions.

Studying all genres including Clogging, Tap, Irish Step, Hip-Hop, Jazz, and Acro. Throughout her years dancing, she has won numerous overall awards, regionally and nationally, including overall entertaining, overall highest score of the day, and first place overalls. She has been invited to Hollywood Dance Invitational and New York on scholarship. She has danced at Walt Disney World, on Carnival Cruise Line, and in Ireland. Kyleigh also appeared on Your Carolina and performed at many local venues such as Hilton Head St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Highland Games in Myrtle Beach. 

Kyleigh is a 2016 Graduate of Dorman High School where she maintained a 4.0 GPA, was a member of the National Honor Society, and Beta Club while being an active member in the Dorman Dance Department. Including performing for the district and choreographing dances for peers. She still goes to her alma mater to guest choreograph dances for this department. Kyleigh graduated Converse University with a degree in Early Childhood, Elementary Education and Dance.  Along with her Dance minor, she was also a member of Dance ensemble and choreographed a tap piece for one of their productions. 

Starmakers is a big part of her life and is so grateful for all the wonderful people she has met and all she has learned. She has always aspired to teach children and share her love for dance and now she can do both.

Kyleigh is currently an elementary school teacher at Lone Oak Elementary and, in 2021, she married her husband, Matthew Murphy.

Steph began her tumbling journey with cheerleading at the age of 2. As she got older, she cheered competitively for Boiling Springs High School for 7 years. After highschool, Steph cheered for USC Upstate for 3 years, as well as with outside competitive cheer teams. In addition to being USAG Certified to coach, Steph has also coached and judged cheer teams of all levels. She currently resides in Spartanburg with her husband, Justin, and their 3 children, Peyton, Cameron, and Nora.

Cassie Jo cheered for the duration of junior high & high school and was on the competition team for 4 years at Landrum High School. She was a captain on her squad for 2 years and was also selected as an All Star Cheerleader. She continued her education at Mars Hill University where she majored in Psychology & minored in both Studio Art & Sociology. She has always had a passion for helping others and a heart for children. Cassie Jo also has extensive experience working with children. She has been a volunteer in the children’s program at her church for many years, has worked with pediatric patients as a sleep technologist, has been a preschool teacher, and has 4 children of her own. Cassie Jo is married to her husband, Grant, and they have 4 children—Jodee, Jimah, Janee, and Judah. Her three daughters, are currently on our competitive trampoline and tumbling team here at StarMakers. Cassie Jo joined us at StarMakers in 2023 and since then has become a certified USA Gymnastics Competitive Coach. She looks forward to working with and getting to know your children at the gym this season.

Sarah is a Tumbling & Trampoline coach. She grew up doing competitive gymnastics for 10 years and then continued her journey into competitive cheerleading for 5 years. Sarah is also a current college student at Spartanburg Community College. Sarah is currently certified by USAG to coach tumbling.

Jessica joined StarMakers when she was 9 years old where she competed in various styles such as jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and tap. During her time as a student, Jessica was voted on by her peers as Performer of the Year in both 2020 and 2022 and represented the studio as a cover model for multiple years. While in high school Jessica attended the Fine Arts Center of Greenville County Schools where she studied ballet and modern in a conservatory dance setting. Jessica then went on to study dance at the University of South Florida before returning home to the upstate to pursue teaching. Currently, she is working at StarMakers teaching jazz technique, ballet, and contemporary as well as various studio classes. Jessica is currently studying Business Management and Digital Media at North Greenville University.

Bio Coming Soon!

Abigail McKeever, born and raised in Kildare, Ireland found a passion for dance at the age of 4yrs old. She is an outgoing, highly motivated and trustworthy dancer and teacher of a number of forms of dance.

Abigail is passionate about all aspects of movement, dance and in particular Irish dancing.

Abigail enjoyed much success during her competitive Irish dance career, participating in numerous prestigious competitions, to name a few, Leinster, All-Ireland and World Irish Dance Championships. Abigail’s enthusiasm and natural talent for Irish dance performance and teaching led her to the University of Limerick, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Irish Music and Dance. From thereon, Abigail’s teaching career went from strength to strength. She is an accredited Irish dance instructor and choreographer (T.C.R.G), personal trainer (I.S.S.A) and Modern Dance instructor (I.D.T.A).

After performing in many shows worldwide, 3 years ago Abigail began a journey of moving to the US to start this adventure of bringing Irish dance & culture to communities. She has been teaching for the last 10 years to people of all ages & abilities and hopes that Irish Dance can bring her students some exciting enjoyment as they venture into this new activity with her!