Meet Our Staff
Christi Stanton
Owner / Director

Christi began studying dance at the age of 5 and continues her education on a yearly basis. She began teaching at the ripe age of 19 in her parents’ garage. This small studio grew into a state of the art, 10,000 square foot facility in Inman, SC that houses over 400 dancers and tumblers each operating day, which expanded further in 2008 to include StarKidz After School and Summer Camp program. In 2017 Christi opened up StarMakers’ sister school, Realta School of Irish Dance.
Christi has choreographed award-winning routines for numerous dance studios, colleges, and theaters, including a principal role in USC Upstate’s Steel Magnolias. Her studio has been voted one of the TOP 50 STUDIOS IN THE NATION by Dance Teacher’s Magazine and Dance Spirit Magazine and awarded numerous State and National titles for several years consecutively. StarMakers also has a Nationally ranked power tumbling team.
Christi’s dancers have had the opportunity to perform around the globe. They have danced at Disney World, New York, Carnival Cruise Lines, Ireland, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, along with other numerous local festivals and events.
StarMakers has opened up so many opportunities for their dancers/tumblers. Numerous dancers/tumblers have pursued higher education on dance scholarships. Christi is also the head coach of the Wofford College Dance Team and is very excited about the opportunity to partner with a local college to enhance their current dance program.
Christi is married to Nathan Stanton and has a daughter, Seren Mason Stanton. Christi would like to thank God, her family, staff, students, parents, and friends for blessing her with an amazing career.
FUN FACT: Christi is an All American Clogger and member of the American Clogging Hall of Fame.
Kelly Fuqua
Studio Administrator

Kelly became a part of the StarMakers family 19 years ago when her daughter, clogging director Mrs. Rachel, began dancing. Though no longer a dance mom, Kelly now serves as the Office Manager for StarMakers Dance Company and StarKidz After School and Summer Camp Program. Before beginning her career with StarMakers in 2016, Kelly worked from home for 20 years doing medical transcription. Kelly is married to her husband, Jimmy, and they have two daughters Rebekah, and the above mentioned, Rachel. Kelly is thrilled to be a grandmother of three beautiful girls, Emilia, McKinlee, and Ella. Kelly looks forward to many more years of growing with StarMakers.
Work at StarMakers!
Are you interested in working at a world-class dancing facility in Spartanburg, SC? Email your resume with a brief cover letter describing yourself and your qualifications to [email protected].
Jordan Sisk

Company Team Director
Co. Team & Studio Instructor
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

Director of Tap Program
Co. Team & Studio Instructor
Shauna Hines

Director of Tumbling Program
Power Tumbling Team Head Coach
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.
Rachel Brown

Director of Clogging Program
Co. Team & Studio Instructor
Ashley Cloonan

Studio & Company Dance Instructor
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

Studio & Company Clogging Instructor
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 Lydia

Company Clogging Instructor
Jessica Lyons

Co. Team & Studio Instructor
Karl Drake

ADCRG, TCRG Certified Irish Instructor
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.
Abi McKeever

TCRG Certified Irish Instructor
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, 5 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 13 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!
Steph Gillespie

Tumbling Instructor
Cassie Cogdell

Tumbling Instructor
Beth Graves

Assistant Recital Coordinator
her role at StarMakers. With 21 years in education, she has served as a teacher, instructional
coach, assistant principal, and currently as the Freshman Academy Director at Boiling Springs
High School. Her passion for student growth and development extends beyond the classroom
and into the studio.
Beth has been a dedicated dance, tumbling instructor, and recital manager at
StarMakers for 18 years, where she is known for fostering confidence, discipline, and a love for
movement in her students. In addition to her teaching experience, she has over 25 years of
dance experience as a performer, giving her a deep understanding of technique, performance
quality, and artistry.
Outside of her professional roles, Beth enjoys reading, gardening, and working out. She
is committed to inspiring students both academically and artistically, helping them reach their full
potential in all areas of life.
Rachael Pakter

Administrative Assistant
Rachael works in the office at StarMakers Dance Company, a place she has proudly called her second home since beginning dance here in 2008. At age 16, she joined the StarKidz Afterschool and Summer Camp staff, where she spent her high school and college years supporting students and families. In 2021, she transitioned into a larger role in the SMDC office and now primarily focuses on office operations and assisting families and staff.
Rachael loves being part of the StarMakers community and watching dancers grow both on and off the stage. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading a good book, and playing with her dog, Murphy, and her cat, Lucy—who she happily adopted after Lucy showed up at SMDC.
Maia Blake

Ballet Instructor
Maia Blake was born in Andover, Massachusetts. She began dancing at Andover School of Ballet and New England Civic Ballet. Upon entering high school, Maia continued her training at Bossov Ballet Theatre under the direction of Natalya Getman from 2016-2019. Ms. Blake then attended the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with her bachelor’s degree in fine arts. During her time at CCM, Maia had the privilege of performing repertoire such as Giselle, Paquita, La Bayadere, Napoli Pas de Six, and more. She is in her third season as a company member at Ballet Spartanburg. Maia has performed roles in Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, Martha Graham’s Suite from Appalachian Spring, Carmina Burana, Carlos Agudelo’s The Nutcracker, Studio Series, Intertwine, and The Great Gatsby. She also choreographed for the Professional Company’s performance of Studio Series, Carmina Burana and The Great Gatsby.

