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. The 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. StarMakers recently became the director of the Wofford College Dance Team and are 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.

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].

Kelly Fuqua

Studio Administrator

Kelly became a part of the StarMakers family 15 years ago when her daughter, clogging instructor 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, 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 that Rebekah and her husband have blessed them with the best gift of all, their first grandchild, Emilia. Kelly looks forward to many more years of growing with StarMakers.

Char’Lee Stoehr

Director of Clogging Program
Co. Team Instructor

More About Char'Lee

Char’Lee is the Company Clogging Director at StarMakers Dance Company. She has been dancing since age and has been trained in clogging, tap, and Irish. She was selected as an All American Clogger as well as being inducted in the America’s Clogging Hall of Fame in the year 2000. In 2004, Char’Lee was awarded a clogging scholarship to attend Mars Hill University near Asheville, NC, where she became a member of the Bailey Mountain Cloggers dance team. Through Bailey Mountain, Char’Lee has been able to travel to folk festivals around the world, including trips to Spain, Germany, Canada, and Costa Rica. She has had the honor of dancing with several folk bands including Nickel Creek and The Duhks. Char’Lee has also had the opportunity to direct the National Champion Bailey Mountain Cloggers of Mars Hill University as well as the National Champion StarMakers Dance Company. She enjoys sharing her passion of percussive dance with all the children she is privileged to teach, and she takes pride in the quality dancers produced by StarMakers Dance Company. In March of 2013, Char’Lee graduated with her Doctorate from Sherman College of Chiropractic, where she went on to open her own practice. As of 2019, Char’Lee, along with teaching dance, is a Biology teacher at Byrnes High School. Char’Lee is married to her husband, Jon, and they have three beautiful boys: Jamison, Bretscher, and SJ.

Jordan Sisk

Director of Co. Team Training, Mini Starz, & Hip Hop Program
Co. Team Instructor

More About Jordan

Jordan is the Director of our Co. Team Training and Mini Starz program as well as the Director of the Hip Hop Company 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, junior jazz, and the acro 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 our very own, Christi Stanton.

Jordan Says: “I have danced for as long as I can remember, in many different places…Disney World, Dollywood, Bowl games! Dance is such a passion for me, and I also love kids. That makes my job 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 married to the love of her life, Hunter, and they have a beautiful baby girl Huntly.

Courtney Frost

Director of Irish Program
Power Tumbling Asst. Coach

More About Courtney

Courtney Frost is the Director of the Irish program at StarMakers. Courtney is a 2008 graduate of Byrnes High School and currently has an Associates Degree in Science. 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. With dance being such a huge part of her life, she was thrilled to become part of the StarMakers staff as an instructor. She continues to work as an instructor since 2008 with Company Teams, where she specializes in clogging and Irish. Her love and passion for dance, as well as children, will continue to be a huge part of her life for many years to come.

Beth Graves

Tumbling Instructor

More About Beth

Beth has over 25 years’ experience in many genres of dance. She was Captain of the University of South Carolina-Upstate dance team for three years and has competed in dance on the junior, collegiate, and adult levels. She has been an instructor with StarMakers Dance Company since 2009. She was the Coach and Director of the StarMakers Dance Company All-Starz Team for 3 years. She has taught Hip-Hop, tumbling, Junior Acro, and Senior Acro Company Teams. She is a certified coach with the USA Gymnastics Organization and currently she coaches the SMDC Power Tumbling teams. She has 12 years of coaching experience on both the Junior Varsity and Varsity levels of high school competitive cheerleading, and 3 years of coaching All-Star competitive cheerleading. She has also trained several South Carolina and North Carolina cheerleading teams on both the middle school and the high school level, both competitive and non-competitive, where she specialized in choreography, tumbling, and stunting. Beth has also worked with several local youth association cheerleading programs, providing choreography, stunting, tumbling, and cheerleading skills. She is on the South Carolina High School League Competitive Cheerleading judges’ panel.

Beth has also choreographed innumerable pieces for plays and pageants. She was part of the Production Staff, formerly an LED, and a certified member of the Judges’ Panel with the Miss South Carolina Pageant Organization. Beth also directs and choreographs the Miss Freshman Pageant at Boiling Springs High School Ninth Grade Campus which has awarded over $55,000 in scholarships in the past 15 years.

Beth holds a Master’s degree in Secondary English Education and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. She is currently the Literacy Instructional Coach at Boiling Springs High School And Boiling Springs Freshman Academy. She loves to read, write, and study Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in her spare time.

Taylor Massey

Director of Tap Program
Co. Team Instructor

More About Taylor

Taylor Massey 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, 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 and Fox Carolina News. 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. She was also hired as a staff member at StarKidz and, in 2017, she 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. Taylor is happily married and lives in Spartanburg with her husband, Nick, and their dog, Sonny.

Shauna Hines

Director of Tumbling Program
Power Tumbling Team Head Coach

More About Shauna

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. Now, after thirteen years, Shauna is returning to the sport she so passionately loves. Shauna has been coaching the power tumbling and trampoline program for 5 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.

Macie Lail

Mini Starz & Co. Team Training Instructor

More About Macie

Macie began dancing at the age of 6 in Forest City North Carolina, where she was trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip hop and tap. She went on to train in contemporary and modern and earned a B.A in Dance and Business of the Arts from Columbia College. After Graduating in 2014 she performed with Trustus Theater in Columbia, South Carolina for 3 seasons. She then returned to the upstate to teach and choreograph at Little Broadway Studio in 2016 where she is currently the Director of the Recreational Program. Macie has had the opportunity to choreograph for the Dutch Fork Middle School Dance team, be a guest judge for the Talented and Gifted Program at Blythwood High School, and a guest instructor for the Blythwood High School dance program in Columbia, South Carolina. In 2021 she began her first season with Applause Talent as a Judge. She is currently teaching and choreographing lyrical, jazz, hip hop and ballet for both competitive and recreational students. Macie continues to further her education in movement, fitness and health while earning her Personal Trainer Certification. She plans to use her personal training knowledge to educate students on anatomy and nutrition, ultimately creating stronger and healthier dancers.

Karl Drake

ADCRG, TCRG Certified Irish Instructor

More About Mr. Karl

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 travelled 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.

Ashley Cloonan

Studio & Company Dance Instructor

More About Ashley

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 trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, clogging, Irish step clog, and hip hop beginning at age 5. She was a member of all StarMakers Senior dance teams from 2001-2004 and was also an assistant teacher during this time.
Ashley began teaching at StarMakers in 2015. Her 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 teaches third grade in Spartanburg District 5 where she strives to incorporate dance and the arts into her regular classroom curriculum.

Caitlin Lydia

Company Clogging Instructor

More About Caitlin

Caitlin began her dance journey at the age of 5 at StarMakers. Studying in all styled 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 boyfriend, Russell and their 2 year old daughter, Bryleigh.

Rachel Brown

Company Clogging Instructor

More About Rachel

Rachel was a Co. Team member with Starmakers for 9 years, competing clogging, tap, jazz, hip-hop, and Irish. Rachel continued her dancing at Mars Hill University as a Bailey Mountain Clogger. While on BMC, she had the opportunity to travel to France and Colombia to perform in international festivals, giving her the chance to meet locals from around the world and learn their native styles of dance. She is now starting her third year as a clogging instructor here at Starmakers Dance Company, as well as working as a Registered Nurse for Spartanburg Medical Center. Rachel currently lives in Boiling Springs with her husband, Garrett, and expecting their first child.

Hoyt Starkey

Studio & Company Clogging Instructor

More About Hoyt

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!

Kyleigh Murphy

Studio Dance Instructor

More About Kyleigh

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 over our community outreach program and our StarKidz Crusaders.

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. She is currently a senior at Converse College where she is studying Early Childhood, Elementary Education and Dance. Along with her Dance minor, she is also a member of Dance ensemble and choreographed a tap piece for one of their productions. In her free time, she is a mentor to incoming freshman as an Orientation Leader, Trailblazer mentor, Future Educator Vice president, and a member of the Converse Activities Board.

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.

In 2021, Kyleigh married her husband, Matthew Murphy.

Hunter Solomon

Ballet Instructor

More About Hunter

Hunter Solomon, originally from Brunswick, Georgia, began his training at Steps of Faith and Studio South Performing Arts Center. At 16, he also trained at Madeleine Walker Coastal Ballet with Gaye Baxley. After graduation, he joined Atlanta Ballet’s conservatory program under the direction of John McFall and Sharon Story where he studied for two years. The following summer he attended Milwaukee Ballet’s intensive where he was offered and accepted a position in the second company under Rolando Yanes. There he danced the role of waltz boy in George Balanchine’s Serenade. He also performed in ballets choreographed and directed by Michael Pink such as The Nutcracker, Beauty and the Beast, Dracula, as well as Bruce Well’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Hunter joined Boulder Ballet in 2019. There he danced featured roles such as Prince and Cavalier in The Nutcracker. He also enjoyed dancing works by choreographers Christopher Wheeldon, Paul Taylor, Amy Seiwert, Lance Hardin, Amy Earnest, Amy Hall Gardner, Gregory Dawson, and Sidra Bell. He performed Angel Kaba’s Exploring the Roots at Vail Dance Festival with the company as well. He has also performed with BalletNext and Zikr Dance Ensemble.

Anna Johnson

TCRG Certified Irish Instructor

More About Anna

Miss Anna T.C.R.G began traditional Irish Dancing lessons at the age of 3 which instilled in her a love of the genre. Her competitive dance career began with The Drake School of Irish Dance at age 9, and led her to compete at regional, national and world championships earning medals at each level. In 2015 she ranked 23rd at the World Irish Dance Championships in Montreal, Canada, bringing the only medal back to the state of Georgia. Miss Anna is an established award winning Traditional Irish Musician & Irish Gaelic Singer as well. Her competitive music career began at the age of 10, with performances in Atlanta at age of 9. She advanced to performing throughout Georgia & the Metro Atlanta area a member of several Ceili Bands. In 2011 Anna her employment as a Vetted Teacher for the Woodruff Arts Center Young Audiences program teaching Traditional Irish music, dance and culture classes and workshops in numerous Metro Atlanta school systems. In both 2011 and 2012 she ranked as one of the Top 8 Concertina Players in the world as well as one of the Top 8 female Irish Gaelic Singers in the world. In addition, she also earned the opportunity to compete at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Cavan, Ireland. Anna was blessed to attend the CCE’s Scoil Egisa Music Academy in Ireland on full scholarship at age 17. Miss Anna has taught Irish dancing basics as well as Championship material to hundreds of children and adults alike, fulfilling her childhood dream of sharing her love of Irish dance and music. Miss Anna presently assists Mr. Karl Drake A.D.C.R.G. at the Drake School of Irish Dance, one of the most successful and largest Irish Dance schools in the USA. Anna is now married to her husband, Andrew, and has one daughter, Laelyn.

Courtney Glover

Tumbling Instructor

More About Courtney

Courtney Glover, new to the SMDC Staff, cheered all through middle and even competed as a varsity cheerleader all of her 4 years sat Boiling Spring High School. After graduation, Courtney went on to cheer in college at both Spartanburg Methodist College and North Greenville University. In addition, she is also USAG certified to teach/coach tumbling.

Courtney is currently married to her husband, Brent, whom with she has 2 beautiful children. She is a former Early Childhood Education teacher and is now working as the Children’s Director at View Church. Courtney is also no stranger to the StarMakers family. She is excited to be working alongside her dance teacher sister, Ashley Cloonan.

Sarah Howard

Tumbling Instructor

More About Sarah

Steph Gillespie

Tumbling Instructor

More About Steph

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. It 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.