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

Jordan Sisk

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

Courtney Frost

Director of Irish Program
Power Tumbling Asst. Coach

Beth Graves

Tumbling Instructor

Taylor Massey

Director of Tap Program
Co. Team Instructor

Shauna Hines

Director of Tumbling Program
Power Tumbling Team Head Coach

Macie Lail

Mini Starz & Co. Team Training Instructor

Karl Drake

ADCRG, TCRG Certified Irish Instructor

Ashley Cloonan

Studio & Company Dance Instructor

Caitlin Lydia

Company Clogging Instructor

Rachel Brown

Company Clogging Instructor

Hoyt Starkey

Studio & Company Clogging Instructor

Kyleigh Murphy

Studio Dance Instructor

Hunter Solomon

Ballet Instructor

Anna Johnson

TCRG Certified Irish Instructor

Courtney Glover

Tumbling Instructor

Sarah Howard

Tumbling Instructor

Steph Gillespie

Tumbling Instructor