Instructors
Kari Kohls-Bruch
Kari is the director/owner of Kari’s Dance Academy and the national award-winning Starfire Dance Company both based in Emporia, Kansas. She travels extensively instructing master classes and setting choreography throughout the United States. Kari has served as a faculty member for Dance Caravan, Dance Olympus, Starlight Productions/ Company Dance, Nexus and her own dance intensive, Midwest Movement. She has choreographed many opening numbers for national dance competitions and pageants, as well as her personal favorite, Tanzsommer, an international performance held in Germany, Austria, Italy and France. Kari currently serves as a judge for a variety of regional and national competitions and considers herself honored to present her opinion to those who commit to the art of dance.
Barry “BYB” Youngblood
Barry has danced/performed and worked with J.Lo, Christina Aguilera, Pink, Paula Abdul, P.Diddy, Busta Rhymes, Dr. Dre, Nelly, LL Cool J, Donnie Osmond, Brian McKnight, and the Queen of England. His television credits include The Ellen Show, The Today show, MTV awards, BET awards, VH1 awards, Miss America, Regis & Kelly, Discount Mugs and The Goldbergs. Barry’s has been a featured dancer in Movies such as “The Wedding Year” with Sara Hyland, “Disjointed” with Kathy Bates, “Bringing Down The Houze” with Steve Martin, and Queen Latifah. He has choreographed industrials/commercials for Nike, Reebok, Skechers, Cadillac, and Sega. Barry has toured the world nationally and International teaching and choreographing. In 1993-1995 he toured with the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Live Stage tour all over the world. He is a Master Teacher/Choreographer/Dancer and the Creative Director of Hollywood Dance Jamz.
Leslie Rutledge-Syring
Leslie received her formal training under Kari Kohls- Bruch with the Starfire Dance Company, and is currently on staff as a choreographer. She also trained under some of the best in the business including Judy Rice, Barry Youngblood and the late Gregg Russell. Leslie was a featured performer at Tanzsommer, The International Festival of Dance, traveling through Germany, Austria and Italy. She can be seen in Hanson music videos and performed at the Grand Opening of the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Leslie traveled as an assistant to Barry Youngblood for many years, is honored to be a member of the Company Dance Hall of Fame and was part of the Global Dance Convention in Sydney, Australia. She spends most of her time setting competitive material, for which she has won numerous awards, and teaching Master Classes for studios around the country. She loves to share her passion with this next generation of dancers and she wishes to instill the hard work and perseverance she was taught growing up in the amazing dance industry.
Darian Bruch
A 2020 graduate from The University Of Kansas, Darian earned two degrees; a BS in Exercise Science and a BA in Dance. She has received multiple honors and scholarships with her dance/cheer performances including National Performer of the Year. Darian has had the opportunity to perform in various shows/productions including the opening for New Kids On The Block and singer songwriter Nico Santos and rapper Kontra K. A four-year member of the KU Rock Chalk Dancers, Darian represented KU at Pro Action Dance and served as choreography captain. She was an instructor for NCA for eight years where she served as an HI for the organization. Darian was also selected as a Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleader in 2020 and cheer for them for four seasons including cheering at international games and two Super Bowls. She is currently on three teaching staffs at prominent dance studios and actively travels throughout the United States setting choreography for various competition groups and dance teams. Sharing her love of dance and cheer to others is her biggest passion.
Matt Boyce
Born and raised in New Jersey, Matt Boyce began studying and performing the art of tap dance, mentored by Mike Minery, at the age of ten. He made his professional industry debut at the age of twelve when he became the youngest ever principal dancer for the New Jersey Tap Ensemble, under the direction of Deborah Mitchell. At the age of sixteen, Matt became an original company member of Mike Minery’s Tapaholics, with which he toured nationally for six years. Matt was an assistant choreographer for the tap convention Slide, tap instructor for SHOCK the Intensive, and regularly tours the country teaching master classes for tap festivals and dance studios. Matt relocated to Little Rock, Arkansas in 2012 and founded the nonprofit organization Untapped, Arkansas’ only professional tap dance company. Since then, he has been active in the local arts community, performing with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, winning the Avant Garde award for the Acansa Arts Festival and an Individual Artist Grant from the Arkansas Arts Council for his choreography in the Untapped show, Rhythmic Roots, and has been an artist in residence and guest choreographer for the dance department of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Matt is also co-founder of Arkansas' only tap dance festival, Little Rock Tap Festival. In addition to teaching tap dance locally and nationally, Matt also has over 15 years of experience working in the competitive dance production industry, acting as a regional director for the past 5 years.
Denah Gregory
Grew up in Stilwell, Kansas, and started dancing when she was 3 years old. When she was 9, she began traveling and assisting for multiple different choreographers and dance conventions such as Jump, Artist Simply Human, Wild, along with many others. After being on tour for many years, Denah decided to focus her career on ballet and performed the lead roles of Cinderella, Kitri, Odile, Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen, Rose, Arabian Princess, Russian lead & Lilac Fairy. She also danced professionally in the following contemporary companies: Concept Zero, and XY Dance project. Denah currently lives in Los Angeles and teaches at Crew Studios and is proud to say she is a faculty member at Symposium Talent dance convention, as well as a judge for their dance competition. Denah has choreographed and taught master classes at multiple different studios around the world. Her choreography has won 1st Overall, 1st in Category, Specialty Awards, Title Winner, and Choreography awards. After experiencing dancing professionally, Denah is now excited to be sharing her knowledge and love of dance with students all across the USA. She is incredibly grateful for her family and friends that continue to love and support her throughout her career of dancing, teaching, and choreographing.
Justin Harbaugh
Justin grew up dancing at Kari’s Dance Academy and was a member of the Starfire Dance Company from 1991-2004. He is a multidisciplinary performing artist and educator. He graduated from the University of Kansas in 2019 with a doctorate degree in clarinet performance. Justin is the Director of Performing Arts at the Lawrence Arts Center, and teaches dance on faculty at the University of Kansas.
Justin’s dance career has allowed him to tour the world with Stiletto Entertainment and Holland America Cruise Line where he served as a company manager and dance captain for 10 years. He has performed in shows at Music Theatre of Wichita, the Sands! Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City, and the Tanzsommer Festival in Innsbruck, Austria.
At the Lawrence Arts Center, Justin teaches tap, social dance, and musical theatre workshop classes. He directs and choreographs multiple productions each year.
Jennifer Balagna-Talley
Jennifer, who graduated Magna Cum Laude, holds two Bachelors of Science undergraduate degrees - one in Economics from Fordham University and the other in Fashion Merchandising Management from the #1 fashion school in the country, Fashion Institute of Technology. Has appeared in several Broadway, off-Broadway shows, World Premieres, music videos, danced with several contemporary companies, and then some.
Jennifer, at the ripe age of 18 and while taking his class at Steps on Broadway upon moving to NYC, was hand-selected by Mr Joe Lanteri himself - the founder and Executive Director of New York City Dance Alliance (NYCDA) - to travel alongside him as his personal dance demonstrator to every city on their demanding tour schedule. As the only demonstrator in the history of NYCDA to have not actually won a national title or even competed at neither a regional or national competition, Jennifer went on to work for Joe and his amazing faculty throughout her entire college career and then some. As both a Master Choreographer/Teacher with NYCDA and their sister organization On Stage America, coupled with the numerous gigs she performed with their professional production company arm for such organizations including Saudi oil, Tupperware, National Dental Association, Saratoga Springs Water Co, etc, Jennifer worked for NYCDA and their sister organization for over 12 years.
Jennifer toured with Wicked for 2 years as dance captain. She was also an original cast member in both the World Premiere and Broadway cast of 9 to 5: The Musical. And upon taking this job, she began teaching at the Joffrey Ballet School teaching for their Pre-Professional program and helping to bridge the gap for aspiring actors and dancers alike. Her favorite role is playing Betty White's body double in the Emmy-Nominated episode of Saturday Night Live. Jennifer now teaches across the country giving master classes to studios, universities, and dance organizations.
Jennifer is so excited to get to pass along her knowledge and share her passion for dance and the performing arts with her students and the community!