Owner/Creative Director, Certified Acrobatic Arts, Certified Progressive Ballet Technique
Miss Kristen Reeb Wardlaw
Miss Kristen Reeb Wardlaw has been involved in dance and gymnastics for over 30 years. She started at age three with Gymnastics in Mesa, AZ. At age five she moved to Belleville, IL were she continued her gymnastics training as well as began her dance training at various studios. Miss Kristen continued to compete gymnastics nationwide, obtaining the USGF State Championship title in the Uneven Bars for 5 consecutive years. After retiring from gymnastics in 1996, Miss Kristen continued her dance training studying ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical, and pom pon. She was a part of her studios competition and parade teams and competed through many studio competitions circuits as well as with her High school dance team. While in High school, Miss Kristen was named captain, co-choreographed award winning routines for her team, and was also named a part of UDA All-Star teams in both 2000 and 2001. After high school Miss Kristen attended Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville where she participated on the dance team as well as participating in dance classes. Miss Kristen earned a Bachelors degree in Psychology and a Minor in Art from Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville. She went on to earn her Teacher’s Certification in Art Education in a masters program through Mckendree University.
As a professional in the dance world Miss Kristen has taught gymnastic and dance in various studio for over 20years. She has had the chance to dance professionally with The Ashleyliane Dance Company (ADC) but found her greatest success and fulfillment as a teacher and choreographer.
Early on, Miss Kristen became founder and coach of Metro East Lutheran High School’s Varsity Dancer Knights (head coach 2003 to 2013). In her time as coach and choreographer Miss Kristen obtained 22 IDTA (Illinois drill team association) state championships and the Very first IHSA (Illinois High School Association) Class A Dance State Champion in 2013. Along with coaching Metro East and Runnng HRDS Kristen has also choreographed for many area teams which also received various titles and awards.
As a teacher Miss Kristen has had the opportunity to continue to better her teaching profession by becoming certified in Acrobatic Arts, Progressive Ballet Training, and receiving Vaganova Ballet training under the guidance of Miss Mimi Sitterly (Dance Education Consulting, LLC). Miss Kristen is diligent in her commitment to continuing her education as a dancer, and mastering her craft as a choreographer and teacher. Miss Kristen loves to travel to many parts of the country taking classes and continuing her education to bring home new ideas to her students. She believes its important for everyone to always continue learning. When she can Miss Kristen also enjoys judging for various organizations such as the NAIA college dance organization on her free time.
Under Miss Kristen’s direction, Heavenly Rhythm Dance Studio has seen tremendous growth and success. She attributes her success to her faith in God. Miss Kristen strives to teach her dancers drive, passion, deep love, hard work, how to deal with defeat, and how to praise God with success. She has poured her heart and soul in the studio since she opened the doors in 2007 and greatly looks forward to watching it continue to grow!
Associate Director, Certified Acrobatic Arts
Miss Charley Sievers
Miss Charley started dancing at the age of three and has studied extensively as a dancer, teacher and choreographer for the past 23 years. She completed most of her formal training at Gou-jon Academy of Dance in St. Charles Missouri. There she trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, pointe and acro. As a dancer she competed locally and nationally from coast to coast in places like Las Vegas, NV, Myrtle Beach, SC and many places in between! In 2002, she won a scholarship through the Broadway Dance Experience to study intensively in New York City under some of the biggest names in the dance world. She has trained at numerous studios in NYC, including the Broadway Dance Center, and was cast in an off-broadway production during her training. Miss Charley was the captain of her high school dance team and a three-time All American dancer. She is fully committed to continuing to grow as both a dancer and choreographer. She travels to numerous conventions and workshops where she has had the opportunity to learn from world-renowned choreographers such as Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, Dee Caspary, Wade Robson, and Sonya Tayeh, to name a few. Miss Charley attended the Pulse teacher convention in NYC in both 2011 and 2014. Most recently, Miss Charley attended a week long seminar covering, the detailed curriculum used in the Vaganova Ballet Technique. Additionally, Miss Charley has attened the STL tap festival for the past two years, where she learned from some of the greatest tappers in the world. She also enjoys continuing her studies at the Center of Creative Arts in St. Louis, where she has become well-versed in the Vaganova style of ballet.
Miss Charley has enjoyed great success as a choreographer as well. She has choreographed regional and national award-winning hip hop routines for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Metroeast Lutheran High School’s Varsity team, and Highland High School’s JV team. At HRDS she choreographs tap, jazz, contemporary, hip hop and acro routines for both our competition teams, as well as for our recreational program. Over the past several years, she has choreographed countless competitive solos, duets, groups, and production routines, and her choreography has won many over-all high score awards, judges choice awards, and choreography awards.
In 2009, Miss Charley graduated Magna Cum Laude from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a minor in Social Science Education. She was employed as a seventh grade social studies teacher in recent years, but has found her true love lies in the art of teaching dance. She has been a teacher with HRDS since we opened our doors in 2007, and HRDS has truly become her second home. Miss Charley is incredibly grateful that her passion has become her job, and looks forward to growing with the studio for many, many years to come!
Preschool Program, Certified Yoga Instructor and Event Coordinator
Miss Mariah Scott
Miss Mariah began dancing at age two at Bridget James Dance Studio in Florissant, MO where she trained for 7 years. After moving to Edwardsville, IL Miss Mariah began cheerleading and continued to dance at a local studio. In high school Miss Mariah was a member of the Metro East Lutheran Varsity cheer and dance teams. Miss Mariah served as the Assistant Dance Coach at Metro East Lutheran from 2009-2013. In 2014, Miss Mariah graduated with high honors from Greenville College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry Education. Miss Mariah also teaches 5-8th grade Science at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Fairview Heights, IL. At HRDS Miss Mariah has had the opportunity to choreograph for both of our competition teams, as well as for our recreational program, and several local dance teams. Over the past several years, she has choreographed competitive solos, duets, groups, and production routines, and her choreography has won over-all high score awards, judges choice awards, and choreography awards. Miss Mariah continues her dance education by taking classes at COCA and has had the opportunity to learn from top choreographers, traveling to NYC to the Pulse Teacher Convention, in both 2011 and 2014. Additionally, Miss Mariah attended a week-long seminar covering the detailed curriculum of the Vaganova Ballet Technique in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018. Miss Mariah has been teaching at HRDS since Fall of 2008.
Tap and Hip Hop Program, Certified Zumba Instructor
Miss Melissa Wood
Miss Melissa started dancing at the age of 3 in Ardmore, Oklahoma at Shannon Crites School of Dance. After high school she went on to become a dance major at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in Edmond, Oklahoma where she trained in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, and modern. While in college, Miss Melissa was a member of UCO’s touring company, Kaleidoscope Dance Company, and received the “Award of Excellence in Dance” her senior year of college. During her college years she also worked for a dance convention/competition called Co. Dance under the owner, Dana Giordana, traveling the southern region assisting classes, working backstage, running awards ceremonies, and the merchandise booth. Throughout working the convention circuits, she has assisted well known teachers such as Greg Russell, Keith Clifton, Rhonda Miller, and Will Thomas. Upon graduating, Miss. Melissa achieved her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance in 2012. After college she got certified in the state of Oklahoma to teach dance in public schools and began working for a local high school as their Director of Dance. Aside from teaching dance in public schools, Miss Melissa has also taught at several private studios in the southern region. In 2012, Miss Melissa became a full company member for Radical Application of Creative Energy (R.A.C.E) Dance Company which was Oklahoma’s first professional jazz/hip hop company where she performed all over the south and got to work with nationally known choreographers such as Malaya, Greg Russell, Jeremy Duvall, Adam Parson, Will Johnston, and many more. She was also casted as a dancer for KJ103s Jingle Jam performing Gangnam Style. In 2014 Miss. Melissa moved to the Midwest and began teaching at HRDS! Throughout her first three years here, she was a full company member for Ashleyliane Dance Company based in St. Louis, Missouri. Throughout her time in the company Miss. Melissa has had many performance opportunities including well known ones such as: World of Dance, Choreographers Carnival, and the Festival of Nations. Choreography wise, she has won many awards at competitions throughout her 10+ years working for private studios. She has set choreography on Oklahoma Baptist University and was also the guest choreographer for the Oklahoma Contemporary Dance Festival in 2016. Miss. Melissa is also Zumba Certified and has completed a week long seminar to qualify her to teach Vaganova Ballet Technique here at the studio. Although performing is fun and has blessed her with many experiences, ultimately her heart and passion is with her students here at HRDS.
Teacher
Miss Meg Armstrong Miss Meg began dancing at age four. In high school, she competed with Water Street Dance Company in Washington, Illinois. Miss Meg attended Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. She was also a member of the Lionettes dance team. Her performance credits include the Boston Contemporary Dance Festival, NDA Nationals in Daytona, Busch Stadium, and the American College Dance Association in Witchita, Kansas. Senior year, she was also a member of Ashleyliane Dance Company in St. Louis and experienced dancing as a professional. Since graduating, she has spent one year with Heavenly Rhythm and three years at Water Street Dance Company where she served as Director of the Recreational Program. Miss Meg loves being a dance mom to her two little girls and is passionate about teaching dance. She is so excited to move back to the area and return to HRDS!
Teacher
Miss Michaela Wilke
Miss Michaela Wilke has been dancing since the age of 2. She went to Father McGivney Catholic High School, and has now graduated from Southwestern Illinois College’s Nursing Program as a RN. She works as a Registered Nurse, and this is her 4th year teaching at the studio.. Miss Michaela is an alumni of the HRDS Dynamic Competitive Team. She is trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, poms, contemporary, and lyrical.
Teacher
Miss Allie Parrish
Miss Allie began dancing at the age of three. Growing up she danced competitively and has trained in numerous styles. In High school she danced at Metro East Lutheran, where she was on the varsity team all four years, team captain for two years, was the 2007 Miss Junior IDTA runner-up and placed 6th in 2009 for Miss IDTA. Miss Allie started teaching at Heavenly rhythm in 2009. In 2010, she moved to Texas where she attended Texas A&M University and met her husband. The military moved her husband and family to Oklahoma and New Jersey before finally bringing them back to Illinois. She is excited to begin her fourth year back at Heavenly Rhythm!
Teacher
Miss Shelby Grammer
Miss Shelby started dancing at the age of 9 in Edwardsville, IL at Jam Dance Academy. After high school she went on to become a nursing major at the St Louis University. While in college, Miss Shelby continued to dance within the St Louis area. Upon graduating, she accepted a job as a registered nurse, as well as a position as dance instructor with HRDS. This will be her seventh year teaching at HRDS.
Teacher
Miss Abby Eggemeyer
Miss Abby began dancing at the age of 5 in Troy IL, and studied ballet, jazz, modern and pointe. Miss Abby also studied the Cecchetti Method of ballet, completing level 5, the first professional level. Miss Abby participated in the Triad high school dance team from 2017-2019. Miss Abby recently graduated Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where she studied nursing.
Teacher – Miss Kristen Lowry
Miss Kristen began dancing at the age of 3 at a dance studio in Troy, IL. She later switched over to dance at Heavenly Rhythm. She danced in the recreational program and then throughout middle school and high school was on the competition team. Throughout her time on the competition team she was part of dances that received national titles, and received training in all genres of dance. She graduated from Triad High School in 2022 and is now attending Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville majoring in Elementary Education.
Office Manager/Front Desk
Miss Bev Reeb
Miss Bev has always had a passion for dance and loved being a dance mom to her two daughters Kristen and Holly. By trade Miss Bev graduated from Jewish Hospital and worked as a registered nurse for 18 years. In 1997 when her family opened their business The Family Sportsplex in Belleville, she decided to learn accounting and manage the books, so she could spend more time with her 3 children. When Miss Kristen opened HRDS in 2007 she was honored to be a part of her dream and Holly’s legacy from the beginning. Each day she enjoys watching the dancers who have become a part of the HRDS family grow up and progress. They all hold a special place in her heart and she loves to hear their stories, memories and how they were affected by the dedicated teachers at Heavenly Rhythm.
Front Desk – Dee Reuter
Assistant – Taylor Meagher
Assistant – Mackenzie Askew
Assistant – Riley Cissell