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Kinner & Co. Dance Studio Inc., under the direction of Abby Donaldson, provides quality dance instruction for the pre-school student through the advanced student. The abilities of each dancer are nurtured in an atmosphere of positive motivation, self-discipline and individual attention. Dance is a beautiful, compelling, and illuminating art form which stimulates thought and explores the wonders of human nature. Kinner & Co. Dance Studio offers classes taught by certified dance instructors.
We are located on the north side of Springfield, Illinois and easily accessed from I-55 and State Route 54 for our widely located clientele. We offer classes for children ages three and up. We offer instruction in Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Contemporary and Acrobatics.
Why choose Kinner & Co.?
"I love the life long, strong sisterhood bond my daughter has made with her classmates at Kinner & Co. over her 10 years and counting. All the girls show great compassion for the love of dance together!" - Emily, Dance Mom
"I like Kinner & Co. because everyone there is so encouraging and they all push me to be a better person and dancer." - Audrey, Dancer
"Kinner is our 2nd home. Everyone there is like one big family!" - Kim, Dance Mom
"My favorite thing about Kinner & Co. is how friendly all the teachers, Kathy & Dave are. My daughter loves it there!" - Christina, Dance Mom
Our Team
Miss Abby
Abby has attended the four Chicago National Association of Dance Masters (CNADM) Ballet Forum and Teacher Training School, danced on the cruise ships Explorer of the Seas and Inspiration, performed at Disney World and Six Flags, and studied at the Rhee Gold Dance Life Teacher Convention and the 3-Day Dance Teacher Summit.
In 2004, Abby tested and was accepted as a member of the Southern Association of Dance Masters (SADM). She has served as a board member, Secretary and in 2020 was elected as President. She is certified to teach tap, ballet, jazz and tumbling through both SADM and CNADM.
Abby is a proud certified teacher for Progressing Ballet Technique, Acrobatic Arts, Pirouette Surgery, Leap Surgery and Alixa Flexibility.
In addition to teaching at Kinner & Co. Dance Studio, Abby works for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
Miss Jessica
Jessica has been dancing at Kinner & Co. Dance Studio since 2004. She started with tap classes and fell in love with the rest. Jessica loved competing for 12 years as a member of the Shooting Stars Dance Team. Jessica served as an assistant for many years and has been teaching and choreographing since 2009. During her time with Kinner and Co., Jessica has won numerous top awards and scholarships. Dances she has taught have won many top awards, special judge’s awards and a choreography award.
Jessica has been a member of the Southern Association of Dance Masters for 8 years, and a Certified Teacher in tap, ballet and jazz since she was sixteen years old. Through SADM she currently serves as Co-Chair for the Certified Student Teacher Program as well as a member of the Media Committee.
Jessica has attended the week-long CNADM Ballet Form and the 3-day Dance Teacher Summit in Long Beach, CA. She is proudly certified to teach Alixa Flexibility. Teaching dance is Jessica's passion, she loves watching all her students grow into beautiful humans and dancers! She is so proud of all their hard work.
Jessica currently resides in Springfield with her husband Aaron, their beautiful daughter Evelina, and are expecting a baby boy in July!
Miss Kate
Kate started dancing at Kinner & Co. in 1996 after her mom bought a pair of used tap shoes for $2.00 from a family friend. In 2000, Kate joined the Shooting Stars Dance Team, and performed and competed with the team until she graduated high school in 2010.
Miss Tara
Tara is 19 years old and is a 2020 graduate from Athens High School. She has been dancing with Kinner and Co. since the age of 3, and has enjoyed every minute of it. She has been teaching classes at Kinner since 2017, after serving as an assistant for many years.
Tara took the membership exams in summer of 2017 at the Southern Association of Dance Masters Convention in Memphis, Tennessee, and is now a certified teacher in tap, ballet, jazz, and acro. This spring, Tara became a certified instructor for Acrobatic Arts’ Preschool Program.
Tara is the 2017 recipient of the SADM Memorial Scholarship. She serves as Co-Chair of the Certified Student Teacher Program at the Southern Association of Dance Masters as well. She teaches level two tap and jazz, company, and Pound. She is also a huge help with the dance team!
Tara attends Lincoln Land Community College, where she participates in the Honors Program and the Associate Degree Nursing Program.
When not at the studio, Tara enjoys babysitting, photography, working at Plato’s Closet, spending time with her friends and family, and playing with her dog, Lily. Tara
Our Team
Miss Ashley
Ashley is 34 years old and danced with Kinner and Company Dance Studio from 1989 to 2007. She served as an assistant for several years and taught from 2003 to 2010 and again from 2017 to 2019. Ashley competed with the Shooting Stars Competition Team from 1996 to 2007, where she was a member of numerous award-winning dances.
Throughout her years at Kinner & Co. Dance Studio Ashley attended SADM Convention, the four-day CNADM Ballet Forum, danced on the cruise ship Inspiration, performed at Disney World and Six Flags. She has also performed for many civic organizations and attended several other dance conventions.
In 2004, Ashley became certified through SADM to teach tap, Ballet and Jazz. In August of 2018, Ashley became certified to teach Progressing Ballet Technique in Chicago.
Ashley is currently working for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Springfield and has been with the company for 11 years. She currently resides in Mechanicsburg with her husband Bobby, two sons, Ty and Gage and her two dogs Midas and Winnie.
Miss Carmen
Carmen began dancing at Kinner & Co in 2005 when she was four years old. She joined the dance team at the age of 10. Carmen assisted for many years and started teaching when she was 16 years old and has loved every minute of it! Since then, Carmen has choreographed many award-winning solos, duets, trios, and group dances. One of her proudest moments was choreographing the highest scoring dance of Starz competition in 2019 with the level 6 tap dance “Green Mountain State!”
This May, Carmen graduated Lincoln Land Community College with high honors and an Associates in Science.
Miss Mariah
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Miss Carissa
Carissa is 18 years old and a recent graduate of Williamsville High School. While at WHS, Carissa was the drum major of the marching band, a member of madrigals and vocal jazz, played Varsity soccer and was recognized as the October Student of the Month for her senior class. Next year, Carissa will be attending Lincoln Land Community College to study biology and hopes to one day become a pediatric occupational therapist. She will continue to teach at Kinner & Co. and will be managing the Combination Class Program!
Carissa has been dancing with Kinner & Company since she was three years old and joined the dance team when she was 10. During her time on the dance team, Carissa has been a part of many award winning dances, including top placing solos.
Carissa started assisting classes as soon as she could and fell in love with it right away. As a result, she made the decision to become a Certified Student Teacher through SADM. Carissa is certified to teach tap, jazz, ballet, and acro.
Miss Kat
Kat is 18 and a recent graduate from Williamsville High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society, chosen as an Illinois Scholar and active in the art & music departments.
She began dancing at Kinner & Co. when she was three. She began assisting when she was 12 and is finishing her second season as a teacher. In 2018, Kat passed her tap, ballet, and jazz exams to become a certified teacher through SADM.
In the past few years, she has developed a love for choreographing. During her time on the Dance Team, Kat has competed around the country and danced at Walt Disney World.
Kat also enjoys graphic design, photography, and horror movies.
This fall, Kat will be attending the University of South Florida as a Psychology major and we wish her the best of luck!
Miss Ava
Miss Rylee
