Katie Kruse
Competition Director/Artistic Staff
Dancing since the age of 4, Katie Kruse trained competitively for 13 years in these disciplines with Dance Productions Unlimited (DPU) in Arnold, MO. The well rounded dancer graduated from Fox High School in 1998. Shortly after graduating Katie then began working at a Miss Lisa’s Dance Studio in Fenton, MO and began honing her craft, working with recreational classes in all genres, as well as the competition team.
In 2000, Katie married her high school sweetheart, Kevin Kruse, and they moved to Charleston, South Carolina as he was active duty Navy. For the next 9 years, the couple moved around the United States, living in upstate NewYork for 5 years and Seattle, Washington for 3 years where she continued to share her passion and love of dance at A High Step Dance Academy (WA) and A Class Act Dance (NY). Katie continued to take classes and teach wherever her travels led her.
In 2009, She and her family, Kevin, Daughters Mackenzie and Kaylie and Twins Andrea and Kevin, moved back to St. Louis, MO. She began teaching at Dynamic Edge Dance Center and worked extensively with their competition team and recreational classes over the next 8 years.
Katie has continued her dance education by taking master classes and attending many conventions. Her work has won many first place honors, awards for excellence in technique and choreography.
She was extremely excited to come back to DPU in 2017. There’s nothing quite like coming back to the place where it all started and she is extremely excited to have her daughters continue their dance education in the place she was taught. Katie currently continues her extensive training of DPU’s Recreational and Competitive Dancers. She is the Competition Director for the elite Company Program.
Most of all she is so thrilled to be back in the class room sharing her wealth of experience and knowledge with a new generation of DPU Dance’s students.
Classes
Dance Team Prep
A technique based class that focuses on teaching proper alignment and execution of Jazz technique with integrated stylistic movement. Dancers will learn how to execute a wide variety of Jazz skills such as but not limited to: emphasis on rhythm, groundedness, isolations, movement of hips, expanding on performance of technique skills, exploring theatrical performance of a variety of styles of […]
Dance Team Prep
A technique based class that focuses on teaching proper alignment and execution of Jazz technique with integrated stylistic movement. Dancers will learn how to execute a wide variety of Jazz skills such as but not limited to: emphasis on rhythm, groundedness, isolations, movement of hips, expanding on performance of technique skills, exploring theatrical performance of a variety of styles of […]
Seedlings
A 60 minute combination class teaching Tap, Jazz and Ballet fundamentals. This class focuses on basic technique, rhythm and creative movement. Seedlings accommodates dancers 3-5 years of age. Dancers will need black tie up shoes and pink canvas ballet shoes for this class.
Jr/Teen Musical Theater
A performance based class that focuses on incorporating a theatrical approach to combine songs, acting and dance. Dancers will learn a background of multiple musicals, acting, improvisational games and expanding on portraying virtually any character. Dances will explore how dance and theatre intertwine.
Sprouts
A 30 minute introductory class teaching fundamentals of Tap steps, Ballet positions, creative movement and listening skills. Sprouts accommodates dancers 2-3 years of age. Dancers will need black tie up tap shoes and pink canvas ballet shoes for this class.
Mini Hip Hop
A movement based class that focuses on fun, energetic stylized dancing. Dancers will learn fundamentals of isolations, grooves and a wide variety of backgrounds of the style through progressions across the floor, combinations in center and freestyle skills. De- signed for dancers age 5-7 as an introductory class. Dancers will require tennis shoes they DO NOT wear outside of the […]
Jr. Tap
A technique based class that focuses on using sounds of tap shoes striking the floor as a form of percussion. This class will expand on a Dancer’s musicality with an emphasis on rhythm and timing. Dancers will learn Tap skills and how to integrate sounds with that of the music.
Adult Jazz
A technique based class that focuses on teaching proper alignment and execution of Jazz technique with integrated stylistic movement. Dancers will learn how to execute a wide variety of Jazz skills such as but not limited to: emphasis on rhythm, groundedness, isolations, movement of hips, expanding on performance of technique skills, exploring theatrical performance of a variety of styles of […]
