“The faculty at Webster University accepted me knowing the amount of work it would require to shape me into the artist I've become today.”
BFA in Dance, ’17
Donnie Duncan Jr. on Webster's Faculty
“They used immense amounts of care and accuracy in helping me discover my desires, and it is because of them that I've been able to live out my dreams as a performer. I could not have asked for a better and well-rounded faculty.”
Tymberly Canale (BA ’92)
Tymberly Canale is an adjunct professor of Dance at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. She has recently completed her first year in the Master of Social Work program at Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College to become a clinical therapist. She was awarded the Webster University Outstanding Alumni Award in 2023.
Chrissy Clair (BFA ’20)
Chrissy Clair is a dancer with Resilience Dance Company. Additionally, she is an instructor, freelance choreographer and costume designer for several local studios.
Marlee Doniff (BA ’23)
Marlee Doniff is a freelance performer, teacher and choreographer for various spaces and collaboratives. Recently, she served as the company manager for the American Dance Festival and has most recently entered the MFA in Dance program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Donnie Duncan Jr. (BFA ’17)
Donnie Duncan Jr. performed with Nederlands Dans Theatre from 2019-2023. He most recently danced in Madonna's Celebration World Tour.
Josiah Gundersen (BFA ’19)
Josiah Gundersen is a founding member of Resilience Dance Company, freelance choreographer and local historian for the Missouri History Museum. His piece, “we shrivel in our uncertainty,” was selected for performance by Webster Dance at the gala concert of the North Central Region American College Dance Association Conference in 2024.
Jacob Henss (BA ’17)
Jacob Henss is an assistant teaching professor of Dance at Illinois State University and the artistic director of Space Station Dance. He previously taught at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Millikin University.
Ashley Johnson (BFA ’22)
Ashley Johnson dances with The Rooted Space, a company on the north side of Chicago. She also teaches dance in a Chicago charter school. This summer, she was a company member with Dance in the Parks.
Tayler Kinner (BFA ’15)
Tayler Kinner is the artistic director and co-founder of Big Plate Dance, company member with Karlovsky & Company Dance, and an adjunct faculty member in Webster University's Department of Dance.
“Webster nurtured my passion for connecting people to the arts and prepared me to create meaningful programs that inspire and empower others.”
BFA in Dance, ’11
Julie Opiel on Webster's impact on her career
Abbi LeBaube (BFA ’23)
Abbi LeBaube dances with Resilience Dance Company while teaching and choreographing in the St. Louis area.
Prince Lyons (BFA ’17)
Prince Lyons most recently danced in Madonna's Celebration World Tour. He was the Alumni Guest Artist for Webster University Dance Ensemble 2023 and a recipient of an Emerging Artist Award at the 2023 St. Louis Arts Awards.
Ashley McQueen (BFA ’13)
Ashley McQueen is the artistic director of Smashworks Dance, a full-time company dancer/artistic associate with Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre (New York City), and on faculty with Peridance School.
Eve (Mason) O’Malley (BFA ’08)
Eve (Mason) O’Malley is an adjunct faculty member at Webster and owner of Velocity Dance Convention. Formerly based in Los Angeles, her commercial dance and choreography credits include Jennifer Lopez, Cee-Lo Green, Pitbull, Princess Cruises, America’s Got Talent, several TV music awards shows, commercials and associate choreographer for Latin American Music Awards.
Jennifer Olivas (BFA ’04)
Jennifer Olivas has toured the world with Diavolo Dance Theater. She is a CrossFit trainer (L2 CrossFit training certificate), a gym manager and acrobatics instructor at Turning Pointe Academy in Maryville, Illinois.
Julie Opiel (BFA ’11)
Julie Opiel is the education and outreach manager for BODYTRAFFIC in Los Angeles, California.
Miranda (Miller) Payne (BFA ’09)
Miranda (Miller) Payne danced professionally for 15 years, most notably the 12 years she spent as a company dancer with The Big Muddy Dance Company, now Saint Louis Dance Theatre. She is now an adjunct dance faculty member at both Missouri Baptist University and Lindenwood University.
Tyne Shillingford (BFA ’07)
Tyne Shillingford currently serves as the dance director and Upper School Fine Arts Department chair at Holland Hall School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Lorraine 'Rain' Stippec (BFA ’12)
Lorraine “Rain” Stippec is St. Louis Rhythm Collab’s pre-professional program director and a company member with mostly TAP! Most recently, she entered the MFA in Dance program at Washington University. Additionally, she is a dance instructor, choreographer and adjudicator.
Dorianne Thomas (BFA ’19)
Dorianne Thomas is an entrepreneur, teacher and freelance performing artist in the vibrant Chicago dance scene. She currently performs with Joel Hall Dancers and Praize Productions Inc. She is also lead instructor, executive assistant and social media manager of Black Girls Dance which was recently recognized for their work by the Obama Foundation and Michelle Obama's nonprofit organization, Girls Opportunity Alliance for funding and programmatic support.
Lara Elizabeth Turek (BFA ’04)
Lara Elizabeth Turek, CFRE, is the assistant vice chancellor for University Advancement at Missouri University of Science and Technology. She also teaches dance and holds both her RYT 200 yoga certification and Reiki certification.
Kacy Voskuil (BA ’05)
Kacy Voskuil is the owner and director of St. Louis Academy of Dance, which is also home to Pazazz Performing Company and partner with MADCO and St. Louis Rhythm Collaborative.
Alexandra Wright (BA ’07)
Alexandra Wright owns Inspire Academy of Dance in Issaquah, Washington.