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The 28th Avenue Dance Studio has the highest quality dance education in our area. We have been in business since 1998 and offer a welcoming atmosphere. Our goal is to provide both an educational and holistic (mind, body & soul) approach to teaching dance. We strive to encourage our students to love and appreciate the art of dance as much as we do! Students will learn from knowledgeable, certified, and experienced instructors. Students will be placed according to age and ability suitable for each class. Dancers will be challenged to learn correct technique along with terminology, anatomy, history of dance, and choreography.
We teach life skills such as concentration, self-discipline, teamwork, communication, and self-expression. Classes are offered in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop, Lyrical, AcroDance and Cheer. Students have the opportunity to perform in our year-end recital. We have additional community performance opportunities throughout the year. We have competed for 20+ years. In 2021, we created the 28th Avenue Dance Studio ‘Company Stars’—competitive dance teams. Dancers must audition for a company spot each year on the following companies: petite, junior, teen and senior. We aim to teach audition skills to dancers aspiring to dance in college or work in the dance industry. Being a part of a company instills determination and dedication. |
Stephanie Kath and Taylor Bartel, Co-Directors
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Stephanie KathOwner/Co-Director/Instructor
Stephanie is a Torrington native and owns the studio with her husband, Grant Kath. She has two children, Taylor (daughter) and Ryan (son). She received her B.S. in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Physical Education from Chadron State College. She later student and substitute taught in Torrington while also instructing the THS dance team for 3 years. Additionally, Kath worked at St. Joseph's Children's Home for 4 years. Stephanie served on the committee that developed the Physical Education Standards for St. Joe's. Stephanie taught Ballet for the Community Education Program at EWC, before opening her own dance studio. |
Taylor BartelCo-Director/Instructor
Taylor began taking dance lessons from her mother (Stephanie) at age 4. She has trained in ballet, modern, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, ballroom, and pointe. Taylor began her teaching career in 2008 at 28th Avenue Dance Studio. She received her Master of Arts degree in Dance Education from University of Northern Colorado and Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from University of Wyoming. Taylor is a certified Acrobatic Arts and Yoga Instructor. |
Our Story
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Dear Dance Families,
I hopped on the back of my dad's motorcycle and headed to gymnastics 35 miles away...dad always made everything fun! I didn't know at the time that it was more economical to take the motorcycle than the car. I didn't know back then how much my mom and dad sacrificed to take me to gymnastics and dance classes. Not only was it an added expense to travel for classes, but also an added amount of time and, as many know, farmers don't have "down time". My mom did a lot of driving and made many sack lunches/dinners. I am certainly thankful for my teachers and instructors out of town, but opportunities in town would have been easier on my parents. They gave up a lot to provide opportunities for me. They believed that gymnastics and dance lessons were beneficial. They believed that such activities provided discipline, work ethic, socialization, teamwork, a sense of accomplishment, an outlet for expression, and many physical benefits. I was lucky enough to have an incredible dance teacher in town for a few years in middle school and a fantastic high school dance team coach, but did not have a studio in town for many of my years in dance. I'm thankful my parents saw the impact of dance on me so that I can now provide all the benefits of the art in our small town. I wanted to provide a hometown studio for the community. After a "fork or two in the road", I was able, with the support of my husband, to open a studio which celebrates 27 years this year. It warms my heart when former students return to their hometown studio to stop in and say hello or throw on their tap shoes and join in on class. It makes me incredibly happy to see students continue in dance and dance related careers or activities, and if they are not dancing, they are still using the benefits provided in dance class. Thank you to all who have supported and continue to support the 28th Avenue Dance Studio, I am forever grateful! Sincerely, Stephanie Kath |