Caring & Qualified Pros
Our team
Abbey Fitzjarrell
Ms. Abbey is a professional dancer, choreographer, teacher & director from Waco, Texas. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Musical Theatre from the University of Central Oklahoma, where she focused heavily in dance for the stage, as well as Module 2 Acrobatic Arts Teacher Certifications.
Ms. Abbey has performed in multiple national tours including with the award-winning musical “Flipside: The Patty Page Story”. Other notable credits include an originating role in Broadway Tonight’s “Rising Starr”, Ms. Wormwood in “Matilda” , Cassie in “A Chorus Line”, Rosemary in “How to Succeed in Business” , Fastrada in “Pippin” , & a season as a featured dancer in “Texas! The Outdoor Musical”
Abbey has choreographed for various professional & educational stage productions across Texas. She has spent a decade teaching in dance studios including time spent at the elite Edge Amarillo, earning recognitions at national competitions. Ms. Abbey is well known for her versatility as an instructor but has a special love for contemporary, tap, & musical theatre dance styles. When she isn’t busy teaching & running our studio Ms. Abbey is a loving mother to her daughter, August, & her three dogs!
Mark Gold
Mr. Mark is an award winning dancer, choreographer, actor and educator. He earned a BFA in Dance while on scholarship at West Texas A&M University. His choreographic works have been featured at national dance festivals as well as on professional, academic, & competitive stages. He has directed dance & theatrical productions with organizations across the state of Texas.
Since 2022, Mark has served as an adjunct professor of dance & guest artist with the Theatre Department at Abilene Christian University- specializing in Ballet, Modern, & Improvisational dance courses. He also directed ACU’s annual dance show, “One Night Only”
Mark has performed on stages across the country from Texas to Washington D.C. Notable credits from the region include his time spent as a principal dancer with Lone Star Ballet where he orginated several major roles & four seasons as a featured dancer with “Texas! the Outdoor Musical Drama”
Mr. Mark is very proud of the KCDC family & deeply honored to be serving the Big Country through dance alongside the love of his life and their beautiful daughter.
Astin Bryson
Miss Astin has been training in a wide variety of classical ballet styles since she was 8 years old.
In her years as a professional, she has danced with Ballet Latino de San Antonio, Ballet San Antonio, & Ballet Frontier of Texas, as well as making guest appearances in performances with the San Antonio Youth Ballet. Notable roles include the Arabian soloist & Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker and the Evil Witch in SAYB’s production of Blanca Flor.
Her teaching career began at 15, when she discovered her true passion. Her teaching experience ranges from age 3 all the way up to adult, from recreational to professional levels. Now, living in Rule, TX with her family and many cats, Miss Astin is happy to be teaching and sharing some of the same joy she has always held for the art of ballet.
Kaelin Winters
Ms. Kaelin was born & raised in Austin where she grew up dancing and competing in numerous styles, specializing in jazz & contemporary dance. Alongside competing, she danced at her high school as a Leander High Blue Belle for three years, serving as captain her senior year. Through these experiences, she was given the opportunity to travel, compete across the country, and spend time taking classes in New York & LA learning from some of the best!
Kaelin is currently a graduate student pursuing a Master of Divinity in the Graduate School of Theology at ACU & works as the director of the Wylie High School Varsity Belles! Miss Kaelin is passionate about both drill team & competitive dancing, and her heart is filled as she continues watching the dance community in Abilene grow every year!
Alisha Taylor
Ms. Alisha is a multi-hyphenate artist who has pursued a career as an actress, choreographer, producer, and director. She graduated from Abilene Christian University with a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre. Through this, she was able to learn many different styles of dance. Alisha specializes in teaching both Hip Hop and Traditional West African dance styles. She also has experience directing for both stage and film, and has performed in cities such as New York and Chicago. Her films have been official selections of the Pan African Film Festival over the years, and she has recently ventured into documentary filmmaking. Communicating the human experience through storytelling is the throughline of all the mediums Alisha works with. Stage, film, and dance all have the power to transform and uplift and she hopes to pass that along to others!
Melissa McCoy
Ms. Melissa was born & raised right here in Abilene, TX! She was a Cooper Cougarette and grew up dancing at Dance Ltd. Through her dancing Melissa eventually received a talent-based scholarship to West Texas A&M University. While earning her BFA in Dance, Ms. Melissa toured to Italy & participated in a multiple award-winning performance of Edward Truitt’s “Kinetic Ties” at the GP Italia International Dance Festival.
Other notable career highlights include her work with various Lone Star Ballet productions like “Nutcracker” & “Coppelia” as well as multiple seasons with “Texas! The Outdoor Musical Drama” in Palo Duro Canyon.
Ms. Melissa has been part of the Key City Dance team since Day One & adores watching students grow in her Contemporary dance classes.