Serena Moore – Director, Jazz, and Lyrical
Serena grew up dancing as a Dancers on Tour member herself under the direction of Sharon DeNoyer McGuire and Ms. D. She now concentrates her efforts on passing that knowledge down to new generations of DeNoyer Dancers. Serena specializes in competitive jazz and lyrical techniques as well as teaching stretch/jump/turn and conditioning classes.
“What doesn’t challenge you doesn’t change you. I learned the most growing up as a dancer from the teachers who were the hardest on me. The ones who at first may not have been the easiest or my most favorite, but who I later learned believed in me the most and had a method to their madness. That is now how I operate as an instructor. I truly love what I do and feel lucky every day that I walk into the studio and get to work with your children. This really is the happiest place on earth if you ask me.”
Serena’s classes offer beginning dancers their first technical challenges and more advanced dancers a continued opportunity to learn and grow.
This season Serena will be stepping into the role of “assistant director”, serving as behind the scenes help to DeNoyer owners. She served privately in this position last season assisting in scheduling, curriculum, coordinating of teachers and a variety of other roles and is excited to leap into this new opportunity. Serena has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Missouri St. Louis which will come in handy when helping to coordinate running’s throughout the studio.
Nathali Rottier Kessler – Ballet and Pointe
DeNoyer is thrilled to officially welcome Nathali Rottier Kessler to the teaching staff as our lead Ballet instructor. Natalie comes to Denoyer Dance Studio after years of experience in regional and national companies such as; Mid-Illinois Ballet, Ballet Theatre of Annapolis, New York Theatre Ballet, Saint Louis Ballet, and many regional ballet companies. Nathali received her early dance training from Doris Dieu at the Performing Arts Studio in Collinsville, IL where she studied the Cecchetti Method. Nathali has passed several of her professional and teacher exams and is currently working towards her Enrico Cecchetti diploma. She is a member of the Cecchetti Council of America. Nathali also studied at Webster University. Her teaching experience includes instructing ballet and pointe at studios such as Performing Arts studio, Rena’s Dance Studio, Gintatus School of Ballet, Inner City Kids Foundation, Belleville School of Ballet, Holy Family School, the Dance Studio Troy, the Big Muddy Dance Co. and ballet mistress for Chamber Dance Theatre.
Jessica Nguyen – Hip Hop and Contemporary
We are so excited to introduce one of DeNoyer’s own as our newest faculty member this season, Jessica Nguyen. Jessica has been dancing with DeNoyer for as long as she can remember. It wasn’t until she joined our D.O.T competition team and started a long journey of hardwork, friendship with her new teammates, and plenty of growth that she truly recognized her love for dance.
Jessica proved to be incredibly invaluable and dependable in her junior year of high school. She filled in for injured dancers more times than we could count and step forward to teach as a sub whenever duty called. Jessica has assisted in classes for the past several seasons and most recently taught along side Miss Serena this past year, co-choreographing one of our award winning competition numbers! Having spent years on both the recreational and competitive sides of dance, Jessica is the perfect fit for a strong instructor in studio style dance. Her leadership skills, ability to learn choreography quickly and amazing stage presence will offer her dancers a great foundation to build on!
Jessica’s favorite DeNoyer memories range from winning a National Championship award in the Senior Tap category to long nights in practice with her dance family. She is currently attending Saint Louis Community College pursuing her Associates degree in General Studies with plans of further education on the horizon.
After powering through Senior year in a pandemic, assistant teaching and her first year in college, Jessica is excited to come back this season as a teacher herself!
Abby Froidl – Tap and Jazz
Abby has been with DeNoyer almost her entire life. Although taking and competing in many dance styles, her main focus has always been tap. Abby started demonstrating in beginner tap and jazz classes as a high schooler, and now enjoys teaching recreational and competitive classes for beginner through advanced tappers. She continues to take advantage of master classes throughout the year, often dancing alongside her own students. In addition to teaching dance, Abby is a full-time student. She recently finished her BS in Economics and is now pursuing her Masters of Public Policy Administration from UM-St. Louis, where she works as a clerical assistant in the campus library.
Melissa Froidl – Ballet and Tap
Melissa Froidl has taught for DeNoyer Dance Studio since 1983, specializing in beginner and intermediate Tap, Ballet and Jazz. Her Art Degree and years of experience, both in the classroom and as a parent of three, serve her very well with the younger students, offering them a wealth of movement experience. Melissa completed her exams for membership to Dance Masters of America in 1985 and has continued her dance education through Master classes and Clinics. Her unique mixture of strict structure and silly moments keeps her dancers engaged and happy.
Tracy LaRose – Adult Tap
Tracy LaRose began dance at the age of 6 with Mrs. DeNoyer and Sharon DeNoyer McGuire. She was also a member of the competition team. She has earned a Masters of Education from Missouri Baptist University. During the day Tracy teaches science at Antonia Middle School in Barnhart. Tracy enjoys teaching tap, jazz, and Poms and continues to take classes at DeNoyer.
Casey Mizell – Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop and Modern
Casey Mizell has been training and performing since the age of 2 in all styles of dance. She started in her hometown of St. Louis, MO winning in competitions and scholarships in conventions growing up before getting her first professional show in Branson, MO at 18, the Shoji Tabuchi Show. She then auditioned and got a spot in the “Dream” show in Guam headlined by the magician Anthony Reed. There she worked with Chinese acrobats, trampoline, and show girls in a hip-hop and jazz Vegas-style show. After returning to Branson to perform in Cirque, she then went back to Guam to choreograph for studios and gigs including Lexus, GALA Guam, and the Lunar Festival. She has since been choreographing all styles of dance in St. Louis, Guam, Pennsylvania, and most recently in the Middle East where she choreographed for hotel shows all over Egypt and did workshops in Cairo. She also trained briefly with The Cairo Modern Dance Company to further her knowledge of their style. She is happy to be back from Egypt and looks forward to sharing her passion, and things she’s learned about life as a dancer with you.
Jackie Scalise – Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz and Poms
Jackie Scalise has been with DeNoyer most of her life. She first studied under Mrs. DeNoyer and was a competitive dancer herself for many years winning several awards for her crystal clear sounds and her fast lightning feet. She then began teaching at DeNoyer over 20 years ago sharing her experience and knowledge with her students. Jackie works with the Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, and Poms classes in both the competitive and recreational levels. She has many choreography, Most entertaining, High Point, and cash awards to her name at both the regional and national level. Her Love for dance makes her classes fun and interesting as well as challenging.
Cindi Stark – Ballet, Jazz and Tap
Cindi Stark is a born and raised St. Louis girl, (Go Cards!) performing and dancing since the age of two. She has trained and competed in all genres of dance in her younger years, and received many performance titles and scholarships. Training under Lillian DeNoyer and Sharon DeNoyer has set the foundation for her love, passion and Joy for dance. She’s studied and performed with prestigious schools and companies, including The Mini Muny of St. Louis, Stephens College, Texas Christian University, Webster University and Kentucky Ballet Theater. She performed and trained under the direction of Stanley Herbert with the St. Louis Civic Ballet. Cindi stepped away from the performance stage to start and raise her family. She returned to DeNoyer and continues teaching, Choreographing and sharing her passion for dance with the next generation. Cindi has helped with coordinating the DeNoyer Dance preschool program and mini competitive dance team; well versed in all genres of dance she enjoys teaching ballet, tap, jazz and tumbling. Cindi is in her happy place and happy to be home with her DeNoyer Dance family teaching and inspiring all her dancers.
Tiala Taylor – Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Modern and Hip Hop
Tiala Taylor was born and raised in Saint Charles, Missouri and respectively takes the city of Saint Louis as her stomping grounds. Heavily versed in stylistic training at a young age, she continued to add to her collective from praise dance and ballet to street dance and vogue. Tiala graduated Lindenwood University with her BFA in Dance, with an emphasis in Contemporary. Amongst being an instructor, she is a regular choreographer and performer as well. With unique encounters, diversity, and skill training she’s honored to experience performance art in many forms than just her intended degree.
Any opportunity to collaborate, create, share, assist, grow; Tiala has made it a priority to collect all the assets that art enables her to encounter.
Tiala has performed solo features on The Fabulous Fox Theatre stage, opened for Danileigh’s concert, traveled for hired events in Los Angeles, performed at many dance collectives such as The Boston Contemporary Dance Festival under Tricia Zweier, choreographed collegiate work presented at American College Dance Association, led Unlabeled Dance Crew in Redbull Bracket Reel, and much more like “A Brave and Startling Truth”, by the accredited Diana McIntyre, alongside former principle dancers of the Alvin Alley Dance Company; Alicia Graf, Kirven Douthit-Boyd, and Antonio Douthit-Boyd; as a company performer.
Tiala’s greatest accomplishment and best award of all is her daughter Aarilynn. “I consider myself no longer a soloist, but a partner to my beautiful beauty; as we dance duets throughout our life.”
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