Recital 2025 is May, 31 2025! Call us for ticket information!

Meet the Instructors!

Kirby is the Owner and Artistic Director of Starstruck Academy, where she has been fulfilling her passion for dance since opening the studio in 2009. With over thirty years of experience, Kirby began dancing at the age of four and holds a B.A. in Secondary Education from Youngstown State University.

She is a nationally recognized dancer with awards in both solo and group categories, and has received numerous dance scholarships. Kirby was a member of the 2004 Grand Prix de España US National Dance Team and World Cup Champions, as well as the 2005 Grand Prix de Italia US National Dance Team and World Cup Champions. She was also crowned Miss Dance Ohio in 2004.

In addition to her competitive achievements, Kirby was a cheerleader at Lakeview High School and a member of the Y.S.U. Dance Ensemble. She has also served as an 8th and 9th grade cheerleading advisor for Lakeview High School.

Under Kirby’s leadership, Starstruck Academy’s competition team has thrived, winning many regional and national overall awards. She is celebrated for her choreography, having received accolades such as the Directors Award for Technical Excellence, Choreography, Studio Sportsmanship, Entertainment, Best Costumes, and the FDC Judges Choice Award. Kirby feels incredibly blessed to teach and inspire young dancers and looks forward to many more successful years with her academy.

Nikki’s love for dance began when she was just four years old, and it’s been a major part of her life ever since. With over thirty years of experience, she has earned countless awards, scholarships, and accolades as both a dancer and a choreographer. Among her proudest achievements, Nikki was named Young Choreographer of the Year in both 2003 and 2004 — honors that reflect her creativity and passion for the art.

Nikki holds a B.A. in Education from Youngstown State University and a B.A. in Business Management and Marketing from Kent State University. Today, she brings her love of learning and leadership into the classroom as a teacher in the Warren City School District, and she previously served as an advisor for the Warren G. Harding majorette line.

Beloved by students of all ages, Nikki is known not only for her talent and dedication but also for the way she inspires confidence, creativity, and joy in everyone she teaches.

Haley has been passionate about dance for as long as she can remember. She spent 16 years dancing, including 9 incredible years on the Starstruck Dance Academy competition team, a place she has always considered her second home. The friendships and memories she made there have become like family to her.

A 2024 graduate of Champion High School, Haley was a majorette for three years and a cheerleader for four years, proudly serving two of those years on the varsity basketball cheer squad. After high school, she attended John Carroll University for a year and is excited to continue her education at Kent State University in the fall of 2025, where she plans to major in Zoology — another lifelong passion of hers.

Along with being a dedicated dancer, Haley loved giving back to the studio as a student teacher assistant and now enjoys stepping in as a substitute instructor whenever she’s needed. Dance has shaped who she is today, and she’s excited to carry the lessons she’s learned into this next chapter of her journey.

Hannah’s dance journey began in 2004, and it has been a passion that’s shaped her life ever since. A 2018 graduate of Warren G. Harding High School, Hannah proudly served as a majorette in the Warren G. Harding Marching Band for two years. In 2012, she joined the Starstruck Dance Academy Competition Team, where she quickly stood out as an award-winning dancer and titleholder.

Over the years, Hannah had the incredible opportunity to train with dance icons like Alex Wong, Fik-Shun, Erik Yanez, and Gaby Diaz — experiences that fueled her love for dance even more. Guided and inspired by her mentors at Starstruck, Hannah found her true calling not just in performing, but also in teaching and choreographing. Since 2018, she’s been a proud member of the National Dance Education Organization and has been creating award-winning routines in jazz, lyrical, and hip-hop at Starstruck.

Hannah spent seven wonderful years dancing competitively for Kirby and another seven years instructing, pouring her heart into every class and performance. Though her journey has recently taken her to Missouri, she will always remain a cherished part of the Starstruck family. We’re excited to continue seeing her creative choreography grace our stage in the future. Hannah’s dedication, talent, and love for the Starstruck community have made her truly cherished.

Jordan, a 2019 graduate of Lakeview High School, was a dedicated competitive dancer with Starstruck Dance Academy from the age of 8 until her graduation. During her competitive career, she earned numerous overall high score awards, Judges Awards, and scholarships. In addition to her dance achievements, Jordan was a Varsity Cheerleader at Lakeview High School. We are thrilled to welcome her back to the studio as a teacher. Jordan has been an outstanding addition to both the Gymnastics program and the Starstruck staff.

In Loving Memory:

DJ’s love for dance began at just 2½ years old and she started competing by the age of 5, quickly becoming a standout at Starstruck Dance Academy. Over the years, DJ mastered many styles, but she especially shined in Lyrical, Contemporary, and Jazz. Her grace, skill, and passion earned her numerous overall high scores, titles, and scholarships to prestigious institutions in New York City and Chicago. Affectionately known as the "Princess of Pirouettes," DJ was honored to be invited to join the American Dance Team in 2009, 2010, and 2012. In 2012, she also received the Mark Marino Scholarship for Excellence in Dance from Dance USA — a reflection of her extraordinary talent and heart.

While providing her teaching and award winning choreography at Starstruck, DJ pursued another dream and earned her Nursing Degree from Kent State University. She brought the same compassion to nursing that she brought to the dance floor. Tragically, DJ’s life was cut short when she passed away from breast cancer on February 14, 2022, at the age of 27.

Though her time with us was far too brief, DJ’s impact on the Starstruck family — as a dancer, teacher, and mentor — will never fade. Her spirit continues to inspire all who knew her, and her legacy will live on forever at Starstruck Dance Academy.

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