Local Dance Instructor Has Remarkable Year

In June 2005 when Julie Kay Stallcup (known to her over 500 dance students as Mrs. Julie Kay) was planning her next season of instruction, she never dreamed that she, her newlywed husband Darrell, and her dance family (her students and fellow teachers) would have accomplished so much in so little time.

Along with her usual hectic schedule of teaching 20-plus hours per week, Julie Kay attended a prestigious dance teacher conference and shepherded several of her most experienced students through dance classes at the Broadway Dance Center in New York, choreographed and rehearsed over 20 routines for her dance team, JK’s Dance Company’s first competition in November (two of her students won first overall honors in their divisions), choreographed and rehearsed Crescenta Valley High School’s fall production of “Grease” and auditioned students for the school’s spring musical “Crazy For You,” all while pregnant with her first child. Her students (and their parents) marveled as she didn’t miss a beat with her signature fast and furious tap shoes and always upbeat attitude, making sure each of her students felt special.

In mid-January, her son Jett Lee was born, much to the joy and wonder of Julie, Darrell and her dance family. Some thought she might slow down or quit teaching. Instead, Julie Kay took about two weeks to recover from Jett’s birth. She couldn’t wait to get back in the studio be with her other “kids” and finish her routines for the June dance recital. She also had a busy schedule of dance competitions and rehearsals for Crescenta Valley High School’s musical.

Julie Kay never stopped mentoring and encouraging her students to reach for the stars and always give back to the community. In the winter and early spring, her dance students flourished. One of her students was selected to participate in American Ballet Theater’s Summer Intensive program in Austin, Texas and several others won first overall honors and other special awards at Encore Performing Arts Showcase and On-Stage America regional dance competitions. Her dance team also undertook community service by collecting and distributing clothing and blanket donations to the homeless.

CV High School’s musical, “Crazy For You,” was a huge success with a cast of 45 enormously talented teenagers most of whom learned to tap dance and execute Broadway-like choreography over the course of a few short months.

With the dance year coming to a close, Julie Kay and her fellow dance faculty members put on four different dance recital shows for the Vibe Performing Arts Studio where Julie has been director for the past four years. Then it was off to Las Vegas for Encore Performing Arts Showcases’ National Dance Competition at Green Valley Ranch Resort with 34 students. Julie Kay said that it was the best way to cap off such an amazing year because the Production number win was a total team effort -- 32 of the 34 dancers were cast members and the dance was choreographed by all three of her dance team’s main teachers, Julie Kay, former professional ballerina Rebecca Thorne and Helios Dance Company member Stephane Nicoli.

If that wasn’t enough on her plate, Julie Kay and Darrell are now pursuing their lifelong dream of opening their own dance studio. Construction is well underway for their new state of the art 6,000 square foot studio, Revolution Dance Center. Julie Kay, as Director, and former Power Ranger and stunt man Darrell, as Studio Manager, have assembled an outstanding team of dance professionals who are as comfortable on stage and screen as teaching young people new dance steps and techniques. Julie and Darrell have always considered their students and fellow teachers to be family. With the new studio, her dance family has a home where the faculty is committed to a healthy, happy environment where kids (and adults) enjoy coming to both learn all types of dance (ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, and tap) and appreciate themselves and their peers.

Registration for the fall begins Aug. 29, and classes begin Sept. 11. You can visit the studio’s website at www.revolutiondancecenter.com. What will Julie Kay do for an “encore?” We can only watch and be amazed.