Faculty

Mary Lou has been dancing since she was 4 years old. She studied Tap, Jazz, and Ballet under the direction of Ada Lee Grawmeyer at Ada Lee’s School of Dance for over 20 years; however, her main love and major area of concentration is tap. Competing in numerous competitions throughout the years, Mary Lou also danced and traveled with the Union Barricades Troop for over 5 years. Additionally, during her dance career, she taught tap for younger students.

After taking time off to pursue a career outside the studio, and start a family, Mary Lou returned as an instructor at a local studio in 2003. She has been teaching for Dance 502 since 2015. In that time, she has choreographed award-winning routines for her students. Mary Lou also travels the country each year to attend tap festivals, so she can bring the latest and greatest education back to the studio.

Kat is originally from Central Virginia where she studied and taught Tap, Jazz, Ballet and Musical Theatre for the past 26 years in private studios, community and regional theatre companies. She has choreographed over a dozen musical theater productions, as well as appeared onstage in many more; some of her favorites being among “Anything Goes” & “Babes in Arms”. Kat recently took some time off to relocate to the Louisville area and to start a family. She has since enjoyed spending time with her husband and 2 sons, but is also thrilled to be back and working again in the field of dance education as a children’s Ballet, Jazz and Tap instructor at Dance 502.

Kat is also a photographer, and you'll see many of her photos featured around the site.

Kristin began her dance training at 3 years old. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, pointe and modern at several Louisville studios, where she competed individually and in groups winning numerous regional and national awards. These include Distinguished Performer, Top Soloist, LA Agent Semi-finalist and Convention Scholarship winner. During her years of training, she participated and traveled to numerous dance conventions and master classes including Broadway Dance Center in NYC. Kristin has over 20 years of teaching experience. She teaches all levels, ages 3 to Adult and has choreographed several award winning routines. Along with teaching in the studio, Kristin has also coached several JCPS Middle School Dance Teams.

Kristin graduated from the University of Louisville in 2004 with a B.S. in Health and Human Performance and a Minor in Health Education. She lives in Louisville with her husband and 3 children. When she is not sharing her passion for dance with others, Kristin enjoys working out and spending time with her family.

Tess began dancing at the age of 3, and studied ballet, tap, jazz, modern and pointe as a student. She loves all of dance, but her first love is tap. She has been teaching for 4 years and teaches students of all ages, including our intermediate adult tap class. She has competed locally and her routines have won 1st and 2nd overall, as well as special awards for execution and precision. She is excited to continue teaching, and to coach her younger students through their first competitions as tappers.

Chad grew up in Louisville and danced throughout his childhood. He competed locally through the years. He has been teaching hip-hop at Dance 502 since 2016. 

Stephanie started her dancing career at the age of 3 at Tammy Jo’s Studio in Greenup, Kentucky. There she studied and competed in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Pom, Hip Hop, Modern and Musical Theatre. Along with competing with her home studio, Stephanie also competed with her high school dance team for four years. After high school graduation, Stephanie went in to be a member of the University of Kentucky Varsity dance team where she performed at men’s basketball and football games and competed with her tram at UDA College Nationals. After graduating from the University of Kentucky in 2018, Stephanie moved to Louisville where she started teaching children’s tap, ballet and jazz classes for Dance 502! 

Ashley began dancing at the age of 3, and has studied ballet, tap, jazz, modern and pointe. She began demonstrating at the age of 12 and found a passion for teaching. Ashley is a current Dance Major at the Youth Performing Arts School in Louisville. She was recently promoted to instructor-status and teaches some of our youngest dancers. 

With her 15+ years of dance experience, Cierra has competed at every level in the pom, jazz, and hip hop styles. Cierra started dancing in middle school at JCTMS while training at Dance Unlimited and Planet Dance. She then went on to dance for top ranked Louisville Male High School. Cierra attended Bellarmine University after high school and won a National Championship with Bellarmine’s dance team in 2015. She graduated later that May with a Bachelors of Arts in Biology.

Cierra has been able to teach and choreograph for studios, schools, and non-profit organizations all throughout Kentucky, the US, and even overseas in Eastern Europe!

Hip hop is her favorite dance genre and she loves to continue to learn and grow in this style. Cierras class goals are to instill confidence, improve trick ability, and to promote joy.