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Karen Fender, Owner and Director of the Dance Gallery, holds a degree in Education from the University
of Kansas where she was a Pom Pom Girl and on the Women's Gymnastics Team. Karen studied dance at a local dance studio in
Kansas City and studied ballet at UMKC Conservatory of Dance. She was a state medalist in floor exercise in high school and
continued gymnastics in college both as a competitor, teacher for Elite Gymnastics and as a judge at the high school level.
A former Miss Kansas, she traveled throughout the state for several years performing and speaking, traveled to the Mediterranean
and Southeast Asia performing with two USO Shows, and won the Talent Award in both the Miss Kansas and The Miss America Pageant
for her jazz and acrobatic dancing. She choreographed the Miss Kansas Pageant for many years, which was regionally televised
and she and many of her students have been performers often. Karen has been a performer in, choreographed and judged for Rock
Chalk Revue at KU. She performed in many musicals in the Kansas City Area as a dancer, singer or actress. She has appeared
on national television on the Jerry Lewis Telethon, as well as with the Miss America Pageant both as a contestant and as a
performer. Karen has judged for Showbiz National Talent Competition and numerous Miss America Preliminary Pageants. She has
taught all forms of dance and tumbling for over 28 years and is the director of the Dance Gallery Troupes.
Dance Gallery Staff:
Karen Fender - Tap, Tumbling & Acrobatics, Musical Theater, Combo
Krystyna Hilding-Ballet, Pointe
Jerel Hilding-Ballet
Cindy Griffith-Ballet
Barbie Smith-Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet, Combo classes
Tristan Conway-Hip Hop, Jazz, Tumbling and Acrobatics
Kallie Campbell-Jazz, Lyrical
Emily Thomas-Jazz, Lyrical
Jared Klug-Tap
Amanda Reichert - Tumbling
Liz Paji - Tumbling
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